Raynor Dental is committed to serving Dr. Craig McBeths patients with the same high level of care he provided for 36 years. His legacy of community service also inspires us. Over the years, he provided dental care to countless underserved people, through Traveling Adult Dental Services, Keene Immigration and Refugee Partnership, Head Start, Cedarcrest Center, and as a volunteer on many boards.

I am writing to share with you that I will be retiring at the end of this year with the sale of my practice to Jay and Stephanie Raynor (Raynor Dental). I plan to work part-time in 2020 for several months. While the sale of the practice has not been finalized, I am asked daily by patients when I plan to retire. My business experience tells me its not prudent to announce my retirement before the ink has dried, but I have always put my patients before business interests and this last phase of my professional life will be no different.

Many of you know Stephanie, who has worked with me since she graduated from Tufts Dental School where she and Jay were classmates. Jay graduated from Keene High and the University of New Hampshire. They live in Harrisville with their two young children.

Sylvia and I started our professional lives in Keene in 1984. After graduate and dental schools in Philadelphia, we moved to Cleveland where I had a two-year stint in the Public Health Service and Sylvia worked for the Hospital Association. As my commitment neared an end we decided to relocate to New England where we would be closer to skiing, hiking, the mountains and the ocean. After a lengthy search we found the right practice to buy; little did we know it would be the perfect community.

I vividly remember my very first day in the office; many of the 70 patients who came with the practice are still patients today. I am grateful for Sylvias support, especially in those early years as my practice grew to the thousands of patients in the practice currently. Sylvia worked at the Cheshire Medical Center, volunteered with many local and a couple of statewide organizations and was home with our children, Ben and Greer.

I could not do what I do on a daily basis without a truly invaluable staff, who are among the best co-workers and colleagues one could have. Jane was the sole employee at the practice when I started and played a vital role helping me chair-side as well as managing the front desk. Mary and Marcia joined us in my first year. They were followed by the dedicated and loyal staff I have today: Patty, Karen, Kate, Julie, Rachel, Wendi and Chrissy.

The most gratifying part of being a dentist has been the relationships I have with you and your family. I will most miss our interactions which have been such a joy to me. I am grateful for the many friendships and for the confidence you have had in me to care for your dental needs. It has truly been a privilege to be your dentist.

They may come into Raynor Dental shy, quiet, bouncing, boisterous or reluctantly at first. But no matter their mood when they arrive, thechildren and adolescent patients coming in for pediatric dental care bring an undeniable spark of light into ouroffice.Please visit our Baby Teeth page for helpful dental care tips and answers to questions frequently about office visits for our youngestpatients.The American Dental Associations Mouth Healthy Kids website is also a great resource for parents that includesbrushing tips, interactive games, videos and downloadable coloring sheets to help kids get excited about dentist visits.

If you have a teenager no one needs to tell you theyre often aQ&A unto themselves. But luckilythe American Dental Association has a dental health category specifically forTeens(which discouragespiercing lips or any part of themouthouch!). Needless to say,were equipped to support, guide and remindyour young adult to keep up those healthy habits between office visits.

Staying free of cavities at any age takes hard work, with regular brushing, flossing, and healthy eating. Being cavity-free is something to take pride in, and Raynor Dentals Kids Cavity-Free Club shows our young patients that healthy teeth are a big deal with recognition and rewards.

Being theparent of a young child is filled with ups, downs and all over the place. Addin pea-sized amounts of toothpaste on a daily basisand life isguaranteed to getmessier. To restore somepeace ofmind (sorry thisonly applies tochildrensoralhealth) Raynor Dental hascompiled a list of helpful dental care tips for the parents of our youngest patients.

Instilling good habits early in life is essential to help your child maintain proper oral hygiene, along with a healthy, beautiful smile long after the tooth fairy has come and gone. Its our job at Raynor Dental to support you in this endeavor.

RD: For patients three and under, a highly trained hygienist along with Dr. Jay, Dr. Steph or Dr. Dan will perform a gentle exam and tooth count. Visits for our youngest patients are designed to help get them comfortable with our office, dental team, lights, equipment and answer your questions.

RD: Yes. Many toddlers actually prefer to stay in their parents lap during theirvisit. But if theyd like to sit in the dentist chair and take a trip up, down and back again rides are always available (and encouraged).

As they graduate to professional cleanings, preschool and early elementary children actually do much better in the chair when mom or dad isnt in the room. Parents may, of course, choose to stay close by, but wed recommend just outside the door, out of eyesight.

RD: Two minutes is the recommended duration. Of course this is an eternity for most kids. So staying near your child and monitoring their hand-brush coordination, and helping them stay focused is important.

RD: Yes. But before introducing a childrens fluoride toothpaste to yourtoddler make sure theyvebeen practicing the happy, messy art of spitting out toothpaste. Once they are in a regular habit of spitting into (or hopefully near) the sink, you know its OK to use that pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste under your caring supervision.

RD: The answer is of course yes. But most children lack the coordination to brush and floss on their own until about the age of 6 or 7. So you can help by flossing your childs teeth once a day as soon as two teeth emerge that touch. The use of floss sticks (or picks) instead of regular string floss is usually easier for both you and your child during these early years.

RD: Children love to imitate their parents. So if your toddler has started a mini oral health care rebellion try rearranging morning and evening routines by brushing teeth with your child, instead of simply for them. Exaggerate and slow your movements; open your mouth extra wide so they can mimic you in the mirror (or face to face). An older sibling can also be an incredible resource here for a younger child to mimic or follow.

Once theyve chomped and brushed a bit, gently explain its mom or dads turn. Compliment, smile and give extra praise while you brush their teeth. Dont hesitate to introduce books, songs or a favorite teddy into the mix. Be patient, stay positive and most of all, keep it fun!

RD: The sucking reflex is a normal and natural self soothing mechanism. However, if a sucking habit continues after permanent teeth start erupting (between age 4 and 7) it can cause problems with the growth of the mouth and jaw, and position of the teeth. The best way to deal with thumb or finger sucking is with positive reinforcement, not negative words or punishment. Were happy to provide tips on how to gently help your child break this habit.

RD: If its a baby tooth: apply pressure to the gum to stop any bleeding. If your child seems OK, watch for signs of infection throughout the week, such as fever or swelling and tenderness, and call Raynor Dental immediately if you see anything unusual with your childs gums or teeth.

The Raynor Dental team provides professional, uncompromising & ethical dental care to every patient, every visit. We like to get to know our patients and will work with you toachieve youroptimal oral health