Porcelain veneers are ultra-thin shells of ceramic material, which are bonded to the front surfaces of teeth. This procedure requires little or no anesthesia, and can be the ideal choice for improving the appearance of the front teeth. Porcelain veneers are placed to mask discolorations, to brighten teeth, or to improve a smile. Highly resistant to permanent staining from coffee, tea, wine or even cigarette smoking, the wafer-thin porcelain veneers can achieve a tenacious bond to the tooth, resulting in an esthetically pleasing naturalness that is unsurpassed by other restorative options.

There are two common types of professionally applied fluorides. Acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) is acidic; neutral sodium fluoride is not. They can be delivered as rinses, gels, or varnishes. We believe that the benefits of fluoride should be the standard of care. The team at Dearfield Family Dentistry offers fluoride treatment after cleanings to all patients irrespective of insurance coverage.

Enamel is the outer layer of the crown of a tooth (the visible part). It is made of closely packed mineral crystals. Every day, the enamel loses and gains minerals. The loss of minerals is called demineralization. Gaining new minerals is called remineralization.These two processes balance each other.

Demineralizationbegins with the type of bacteria that cause plaque on your teeth. These bacteria feed on sugar in your mouth and produce acids. The acids dissolve the crystals in your teeth.Remineralizationbuilds the enamel back up. In this process, minerals such as fluoride, calcium, and phosphate are deposited inside the enamel. Too much loss of minerals without enough repair of the enamel leads to tooth decay.

If you have had X-rays taken within 6 months of your initial visit with Dearfield Family Dentistry, please request your previous Dentist to forward your X-rays to our office. If this is not possible, we'd be happy to take a new set of X-rays for our records. As our office is fully digital, there is minimal risk from retaking X-rays.

In terms of the cleaning, the professional ultrasonic or hand scaling (cleaning) involves the removal of calculus (tartar), and plaque, and includes teeth polishing, as well as the review of home care tips and tricks.

Please inform our staff at your first visit if you have any serious medical conditions, allergies involving latex or other materials, and/or if you are taking anticoagulants or bisphosphonates. Please do not hesitate to also let us know if you have been asked by your physician to be pre-medicated before any dental procedures.

Sealants are thin, resin coatings applied to the chewing surface of molars, premolars, and any deep grooves (called pits and fissures) of teeth. Deep grooves are inaccessible to the toothbrush or floss. More than 75% of dental decay begins in these deep grooves. Dr. Gogate and/or Dr. Lin use BPA-free resin sealants to fortify these grooves, creating a smooth, easy-to-clean surface. Sealants can be placed on teeth for all ages. They are most effective in patients with a sweet tooth and enjoy eating sticky foods or candy. Most insurances cover sealants in children and are a fraction of the cost of fillings in adults. The procedure is absolutely painless, generally done in 10 minutes or less per tooth.

At Dearfield Family Dentistry, we are equipped with Digital X-ray equipment. This uses technology that is similar to what is found in a digital camera. The image is captured by the Digita X-ray and is stored on our computer and can be viewed instantly, enlarged, and have filters applied to them in order for a Dentist or Dental Hygienist to detect issues. Digital X-rays eliminate operating errors and also reduces the duration of the previously time-consuming process of developing and fixing films. Our digital X-rays are environmentally friendly as it does not use any chemicals. More importantly, digital X-rays reduce the required radiation by 80-90% compared to the already low exposure of traditional dental x-rays.

The team at Dearfield Family Dentistry uses all digital equipment, including digital sensors and panoramic digital radiographs to diagnose oral conditions. The panoramic digital X-ray helps identify problems found in the TMJ, problems with impacted wisdom teeth, and issues that may be associated with surrounding structures. Panoramic X-rays are easier on children as no film is introduced in the mouth, and helps evaluate eruption patterns of permanent teeth. Intraoral digital X-rays help accurately diagnose very small problems that may be missed otherwise.

