What To Expect During Your First Visit
Whether you’re coming to us for gum disease treatment, gum graft surgery or any other periodontal treatment, your first visit is extremely important.
One of our first goals during your visit is to make you feel comfortable with our office and our staff. We need to understand your individual needs and expectations so we can deliver the right type of care for you. Ask as many questions as you need to during this visit and your future visits! Our staff is here to help you understand your care and put your worries at ease.
During this first visit, we’ll evaluate your x-rays, conduct a preliminary exam of your mouth, discuss your personal health history and outline your care. At the end of your session, you’ll feel confident and ready to get on the road to better dental health.
Plan Ahead
For your first visit, plan to spend 1 to 1.5 hours with us. It will give us enough time to get to know you, your concerns and your options for gum disease treatment. Together, we’ll select times and dates for future appointments, and work with you on a financial plan for your care. We will also explain our financial policy and insurance information.
In some cases, when treatment needs are more complex, it may be necessary to conduct an initial consultation over two appointments. In most cases, though, we’ll have your initial consultation covered during that first appointment.
It’s sometimes helpful to come in with a friend, spouse or other special person for this important first appointment – especially if they’ll be involved in your treatment, aftercare or financial decisions. We can answer their important questions too, and they might think of things to ask that didn’t even cross your mind.
We take a “full disclosure” approach to patient care. What that means is that we’ll be in touch with your general dentist, via a letter and a personal phone call, whenever necessary. This way we can all act as a team in your dental care – and stay informed of your progress.
There will be a fee for the initial examination and consultation. Please assist us at the time of your initial visit to the office by providing the following information:
- A referral slip and x-rays from your referring dentist.
- A list of medications you are currently taking.
- If you have dental insurance, please bring any forms or insurance cards with you to the appointment as we will help you with this process.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
Please notify the office if you have a medical condition, such as:
- An artificial heart valve.
- A history of infective endocarditis.
- A joint replacement that requires antibiotic premedication prior to dental appointments.
- Or other health conditions. If you are unsure of a medical condition and how it may affect your periodontal treatment, please ask.
If it is determined by your physician that you have any of these conditions, you will need to get a prescription from your physician and take the premedication prior to your first visit.
If your referring dentist has taken X-rays, please request that they be forwarded to our office.
Learn more about our team of experts who will greet you at your first appointment.
To schedule an appointment, please call us.
