What to Expect During Your First Visit to a Dental Clinic

Dental appointments can be nerve-wracking; it doesn’t matter if you’re a child or an adult. For some, it could be because they’ve had a prior bad experience with a dentist, while others just shudder at the thought of someone else tinkering with their teeth. Don’t let all of these scare you because a dental appointment isn’t that scary; if anything, it helps if you already have an idea of what will take place. In today’s article, we’ll walk you through what to expect during your first visit to a dental clinic so you’ll feel more at ease during your appointment.

Filling out paperwork and reviewing your medical history.

At Dentistry in Canterbury, just like at any other clinic, your first visit begins with a bit of paperwork. This helps us understand your dental history and gather key information to support an accurate diagnosis and personalised care.

You'll be asked to provide your personal and contact details on a registration form. Some clinics may also request your insurance information to streamline billing. In most cases, the receptionist will verify your coverage so you're aware of your benefits and any potential out-of-pocket costs before treatment begins.

Once you’re done with registration, dental clinics require their new patients to fill out a medical history questionnaire. Most of these questions are about knowing about the patient’s past and current health conditions and whether they have allergies or consumed any medications. On top of this, they’ll also ask a few questions if the patient has any previous dental treatment, which is why it’s important to answer the questionnaire truthfully. Providing complete and accurate information is crucial since certain medical conditions are tied to one’s dental health.

After all is said and done, new patients are then required to sign a consent form that gives the dentist authority to examine and perform treatment or procedures they deem necessary.

Undergoing comprehensive oral examination and diagnostic procedures.

Once the paperwork is done, just wait for your dentist’s call to the examination room, where they will conduct a thorough oral examination.

The first thing they will do is a visual examination, and as the term suggests, they’ll take a good look at your teeth, gums, and mouth for any signs of abnormalities like cavities, swelling, and gum disease. This is where intraoral cameras come in handy because the dentist can show you in real-time the actual state of your gums and teeth, and it also helps them explain your current condition better.

Following the visual exam, the dentist would also conduct a periodontal exam to check the condition of your gums as well as the tissues surrounding your teeth. So expect your dentist to check the sockets between your gums and teeth for any signs of abnormalities.

After the gum check-up, your dentist would also perform a dental X-ray so they can take a better look at your teeth, jawbone, and other surrounding structures. The X-ray helps your dentist identify possible potential problems that are hidden, like impacted teeth, abscesses, or even bone loss, to name a few.

Besides a dental x-ray, your dentist could also take your dental impressions to create a model of your teeth. It’s not required in most cases, and if it’s ever required for you, don’t worry; modern dentistry has foregone the use of the uncomfortable elastomers that were popularly used to get a model of your teeth. Now, with the help of digital dentistry, they could do so with ease and in no time at all.

Another important exam the dentist would conduct on new patients is an oral cancer screening. Usually, they’ll be on the lookout for any abnormalities like suspicious lesions in your throat, mouth, or neck.

Discussing the findings and recommended treatments.

Once all the exams are done, your dentist will then proceed to discuss their findings with you so they can recommend a personalized treatment plan for your condition. Their recommendations may also go beyond dentistry since they would also often suggest wellness and lifestyle tips so you could achieve, if not maintain, optimal primal health.

Your treatment plan is influenced by the dentist’s findings, so it could range from something mild like regular professional cleaning and routine checkups to fillings or extractions. Of course, they wouldn’t immediately proceed with their recommendations; instead, they would explain the procedure first, including the risks and benefits of each option.

Along with their recommendations, your dentist would also recommend preventative care so you could maintain good oral hygiene on top of your regular brushing, flossing, and mouthwashing.

After your initial appointment, your dentist would require a follow-up appointment if you wish to proceed with the treatment. This is also your chance to ask questions and express concerns if you have any, especially if you need clarifications on some aspects of your treatment.