New Patient Exam
New Patient Exam
It starts with a phone call. When you call our dental offices in Ottawa, our friendly staff will answer. Since you’re a new patient, you’ll be booked in for a special first appointment.
Our booking options are flexible, so you’ll be able to find a time that works for you. If you have any concerns about the appointment time, we can work around them.
You’ll be sent a Patient Information Form by mail ahead of time to fill out in the comfort of your own home. This form will give us valuable insight into your overall health.
Why We Do The New Patient Exam
Advances in dental and medical technology have given us the opportunity to live longer. As patients, we wish to decide on our own health choices with the most accurate, current and complete information available.
As a new patient to our practice, it is most important to evaluate your concerns and oral health thoroughly before planning treatment together. As an existing adult patient, there may be a need to reassess the conditions prevailing in your mouth every 3-5 years.
Your First Appointment at our Ottawa Dental Offices
When you walk in the door, you’ll be greeted by our receptionist in our modern waiting area and offered some tea or coffee. We want to make sure you’re as comfortable as possible before the appointment starts. If you like, you can bring in a blanket or pillow to make your stay more relaxing.
Soon, you’ll be greeted by one of our staff members who will introduce herself, shake your hand warmly and bring you into another room. You will then be given a thorough one-on-one interview.
Next, you’ll see your dentist. The patient’s dentist, rather than a hygienist, always does the new patient exam.
Your dentist will be looking for the following things:
- Signs of periodontal (gum) disease
- Any cracks or damage to the teeth
- Symptoms of oral cancer
- Decay
- Staining of teeth
- Oral cancer screening
- A thorough examination of all soft tissues in your mouth
- A detailed examination of your teeth
- A periodontal examination (gums and bone supporting teeth)
- A detailed orthopedic examination of your jaw joint (TMJ) and masticatory muscles
- Occlusal (bite) examination
- Only necessary x-rays are taken to determine the presence of decay and obtain baseline data on the condition of bone and jaw joints
- Photographs
- Your past experience with Ottawa dental offices and how we can serve you better
- What you hope to gain from dental treatment
- If you have any cosmetic issues you’d like to resolve
The exam involves x-rays, intra-oral photography, and other tests to ensure your total oral health.
The Follow Up
Once the exam is finished, you’ll be brought in for a consultation session. During that session, your dentist will discuss your treatment plan with you. Our goal is to maintain the ongoing health of your teeth, so your plan will be focused on providing you with proactive solutions to your dental health issues.
We will discuss your treatment options with you and help you make the final decisions regarding your customized treatment plan. It’s like a project management schedule for your oral health.
By the time you leave our Ottawa dental offices, you’ll have all the information you could want about your customized treatment plan.
A few days after the appointment, your dentist will mail you a new patient letter that summarizes the new patient exam’s findings.
Your Consultation Appointment
After your exam Dr. Samarrae will do the following:
- Examine all the information that she gathered at new patient exam
- Analyse all of the data collected
- Establish a diagnosis and develop individualized recommended treatment plan
She will sit down with you at a later date to discuss findings, treatment recommendations and to answer all of your questions.
This consultation is free of charge as it is part of the comprehensive examination. We invite you to bring a family member or friend to this consultation if you would like.
For more information contact us now! Or if you’re ready to book an appointment, click here.
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