Your First Visit

Initial Orthodontic Consultation

At your first visit with Busciglio Smiles, a complimentary panoramic X-ray and a set of photos will be taken. These diagnostics provide the necessary information for our orthodontists to assess your orthodontic needs and discuss treatment options. If you decide you would like to pursue treatment, a complete set of diagnostic records will be taken.

This typically includes photos of the patient’s face and teeth, panoramic and cephalometric x-rays, and digital scans. This information is used to develop a customized treatment plan for each individual patient. If necessary, these records may also be taken at intervals during treatment to assist in tracking progress as the teeth and jaws move.

Please note that we can make your visit most informative for you if you come with the following information:

1. The name of your dentist and any X-rays provided to you (if applicable)
2. A list of medications you or your child are presently taking
3. Any dental insurance information

Your Child’s First Dental Visit

At Busciglio Smiles, we follow the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, advocating for a child’s first dental visit to happen by their first birthday. This early introduction allows your child to become familiar with our office and visits, building trust and minimizing future dental anxieties. Our goal is to establish a ‘dental home’ for your child from the beginning! We take the time to discuss the significance of dental hygiene routine with both you and your child, setting the foundation for a lifetime of healthy and radiant smiles.

What we do during the initial visit will be tailored to your child’s age, comfort level, and specific dental needs. Ideally, we aim to conduct a thorough examination and apply a fluoride varnish. However, for children who exhibit higher levels of anxiety, we can start with a fun “spin in the big chair” and a general exam of their teeth.

We understand that a child’s apprehensions often mirror those of their parents. Our team is skilled in managing children’s anxiety and can frame our treatments in a way that is reassuring and exciting, ensuring your child’s dental experience remains positive. Encourage your child to express any fears they might have about their visit. This helps is to talk your child through their visit and address these fears in a way that teaches them to be comfortable with treatment.

Patient Forms

To help save time and ensure your first visit with us is seamless, please take a moment to fill out our new patient paperwork. Below are our forms for both an orthodontic consultation and a pediatric dentistry appointment. If you have any questions, please reach out to us and our team will be happy to help!

Orthodontics

• New Patient – Child
• New Patient – Adult

Pediatric Dentistry

• New Patient – Child

Financial Info

We don’t want finances to prevent you from pursuing a beautiful smile. The cost of treatment will depend on each individual patient. Prior to beginning treatment, we will discuss fees and payment options so that you are clear and comfortable and all questions are answered. We have payment plans available to suit many different budgets, and for orthodontics, this includes a no-down-payment option as well as interest-free plans.

We also accept most insurance plans and work hard to make your treatment affordable. Our team is happy to assist you in filing all necessary paperwork for insurance. For your convenience, we accept Visa, Mastercard, Amex, cash, check, CareCredit, and Cherry Financing as options for payment.

Emergency Care

Common Ortho Issues

Call our office as soon as possible if you break or loosen any of your appliances. Please do not come directly to the office — by calling us, you will allow us to create a time to see you. Even if you have a regular appointment scheduled, call us immediately to notify us if you need an appliance repaired.

• Loose Brackets Or Bands — Call our office immediately for advice if a bracket or wire is loosened. The bracket may need to be re-fitted as soon as possible. You may have a situation that requires cutting a wire or sliding a bracket off a wire at night or over the weekend. If you need to cut a wire in case of emergency, you may use fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. Please call our office the next business day, so that we may schedule an appointment for you.
• Lost Separators — Most patients lose a separator during their treatment. Do not worry about losing a separator, but call our office to see if it needs to be replaced.
• Discomfort with Orthodontic Treatment — During the first week after your braces are in place and routine adjustments are complete, you will likely feel some pain, soreness, or discomfort. You may take acetaminophen or other non-aspirin pain relievers while you adjust to your new braces. A warm washcloth or heating pad may reduce the soreness in your jaws.
• Wire Irritations — Sometimes discomfort caused by a wire on your braces can be resolved by moving the wire away from the irritated area with a cotton swab or eraser. If the wire will not move, try covering the end of it with a small piece of cotton or a small amount of wax. If the wire is painful, you can cut it with nail clippers or scissors that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. If you cannot resolve the wire irritation, call our office for an appointment.

Pediatric Dentistry Emergencies

We care about your child’s comfort and want to ensure they remain pain-free. If your child faces a dental emergency during or after hours, please give us a call immediately. We are always here to assist when your child’s dental health is at risk. However, if you suspect an urgent medical emergency, please dial 9-1-1 or take your child to an emergency room.

When should I call for emergency care? The following conditions or symptoms are a sign that your child may need emergency dental services. Call our office during regular business hours if your child is experiencing any of the following:

• Toothache — First, clean the area around the tooth in question. Then, use dental floss in order to remove any food that may be lodged in the space between the teeth. Finally, have the child rinse his or her mouth with warm water. If the toothache remains, contact our office for emergency pediatric dental care. Refrain from giving the child aspirin, or from heating the area in question. Should the child’s face begin to swell, cold compresses should be applied and you should contact our office as soon as possible.
• Cut Or Bite Of The Tongue, Lip, Or Cheek — Clean the bite gently with water and use a cold compress (a cold wet towel or gauze pressed firmly against the area) to minimize bleeding and swelling. If the bleeding persists, contact Busciglio Smiles for emergency assistance.
• Permanent Tooth Knocked Out — If possible, locate the tooth. Handling it by the crown rather than the root, rinse it with water but do not use soap. If the tooth is intact and contains no fractures, have the child reinsert it into the socket while holding it in place with gauze or a clean cloth. If reinserting the tooth is not an option, place the tooth in the mouth next to the cheek or place it in a cup containing milk. Do not use water. Then, contact our office immediately, as saving the tooth is time-sensitive.
• Baby Tooth Knocked Out — If your child knocks a baby tooth out of his or her mouth, contact our office. Baby teeth are very different from adult teeth; in most cases, they should not be replaced due to the possibility of damaging an incoming permanent tooth.
• Baby Tooth is Chipped Or Fractured — Please contact our team right away.
• Possible Broken Or Fractured Jaw — Ensure that the jaw remains as still as possible. Take your child to the nearest hospital emergency room.
• Dental Abscess — On occasion, a tooth will become infected, which can be very painful. When your child has an abscessed tooth, he or she may experience swelling in the gums, a bad taste in the mouth, or even a fever. If this is the case, call Busciglio Smiles as soon as possible as the infection can spread if left untreated.