Patient Resources for Your Westbury, NY Dental Visit
Smallberg & Satornino, DDS, PLLC provides family dentistry in a patient-centered environment where you will feel relaxed and confident in your dental experience by combining advanced dental techniques and technology with a gentle, friendly style. Dr. Smallberg, Dr. Satornino, and our dental team will make you and your family more comfortable than you ever thought possible.
As part of your appointment preparation, please log in to your account to access the patient resources in Westbury, NY, including new patient forms and dental insurance info.
Helpful Information to Prepare for Your Appointment
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 promptly, we can research your insurance coverage and benefits before 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 dentistry, measure pockets in your gums to check for gum disease, check teeth for cavities and signs of damage (for example, fractures), and perform oral cancer screening.
- Exam by the doctor review your treatment plan.
- Oral Hygiene Instruction
- Decide whether you require a prophylaxis (dental cleaning) or a deep cleaning (if gum disease is present), which will take more than one visit.
- If your problems are more complex (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, medical emergencies, OSHA, and infection control. We always seek new techniques and procedures to improve your dental health. After extensive research, if we decide that a 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 before your first dental appointment. If you have dental insurance, please also bring that information. 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 the billing and paperwork needed to maximize your insurance benefits. Please bring your insurance card to your first visit.
Providing our office with your forms, insurance information, and previous dental records as early as possible before your appointment will help prevent any delays in treatment.
We offer other convenient payment options if you do not have dental insurance. For more detailed information, please contact our office.
Why do I need to see a dentist?
We routinely do a thorough exam of the gums. More scientifically documented connections occur every year 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. We routinely look for wear on your teeth and any TMJ symptoms, which could lead to pain and further dental problems.
Schedule an Appointment
If you prefer to contact us via email to schedule an appointment, you can reach us at frontdesk@westburydds.com.
Please include your name, phone number, availability, and the reason you are making the appointment (e.g., new patient exam, emergency, previous planned treatment by the doctor).
Do you have any problems with your teeth? Smallberg & Satornino, DDS, PLLC can help you regain your healthy, confident smile. Contact us today for personalized dental care to enhance your oral health and aesthetic appeal.