New Patient Exam

New Patient Exam at Espire Dental

At Espire Dental, we’re happy to welcome new patients, no matter where they are on their oral health journey. We are proud to become your dentist and can’t wait to welcome you into our extended family! Some of our new patients are new to dental care entirely. Others have taken some time off from dental care and are ready to get started again. And some have already been under routine maintenance, but they are ready for a change of provider.

Whatever your situation, our dentists and team members are excited to partner with you to improve your dental health. We understand you might have questions about what a new patient exam is like here. Below, we’ll explain exactly what to expect.

What is a new patient exam like at Espire Dental?

A new patient exam is a little bit different than our routine check-up and dental cleaning. Before we can get you into a pattern of routine care, we need to establish a baseline of your overall oral health.

A new patient exam at Espire Dental starts with an exam of your face and neck. Usually, your dentist will simply perform this check visually. However, if your dentist encounters any abnormalities, like bumps or swelling, he or she may investigate those further.

Next, your dentist will check the inside of your mouth. Any abnormalities in the soft tissue in your mouth, like discoloration or sores, may indicate conditions that need treatment before routine care can begin. As a part of this check, your dentist will also screen you for oral cancer and evaluate your bite.

The next step in your new patient exam is evaluating your gums and jawbone. Your dentist will look for common issues like gingivitis, gum disease and bone disease. Mild gingivitis is generally easy to treat, and bone disease is relatively rare.

Once all of that has been completed, you’re finally ready to get your teeth checked. Your dentist will check your teeth for cavities and other issues, paying particular attention to any areas that are causing you pain.

When all these steps are complete, we will perform a teeth cleaning. Afterward, we’ll schedule any necessary follow-up appointments to take care of any cavities or other issues discovered during your new patient exam.

Does Espire Dental do X-rays as part of the new patient exam?

Yes, we use X-rays to evaluate every patient. Many of the issues that can occur with teeth and with the jawbone are not immediately visible. By the time a cavity is visible to the naked eye, that cavity has progressed very far.

By using X-rays, we can identify problem areas before they have progressed too far. In this way, we can fill a small cavity before it becomes a big one. Also, we can sometimes intercept larger problems early so that patients can avoid a root canal or crown.

X-rays also give us a visual record of your dental health. When you come back for your next cleaning and check-up, we can evaluate how your teeth look compared to your previous visit.

Schedule your new patient exam today

Are you in need of a new patient exam? We’re here to serve you and can’t wait to meet you and your smile. Schedule yours today.