Carmel Dental Clinic
New patients
What happens at your first visit
Most people who put off the dentist are not avoiding treatment. They are avoiding the not-knowing. So here is the whole first appointment, start to finish, before you book it.
- Usually takes20 to 30 minutes
- BringID and old X-rays
- Leave withA written plan
The appointment, step by step
This is the shape of a routine first visit. If you are in pain, it changes - getting you out of pain moves to the front and the rest waits.
- 1You tell us why you came
Before any instrument comes out. What hurts, how long it has hurt, what makes it worse, and what you have already tried. Mention any medicines you take and any medical conditions - blood thinners, diabetes and heart conditions genuinely change how we treat you.
- 2An examination
A look at every tooth, the gums, the bite and the soft tissue. This is also a screening for the things people do not come in for, including early gum disease.
- 3An X-ray, only if it changes something
We take one when it will show us something the eye cannot - decay between teeth, bone level, or the state of a root. Not as a routine add-on.
- 4You are told what we found
In plain words, with the X-ray on screen if there is one. You should leave able to explain your own mouth to someone else. If you cannot, we have not done this part.
- 5A plan, in order of urgency
What needs doing now, what can wait, and what is only worth doing if you want it. The difference between those three is stated out loud, with the cost of each.
What to bring
- Any photo ID.
- A list of medicines you take, including anything for blood pressure, diabetes or blood thinning.
- Previous X-rays or dental records, if you have them - it can save you a repeat X-ray.
- Your insurance details, if you intend to claim.
- The name of anything you are allergic to, especially antibiotics or local anaesthetic.
It changes how the appointment is run - slower, more explanation, and stopping whenever you raise a hand. It is a common request and nobody will find it unusual. Being told at the start works far better than trying to cope halfway through.
Questions we are actually asked
Will you do treatment on the first visit?
Only if you are in pain and want it dealt with, or if you agree to it after the examination. A first visit is for finding out what is going on. Nothing is started without you agreeing to it and knowing the cost first.
How much does the first appointment cost?
Ask when you book and you will be told the consultation fee before you come in. We quote treatment costs after the examination, because before it any number would be a guess.
I have not been to a dentist in years. Is that a problem?
No, and it is more common than you think. It changes nothing about how you are treated. Come in, find out where you stand, and decide from there.
Can I bring someone with me?
Yes. Bring whoever makes the appointment easier for you.
This page describes a dental procedure in general terms. It is not a diagnosis and not a treatment plan, and outcomes vary from person to person. What is right for you is decided after a clinical examination at the clinic. See our terms and medical disclaimer.