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.
Reviews
Rating 4.9 out of 5 based on 96 reviews
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newest oldest highest lowestKirsten Montgomery
a year ago
Dr. Capalbo and staff are the bomb! She's goofy, but professional and knows how to put kids at ease. Cleanings and one tooth pulling have all gone very smoothly.
Shelby Buck
a year ago
Dr. Anna Capalbo was so good with my daughter. She had a lot of anxiety about having her cavities filled. Dr Capalbo put her at ease by singing songs and distracting her the whole time while doing quality work quickly. She has such a skill with children and made a scary experience feel like no big deal to my child. Would highly recommend her.
Cathy Cilcius
a year ago
Always a great visit with Dr. Downey! He, and the staff, are so nice and genuinely care about their patients. We have been coming here since my son was 4 and he's now 15. Can't recommended this practice enough!
Margaret Dunning
2 years ago
By far the best pediatric Dentist I've ever experienced My child agrees even though they gave him needles.
Gabrielle Richards
2 years ago
Absolutely amazing staff and care!
Kayla Folz
2 years ago
My son (3yrs)fell and chipped his tooth over the weekend. I called the emergency line and received a call back quickly! They were able to get my son as soon as they opened! The staff was so kind and patient, my son felt extremely comfortable the entire appt! He was so happy to have his tooth back that he thanked the dr who fixed it! This is a big deal for him because he is very shy! I'm so impressed with how smooth the entire process went! Thank you from one happy mama!!
Kaitlin Beauchamp
2 years ago
Dr. Anna Capalbo and her hygienist, "Miss Bonnie" are so wonderful with my 3.5 year old son. They make kids and parents feel comfortable and provide great dental care.
Kevin Emery
2 years ago
They entire staff is excellent. Dr. C is a rockstar with children.
Renee McDonald
2 years ago
My daughter enjoys going to the dentist. Everyone is friendly, and they make her experience wonderful each and every time.
Danielle Stone
2 years ago
We switched to this practice when my youngest was an infant. The staff was always fantastic with my children. Today we went in for an issue my son was having. I had to just say that Dr Capalbo is always bubbly and telling corny, funny jokes. But her bedside manner with my son while he was hurting was top notch. He even said how he really liked how she was funny when she knew it was right and serious when it was right and it made him feel really comfortable. She genuinely listened to him and treated him so well. It really made in impression on me today. She also was so great when I was speaking to her with issues I was having with my kids brushing habits.
C T
2 years ago
The best children's dentist office around!
Sarah Wilkinson
2 years ago
My daughter is a patient here & loves it, my son had his first appointment here yesterday. All I can say is WOW! My son needs some work & has an infection..he's also 5 and had a bad experience at his previous dentist..and a very sensitive gag reflex. Instead of losing patience with him and getting frustrated, Kristen took her time to explain everything to him and make him feel comfortable. He went from closing his mouth and turning on his side in the chair, to letting her clean his teeth! Dr Capalbo is absolutely amazing, and was also very reassuring to me. They really understand kids here, and work with them to overcome their fears of the dentist, rather than just refer them to the operating room for simple procedures. My son went from crying and stressing on his way there, to asking me when he gets to go back there again, on the way home. I cannot express how happy I am to have him transferred there! I wanted to cry tears of relief knowing that he'll finally be getting the care he needs. Thank you guys so much!!!
Erica Giorno
2 years ago
My children have been going to Dr. Capalbo for over 10 years. She is so wonderful, compassionate, caring and fun. We cannot say enough wonderful things about her, and the entire staff. We highly recommend Dr. Capalbo!!
Kara Kitchin
2 years ago
Always a 5 star experience here The boys love to come!
Aaron Bliven
2 years ago
We had a great appointment with Dr Capalbo and Kristen, our hygienist. They made us feel so comfortable for our first visit. You can tell they truly love their jobs and care about their young patients. Thank you!
Jen James
2 years ago
We always have a great experience but today was super. My son needed a tooth extracted, is super nervous around needles and had not one clue he got novacaine. He was so happy and said it was so easy and he loved the dentist!
Richard Garofalo
2 years ago
My child is 10 and she absolutely loves Westerly office. This is our third dentist and I the third time is charm. The secretaries are great as well. They keep very close to the appointment time. Though listen to your concerns and questions. This group is truly a blessing.
Yunshu Wang
2 years ago
Super friendly staff and doctor. The little one cannot sit still but they are super patient, doctor even sings him a song. Make appointment early since they have a tight schedule.
Hanna Nagle
2 years ago
Greatest place for your little one to go! My son is 3 and he is never afraid to go because Ms. Bonnie and Dr. C are the best. He feels comfortable and safe with them and I appreciate that the most.
Patricia Stone
2 years ago
We have gone to Dr Capalbo since my kids were toddlers. She is amazing. My daughters actually look forward to going to the dentist!
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