New Patients
New Patient Examinations: How Can We Help?
When attending a new dental practice it is clearly important to have the most appropriate type of initial consultation according to your individual needs.
Maybe you are looking to maintain your current teeth as they are. Alternatively, you may wish to have a more extensive upgrading to replace old black filling, or have a complete "makeover". Whatever your needs, we can help.
If you've been visiting your dentist regularly and have kept your teeth and gums in good condition, you will not normally need a detailed, "in-depth" consultation.
If, however, it is some time since you have seen a dentist, you may need a more extensive examination, including x-rays and the provision of a detailed rehabilitation plan.
All examinations will check the condition of your teeth, together with the supporting gums. We also always check the soft tissues (tongue, cheeks etc) to carry out a routine oral-cancer screening.
We will usually recommend initial visits to our dental hygienist to help achieve and maintain excellent oral health.
Following a detailed discussion with our trained reception staff we will try and book the most appropriate initial consultation to suit your needs. The choice of initial consultation includes the following:
- Short, free-of-charge meeting: A short chat to meet the dentist and discuss the type of treatment that may be available for your needs. No clinical examination is carried out.
- A general dental check-up: This is the appropriate choice for patients who have received regular care in the past and who, hopefully, will not need much remedial treatment. Treatment is agreed and an initial estimate provided at that appointment.
- A detailed diagnosis and written plan: This two-visit consultation is suitable for referred patients or those with more extensive treatment needs (such as dental implant treatment). Full records, x-rays and photos are taken, including models of your mouth, to enable the dentist to assess your options carefully. These will then be presented together, with a detailed treatment plan, at a separate diagnosis appointment.