Why Prepare?

It may seem odd to prepare for your dental appointment, but there are some things you can do to make your appointment smoother.

1. Pre-Complete Patient Forms, Bring Documents

First, we encourage you to download the patient forms online and fill them out prior to arriving in the office. This gives you more time and a familiar environment in which to consider the questions. The patient questionaire and history are extremely important to assure that you can the proper care.  Please fill these forms out completely, and pay particular attention to your medical history section.  Please be sure to complete a patient questionaire for each patient, a parental consent form for each patient under 18, and a signed financial policy statement for each family.  Bring these with you to your appointment.  If you do not, you will be required to fill this out prior to your appointment.

Remember, we will need a copy of your drivers license or other valid photo ID.  If you are using insurance, we will require a copy of your insurance card.

2. Be On Time, or Reschedule Early

We try to keep our appointments on schedule and our fees reasonable; this can be difficult if there are late arrivals or no-shows.  Please try to arrive at the clinic on time for your appointment.  If you have not filled out your patient forms, give yourself time to do so.  Filling out the forms typically takes 5-10 minutes if you have all of the information available, and read all of the forms.

If will not be able to make your appointment, please call within 24 hours to reschedule.

3. Prepare Small Children

Children, especially on their first visit, can be very scared of the dental clinic.  It is an unfamiliar environment, with many instruments and sounds they have not heard.  It is easy to understand how their imagination can run away with them and create intense fear.  Please let us know if this is their first appointment, or if you know thay are particularly scared of dental work.  We will try to give a little more time for these circumstances.  Sometimes, it is easier to do only a little work on the first visit to familiarize them with the dentist and reduce their fear of pain.  You can start discussing dental visists with them a few days or a week in advance.  Discuss it every day to prepare them.  Describe why they need to see a dentist, and what they can expect -- the tools, the dentist, the chair, the water and air.  This will help to familiarize them with the process and make it a little less scary.

4. Dental Hygiene & General Health

Be sure to let our staff know prior to your appointment if you have a medical condition that may complicate your dental care.  For your safety,  it may be necessary for our office to get a release from your medical doctor prior to performing treatment under certain conditions.

It is good practice to brush and floss daily.  To speed your visit, please brush and floss prior to your appontment.  For long procedures, it is a good idea to eat a good meal prior to your appointment.  It is possible for you to become lightheaded or sick during treatment if you have not eaten properly.