What Happens on My First Visit to the Dentist?

Author : Township Dental Wellness | Published On : 31 Oct 2023

The first time you see the dentist, regardless of your age or dental experience, you may anticipate similar things. Maybe this is your first time seeing a dentist in Legacy in general. Anyhow, to help you feel ready, here is what to anticipate.

On the initial visit, your dentist will fill a cavity, or will he extract a tooth? These inquiries are all frequently posed. Unless there is an immediate dental need, the dentist typically won't undertake any substantial operations during your initial visit. Rather, they take pictures of your teeth and sit down with you to go through all of your alternatives, including fees, specifics of the treatment, and more.

It shouldn't be traumatic to go to the dentist for the first time. Instead, it should offer you the suggestions and fixes you need. Make yourself at ease with our tranquil setting and caring staff of dental specialists.

Here’s what will happen at your first dental appointment:

1. Fill in your medical form

What is the first step to cleaning your teeth? Yes, it is filling out the medical form. 

Following this, the dentist will review your entire medical and dental history because these things can have a big impact on your oral health and other health concerns. In order to deliver highly individualized dental services, they will get to know you as a person, not just a patient.

Plus, they will take digital X-rays of your teeth as part of the "getting to know you" process in order to look for periodontal issues such as bone loss as well as dental caries, tumours, and cysts. Additionally, x-rays enable us to see the placement of your teeth and their ensuing roots.

2. Talk about your dental concerns 

This is your chance to discuss your teeth with a dentist; all those queries you've tried Googling can now be answered by a true expert. You'll talk about how your teeth feel, any issues that are affecting you, and any objectives you may have, like having whiter teeth or straighter teeth.

3. Teeth Cleaning

A courteous, licensed dental hygienist will entirely inspect your teeth and gums after taking X-rays. Their objective is to evaluate your mouth's present health and search for indications of gum disease.

After that, it's time to thoroughly brush your teeth! During a dental cleaning, calculus (hardened plaque) that develops above and below the gum line is removed. Despite how hard you brush, you cannot simply brush this plaque away! In addition, your dentist eliminates the invisible, sticky film of plaque that builds up on your teeth and can cause periodontal illness.

4. Take x-ray images of your teeth 

To uncover problems and determine the cause of any pain or discomfort you may be feeling, the dentist may take films of your teeth. Dental X-rays can reveal a wealth of information about the health of your teeth that would otherwise be invisible to the human eye. They can use it to determine the severity of the damage in addition to whether you have cavities. As a result, it can assist them in compiling a list of the finest alternatives to solve any problems.

5. Discuss treatment plans

Finally, you'll talk about the various methods that can be used to preserve and restore a healthy smile. We make it our goal to give you all of your alternatives, along with information on costs and procedure specifics like length of surgery, length of recuperation, etc. The dentist’s intention is to support you in making the best choice possible. Since no two smiles or people are the same, this is true. Because of this, your dentist will treat every patient as a distinct individual.

6. Take Benefit of your dental report

A thorough report on your general dental health is the first thing you can anticipate receiving following your deep teeth cleaning. A member of a highly skilled dental team will carry out a comprehensive dental examination, a physical examination, an oral cancer screening, and an assessment of your X-rays.

The dentist will take the time to go over every discovery with you after your checkup. Plus, will go over various treatment options, and if there are any issues, they will address them so you can make the most informed choices possible regarding your dental health.

7. Billing & Insurance

Your dentist will ensure that you are well aware of everything because it is always our objective to make your dental visit as pleasant as possible. They will provide a clear and comprehensive estimate describing the cost of treatment (if necessary) following your initial consultation. Along with the time and day of your next appointment, this also contains a cost estimate for the suggested treatments.

Following your appointment, the dental staff handles the billing. For your peace of mind, they can also electronically transmit the cost of any insurance coverage to your insurance provider.

Schedule your consultation today,

Before you depart, make sure to arrange for your upcoming exam and hygiene visit. It's a terrific approach to making sure your dental health doesn't slip off course. You also find a trustworthy and easily accessible weekend dentist near you if you require dental care on Saturdays and Sundays.