What It Means to Choose a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist in NJ

When most parents search for a pediatric dentist in New Jersey, they focus on the obvious things — location, office hours, whether the practice accepts their insurance. Those things matter. But there is one credential that reveals more about a dentist’s training, accountability, and commitment to excellence than any of them: board certification through the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

Not every pediatric dentist in NJ holds this credential. Here is what it actually means — and why it matters for the care your child receives.

What is ABPD board certification?

The American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD) is the only ADA-recognized certifying body for the pediatric dental specialty. Board certification is entirely voluntary — it goes beyond the state license required to practice, and it requires a dentist to prove their knowledge and clinical judgment to an independent panel of their peers.

To earn Diplomate status, a pediatric dentist must complete an accredited two-year residency program after dental school, pass a rigorous written qualifying examination, present a detailed portfolio of clinical cases spanning a broad range of conditions and age groups, and then defend that portfolio in an oral examination before experienced examiners. Even after earning the credential, Diplomates must maintain it through ongoing continuing education and periodic recertification — there is no “lifetime” board certification.

What makes this credential meaningful is how far board certification rates have grown as a direct result of its perceived value. According to the ABPD’s own published data, more than 75% of pediatric dentists are now board certified — compared to fewer than 25% in the early 2000s. (American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, abpd.org) The credential has become the professional standard precisely because the field itself recognized that independent examination — not just years of practice — is what best ensures patient safety and clinical quality.

How does a board-certified pediatric dentist differ from a general dentist?

A general dentist who treats children is not the same as a board-certified pediatric dental specialist. The differences are meaningful and concrete:

• Specialized residency training: Pediatric dentists complete two additional years of residency after dental school focused entirely on child development, behavior management, sedation safety, and the unique anatomy of primary and mixed dentition. This training simply does not exist in a general dental education.
• Child behavior and communication expertise: Managing a three-year-old’s first visit, or a child with severe anxiety or sensory sensitivities, requires specific techniques that are not taught in general dental curricula. Pediatric specialists train for years in these scenarios.
• Special healthcare needs training: Children with developmental disabilities, medical conditions, or complex behavioral profiles require an entirely different clinical approach. Pediatric dental residencies include dedicated training in exactly these cases.
• Developmental growth knowledge: Interceptive orthodontics, jaw development, airway assessment, and early identification of bite problems all require a deep understanding of how children grow — knowledge that sits outside the scope of adult dental care.

Board certification adds a further layer on top of this specialized training: it is the independent, third-party confirmation that a dentist has not only completed the required education but has demonstrated mastery of it to a panel of their most experienced peers.

Why it matters specifically for families in South Jersey

Children’s dental needs are often more complex than they appear. A cavity in a three-year-old requires different clinical decisions than a cavity in a thirty-year-old. A child who gags, panics, or has never sat in a dental chair requires behavior management skills that take years to develop. A child with a congenital condition, a bleeding disorder, or a sensory processing difference requires a dentist who has trained specifically for those situations — not someone improvising based on general dental experience.

For families in Vineland, Millville, Bridgeton, and throughout Cumberland County, having access to a board-certified specialist means your child is receiving care from a dentist who has been externally tested on all of these scenarios — not just someone who treats children alongside adults in a general practice.

About Dr. Bristol-Martir’s credentials

Dr. Brendaliz Bristol-Martir is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry — one of the pediatric dentists in NJ who has completed the full certification process and continues to maintain it through active recertification. With over a decade of clinical experience serving children across South Jersey, she is also an active member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) and the New Jersey Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (NJAPD), keeping her practice aligned with the most current guidelines in the specialty.

What sets her approach apart — beyond the credential — is a genuine prevention-first philosophy. Whether it is your child’s very first visit or a routine checkup, Dr. Bristol-Martir treats every appointment as an opportunity to build a child’s long-term relationship with dental care, not just to treat what is in front of her today. That philosophy is reflected in the 1,200-plus five-star reviews South Jersey Pediatric Dental has earned from families across the region.

What to look for when choosing a pediatric dentist in NJ

If you are currently evaluating options for your child’s dental care in South Jersey, here are the most important questions to bring to any practice:

• Is the dentist a current Diplomate of the ABPD?
• Did they complete an accredited pediatric dentistry residency — and where?
• Are they a current member of the AAPD?
• Do they have documented experience treating children with special healthcare needs, dental anxiety, or complex medical histories?
• What sedation options does the practice offer when needed?

These questions separate a dentist who happens to treat children from a specialist who has dedicated their entire professional identity to children’s oral health. The distinction is real — and for families who want to be certain their child is in the most qualified hands, board certification is the clearest signal available.

Meet Dr. Bristol-Martir — board-certified pediatric dentist serving Vineland, Millville, Bridgeton, and all of Cumberland County.

Read about Dr. Bristol-Martir’s  Or call (856) 213-4400 to schedule your child’s first visit with our team.