Preventive dental care is key to oral- and whole-body health. National Dental Children’s Health Month, observed during February each year, encourages healthy habits for lifelong healthy smiles. The dentists and staff at Heine and Associates Family Dentistry work diligently to support that awareness and education, and to change the perception with local children that dental offices might be scary places. In fact, their goal is to make trips to their office pleasurable, regardless of a patient's age or dental steps needed with their team who assists all ages.
The Heine and Associates office is located in Newtown, as is the residence of its founder Matthew “Matt” Heine, D.D.S. As a Penn State alumni and graduate with honors from the prestigious University of Michigan Dental School, Dr. Heine is known as easygoing and thorough, which he says is a feeling he strives to transfer to his patients and the overall practice.
The Heine office, within its new location since last October at 12 Penns Trail, Ste. A, maintains a family-friendly, comforting ambiance that ties nicely with the fact the team handles comprehensive dental care for people of all ages. Services include general dentistry, orthodontics and pediatric dentistry.
"We're multi-disciplinary and serve as a reliable, experienced dental home for all members of families," Dr. Heine says.
He and Dat Vu, D.D.S., handle general dentist needs, ranging from routine work to complicated dental rehabilitations and implants. Joseph Brogan, D.M.D., a board-certified orthodontist, handles the orthodontic needs for all of the office's children and adults.
Finding a pediatric dentist who provides a positive experience, ease, avoidance of anxiety and getting children on the road to excellent lifelong oral health care starts at Heine and Associates, specifically with the office's lead pediatric dentist, Roshni Dhruva, D.D.S. Dr. Dhruva has an extremely impressive educational resume, featuring a doctorate, a pediatric dentistry alumni association award, and the role of chief resident, all of which were obtained at distinguished NYU. She also supports dental outreach efforts, such as assisting children in Nepal and Grenada, ones who often don't have personal toothbrushes.
She says pediatric services start within six months of a child's first tooth emerging, or no later than the age of 1 year. She adds that the program extends through children's teenage years. Most of the initial visits center on preventing cavities and nutritional counseling.
"I adore connecting with children, in all their different personalities, making them feel empowered and comfortable, as well as establishing an open door policy with their caregivers. I feel like patients are extended family members," says Dr. Dhruva, who herself is the mother of a 3-year-old and nine-month-old infant.
As a pediatric dentist, Dr. Dhruva helps children cultivate a lifetime of outstanding oral health. She says she tries to make every dental visit fun for youngsters, including prizes and leaving on happy, positive notes. "I'm passionate about ensuring dentist visits are worry-free experiences for our young patients as well their parents," she adds.
She says she's grateful to be part of the Newtown community whose families are caring people interested in protecting and enhancing their children's health. "I truly believe each child is unique, so I cater to each of their individual needs. I use an approach of tell/show/do. We explain what we're going to do, we show them what we're going to do, and then we do it," she explains.
Children don't even have to conform to sitting in the dental chair at first. This dentist says she's happy to handle activities while patients are in a stroller, holding their parent's hand, singing a song, or sitting on their guardian's lap. "Whatever it takes to desensitize them. They can raise their hand, and we give them a break."
Dr. Dhruva is a board-certified pediatric dentist, and is an active member of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
"Building trusting relationships is crucial. I wouldn't do any dental practices to young patients that I wouldn't do on my own kids," vows Dr. Dhruva.
Dr. Heine says with two general dentists available in the office, pediatric patients move on into an already familiar environment, thereby reducing the need to find a new dental office as they age.
"Our patients see the same dentist and team each time they visit because we've intentionally set up a patient-centered experience," he adds. "Continuity of care through life is important, and that's what our team remains dedicated to."
215.968.4545
HeineFamilyDental.com
"It's never too late to make teeth and gums a priority."
"It's about prompting a lifetime of beneficial oral health."
