We recommend that new patients come in for a comprehensive exam as their first visit to our office. A comprehensive exam gives our dentists time to address your main concerns and develop a customized treatment plan based on your needs.
The comprehensive exam itself takes about 60 minutes and typically includes the following:
- Digital pictures: we want to get a proper look at what needs to be addressed behind the scenes.
- Cosmetic evaluation: we’ll go over any concerns we notice on the digital pictures with you and talk about your smile goals.
- X-rays: some cavities and bone infections aren’t visible without certain x-rays, we may request to take x-rays at your first visit.
- Periodontal (gum) evaluation: we’ll then take a look at your gums with our periodontal (gum) evaluation and help show you the proper, effective way to brush and floss your teeth to help maintain good gum health.
- Oral cancer screening: an examination of the inside of your mouth, including the cheeks, gums, roof, and tongue along with the skin around your mouth for any possible areas of concern
- Cavity detection/filling evaluation: looking at your teeth and old fillings – catching things early is always beneficial in terms of treatments and costs.
- TMJ exam: gently placing the jaw joint in a variety of positions to check for muscle tenderness or tension, checking for signs of grinding or clenching, looking at muscle strength and your bit, and listening for any abnormal jaw popping or clicking sounds.
When coming in for your first visit, we request you arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. This gives us time to ensure we have all your information in our system. If you have health insurance, please bring your card in when you come. We also recommend filling out the new patient forms before your appointment to save some time, but if you aren’t able to, that’s okay too!
