The first visit is an important appointment. It is an opportunity for Dr. Scherer or Dr. Shotell to evaluate your dental health, but most importantly it is an opportunity for us to discuss your goals and desires.
A general list of the things we evaluate includes: A head and neck exam with oral cancer screening, muscle exam, bite evaluation (occlusion), facial structure, examination of teeth for decay or fractures, periodontal evaluation (gums and bone support), X-ray examination and a cosmetic consultation if you request it. There are many nuances and details that would take too much room to discuss here, but suffice to say, it is a very thorough exam. We tell patients to anticipate being in the office for 1.5-2 hours for this initial exam.
We try to give a comprehensive treatment plan addressing all of your dental needs in a cohesive & logical manner at this appointment. Occasionally, a complex medical history or treatment plan may require a secondary evaluation with further records before establishing a treatment plan, or a return visit may be necessary for presentation of the findings and proposed treatment.
Please assist us by providing the following information at the time of your consultation:
- Any x-rays you may have – if applicable (see below).
- A list of medications you are currently taking.
- If you have dental benefits, bring the necessary completed forms. This will save time and allow us to help you process any claims.
- Completed registration, financial policy, and medical history forms, and welcome letter if we have had the opportunity to send them to you prior to your appointment date.
IMPORTANT: All patients under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at the consultation visit.
X-Rays
If you have seen another dentist we may be able to use X-rays you had taken in their office assuming they are current and of diagnostic quality. If they used digital images the best way to obtain the images is for you to go to their office and ask for digital copies of the full resolution images on a CD or flash drive (for best results bring your own Flash drive or CD). If they print the images ensure they use good quality photo paper. X-rays printed on plain paper are usually useless. If you cannot do this, please contact our front desk. We will have you fill out the appropriate paperwork and request the records for you. We have found that requests made over the phone more often result in non-diagnostic images being sent and this is why we recommend you go in person.
