BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer
METUCHEN — Being on time has its rewards — for children and for parents.
That’s what patients of Dr. Richard Marulli and Dr. Arthur Calvani’s orthodontic office in the Bridge Pointe Office Park have discovered this year, ever since the doctors began offering gift certificates to restaurants, movie theaters and the mall.
“We started the contests in March, and we have seen such a big difference in our patients,” said Paula Gaillard, treatment and financial coordinator for the office.
“We’ll have a patient run in and say, ‘I’m here’ and ask, ‘Am I on time?’ while their mother is parking the car,” Gaillard said.
Patients can entertain themselves in the waiting area with video games and movies.
“When I went to the dentist when I was younger, I hated it,” said Jill Durham, whose two children are patients. “There are no complaints from them.”
“My kids love it because they have the video games and the movie of the week,” said Thomas Pellegrino, a father of three.
The staff recently added a new contest where parents can enter a drawing to win $25 worth of gas for being on time for their child’s appointment.
“The parents really love the contest,” said Gaillard. “It’s about time the parents had a chance to get in on the fun.”
Patients can enter a drawing for wearing an Ortho T-shirt to their appointments. The T-shirts are provided to patients the day their braces go on.
“We have the kids as well as the adults participate in the contests,” Calvani said.
“A 13-year old teenage girl just won the T-shirt contest. One of our patients, a 38-year-old woman, has worn her T-shirt every appointment. But her name hasn’t been drawn yet.”
The contests are held every month. Prizes are given for being on time, good brushing and cooperation, wearing the T-shirt, gas money for the parents, and a guessing contest, which runs every two weeks.
“The guessing contest is different every two weeks,” Gaillard said. “This month the patients have to match whose eyes, nose and mouth are whose from the office staff.”
Marulli and Calvani moved to Metuchen two years ago from an office in Edison.
“We try to make it as comfortable as we can,” Marulli said. “We have coffee and cookies [that are made by Marulli’s 77-year-old cousin] for the parents and for the kids after their appointment.”
They have patients who have stayed with them even after they have moved out of state.
“We have patients in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Ohio, and we did have a patient in North Carolina,” said Marulli.
Marulli and Calvani use the bracketing and wire system called “Damon” rather than the traditional kind of braces.
“There is less discomfort and treatment time with the Damon system, and the patients don’t have to come in every month, which is more convenient for the parents,” Calvani said.
New patients are treated with special care.
“Some new patients come in skeptical and nervous,” said Marulli.
“That’s where Paula [Gaillard] comes in,” said Calvani.
The new patients will meet with Gaillard, and she will tell them about the Damon system, treatment possibilities, and exactly what to expect at this appointment.
During their visit, the patients get a tour of the office and get introduced to the staff members during their visit.
They can also look at a binder that lists each staff member and one thing about each of them that is unique.
“Like Dr. Marulli likes to play the drums,” Gaillard said. “And the kids are surprised.
“We want to make them feel comfortable,” said Gaillard. “Usually after I explain about the staff, it makes the new patients feel at ease and as if they already know them.
She also tells each new patient what a procedure will entail.
“So the kids know what to expect, rather than just the parent,” Gaillard said.
Marulli and Calvani also offer scholarships every year for Edison and Metuchen High School students.
“Students can inquire about them at our office, on our Web site, or through their school’s guidance office,” Gaillard said .
The office is located at 223 Bridge St., Building E in the Bridge Pointe Office Park. For more information,
call (732) 516-0052 or visit www.hightechbraces.com.