First Visit
What To Expect On Your First Visit
Our friendly team at Joiner and Zwart Dentistry look forward to giving you and your family members a competent, comfortable, judgement-free first visit in our office. Prevention and education are important in our practice, and we take seriously your need to understand how to take charge of and protect your own oral health from your very first visit. All members of the Joiner and Zwart Dentistry team are always available to answer questions about your dental needs and the services we can provide for your ideal treatment. We offer a wide range of services to meet the needs of your entire family.
Your first visit will involve three parts if deemed appropriate to your individual needs
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Comprehensive Dental Examination
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Radiographic Dental Examination
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Routine Dental Cleaning (Prophylaxis)
Comprehensive Dental Examination
The comprehensive examination is a process in which your dentist and dental hygienist examine and take the necessary records to provide a thorough diagnosis and treatment plan. Even if you have had routine care under another dentist, we will want to become familiar with your health. This examination will include:
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Oral Cancer Screening: We are committed to the prevention of oral cancer through the early identification of pre-cancerous conditions, and provide oral cancer screenings at each preventive care appointment. We will check for spots, cuts, swellings, growths or other abnormal areas.
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Periodontal Examination: Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States. We will examine your gum tissues to ensure that gum disease is detected in its early stages. Because bone loss is a significant consideration in determining the outcome of all restorative treatment, we take the health of your gum and bone tissues very seriously.
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Occlusion Examination: The forces of your bite can sometimes affect the positioning of your jaw and teeth. Your teeth will also be evaluated for signs of wear that may be indicative of a clenching/grinding habit or underlying medical issues. Early intervention is paramount for preventing occlusal trauma and preserving your natural tooth structure.
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Caries Examination: During this part of your examination, we locate areas of decay on chewing surfaces and between the teeth. We will use both the clinical exam and x-ray (radiographic) findings to determine the best treatment plan for your oral needs.
Radiographic Dental Examination
X-rays, also called radiographs, will be taken to help us look for decay (cavities) or other oral health problems that cannot be seen during the clinical exam. X-rays also provide the best way for us to check for infections and bone loss that may indicate advanced gum disease. Typical x-rays we take at a new patient visit include:
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Digital X-Rays: Typically a series of the entire mouth is indicated. These x-rays are of particular value in detecting cavities between your teeth in the early stages of development, before it is clinically visible. They are also used in the early detection of periodontal disease.
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3D Cone Beam Scan: Depending on what is found on the exam the dentist may order a cone beam scan. In as little as 15 seconds, we can obtain a full scan of your mouth, face and jaw. The superior level of detail of all your teeth, roots, and surrounding structures allows for improved diagnosis and treatment planning.
Routine Dental Cleaning (Prophylaxis)
This part of your appointment allows your hygienist to monitor your oral health and based on the dental records we collect, we will decide which type of cleaning will be best suited to promote healthy gums and teeth in your mouth. At the end of your appointment, we will develop a personalized prevention plan to maintain your oral hygiene at home between visits.
All of the aspects of our new patient visit can be customized if you have a specific concern or issue that you would like the doctor or hygienist to focus on. Please be sure to let us know at the beginning of your appointment so we can appropriately prioritize our examination.
We look forward to meeting you soon!