The New Patient Experience

Thank you for the trust you have shown in us by choosing our office for your dental care.  Our number one priority is ensuring you feel comfortable and confident in our care. During your first visit, we'll review your paperwork, listen carefully to any dental concerns or aesthetic goals you may have, then get you comfortably settled into a treatment room.

What to expect during your first dental appointment

During your first visit, you can expect to be greeted upon arrival and invited to get comfortable in the treatment room.  We have warm blankets and relaxing music to help make your overall visit both relaxing and stress-free.

Once you are comfortable, you'll meet your hygienist who conducts a gentle and refreshing cleaning.  Having tartar removed from your teeth will give you that clean, smooth feeling of your teeth which is well worth any anxiety you may have initially experienced prior to your visit. You'll have fresher breath, too.

Digital x-rays and/or panoramic radiographs will likely be taken to give the dentist a thorough look at any issues you might not be feeling. Following the x-rays, Dr. Stafford and his dental assistant will come in and do a thorough oral check-up, assessing each tooth and looking for any pockets or gaps between your teeth and gums. Dr. Stafford uses a tool called a periodontal probe, which simply helps him find problem areas and measures the depth of any gum pockets. This important measurement is recorded in your chart notes so he can monitore it against future visits.

Once the digital x-rays are ready, Dr. Stafford reviews them thoroughly with your dental team.  They want a complete look at what's going on inside your teeth, gums, and supporting bone structures so they can have a clear and accurate baseline.

Finally, before you leave we discuss your results and review any issues, goals or next steps.  Don't be overwhelmed if there are any problems found with your first visit.  By getting this first appointment done, you're already on the way to fixing any issues and on a positive (and preventive) path to maintaining excellent oral health for the future.  And if you continue following good dental habits after this, your routine follow-up visits will be a breeze! In fact, most of our patients look forward to their six-month visits because they leave feeling refreshed and have peace of mind that they are taking good care of their oral health.

Is a child's first dental visit different than an adult's?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children start seeing a dentist by their first birthday or within 6 months of their first tooth emerging. Their first visit often lasts 30 to 45 minutes. Depending on your child's age, their first visit typically includes a full exam of the teeth, jaws, bite, gums, and oral tissues to ensure that their are no issues with  growth and development.

Dental Insurance? No Insurance?

While we participate with most dental insurance providers, we file for both in-network and out-of-network plans.  If you do not have dental insurance, we offer CareCredit as well as our popular in-house Dental Benefits Program.   

We never want affordability to come between you and your dental health so we offer you plenty of options.

New Patient Forms

New patient forms are available for you to conveniently and securely complete online below. 

If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to call us at 804-379-9177. We are always happy to help!