Your First Visit to the Dentist: What to Expect

1. For your first dental visit, it is a good idea to arrive 10-15 minutes early. You will usually be asked to fill out some paperwork in order to supply the dentist’s office with your insurance information, as well as provide important dental health information to your dentist.

2. Once you have completed the required paperwork, a dental hygienist will escort you to an exam room. Before you can be seen by a dentist, you will need to have dental x-rays taken. The hygienist will usually take the x-rays so the dentist can review them before they see you. Unlike dentists of the past, most dentists today make use of digital x-rays, which emit virtually no radiation and produce x-rays that give dentists much more information than traditional x-rays can. These digital x-ray machines are also far more comfortable than traditional x-ray machines. In some cases, you don’t even have to open your mouth for the x-rays to be taken.

3. After your x-rays have been taken and the dentist is ready, they will come into the treatment room and introduce themselves. Before they begin to work on your teeth, however, they will talk to you, asking questions to help them better understand your needs and answering any questions you may have. The dentist may ask you about:

• Any previous dental treatments you may have had
• If you are currently experiencing any issues
• Your current health conditions, if any
• Medications you take, including supplements, vitamins, etc.

4. Your dentist may also review your new dental x-rays with you at this time. Most dental offices that use digital x-rays can display them on a computer monitor for patients to see. This allows the dentist to review the x-rays with you and answer any questions you may have.

5. The dentist will typically follow the examination of your dental x-rays with a dental exam. Using specialized dental instruments, the dentist will check your teeth and gums, inspect any dental issues you may be experiencing and try to get a better understanding of your current oral health.

6. The dentist will use all the information they have gathered to develop a treatment plan to bring your oral health up to an acceptable level and maintain it over the long term. The dentist will discuss this plan with you, provide you with options and answer any questions you may have.

7. Typically, your first dental appointment will include a teeth cleaning, which is performed by a dental hygienist.The cleaning will help remove any plaque or tartar buildup you may have and get you well on your way to good oral health. You’ll leave your dentist’s office with your mouth feeling fresher and cleaner than ever before!

Depending on any oral health issues you may have and the treatment plan you and your dentist agree upon, you may be required to make follow up appointments to complete your treatment. Once any immediate oral health concerns have been treated, so long as you follow your dentist’s instructions and don’t develop any additional dental health concerns, you should only need to see your dentist once every 4-6 months for a checkup and cleaning. In most cases, patients who brave that first visit to the dentist quickly learn that modern dentistry is not as frightening as they once thought and often come to enjoy visiting the dentist.