Image by Riverfront Pediatric Dentistry

All of us remember being afraid of the dentist when we were younger. Fortunately for his patients, Dr. Eyal Simchi knows just how to make appointments a little more exciting.

Dr. Simchi, who operates in Elmwood Park’s Riverfront Pediatric Dentistry, found himself going viral after he posted a video of himself entertaining a young patient. In it, Simchi delights a wide-eyed two year old boy by flourishing glowing lights and plucking them from behind the little patient’s ear.

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Originally posted on Riverfront Pediatric Dentistry’s Facebook page, the minute-long video quickly garnered more than thirty million views, 736 thousand shares, and hundreds of comments filled with heart emojis. The video was posted on Twitter by user @kostka_chris, with the caption “llemme bless y’all with this video”, and has been watched 18.4 million times.

Simchi has been taken aback by the overwhelming response. The New Jersey-based dentist, who specializes in pediatrics, has received interest and praise for his sensitivity for his young patients before; in 2016 the New York Times interviewed him about the use of silver diamine fluoride, a less-painful process used instead of shots and drilling, which could ease parents and children’s apprehension.

When asked about his current viral fame, Dr. Simchi could only laugh. “[I’m] shell-shocked,” he said. “We definitely did not expect it at all. But it’s nice to paint the industry in a positive light.” His practice often gets young patients that have been frightened by bad experiences, and Dr. Simchi prides himself on a warm environment that puts them at ease, including using magic tricks.

When asked about his magic trick, Simchi is willing to share.“I’m a true dentist, not a true magician,” he admits. Simchi used fake thumbs that light up when a discreet button is pressed. But don’t tell that to his patients.

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