Seeing a new dentist can be an intimidating and a highly anxiety ridden experience. You are not familiar with the office, the doctor or the procedures. When it's time for your initial exam and meeting, just as it's the dentist's opportunity to examine you, it's also your chance to examine them.
Here is what you can expect from a typical first dental examination.
Review of your health history
Conversation of previous and current dental issues
An oral health assessment
Head and neck exam
Clinical photographs
X-rays
Possible impressions
Now, the word "dentist" does not always equate to honest, ethical and responsible. These are all qualities that should come with the territory and to much disappointment, that isn't always the case. When evaluating a new office, trust and understanding are essential, take a look around, be observant. Be discriminating. Don't assume both you and the dentist have the same ideas or feeling about dental disease. This is your chance to be the examiner; here are some basic suggestions for information you should seek out:
How long they have been in practice
Where they received their education
Is the hygienist or the doctor does the cleanings
How long the staff has been there
If they are affiliated with any dental organizations
Apparent health and safety violations
The current dental license status
Any previous disciplinary action filed with your state dental association or your State Board of Dental Examiners
All these suggestions have relevance when evaluating if this is the place for you. If the staff is constantly changing over, wonder why. If the dentist doesn't belong to any dental organizations, are they not supporters of the dental community. If dental training was received across seas, does the standard of care differ from what you would like? If the dentist is doing the cleanings, do they not have a dental hygienist?
This type of assessment will help enable you to determine whether the office and doctor is acceptable or unacceptable by your standards. But most importantly, don't forget to use your intuition! If you don't feel comfortable, then that's enough. Remember, you don't have to know everything about dental disease and treatment; you just have to know enough information about the doctor and the practice to build a relationship of trust and understanding.
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| Confessions of a Dental Hygienist |
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