SMILE FIRST
INTEGRATED DENTAL WELLNESS
About Smile First
A name with a story. A practice with a soul.
it came from Dr. Cristian watching his father Dr. Pavel Sr. — who emigrated from Romania in 1986 with a medical degree and a dream. He grew up sweeping the floors and cleaning out alginate trays at his practice. When Dr. Cristian took it over, he named it Smile First because that's what his father always did.
Now he's a new father. What Dr. Ilie passed down to him isn't just a practice. It's a way of showing up. A set of values. Dental practices across this country are being bought up by private equity, patients treated like appointments on a conveyor belt. We don't have investors to answer to. We have three dentists across two generations, a mother who has ran this office before Dr. Cristian, and a commitment to knowing your name before we know your insurance number. Staying independent isn't just a values decision — it's an operational one!
Dr. Cristian Pavel, DDS
Dentist
Dr. Cristian attained his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago...
Dr. Danielle Cascioli, DDS
Dentist
Dr. Danielle is a skilled dentist who acquired her dental degree from the University of Toronto...
Dr. Ilie P. Pavel, DDS
Dentist
Dr. Pavel is originally from Romania, where he graduated from medical school in Cluj-Napoca...
Mrs. Cristina Pavel, "The Boss"
Office Manager
Cristina Pavel is the heart and soul of this office! Not only is she the glue that binds everyone together...
DENTISTS
THE SMILE FIRST TEAM
Meet Our Professionals
Meet our dedicated professionals, committed to your smile's wellbeing. From preventive care to advanced treatments, we're here for you.
From nutrition to intuition, our team is well endowed in the most successful ways of obtaining optimal oral health and overall health.
Dr. Cristian and Dr. Danielleare widely known as The Dental Yogis in the dental community. They lecture on health and wellness throughout the country and they also host semi-annual dental-aid yoga retreats in the Dominican Republic with the intention of helping dentists improve their personal health/wellness while also providing free dentistry to underserved villagers of the DR.
HAPPY CLIENTS
See What Our Patients Are Saying
Dr. Cristian has such gentle hands and makes me smile every time I walk in there. That’s hard to do considering he’s working on my teeth. I recommend the practice highly. You won’t be disappointed 😉👍
Everyone at Smile First is caring and professional. Both Dr. Pavels give you their undivided attention and make you feel comfortable in what can be, for some people, an uncomfortable situation. They changed my smile for the absolute best. I previously hated seeing pics of my smile. Now I’m HAPPY. The best care ever! Highly recommend! And they give back so much to the world.
Dr. Ilie Pavel and Dr. Cristian Pavel along with the entire team at Smile First are incredible. The care, compassion, and individual attention given is unmatched. They work collaboratively and holistically with you too not only identify the best solutions for your dental needs but also address root causes using the most current tools, equipment, and techniques.
The passion that is placed on patient care is incredible and unrivaled anywhere else.
Never had a great experience with dentists in the past but the moment I entered Smile First I felt welcomed and treated with kindness and respect. Dr. Pavel was present throughout my entire appointment where as some other offices will have assistants do bulk of the work. He also was very personable and helpful guiding me on what steps I need to take to restart my dental journey. I’m looking forward to my future appointments for the first time in a long time!
