What to Bring to Your First Appointment
To provide you with prompt dental treatment, please be sure to bring the following when you visit our practice for your initial visit:
- Insurance information/card
- Photo identification
- Any medical records pertaining to your visit
Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time to fill out necessary paperwork. If you would like to complete your paperwork prior to your appointment, you may print and fill out the appropriate forms found below.
Patient Forms
Please complete the required patient forms prior to your appointment. You can access the forms below, which can be completed on a computer or a mobile device. If you are unable to access or fill out these forms, please arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment so that we may assist you.
Patient Information & Office Policies
At Radiant Dentistry, our main office policy is to treat our patients with respect. We believe in building long-lasting relationships with families and patients throughout New Port Richey, FL and nearby communities.
Dr. Michael Caputo and our staff work to provide everyone with a warm and welcoming environment where they will receive the highest level of cosmetic and general dental care. From routine cleanings and exams to dental implants and more, our goal is to have every patient leave our office knowing they received the dental services they need and deserve.
Appointments
We are currently accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment online, visit our online scheduling or call our office at 727-846-7510 to schedule a dental appointment. Once you make an appointment at our office, that time will be reserved for you. If you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment time, call us 48 hours prior to your appointment.
Insurance
We accept most dental insurance plans. Please bring your insurance information with you to your first appointment. Our office staff will file any necessary claims and work to get you the maximum amount of benefits allowed by your plan. If you have any questions about your insurance plan, feel free to call us so we can help you.
Payment
Payment is expected at the time services are rendered, unless other arrangements have been made. This includes any copayments or deductibles (amount not covered by your insurance).
For your convenience, our office accepts cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and CareCredit.
Frequently Asked Questions
The brand of the toothbrush is not as critical as the type of bristle and the size of the head. A soft toothbrush with a small head is recommended because medium and hard brushes tend to cause irritation and contribute to recession of the gums. In addition, a small head allows you to get around each tooth more completely and is less likely to injure your gums. It’s unnecessary to “scrub” the teeth as long as you are brushing at least twice a day and visiting your dentist at least twice a year for cleanings.
Generally, no. It is advisable, however, to use a toothpaste containing fluoride to decrease the incidence of dental decay. We recommend our patients use what tastes good to them, as long as it contains fluoride.
Flossing of the teeth once a day helps to prevent cavities from forming between the teeth. It removes food and debris where your toothbrush can’t reach. Flossing also helps to keep your gums healthy.
There is no difference as they both refer to the restoration coverings on severely broken teeth after removing old fillings, fractured tooth structures, and any decay. The restoration material is made of gold, porcelain, composites, or even stainless steel. Dentists refer to all of these restorations as “crowns,” while patients often refer to the tooth-colored ones as “caps” and the gold or stainless steel ones as “crowns.”
Both bridges and partial dentures replace missing teeth. A bridge is permanently attached to abutment teeth or, in some cases, implants. A partial denture is attached by clasps to the teeth and is easily removed by the patient. Patients are usually more satisfied with bridges than with partial dentures.
Although the U.S. Public Health Service issued a report in 1993 stating there is no health reason not to use amalgam (silver fillings), more patients today are requesting “white” or tooth-colored composite fillings. We also prefer tooth-colored fillings because they bond to the tooth structure and therefore help strengthen a tooth weakened by decay. These fillings are also usually less sensitive to temperature, and they also look better. “White” fillings cannot be used in every situation, and if a tooth is very badly broken-down, a crown will usually be necessary and provide better overall satisfaction for the patient.
No. While crowns are often needed following root canal treatment to help teeth return to normal form and function, not every tooth requires both a crown and a root canal.