White (composite) fillings are an alternative to traditional silver (amalgam) and gold fillings. White fillings are made of a strong composite resin that is matched to the surrounding tooth color. With advances in dentistry, the fillings are more durable and bond to the tooth, rather than taking support from the tooth. The materials have a high filler content, making them resistant to wear from chewing pressure.

Dr. Gogate and/or Dr. Lin use BPA-free materials and runs an amalgam-free office. All restorations are placed with adequate desensitizing agents, to minimize post-filling sensitivity. We use a combination of barriers and high vacuum suctions to virtually eliminate any mercury contamination during the removal or replacement of old fillings.

We devote time to understanding your dental conditions,needs, and expectations, and customize your treatment options based on this information. Our staff focuses on preventive dentistry and with the best available advancements in dentistry, we are able to provide you with the best quality of care in the field.

Katherine is a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) at Dearfield Family Dentistry and was born and raised in Ecuador and then moved to NYC when she was 2. A resident of Stamford since 2010, Kathy and her husband and two handsome boys strive to fulfill their dream of raising their kids in a wonderful family-oriented community.

Katherine is fluent in Spanish and has been working as a registered Dental Hygienist for eight incredibly fulfilling years. She started working with Dr. Gogate almost 5 years ago and with Dr. Lin shortly after. Just recently, Katherine began to pursue her BA in Bioscience at Western Connecticut State University! Her interest in science inspired her to embark on the journey!

Olta is a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) with Dearfield Family Dentistry and was born in Albania but moved to Italy when she was 12 years old, where she lived until she was 17. Olta loves to share fond memories of her middle school and high school experiences while in Italy. Don't hesitate to ask her all about it! She and her family then relocated to the United States, where she attended college and then started working with Dr. Gogate in 2010!

Olta has a love for languages. She is fluent in Albanian, Italian, English, and Spanish. In fact, she learned to speak Spanish while working as a dental assistant!She shares that it was easy for her to learn because of its similarities to Italian... but we just don't believe her! She's just that good at languages!

She has been a registered dental hygienist (RDH) for 4 years and joined Dearfield Family Dentistry in 2021. Before becoming an RDH, she was a dental assistant for the U.S. Airforce. Originally, she planned to become a nurse, but changed her focus to dentistry after joining the U.S. Airforce.

Tatiana joined Dearfield Family Dentistry as a registered dental hygienist (RDH) in 2020. She was a dental assistant for 7 years before she decided to become a Hygienist. She loves dentistry and helping people achieve their best oral health.

She is from Pocos de Caldas, Brazil, and now lives in CT with her husband Ronni and their three children. She is also a certified Zumba instructor and loves to dance during her off time. On the weekends, she loves boating, traveling, keeping herself and her family active, and cooking. Lucky for Dearfield, we get to taste her amazing desserts from time to time!

Tatiana is passionate about educating patients on how to improve their oral health and she really enjoys seeing improvements upon their returns. You will feel her positive and happy the moment you enter the office!

Lana was born and raised in Bulgaria until she moved to New York City with her family. She graduated from New York University College of Dental Hygiene in 1997. She became a registered dental hygienist (RDH) because she enjoys connecting with people and it gives her a sense of purpose in helping people understand their oral hygiene. While Lana worked with us part-time prior to 2020, she has now joined Dearfield Family Dentistry officially!

She enjoys traveling, fine art (specifically 17th through 19th-century European oil paintings), and classical music. She loves watching Verdi, Puccini, and Rossinis operas. Her favorite composers are Bach, Mozart, Shostakovich, and Stravinsky. She loves to explore new cultures and countries, and she is particularly fond of beaches!

Dr. Gogate lives in Greenwich and graduated from New York University College of Dentistry with Honors. With over 10 years of dental experience, Dr. Gogate started his first practice in Norwalk, Connecticut. With emphasis on personalized, quality dental care and the need to grow in his professional aspirations, he decided to start Dearfield Family Dentistry in his hometown. With advanced training in implant dentistry, laser dentistry and dental rehabilitation cases he also has a wide range of experience in different areas of dentistry, from cosmetic and general dentistry to surgical procedures and root canal treatments.

