Have you ever felt anxious before walking into a dental appointment? Do your palms clam up, or do you start breathing faster? If so, don’t worry because you’re not alone. According to research, over a third of dental patients experience some form of dental anxiety before a first dental visit. While that statistic may not offer much in the way of comfort, here at Foxbury Dental, we believe in making your dental visit a relaxing and comfortable experience. That starts with knowing exactly what you can expect.
You see, we don’t want you to hide that great smile and would love to work with you to bring out the best in your oral health. for this reason, we’re going to explain step-by-step how your first dental appointment should go so that you can be prepared. Oh, and don’t worry, it’s not as bad as you think!
Before your first dental visit
Prior to your first visit to our private dentist, we’ll get you to visit our patient portal and fill out any medical information to avoid having to do this when you arrive. Here you can also book recall dental appointments, view your treatment plans, update and amend your personal details and even perform a contactless check-in.
Make sure you plan sufficient time off work to avoid feeling rushed if you feel anxious. As a private practice we provide more time to each appointment, and generally run on time, meaning you wont feel rushed when you are with us or be left waiting for long for those anxious thoughts to build up!
Try to arrive a little early if you were unable to do the paperwork beforehand on your first dental visit, so you get to keep all the time in your appointment and the dentist will not have to rush. Don’t worry; our friendly reception team is on hand to talk you through everything and will take the time to speak to you in our relaxing waiting room before you are collected.
During your first dental visit
Carmen, our experienced dentist, will take the time to get to know you before undertaking any form of examination, asking questions like, “How are you doing today?” and “What do you do?” Because we are a private dental practice, she has ample time to do just that. She will discuss your dental goals and go through your medical and dental history, including current medication (if any).
Next, she will carry out a digital x-ray of your current oral condition and a thorough but gentle assessment of your jaw, gums, and teeth. Carmen will also carry out an oral cancer screening check atthe same time. All will be explained after the examinations have been completed, including a comprehensive treatment plan, based on the information discussed and found above.
Finally, Carmen will take the time to answer any questions or concerns you may have about your oral health or about what to expect from any further treatment as required. There is no pressure to do anything, and any treatment proposed will usually be considered urgent or necessary, or be something that you already had in mind.
After your first dental visit
You’ll be guided back to the reception team, where they will talk you through your next appointment. This may be because you need follow-up care relevant to your first visit or to participate in regular dental check-ups. Either way, you’ll know exactly what you need to do and the team will help you with booking anything back in.
Just so you know, we may be a private dentist, but we believe in providing real value for money. For this reason, we offer complete assessments as part of the New Patient Exam (NPE) package and free examinations in specific areas like orthodontics, teeth whitening, and second opinions if you require any at this time. We really take our time to get to know you as this is key to building a trusting relationship with all of our patients to date.
Moreover, Carmen and her team are known for our empathetic manner and possesses the skills to put you immediately at ease. We aim to make you feel comfortable and relaxed during your dental appointment, and we will do all we can to ensure your first dental visit is a positive one. Besides, if you have any queries or concerns before you visit, please feel free to contact us or pop in to say hello. We guarantee that we don’t bite.
Why not give us a try?
Have you recently moved areas, are looking to change your current dentist, or haven’t had a dental appointment in a while? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Call our private dentist on 01858 455 100 or book an appointment below with Foxbury Dental, the home of 5-star dentistry in Rugby, Market Harborough, Lutterworth, and Leicester.