What to Expect From Your First Cosmetic Dental Services Appointment

Cosmetic dental services can enhance your physical appearance and oral functions. The first meeting with your dentist will be mostly exploratory and educational. This visit is when the dentist will ask about your medical history. Here are the things to expect when you come for cosmetic dental services.

Extensive dental exam

The dentist will inspect the patient’s mouth. Ordering dental X-rays will give a picture of the patient’s jawbone. Patients should be ready to share their dental and medical history. They should make a list of their medications and supplements.

Create a questionnaire about cosmetic dental services. The dentist will answer them and explain anything the patient wants to clarify. The patient must also be ready for tests the dentist may perform. Below are some of them:

• Oral cancer screening
• Head and neck exam
• Test for dental restorations or preventive treatments
• Diagnostic imaging exams
• Bite inspection
• Signs of dental decay or damage

Conversation about cosmetic dental services and smile goals

The first visit for cosmetic dental services will cover the treatments and the patient’s goals. Some procedures are quick and non-intrusive. Others are invasive and may take many visits. Discussing the available options with the dentist will enable the patient to make informed decisions about them. The patient can ask questions and air out concerns during the consultation. The dentist will answer and explain anything that needs clarification.

Bringing up the patient’s smile goals is an important part of the appointment. The dentist will suggest procedures that can achieve them. The number of visits will depend on the severity of the cosmetic issue. Recovery will depend on the cosmetic dental services.

The dentist will take scans and digital photos of the mouth. The imaging exams will help create a map for the treatment. Software projections can show the possible results of the cosmetic dental services. One or more treatments and visits could take place. Transparency about them will help the patient schedule the appointments in advance. It can also motivate the patient to adhere to the strict aftercare instructions.

Creating the custom-fit treatment plan

The dentist and the patient will create the custom-fit treatment plan for the cosmetic dental services. An outline of the steps will guide the patient from preparation to aftercare. The length of each appointment will be part of the plan as well. The dentist will then estimate the costs of the cosmetic dental services.

Concluding the appointment

The dentist will ask if there is anything the patient wants to ask about the cosmetic dental services. Providing the patient with some reading materials about them can help. The patient can ask about the clinic’s payment plans. Contacting the insurance provider will determine how much the coverage is and how much the patient will pay out-of-pocket.