Patient Resources

What to Expect at Your First Visit

Smallberg & Satornino, DDS, PLLC provides family dentistry in a patient centered environment where you will feel relaxed and confident in their dental experience. By combining advanced dental techniques and technology with a gentle, friendly style, Drs. Smallberg and Satornino, along with their team will make you and your family more comfortable than you ever thought possible.

We bring a comprehensive approach to our dental practice, taking the time to get to know the concerns and goals of our patients. Your first visit will include an exam and evaluation of the entire jaw system to look for signs of wear and any imbalance that could signal a developing dental health issue and a pre-clinical consultation. During this appointment, you’ll have an opportunity to discuss your goals and concerns.

New Patient Exam:

If we receive your paperwork in a timely fashion, we can research your insurance coverage and benefits for you, prior to your first visit.
Review your medical and dental history
Full set of digital dental x-rays (ultra low radiation).
Examine your mouth, record existing conditions and existing dentistry, measure pockets in your gums to check for gum disease, check teeth for cavities and signs of damage (example: fractures), perform oral cancer screening.
Exam by doctor, review your treatment plan.
Oral Hygiene Instruction
Decide whether you require a prophylaxis (dental cleaning) or a deep cleaning (if there is gum disease present), which will take more than one visit.
If your problems are more complex (ex. TMJ dysfunction, problems with your bite, significant tooth wear, cosmetic needs), we may recommend you schedule an additional appointment for an occlusal evaluation.

Occlusal Evaluation:

If you are a candidate for an occlusal evaluation, it will include:

A set of digital photos 
An evaluation of TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) related muscles 
Listening to your TMJ using TMJ doppler auscultation (like a sonogram, but with sound only) 
Checking the range of motion of your mouth (how much you can move your jaw in different directions) 
Spending time figuring out where your “true bite” is and recording it. 
Taking impressions or a digital scan of your mouth 
Recording the position and angulation of your upper jaw and skull.

What’s New

Our doctors and staff are routinely trained in CPR and medical emergencies, and OSHA and infection control. We are always looking for new techniques and procedures to improve your dental health. After extensive research, if we decide that the procedure appears safe and beneficial to our patients, we incorporate it into the practice.

New Patient Dental FAQs

What should I bring to my first dental appointment?
Please fill out and submit our patient forms prior to your first dental appointment. If you have dental insurance, please remember to bring that information as well. If you are seeking a second opinion or being referred by another dentist, contact our office to find out if we will need copies of your medical or dental records.

Do you accept dental insurance?
We will handle all of the billing and paperwork needed to maximize your insurance benefits. Please bring your insurance card to your first visit. Please call our office for more detailed information.

Providing our office with your forms, insurance information, and previous dental records as early as possible, prior to your appointment, will help prevent any delays in treatment.

Why do I need to see a dentist?
We routinely do a thorough exam of the gums. Every year, there are more and more scientifically documented connections between dental health and overall health. Diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, respiratory disease, and cancer have all been linked to poor gum health.

Pregnant women who have periodontal disease may be more likely to have a baby that is born too early and too small. All infections are cause for concern among pregnant women because they pose a risk to the health of the baby.

We routinely screen for oral cancer, which, if undiagnosed, could spread throughout the body and become less treatable. We routinely examine the mouth and take x-rays to look for decay. Left untreated, decay could spread and cause an abscess, which could become a serious medical issue, if left untreated. We routinely look for wear on your teeth and any TMJ symptoms. This could lead to pain and further dental problems.

Schedule an Appointment

If you prefer to contact us via e-mail us to schedule an appointment, you can reach us at: info@westburydds.com

Please include your name, phone number, availability, and why you are making the appointment (new patient exam, emergency, previous planned treatment by the doctors).