Office Visits
On your first visit to our office, we will ask you to provide us with some information about you, your health, and your current dental issue(s), if any exists. This will involve filling out some informational forms in the office or bringing in forms that you have already completed at home. Please see the New Patient Forms tab to access this information.
At your initial visit, we will ask you about your complete medical history. When you share your medical history, be sure to provide complete, up-to-date information on your health. Inform our office if you have experienced recent hospitalization or surgery, or if you have recently been ill. Also tell us the names, doses, and frequency of any medications you are taking — whether prescription or over-the-counter products — and the name of your physician. At follow up appointments, please inform us of any changes that may have occurred or updates concerning your health, recent illnesses, and/or medications that you are or are no longer taking.
This visit will typically include the necessary X-rays that allow us to view the structure of the jaw, the position of any teeth that have not yet erupted, malformed roots, tooth decay, gum disease, and any other pathology.
All of this information, along with an examination of the oral cavity, will assist us in selecting the safest and most effective method of treatment for you.
Regular checkups
We encourage regular checkups for individuals age three and up. Regular checkups are important to:
- Check for problems you might not see or feel
- Find early signs of decay
- Treat oral health problems early, while they are still manageable
Regular checkups include a thorough cleaning and polishing and an oral exam by the doctor. During the oral exam, your doctor will check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks, and tongue, examine for oral cancer, and inspect your existing fillings and restorations because constant pressure from chewing, grinding, or clenching can cause them to wear away, chip, or crack.
Regular checkup appointments typically take about an hour. Patients are seen by appointment only. We make every effort to be on time for our patients, and we ask that you extend the same courtesy to us. If you cannot keep an appointment, please notify us immediately. Preferably, let us know at least 24 hours in advance so that we can help another patient during your previously reserved time. A cancellation with less than 24 hours notice or a failed appointment may result in a missed appointment fee.
