A dentist is always present during clinic sessions. If you are a new patient, please inform us of any medical condition that might interfere with dental treatment, or any medications that you are taking. As a new adult patient, your first scheduled appointment will be a screening appointment, which is approximately 45 minutes long. During this session, a thorough health history is taken, a brief oral exam is performed, as well as a periodontal screening. The primary reason we screen all new patients is to determine periodontal status.
Periodontal disease is viewed as an infection, which is caused by plaque bacteria.
This philosophy means that a portion of your mouth is treated and evaluated before other areas of your mouth are treated. Depending on your periodontal status, you may require one to several appointments to complete your treatment. This procedure is known as Periodontal Debridement. Good home care is an important and integral component to restoring your periodontal health. Our dental hygiene students are trained in patient education and are expected to review home care techniques with you.