What to Expect During Your First Visit
Welcome to Gardell Dental
Thank you for visiting our website. To schedule your first appointment, use our Contact Form or call us at (203) 975-0633. We look forward to hearing from you and to meeting you in-person. A short list of what to expect appears below. If you have specific questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to ask.
No Waiting: We value your time. To eliminate waiting, we practice on-target scheduling. Our goal is to see every patient on time every time.
3-D Imaging: When you first visit our Stamford, CT dental office, we like to cover all the bases. That starts with 3-D imaging. While most dental offices take two dimensional x-rays, we do 3-D Imaging to get the “big picture.” For you, this means a low radiation dose, no bulky sensors in your mouth, and diagnostic accuracy.
Thorough Examination: Dr. Gardell will take time to review the 3-D Imaging and explain his findings to you. He will zoom in on any areas of concern on the image, so you can visualize them for yourself. Dr. Gardell will also do a thorough visual examination and an oral cancer screening.
Explanation of Treatment & Time to Ask Questions: After the examination, Dr. Butterman will put together your ideal treatment plan, including costs. He also will explain treatment alternatives and allow enough time for you to have all your questions answered.
Start Treatment: If you choose to start treatment during your first visit, we can typically accommodate your request.
Common Questions:
When can you see me? We see patients Monday through Friday. If you are in pain or require urgent treatment, we typically can see you the day you call us. If you’d like to schedule a non-urgent visit, or if you need a check-up and cleaning, we typically can schedule your appointment within a week’s time.
Is it going to hurt? Your comfort is our top priority. We use local anesthetic and offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and sedation. Before starting treatment, we make sure that the anesthetic is in full effect and that you won’t feel a thing. If at any time during the procedure you feel the numbness wearing off, we will immediately stop and administer more anesthetic as needed.
How long will it take? A check-up and cleaning appointment takes about an hour. A filling appointment should last a half hour. Implant placement typically takes an hour, and a crown normally takes an hour and a half (if we’re also doing a root canal the appointment should take about two hours). Cosmetic treatment, such as veneers can take a couple to several hours, depending on the procedure and the number of teeth involved.
Do you take insurance? We take all traditional dental insurance and PPO insurance. We are in-network with several PPO plans. If you would like us to look into your plan’s benefits, please contact us with your Name, Date of Birth, Subscriber ID, and Insurance Company.
Do you offer financing? We work with Care Credit to provide long term financing and short term interest-free financing. It’s easy to apply online with both companies.
How much will it cost? We do our best to give you an accurate estimate of treatment cost, insurance co-pays, and financing options. We also can submit a preauthorization to your insurance prior to treatment so you know exactly what to expect.