In a quest to educate pediatric dentists nationwide on the importance of the early dental examination, Dr. Zavras and colleagues analyzed insurance dental claims of 95,000+ children residing in California, Texas, and New York. The authors identified significant benefits of the early visit. Children that visited a dentist early in life received significantly less restorations in their first 5 years. Overall dental costs were also less than the dental costs of children that received care later.

To receive a reprint of the article or to learn more, please email us at convivialdental@comcast.net

Dr. Zavras is Professor of Pediatric Dentistry and Chairman of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Boston University. He is also adjunct Professor of Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Is the sound of a drill enough to make your child flinch or cringe? Does he or she worry about the twice-yearly dental checkup at Convivial Dental? Trust us when we say your child is not alone!

To help eliminate that distress, Drs. Cartsos and Zavras and our team put together five steps to help your child overcome his or her dental anxiety when visiting Convivial Dental.

1. Ask your child what they’re most afraid of. Is it the sound of the drill? Do you have needle phobia? Has your child been traumatized by previous dental visits? Have children write down their fears, one by one, and talk about them.

2. Don’t wait. The more frequently your child visits our office, the less work will need to be done at any given visit. Simply having Drs. Cartsos and Zavras professionally clean your child’s teeth twice a year prevents many, if not most, problems down the road.

3. Bring a distraction such as music to your child’s appointment. Just plug in those earphones, have your child close his or her eyes, and get lost in the music. Listening to tunes can also be a pain killer.

4. Remind your child to unwind. Inhaling slowly and counting to five helps. Encourage children to hold their breath for ten seconds, then exhale slowly to the count of eight, and repeat as needed. It’s easier if they’re not focused on the work going on inside their mouth.

5. Ask us. Before any procedure your child undergoes, we encourage you to ask Drs. Cartsos and Zavras or one of our assistants why we’re using the tools we’re using. Ask us what we’re doing during your child’s procedure, what the tool is used for, and how it benefits your child. Also, please ask about anti-anxiety medications we may prescribe to help your child relax during his or her appointment.

Remember, our team at Convivial Dental are health care professionals who strive to improve your child’s oral health, and will do all we can to ensure a trauma- and pain-free experience during his or her visit!

We hope these tips help! For more on pediatric dental anxieties, ask us during your next visit to our Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts office! Or, ask us below or on Facebook!

Dr. Zavras and Dr. Cartsos and our Convivial Dental office are proud to support and contribute toward the WALK FOR HEALTH at the Chestnut Hill Reservoir, at Cleveland Circle in Brighton Ma. on September 20 , 2015.

The funds raised will be used to benefit the HADASSAH MEDICAL ORGANIZATION IN ISREAL, one of the major treatment centers in Israel.

There is nothing more gratifying than making a profound difference in child's life. For children born with a facial cleft or a congenital malformation to the face, their medical journey starts at birth. Treatment is intense.

For families that have no adequate insurance, costs are often prohibitive. Thus the need to raise funds to help children in need.

Dr. Zavras and Dr. Cartsos and our Convivial Dental office are proud to participate in the annual 2015 “PACES FOR FACES” WALK AND FAMILY PICNIC.

The event is taking place on Lake Quannapowitt, Wakefield, MA., Sunday, October 4, 2015.  The walk starts at 10:30 a.m.  and will end at 2:00 p.m.

Our goal is to raise money to contribute toward the FOUNDATION FOR FACES OF CHILDREN affiliated with TUFTS FLOATING HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN.

If you would like to participate, and/or donate towards this cause, please see flyer. The organization's  website is pacesforfaces.com/2015-walk

We look forward to seeing you there!!!