What's New at Williamsburg Dental

The Tooth about Your Child’s First Dental Visit
Parents Can Help Prepare Children for a Successful, Stress-Free Exam

Williamsburg Dental wants to make your child’s initial trip to the dentist a positive experience, not a memory they (and you) would rather forget.

The practice reminds parents of youngsters to start planning for their child’s first exam. While some offices recommend bringing toddlers for check-ups, Williamsburg thinks age three is the point when children are best able to comprehend what’s going on and less likely to be frightened.

“Your child’s first visit shouldn’t become the big unknown, “says Dr. Joseph J. Capista, a Senior Partner at Williamsburg Dental. “Parents play a big role in preparing children for this new step in their lives.”

Williamsburg Dental offers several tips to parents anticipating bringing their child in for their first dental exam:

• Set a good example for your child by displaying an open attitude prior to your regular adult check-up, explaining how important it is to take care of our teeth
• Avoid bribes or negative connotations like “Don’t be afraid”  
• Purchase or rent a situational book or video and watch it with your child to help open up dialogue and answer any questions 
• Supervise your early brushers after breakfast and before bed, limiting toothpaste to a pea-sized or smaller dollop since many children don’t spit out properly
• Help your child start developing good eating habits with nutritious snacks
• Ask the practice if you can bring your child in for a familiarization peak at the facility in advance

During your child’s scheduled visit, one of Williamsburg’s hygienists will greet them with a big smile. Cartoons can be shown on television monitors in the examination room.

Ida D’Ignazio has been a hygienist with Williamsburg for 12 years. She brushes little teeth with “Mr. Tickle” and ‘Mr. Thirsty’ in order to make the teeth “shine like pearls” and will let children touch the equipment to further reassure them. After the cleaning, D’Ignazio calls in one of the practice’s dentists, like ‘Dr. Bob’ (Robert Spennato) or ‘Dr. Joe’ (Capista or Joseph Lamb) to, as she tells her young patients, “make sure I did a good job brushing your teeth.” 

The dentist takes over, conducting a comprehensive, but non-invasive, exam, looking for potential future problems with gums and jaws and checking for decay. Oral habits like excessive juice drinking or thumb sucking might be discussed with the parent. Unlike many other dental practices, Williamsburg Dental encourages parents to come into the exam room with their children the first time and even for subsequent visits if it helps the child relax.

“We don’t like to re-schedule, but if there’s a lot of hesitation we’d rather see your child return at a later date than be frightened,” says D’Ignazio. “We want your children to be comfortable with us not only during their first visit but for many years to come.”

Williamsburg Dental Welcomes Christopher Appleman, DDS

Williamsburg Dental , a thriving dental practice in Delaware County (PA), welcomes their newest associate, Dr. Christopher Appleman. Keeping up with their promise to offer exceptional service from their team of highly skilled dentists and hygienists, Dr. Appleman is another step in the right direction.

A native of southern Rhode Island, Dr. Appleman graduated from Portsmouth High School, after which he earned his B.S. in Business Administration from Villanova University. Following graduation, he worked for a year in Center City Philadelphia, but knew that he needed a career change. In pursuit of a career that he was passionate about, he attended the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, University of Maryland Dental School.

While in dental school, he received advanced training in the treatment of special needs patients and completed an externship at the Albert Einstein Medical Center. Dr. Appleman recently finished a demanding General Practice Residency at the Veterans Medical Center in Portland, Oregon, where he had extensive training in restorative dentistry, crowns and bridges, endodontics (root canals), periodontics (gum treatment) and oral surgery.

Dr. Appleman is recognized by his patients for both a calm demeanor and a gentle touch. He prides himself on providing the best care possible for all of his patients and approaches everyone as if they are family, making sure all of their concerns and needs are addressed. Multiple patients have even commented on his technique of giving painless injections, a concern for many at their visits.

“Dr. Appleman fits right in with our family here,” says Dr. Spennato, “His approach and manner gives his patients a sense of security and ease. He has definitely been a positive addition to our team here at Williamsburg Dental.”

Dr. Appleman is currently accepting new patients. He is a member of the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry, and plans to further advance his dental education, concentrating on the areas of cosmetic/aesthetic dentistry, fixed crowns and bridges, implants and root canals.

 

Williamsburg Dental Now Offers Digital X-Rays
Faster, more efficient and less radiation

The process of taking traditional dental x-rays can be an unpleasant experience for those patients who may gag at the sometimes awkward positioning of film swatches in their mouths. Once the x-ray films are taken, patients must sit and wait for the images to develop. The resulting, small x-rays can often be hard for the patient to see. And then there’s the question of how to dispose of the harsh chemicals used to develop the films.

Williamsburg Dental, one of Delaware County’s (PA) premier dental practices, has tackled these issues and more with their recent conversion to a state-of-the art digital radiography system. The practice now offers computer-generated x-rays to create a faster, more efficient and overall more comfortable patient experience.

“Digital images are the 21st century answer to traditional dental x-rays,” says Dr. Joseph Capista, senior partner at Williamsburg Dental. “We can see the image right along with the patient which makes for accuracy and immediacy that hasn’t been possible before.”

With the practice’s new radiography system, an electronic sensor placed inside the patient’s mouth captures superior, panoramic images that are immediately displayed for easy viewing on a computer monitor. Health care records can be electronically stored with electronic charts created for each patient. Images required by a consulting dental specialist or insurance company can be quickly and easily forwarded on-line.

Dr. Joseph Lamb, another senior partner at Williamsburg Dental, points out that digital x-rays also improve their ability to diagnose dental problems in their earliest stages, before they develop into major conditions that are painful and often more expensive to treat.

“A digital image provides us with better resolution which can help in the early detection of decay or other abnormalities,” Dr. Lamb explains. “We can even flip or enlarge the image as needed for a more in-depth view of trouble areas and for easier patient viewing. Brightness and color can be adjusted. A hard copy of the x-rays can be printed out if needed. All in all, the technology makes life easier not just for us but for our patients who might not otherwise be able to really comprehend the smaller, traditional x-ray image.”

According to Drs. Capista and Lamb, the conversion to digital radiography means their practice can operate on a more eco-friendly basis, since the computerized process eliminates the need for the noxious chemicals and lead-backed film which required special disposal. Also, while radiation from traditional dental x-rays was never considered dangerous to the patient, some patients will still be happy to note that digital radiography reduces radiation exposure up to 80%.

“And,” Dr. Capista adds, “Our patients should know that these new digital x-rays are covered by insurance companies just the same as traditional x-rays.”