Meet Dr. CapalboDr. Anna Capalbo is a board-certified pediatric dentist. She grew up in Boston, Massachusetts and attended Harvard University for her undergraduate degree. She went to the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, graduating in 2007. Dr. Capalbo then completed a two-year pediatric dental residency through Lutheran Medical Center in Providence, RI. She has been selected by Rhode Island Monthly Magazine as a Top Dentist in the field of Pediatric Dentistry.

Dr. Capalbo finds working with children extremely rewarding and strives to make dental visits comfortable and enjoyable for her patients. She is an active member of her community, visiting local area schools to provide dental presentations, and sponsoring many youth sports teams. She has been selected to be the dentist for the local school systems. She also has hospital privileges at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital. Dr. Capalbo is an active member of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, and Rhode Island Dental Association.

She lives in Westerly, RI with her husband and fellow dentist, Dr. Matthew Capalbo, and their three children. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, spending time with family, and shopping for fun socks!

Meet Dr. Matthew DowneyDr. Downey grew up in Coventry RI, he went on to attend the University of Rhode Island where he received his BS in Biology. He then attended Tufts University School of Dental Medicine where he earned his DMD degree. Following dental school, Dr. Downey completed a two-year residency program in Advanced Education in Pediatric Dentistry at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. He has been practicing pediatric dentistry for over ten years and feels that helping children get through their dental fears is extremely rewarding. When not practicing dentistry, Dr. Downey enjoys fishing, snowboarding, and rooting for local sports teams as well as spending time with his wife Julie and their three children.

Our HygienistsWe are very fortunate to have 4 highly qualified and experienced dental hygienists. They have been providing dental care for the children and young adults in our pediatric dental practice for over 50 years combined! As well as their technical expertise in all facets of pediatric dental prevention, they also are quite skilled as dental educators. They have a comfort level in caring for all children that comes only with years of experience. They also continue to increase their knowledge by actively attending continuing education courses pertinent to the field of pediatric dentistry.

Our AssistantsWe are lucky to have wonderful assistants who are kind and caring and quite skilled at their positions. They help provide the best possible care for your children alongside our dentists!

Our Front Desk TeamOur Front Desk Team is ready to make your visit to our office a pleasant one. From the first telephone encounter to assisting with scheduling and insurance matters, they look forward to assisting you and your child.

In the same way that pediatricians are trained to meet a childs medical needs, pediatric dentists are specifically trained to address your childs oral health. In addition to 4 years of college and 4 years of dental school, both Dr. Shannon and Dr. Capalbo have undergone an additional 2 years of specialty residency training. This extensive training equips them to deal with a multitude of medical and behavioral aspects, and qualifies them to treat all children including those with special needs.

Why See a Pediatric DentistIn the same way that pediatricians are trained to meet a childs medical needs, pediatric dentists are specifically trained to address your childs oral health. In addition to 4 years of college and 4 years of dental school, both Dr. Shannon and Dr. Capalbo have undergone an additional 2 years of specialty residency training. This extensive training equips them to deal with a multitude of medical and behavioral aspects, and qualifies them to treat special needs patients.

Why Are Baby Teeth ImportantPrimary or baby teeth are essential to your childs everyday functions such as eating, speech development and appearance. A child who can chew easily, speak clearly and smile confidently is a happier child. Healthy primary teeth allow for normal development of the jawbones and muscles, save space for the permanent teeth and guide them into place. Decayed baby teeth can cause pain and abscesses, and the infection can spread to the permanent teeth. Remember, some primary molars are not replaced until age 10-14 years of age.

Tooth EruptionTypically, the first baby teeth that come into the mouth are the two bottom front teeth. You will notice this when your baby is about 6-8 months old. Next to follow will usually be the 2 upper front teeth. The remainder of your babys teeth will appear periodically in pairs until your child is 2 1/2 years old. We have a tooth eruption chart that we might review with you at your childs first visit.At around 2 1/2 years old your child should have all 20 baby teeth. Between the ages of 5 and 7 the first permanent teeth will begin to erupt. Some of the permanent teeth replace baby teeth and some dont. Dont worry if some teeth are a few months early or late as all children are different.