Your first visit at Richardson Dentistry is an opportunity for us to get to know you and understand what matters most to you. Rather than rushing through a routine appointment, our team takes time to discuss your concerns and goals, review your dental health history and complete a thorough evaluation of your teeth, gums, bone, bite and aesthetic health. We’ll also talk about the connection between your oral health and overall health so we can develop recommendations that make sense for you.
Key Takeaways
Your first visit begins with a warm welcome and a tour of the practice.
You’ll meet with both a dentist and a dental hygienist.
The goal of the first appointment is to understand your concerns, health history and what you want for your smile.
Your comprehensive exam evaluates your teeth, gums, bone, bite and aesthetic health.
Your dentist will also consider how your oral health may relate to your overall health.
Treatment recommendations are made after your exam, concerns and goals have been fully discussed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at my first dental appointment at Richardson Dentistry?
Your first appointment includes time to get to know you, discuss your concerns and goals, review your dental health history and complete a comprehensive examination. You’ll also have an opportunity to ask questions and talk with your dentist about what comes next.
Will I get my teeth cleaned at my first appointment?
The focus of your first visit is completing a thorough evaluation and understanding your individual needs. Rather than automatically completing a quick cleaning, the team first determines what type of care is most appropriate for your oral health.
What does a comprehensive dental exam include?
Your exam may include an evaluation of your teeth, gums and bone, bite, aesthetic health and other factors that may affect your oral health. Your dentist will also consider how your oral health relates to your overall health.
Why does my dentist ask about my health history?
Your overall health and oral health are connected. Understanding your health history helps your dental team evaluate your needs more comprehensively and make appropriate recommendations for your care.
Will I be able to discuss my concerns and goals with the dentist?
Yes. Understanding why you came in, what concerns you have and what you hope to accomplish is an important part of your first visit. This information helps your dentist develop recommendations that align with your needs and goals.
What if I'm nervous about visiting the dentist?
The team understands that visiting a dental office can make some patients uncomfortable. Your first visit is designed to give you time to get comfortable, ask questions, get to know the team and understand what to expect before moving forward with treatment.
Transcript
A Warm Welcome to Richardson Dentistry
What a patient should expect when they first come in is that they’re always going to be greeted with a warm smile. Our patients will be given a tour of our practice just so they know that there’s nothing for us to hide.
The pride we take in the cleanliness of our practice, the sterilization. Basically, we want them to feel like they’re home, and there’s nothing we’re hiding from them when they get here.
Getting to Know You During Your First Appointment
During that first patient appointment, they’re going to meet with one of the doctors and one of the hygienists. It’s not your normal first office visit. We’re not going to clean your teeth in 30 minutes and send you home. Our goal is to figure out why you are here, how we can help you, and what the patient’s goals are.
I think the biggest thing is just trying to make them feel comfortable. We understand a dental office is not everyone’s favorite place to be. So, I think just building that relationship right from the get-go and making sure that they’re comfortable, that this is the right place for them, that their expectations and our goals match up.
Reviewing Your Dental Health and Personal Goals
We do a complete dental health history. We go over any concerns a patient may have, and then once we’ve come up with a game plan, that’s when we start treatment.
We want to be as thorough as we can. We’re all VOICE graduates, so we do a very thorough exam based on what we’ve learned through all of our training.
A Comprehensive Exam That Looks Beyond Your Teeth
We examine the teeth, the gums, and bone. We examine the bite, and we examine the aesthetic health. And then beyond that, really how your overall health ties to your oral health.
I think people learn a lot about themselves, and they learn things that they haven’t known. We get to know them deeper than just the surface layer. Try to get to know what their motivation is, what’s going to make them happy, and what’s going to serve them for the rest of their life.
