Although your dental hygiene routine is important, taking care of your teeth means more than just brushing and flossing. For complete dental care, it’s important that you visit a dentist every six months or so for a regular checkup and professional cleaning. Whether it’s your first time visiting a new dental office or the first time you’ve been in a while, a checkup doesn’t have to be something you dread. Let’s take a look at what you can expect from your first dental visit at Scott Edwards Cosmetic And Family Dentistry, and how we can have you smiling with confidence in no time!
Before your appointment
When you make your appointment with us, ask for an estimate of how long a cleaning and exam will take – then add extra time to that. Planning enough time off work or school and then some will help you feel less rushed or anxious about getting back. If it’s been a while since your last visit, you may be in the chair a bit longer, so take that into account. Sometimes an end-of-day appointment is a good idea so you can go right home when we’re finished.
At our practice, you have the option to fill out your patient forms online ahead of time, or you can arrive a little early on the day of your appointment to do them. You’ll also want to have your driver’s license and insurance card ready when you check in at the reception desk. Remember, once you schedule an appointment with our office, we reserve that time exclusively for you. If something happens and you can no longer make your appointment, we simply ask that you call us as soon as possible so that we can arrange a new date and time that works for you.
What to expect from your first visit
During your first visit to our Midtown or East Memphis office, our team will take a full health history. On your subsequent visits with us, just let us know if your health status has changed in any way. Most dental visits are checkups. Scheduling these visits for every six months or so will help keep your teeth and gums strong, clean, and healthy. Checkups can also catch any potential problems early, keeping them from developing into something more serious.
Checkups will generally include a complete cleaning, which may be performed by one of our dentists or one of our dental hygienists. A special instrument is used to scrape below the gumline, removing any built-up plaque and tartar. This reduces your risk of developing cavities, bad breath, gum disease, and other issues. We may also polish and floss your teeth before performing a thorough examination of your teeth, gums, and mouth.
The longer you wait between visits, the more hard tartar is able to build up on your teeth and around the gumline. A deep cleaning session to remove tartar can be uncomfortable, but it’s worth it for the clean, smooth feel of your teeth afterwards. If your jaw hurts or you have any mouth pain while we’re cleaning, let us know and we’ll be happy to give you a break. Likewise, let us know if you suffer from sensitive teeth before we begin the cleaning process. We can often offer numbing options before we start any of the work.
Our goal is to help you maintain good oral health and to provide preventive care by identifying and treating issues as soon as possible. New patient appointments and visits where more than a couple of years have passed will usually require x-rays so that our dentists can get a complete look at what’s going on inside your teeth, gums, and supporting bone structures. X-rays can also diagnose problems that may otherwise go unnoticed, such as damage to the jawbones, impacted teeth, abscesses, cysts, tumors, and decay in between the teeth.
We may also do a panoramic x-ray, which provides us with a complete view of your upper and lower jaw in a single picture. This can help us understand your bite better, and give us more insight into the relationship that exists between the different teeth and your arch.
During the exam, one of our dentists will inspect your teeth and mouth for any potential problems, including signs of tooth decay, gingivitis, and gum disease. We’ll also talk with you about any problems you’ve been experiencing, such as toothaches, sensitivity, or any cosmetic concerns you have.
Follow-up care after your first visit
Occasionally, you may experience some tenderness after a dental visit. This is particularly true if it’s been a while in between visits, if you’ve had a deep cleaning, or if you’ve had some work done. For mild soreness, ask our dentists about taking an over-the-counter pain reliever. You should also call our office if you experience any pain or swelling.
If your mouth is healthy, we recommend a cleaning and exam every six months. If we find anything during your visit that requires further treatment, you should make an appointment before leaving the office. You’ll likely need to be seen sooner than you normally would so we can take care of the issue before it causes further problems.
If at any point in your visit you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to bring to ask! We want you to feel valued, heard, and confident in your decision to trust us with your dental health.
Following your appointment, our front desk staff will help you schedule regular cleanings and any upcoming necessary procedures. They’ll also go over the payment amount and options associated with your treatment. For your convenience, we accept cash, checks, CareCredit, and all major credit cards.We also accept most dental insurance plans, and do our best to get you the maximum coverage allowed by your insurance benefits. To expedite this, bring your insurance card with you to your first visit, and we’ll be more than happy to call and verify your coverage
Scott Edwards Cosmetic And Family Dentistry offer the best in dental care across Memphis and the Mid-South
Whether you’re in need of a new dentist or we just haven’t seen you in a while, we encourage you to get in touch to schedule a visit with us! We provide a comfortable, welcoming environment at both office locations, and will always take into account your specific needs and concerns during checkups, treatments, and beyond. You never have to fear a visit with us when we work so hard to make you feel welcome! To get your smile looking and feeling great, schedule a checkup with Scott Edwards Cosmetic And Family Dentistry today.