New Patients
Your First Visit
On your first visit to our office we want to take the time to get to know you as an individual, not just “a patient with a problem.” We want you to share not only the information about the problem, but also your concerns; your past dental history and how you got to where you are now. And, just as importantly, we want you to share your expectations, goals, and any concerns or limitations you may have.
Once we have your background information we will evaluate the areas of concern. This will be followed by an oral cancer evaluation and then an appraisal of your overall dental health.
Then we discuss the preliminary findings and how to best address your expectations, goals, concerns and possible limitations.
Our goal is to always keep you informed about all aspects of your care. You will essentially become a co-therapist who is informed and an active participant in your care.
I personally had a lot of experience being a patient. I do not like like being treated like I am a “widget” on a assembly line, just doing what I am told to do. The following is my personal list of things I insist on knowing when I am a patient:
- What do I have – the diagnosis
- Why do i have it – the etiology
- What is the outlook – the prognosis
- The options available
- How long will it take to correct it
- How much will it cost
- How can I pay for what I want and need