Initial Appointment

I believe the most valuable service I provide for my patients is the complete examination, co-diagnosis and
development of a treatment plan that will meet your needs and desires. The more you know about your mouth and the more I know about what you want, the more likely it is that we will arrive at a treatment plan that will lead to your short and long term goals for oral health and a beautiful smile.

At your initial appointment we will spend some time getting to know each other and getting to know your mouth. My goal is for you to come away from the appointment with a better understanding of the conditions that exist in your mouth, and with a feel for the philosophy of dentistry that is practiced in our office. We will do a thorough examination of the teeth, gums, soft tissue, and the muscles and joint that must function together harmoniously to assure long term stability and health. We will also do a complete smile analysis if you are interested in improving your smile. Any necessary records will be taken. These might include photographs, x-rays, and diagnostic models. If you have had x-rays taken within the last year, please bring them with you or have them forwarded to us so that we won’t take any unnecessary films.

Depending on the complexity of your case, we might discuss treatment options at your first appointment, or schedule a diagnosis appointment after I have had time to study your case for a while. It is extremely important to me that you make an informed choice about your dental treatment. I will do my very best to provide professional guidance, but it is your mouth and I want you to be both knowledgeable and responsible for the decisions regarding your care. I do know that some new patients are very anxious to get started with treatment once the first appointment has been scheduled. Many patients are used to having their teeth cleaned on their first visit to a new office. For reasons that I hope are explained well above, we do not start any treatment until we have agreed on a treatment plan. If you have a special reason for needing your teeth cleaned right away (weddings, reunions ...) please let us know and we’ll make sure to get your smile polished up in time!

The time spent developing your treatment plan will pay off many times in making sure you get exactly what you want from our office. We hope you will find the process informative and valuable. Please feel free to call me anytime if you have questions.