As a parent, choosing the right dental home is extremely important. The relationship that you establish with your childs dentist plays an important role to help maintain optimal oral health throughout your childs lifetime.
While one may assume that a general dentist and pediatric dentist are one and the same, there are vast differences that make pediatric dentists the professional of choice when providing care to children. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, pediatric dentists are the pediatricians of dentistry and have had at least two to three years of specialty training following dental school, qualifying them to deal with the behavioral aspects of children, how to make them feel comfortable and how to make the dental experience a pleasant one. As parents, we know that a trip to the dentist can be an intimidating thing for our little ones, and working with a doctor that is trained specifically to work with a child's view is extremely important for laying down the foundation for positive visits in the future. It is our goal to provide an experience that establishes trust and confidence early on and to educate on a level that your child can understand.
While FPD is the 20-year-old brain child of Dr. Ana, she is proud to share the practice with Dr. Misti, who recently became part-owner. It was important for Dr. Ana to find someone who shared her outside-the-box creative vision, as well as her genuine love for her craft after all, if youre going to do something every day, it certainly helps to love what you do! The two doctors found their professional other-half in one another, sharing both their overall passion for life and their love of working with children. They share a common goal to create a unique and enjoyable experience for each patient and parent who visits our island. To them, this is more than a job its their passion.
B.S. Biology, University of Puerto Rico, 1984: graduated Magna Cum LaudeDoctor of Medicine Degree, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, 1988: graduated with HonorsCertificate in Pediatric Dentistry, Indiana University School of Dentistry, 1990Diplomate, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry 1998MBA, Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, 2013
B.A. Chemistry, Indiana University Purdue University, 2003Doctor of Dental Surgery, Indiana University School of Dentistry, 2007Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry, Childrens Hospital of Michigan, 2014Diplomate, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
B.S. Chemistry, Xavier University of Louisiana, 1998Doctor of Dental Surgery, University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry, 2002Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Dentistry, 2004MPH Public Health, University of Illinois at ChicagoDiplomate, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, 2009Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Indiana University School of DentistryDirector of the Craniofacial Anomalies Team, Riley Hospital for Children
Excelling in superior customer service, our Patient Loyalty Crew strives to exceed your expectations in making your visit efficient and memorable. Our crew members will ensure that your experience is pleasant and seamless from the moment you walk through our door.
Here at FPD, we understand that getting your child to the dentist is not always easy, and there may be fears and anxieties associated with visiting the dentist. Offering the comfort of animal-assisted therapy is a special and unique component of the caring environment weve created for our patients and their families.
Research has shown that pet therapy provides both physical and emotional benefits during stressful situations, such as a trip to the dentist. Animal-assisted therapy has also been known to provide a sense of calming and support for children with autism, ADHD and other special healthcare needs. Being in the presence of a companion animal has the amazing ability to significantly reduce stress and anxiety, and provide a dose of comfort and unconditional love to help put patients at ease.