As we start prepping for the back-to-school season a lot of us are filling up our calendars with meet-the-teacher nights, school shopping trips and more. But making sure your kid’s appointments, like the dentist, are on the schedule are equally important. For that reason it seems like the perfect time to introduce you to Ipswich mom, Dr. Marina Mooradian, a pediatric dentist and the founder of Great Marsh Pediatric Dentistry. Keep reading to learn more about Marina. In addition to sharing about her career and practice, she also share some great tips for local restaurants!
Where are you from originally and what town do you live in now?
I am originally from Winchester, MA. My husband and I moved to Newburyport in 2014, fell in love with the North Shore and ended up settling in Ipswich where we live and raise our family today.
How many children do you have and what are their age(s)?
I have two children. John is 5 years old and going off to kindergarten in the fall, and Marcella is 3 years old and in pre-school.
What’s your favorite family activity on the North Shore?
My favorite family activity on the North Shore is going to the beach and exploring the different open spaces, farms and trails here. We love to go fishing and looking for crabs and clams at the beach. We also like to bike and walk in Bradley Palmer State Park and Appleton Farms. You can find us a lot at the Ipswich Public Library too, and swimming and playing at the splash pad at the Ipswich YMCA. When the sun isn’t shining we like to visit the Wenham Museum and see all the trains and dolls. I always feel so lucky that we have so many great family places for kids to play and explore on the north shore.
Where’s your favorite place to eat and/or shop on the North Shore?
I have so many favorite places to eat! For a family dinner, some of our favorites are Riverview Pizza and the Ipswich Ale Brewery in Ipswich, and The Boat House in Essex. For a date night, my husband and I will make the drive to Gloucester to eat at Oak to Ember. We love Sandpiper Bakery in Ipswich and Honeycomb in Hamilton for a quick breakfast and the Ipswich Inn for a sit down breakfast (which really only happens on Mother’s Day!). A new favorite is Cafe Sarina in Georgetown too.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you came to open Great Marsh Pediatric Dentistry.
I went to dental school at Tufts, and while there I had the opportunity to go on a few mission trips to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. On these trips I gained a lot of experience providing pediatric dental care. I loved working with the kids and being able to be silly, getting them to calm down to cooperate and see how proud they were of themselves in the end. I enjoyed it so much that after dental school I went back to study for two more years and complete a pediatric dental residency program.
I moved to Newburyport after I finished my residency and practiced for two years in Southern Maine. My father was then diagnosed with terminal cancer, and I wanted to be with him and help take care of him, so I moved home and started to work at a great practice in Stoneham. Time passed and two babies and a pandemic later, I realized there was never going to be a perfect time to have my own practice, so I just went for it.
The concept for the practice came from the big reason why my family lives on the North Shore, the Great Marsh. The North Shore has amazing small communities and school systems, but it was really the beauty and access to the Great Marsh; the beaches, boating and fishing that drew us back to this area time and again. Inside the walls of Great Marsh Pediatric Dentistry, we have a beach theme, with a faux clam shack wall and animals from the Great Marsh present throughout the space. As the practice builds, I plan to connect with the organizations that help protect and preserve the Great Marsh and other open spaces of the North Shore to help sustain these spots for future generations to enjoy.
Where is Great Marsh Pediatric Dentistry located?
Great Marsh Pediatric Dentistry is located in Georgetown on Central Street (Route 97), near the intersection of Route 97 and Route 133. We are also about 5 minutes from I-95 and Rt 1. The office is next to CVS and across the street from Crosby’s Marketplace and Georgetown Crossing shopping center.
What are some of the dental services you offer?
We offer comprehensive dental care for children. We provide regular preventative dental care including exams, cleanings, fluoride, sealants and x-rays. We fix cavities on baby and adult teeth with fillings and crowns, as well as ‘wiggle’ out teeth for the tooth fairy, if needed. We also have some cosmetic options for older patients, including whitening. In addition to the traditional dental care above, we also offer minimally invasive techniques (SDF and SMART) for children and have nitrous oxide sedation available for any nervous little friends.
When should parents first seek out dental care for their kids?
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) a child should see a dentist by their first birthday or 6 months after their first tooth erupts. This may seem early to some parents, but many times these first visits are important for the parents to ask questions, seek guidance on how best to brush their child’s teeth (wiggly babies and toddlers can be tricky!), and review the things you can do to reduce the risk of your young child getting cavities.
What advice would you give a parent whose child is nervous about visiting the dentist?
It is completely normal to be nervous about a new experience! If this is your child’s first visit and you,, as a parent have any dental anxiety, try not to let it show through. Kids are smart and will pick up on that feeling. There are some great books and shows out there to help prep your child if it is their first dental visit. Two of my favorites are Daniel Tiger Goes to the Dentist by Alessandra Cassell Schwartz and We Are Going to the Dentist by Mariam Cocklico.
If your child has already been to the dentist and had a challenging experience, it can take some time to wipe the slate clean and that’s okay. Morning appointments help make a better experience, so there isn’t the build up to the dentist all day which can increase their anxiety.
As a pediatric dentist, we went through an additional 2+ years of training to better serve our little patients and especially at Great Marsh Pediatric Dentistry, we are very patient and kind. We love interacting with your children and getting them comfortable with us, even if they have had some negative experiences prior to us meeting them. We believe in meeting patients and families where they are and providing the best care for them that we can.
Any tips for balancing work & motherhood?
It’s a challenge! I think staying organized is key, but also giving yourself some grace. There is never going to be a perfect balance and as long as the important things at work and home are taken care of, don’t sweat the small stuff. The dishes can wait!
What is the best piece of mom advice you ever received?
I think the best advice in general that I’ve ever gotten was from my dad and it applies directly to motherhood. It was to always follow my intuition. I think sometimes we really do know what we need as moms and what is best for our kids and family. Sometimes it is hard to hear it through all the noise of life, but if we can find it and listen to it, you’ll always be true to your values and moving in the right direction.
What’s your favorite thing to do when you need some “me” time?
Reading a book alone on the beach is probably my favorite thing to do for “me” time when I get the chance. I plan to do that a few times this month now that the greenheads are gone. More often, I’ll indulge in a long walk with my airedale terrier, Finne, or enjoy a quiet cup of coffee in the morning. It’s really just building in some quiet time. With a busy day of small children at work and home, I really cherish the brief and fleeting times of quiet when they happen.
Visit www.greatmarshpediatricdentistry.com to make an appointment or learn more about the Dr. Mooradian. Follow along with them on Instagram @greatmarshpediatricdentistry or on Facebook @GreatMarshPediatricDentistry.
…
This post is sponsored by Great Marsh Pediatric Dentistry, but all opinions present are my own.