Our Doctors
Dr. Israel Saintil
Specializing in Pediatric Dentistry
Dr. Israel Saintil is a passionate and dedicated board-eligible pediatric dentist with a special connection to the Southwest and East Coast. Born and raised in Neptune, NJ, he earned his dental degree and completed his residency in the nation’s capital of Washington, D.C. at Howard University College of Dentistry. After practicing there for several years, Dr. Israel made his way to Tucson, where he had the unique opportunity to immerse himself in a vibrant community and expand his skills in a way that was both professionally and personally rewarding. Now, back in the Grand Canyon State, he’s excited to reconnect with the community and bring his experience from both coasts and international waters to his pediatric patients!
Dr. Israel’s journey into pediatric dentistry was deeply shaped by mission trips he participated in. One of the most impactful experiences was treating children in an impoverished neighborhood in Haiti, where he witnessed firsthand the life-changing power of dental care. These experiences have solidified his passion for pediatric dentistry and inspired his commitment to providing compassionate, high-quality care to every child he treats.
Dr. Priya Y. Abramian
Specializing in Pediatric and Adolescent Dentistry
Priya Abramian, DDS is a board-certified pediatric dentist who received the Richard C. Pugh Achievement Award for her score in the top 3% of the nation on her qualifying board certification exam. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Texas at Austin where she received a 4.0, graduating with a B.A. in Biology. She then graduated first in her dental class and obtained a Doctorate of Dental Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center – Houston. Dr. Priya went on to obtain an advanced education certificate in General Practice Dentistry at a hospital-based program in Fresno, California. During her General Practice Residency, she became well experienced in treating special needs patients with a range of medical concerns. As with Dr. Hishaw, Dr. Priya completed her specialty training in Pediatric Dentistry from the University of Texas Health Science Center – San Antonio, one of the most respected programs in the United States.
Dr. Priya demonstrated a profound interest in research throughout her training years. Her research areas ranged from oral lesions found in HIV-infected children to access to health care for the underserved pediatric population. She obtained three training grants from the National Institute of Health to support her endeavors. Dr. Priya has received numerous awards and accolades for her research including first place in the National Caulk/Dentsply research competition held in Washington D.C.
She has presented her research at various meetings across the nation including the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Association of Dental Research, and the International Association of Dental Research.
Her professional affiliations include the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the Arizona Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Dental Association and the Southern Arizona Dental Society. She currently serves on the medical advisory board of the Southern Arizona Celiac support organization.
Dr. Priya loves treating children and enjoys being a positive influence in the lives of our patients by teaching and practicing the gold standard of care in our practice. Dr. Priya and her husband are the proud parents of two boys.
Did You Know?
Pedodontics is the branch of dentistry dealing with the teeth and mouth conditions of children. Pediatric dentistry is the specialty of dentistry that focuses on the oral health and unique needs of young people.
Parental involvement is extremely important. Prepare your child for their first visit by reinforcing a positive attitude:
- Playing pretend dentist
- Reading books that involve a dental visit
What Causes tooth decay?
- Bacteria that live on teeth consumes sugar and then uses it to manufacture acids
- The acids dissolve teeth
- The dissolved tooth becomes infected
- This infection is called decay
It is very important that primary teeth are kept in place until they are lost naturally. These teeth serve a number of critical functions.
Children should be weaned from the bottle at 12-14 months of age.
The leading causes of cavities are a diet of high sugars and lack of brushing and flossing. The longer your child chews on their food, the longer the residue stays on their teeth, the more acid forms and the greater the chances of cavities.
It is very important to care for your young child’s teeth. Early Childhood Caries (ECC), or tooth decay can affect a child’s body weight, growth and the overall quality of life of a child.
Four things are necessary for cavities to form:
- a tooth
- bacteria
- sugars or other carbohydrates, and
- time.
