Diana Capobianco, D.D.S., Growing Smiles, PA

Pediatric Dentist

Crawling under a table, wearing orange creamsicle-flavored gloves, and examining the mouth of a child’s favorite stuffed animal are a few of the winsome tactics used by pediatric dentist Diana Capobianco, D.D.S., to put her young patients at ease. “Dr. Diana,” as her patients call her, attributes the success of her practice to a genuine love for children, which naturally fosters her creativity in relating to them.

While the atmosphere at Growing Smiles is purposefully light and upbeat, Dr. Diana and her staff emphasize to parents the seriousness of dental problems and the importance of early care in preventing them. “A two-year-old cannot adequately brush her own teeth,” Dr. Diana says. “We help parents assume responsibility for home care.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend that a child’s first visit to the dentist be scheduled around his or her first birthday. This is a good time for the dentist to determine the progress of teething and to identify early signs of decay, infection or other dental problems.

“The most important part of the first office visit is acquainting the child with the dentist and staff to ensure that the child feels comfortable.”

One common phenomenon in young children is “baby bottle decay,” a condition in which acids in the mouth attack the teeth while the child sleeps. A bottle containing anything other than water and left in an infant’s mouth while sleeping can cause decay. “Baby bottle decay can show up as early as nine months,” Dr. Diana says, “and some of those teeth stay in for up to 11 years. If parents let it go, that’s a long time for a child to walk around with infection and pain.”

Many parents are apprehensive about dentistry because of negative experiences they’ve had and they transfer their avoidance of dentistry to their children. “We want to break that cycle,” Dr. Diana says. “The most important part of the first office visit is acquainting the child with the dentist and staff to ensure that the child feels comfortable. This will set the tone for future visits.”

Dr. Diana earned her Dental Degree and her Specialty Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from the University of Maryland Dental School. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

The specialty of pediatric dentistry requires the same basic training as that of a general family dentist, plus an additional two to three years of specialty training to focus on growth, development and the behavioral challenges of children.

Dr. Diana volunteers many hours throughout the community, providing screening and educational programs. She works with all children and welcomes special needs children who are referred to her by many sources, including the Autism Society of Maryland and Kennedy Krieger Institute. She works with Sinai Hospital/Northwest Hospital and Upper Chesapeake Health System. “Specialty training helps in dealing with unique genetic and behavioral circumstances,” Dr. Diana says, “but the most important thing is to demonstrate compassion and understanding of the patient’s situation. Anyone can have the book knowledge, but if they don’t have the heart to apply it to each individual, it’s not worth it.”

Diana Capobianco, D.D.S., Growing Smiles, PA
2012 Tollgate Road, Suite 212
Bel Air, MD 21015
410-569-4700

www.growingsmiles.com

Pictured left to right: Dr. Diana Capobianco and the staff of Growing Smiles
Photography: Coyle Studios