|
Becoming a patient is easy! The following information
should be helpful.
Scheduling your First Visit:
We make every effort to schedule visits for new patients within a few days of
your call. If you are flexible with the day and time you can come, we can
schedule you for a prompt visit. On your first visit, we recommend
arriving 15 minutes early so that you have plenty of time to complete some
necessary paperwork.
Financial Policies and Dental Insurance: please
click here for more information
Comprehensive Examination Appointment for New
Patients:
For new patients, we typically prefer to schedule the first appointment to
include a comprehensive examination, radiographs
(x-rays), and a cleaning before initiating other treatment. This
allows us to thoroughly evaluate your oral condition and answer questions
you may have about various treatment alternatives. There are several
components to this examination: (1) We evaluate your
radiographs and check each of your teeth for cavities
or other problems. (2) We perform a periodontal evaluation to check the
health of your gums and the bone supporting your teeth. (3) We perform an oral
cancer screening and check your TMJ (the joint that allows your jaw to open and
close).
New Patients with Dental Emergencies:
If you are a new patient with a dental emergency*,
we will make every effort to schedule a very prompt appointment. If you
contact us when we first open, we can usually see you the same day. At
your appointment, we will need to take one or more radiographs to evaluate your
emergency condition. In most cases we will be able to treat you for your
condition during this appointment. However, there are some cases in which
a referral to a specialist may be necessary (e.g. if you require a complicated
tooth extraction or a complicated root canal.) Once your emergency
condition is resolved, we would like to have you return for a
comprehensive examination before initiating any
further treatment.
*A dental emergency is a generally a situation in
which you are experiencing severe pain or swelling.
When you call to schedule your initial visit, you will be asked for the
following information:
- The reason for your appointment (e.g. regular examination vs.
emergency treatment)
- The approximate date that you last saw a dentist and last had
x-rays taken
- If you have dental insurance, we will
need to know the name of your plan and your group number
- We would like to know if you have any medical conditions that
need to be considered in planning your treatment. Specifically, we
would like to know whether you have a heart murmur
or mitral valve prolapse, whether you are allergic
to any medications or latex, and whether you have other medical conditions
that we should consider. Please also let us know if you have had an
artificial joint or heart valve placed, as you may need to take antibiotics
prior to coming for your dental appointment. (The doctor will review
your medical history with you at your appointment, but it is helpful for us
to have some of this information ahead of time.)
You should bring the following items with you on your first visit:
- If you have dental insurance,
please bring your dental insurance card.
- Please bring a list of any medications you are taking
- If you have had radiographs taken
recently at another dentist, it is very helpful for us to have them.
We would be happy to request them for you from your previous office.
Alternatively, you may pick them up personally at your previous dental
office to ensure that we have them in time for your appointment.
What radiographs will we need?
In order to perform a proper examination, we will need to take a set of x-rays
appropriate for your age and dental condition. For adult new patients,
this frequently includes a full set of bitewings and periapical x-rays to show
the roots of each tooth. For teen-age and young adult new patients,
bitewings and a panoramic x-ray are frequently appropriate. For children,
bitewings are generally appropriate, but additional radiographs are sometimes
necessary.
If you have had a full set of radiographs taken at another dentist within
the last 3 years, we may not need to retake every one of these
x-rays. However, we will need to have access to these radiographs at
the time of your appointment in order to perform a proper examination.
We would be happy to contact your previous dental office to request the
radiographs if enough notice is given in order to have them in time for your
appointment. Alternatively, you may pick them up personally at your
previous dental office and bring them with you (this is frequently the
fastest and most efficient way to obtain your x-rays).
Return to Top of page
|
