What To Expect At Your First Visit
Visiting a new dental office can be a scary or intimidating venture, especially if it has been a while since you last had your teeth examined and you don’t quite know what to expect. We want to help alleviate your fears by giving you an idea of what to expect on your first visit to our office.
Prior to your appointment, you will likely be contacted by a member of our team to gather more information to prepare us for your appointment. We want to ensure we can fully meet your needs and expectations. You will be asked to provide information regarding your last dental visit and any recent dental x-rays, contact information, information regarding your dental insurance, and any concerns you would like to have addressed during your visit with us. You will be given the opportunity to fill out your new patient paperwork ahead of your appointment through a link provided by email or text.
However, if you prefer, you can simply fill out your new patient paperwork in our office when you arrive for your appointment. If you do elect to fill out paperwork in the office, please arrive about 15 minutes before your designated appointment time.
Your first visit to our office will be a comprehensive examination to determine the current state of your oral health and any areas of the mouth that may require treatment. Part of this examination is to determine the health of the supporting structures for your teeth, including the bone and gum tissue. This is done by obtaining updated x-rays and thorough charting of your gum tissue. Your dental hygienist will help guide you through this evaluation to determine which type of dental cleaning is right for you. While routine cleanings can be done in the absence of disease, more advanced cleanings may be needed if gum infection or periodontal disease is present. If you do require a specialized cleaning to address gum or periodontal disease it may not be possible to complete your cleaning at this initial visit. Please understand, we never want to rush your care and want to ensure that you receive the best quality of treatment.
Our office uses digital x-rays to get a real-time picture of your oral cavity. Digital x-rays are very safe and provide your dental team with integral information which cannot always be determined from an oral examination alone, including cavities hiding between the teeth, infection at the base of a tooth, unusual tooth formation, or pathology. We will always minimize the number of x-rays taken to provide us with necessary information while reducing your radiation exposure.
Your dentist will review all your dental x-rays and do a clinical evaluation of your teeth, tissues, jaw joint, and oral cancer screening. Your dentist will inform you of the findings and educate you on your options for treatment. Together, you will create a dental plan tailored to meet your individual needs.
Lastly, your dental team will review proper oral health care routines to help you improve your dental health. You may be surprised that some small changes in technique or product may provide a big change in your dental health. Diet plays an important role as well in the development of cavities and dental infection. Your provider can give you some dietary tips and tricks to minimize your risk of decay.
Regular dental checkups are recommended every 6 months for most patients, and sometimes more frequently if your dentist recommends it. Maintaining regular checkups will help us discover any potential dental problems before they can become bigger and more costly to treat.
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Office Hours :
Mon-Fri: 8:00am-5:00pm
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Address :
604 East Boulevard, Suite A, Kokomo, IN 46902