HOW OUR WINNERS ARE CHOSEN: For 2012, we sent questionnaires to every dentist licensed in Connecticut—over 2,800—asking them to recommend a dentist to whom they would send a loved one for care in seven categories. We received 550 completed questionnaires (20 percent), a very good return rate. Thus, every dentist listed has been recommended by a significant number of his or her peers—indeed, the only way to make the list is through these peer recommendations. We like to say that every dentist who makes the list is a good one, or at least a recommended one, but not every good dentist makes the list. You should use it as a reference, not the final word, as you search for someone to help you with your dental needs. You must ultimately do your own due diligence in order to decide which dentist is right for you or your loved ones.
Dr. Cristina L. Santos-Tomas received her B.S. in biology from Trinity College and is a graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. Her love for children led her to specialize in pediatrics and complete a pediatric dental residency program at the University of Connecticut and Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. She is a board-certified pediatric dentist who is currently on the clinical teaching staff at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine and on the medical staff of Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. As a pediatric dentist, Dr. Santos-Tomas has noted the prevalence of cavities among young children. She strongly supports the ADA and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s recommended “age 1” dental visit. “Often, parents hesitate to bring a child to the dentist until they are 3 or 4,” she says. “My goal is to create a dental home for children by age 1.” She emphasizes that by seeing a pediatric dentist early, “children develop a positive relationship with the dentist and a healthy smile from the beginning.”
Additional Information
Practice Name: Newinton Children's Dentistry, LLC
Dental School: University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine
Professional Affiliations: American Dental Association, Connecticut State Dental Association, Connecticut Society of Pediatric Dentists, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry