Booking a dental appointment for the first time in a while can feel uncomfortable — especially if it has been a few years, or if a previous experience left you uneasy. Knowing what the visit actually involves usually makes it easier.
Before anything else, we talk
Your first appointment at our Dover office starts with a conversation, not a drill. We ask what brought you in, whether anything hurts, what you would like to change about your smile, and what your experience with dental care has been so far. If you are anxious about treatment, tell us — it changes how we pace the visit.
You do not need to arrive knowing which procedure you need. Describing the problem in your own words is enough.
A full evaluation
Next comes the examination. We check your teeth, gums and bite, and look for issues that are easy to miss on your own: early decay between teeth, worn enamel, gum inflammation, restorations that are beginning to fail.
Imaging is taken when it adds something. A routine set of images shows what happens below the gumline; for implant planning or an impacted tooth we may use a 3D CBCT scan. We do not take images for their own sake.
Options, then a plan
Once we know the condition of your mouth, we go through what we found and what can be done about it. Where there is more than one reasonable option, we explain the differences — including cost and how long each lasts — and let you decide.
Some patients leave the first visit with a cleaning done and nothing else needed. Others leave with a treatment plan spread over several months. Both outcomes are normal.
Practical details
Plan for about an hour. Bring your insurance information and a list of any medications you take. If you have had recent dental work elsewhere, records or images from that office are useful.
Our office is at 600 Mt Pleasant Ave, Suite E, in Dover, open Monday to Friday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. To book, call 973-361-6200 or use the contact form.