Dr. Gogate is an active member of American Dental Association, Connecticut State Dental Association, and Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry. He loves dentistry, traveling around the world, computers, and spending time with his family. He lives in Greenwich with his beautiful wife Miki and has two wonderful daughters Mio and Emi.

She graduated SummaCum Laude from New York University College of Dentistry. (Go#bobcats!) After receiving her dental degree, she completed a general practice residency at Flushing Hospital Medical Center.

Dr. Lin emphasizes personalized, preventative dentistry, and strives to make sure her patients feel cared for. She has a wide range of experience across all ages, from sealants to surgical procedures, Invisalign, and root canal treatments.

She relocated to Greenwich in 2013 and the warm and welcoming nature of the community has quickly made this her hometown. When not practicing dentistry, you can often find her and her husband with her two Corgis, Lily and Rosie, at Tod's Point Beach.

We are excited to introduce you to Dr. David Valauri, a Dentist at Dearfield Family Dentistry.Dr. Valauri received his dental degree from New York University. He went on to complete his residencies in dentistry, anesthesiology, and oral and maxillofacial surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital, NY, NY. He is board-certified in Dental Anesthesiology and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. In addition to pursuing his clinical career, he has lectured nationally and internationally, published articles and book chapters that focus on various topics in oral and maxillofacial surgery and dental disease. Dr. Valauri believes in providing outstanding oral health care to all his patients. He helps patients understand their condition and choose an appropriate treatment plan. He has been chosen by his peers and named on the list of New York Super Doctors for several years, including 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021!

Dr. Margaux Schwartzstein graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Western University of Health Sciences. She is a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon and was the recipient of the Pierre Fauchard scholarship. Upon completion of her dental degree in Southern California, Dr. Schwartzstein moved to the East Coast to complete a General Practice Residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, CT where she was elected chief resident. The residency provided her with further training in dental trauma, oral surgery, periodontics, digital dentistry, endodontics, Invisalign, and management of medically complex patients.

Dr. Schwartzstein enjoys all aspects of dentistry with a focus on preventative and restorative dentistry to provide her patients with the tools to maintain a healthy oral microbiome as it relates to overall well-being.

Dr. Schwartzstein is originally from Greenwich, CT. She has since lived in Texas and Northern and Southern California. However, she is so happy to be back in her hometown! When not in the office, you can find Dr. Schwartzstein practicing yoga and pilates, hiking, and exploring new restaurants.

Miki makes sure the practice is running smoothly and is our cheerleader and motivator. Miki is Dr. Gogates better half! They have two awesome daughters, Emi and Mio, who light up any room that they're in! Want some fun facts on Miki? She is fluent in Japanese, has an undying love for the Beatles, and always dreams about traveling and going on endless adventures. She also loves to paint! You will find many of her paintings hanging on our walls and, soon, featured on our Instagram! She is an amazing hostess and chef (everyone at the office LOVES her famous miso dip ), and always enjoys entertaining the Dearfield Family team at their beautiful home in Greenwich, CT!

She has been with us for the past three years. Fun facts? Not only is she a full-time employee but up Graduating in 2020, she was a full-time student at Manhattanville College pursuing a degree in Behavioral Science.

Susan was born and raised in Westchester County and is fluent in Spanish. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and traveling with her husband, Kenny. She loves making people smile and does a lot of volunteer work in her community. In her free time, she cooks, works-out and listens to Drake.

With vast customer service experience in New York City's art business, Nao joined the DFD front-desk team in the summer of 2017. Nao was born and raised in Kanagawa, Japan and came to the U.S. in the late 1990s. She resides in Port Chester, NY and enjoys Zumba, exploring local eats, art, and music scenes with her husband, Salvatore. They love walking their dog, Bradley (Jack Russell and Chihuahua blend) who recently joined their household from a Westchester rescue. Nao is outgoing and personable and looks forward to greeting you at the DFD office!