How to Get Ready for Your First Visit to California Dental Group
Tips for preparing for your first visit to your new dentist.
Have you decided to become a new patient at California Dental Group? Congratulations—you’re about to experience some of the highest quality dental care and customer service in the area at very reasonable prices. In fact, as a new patient you can even take advantage of special promotions like a $29 cleaning with a free dental exam and x-rays.
Here’s what you need to do to get ready for your first appointment.
Make Your Appointment
Obviously, the first step to getting the dental care you need is to make your appointment. At California Dental Group, we have 7 different clinic locations, so you can pick the location that is most convenient for you. You can make your appointment by calling the location of your choice, or by using our online appointment request form.
Transfer Your Dental Records
Most people remember to transfer their medical records when changing doctors, but they may not think to transfer their dental records when visiting a new dentist for the first time. You should definitely transfer your records, especially if you have had any major dental work done in the past. Having access to details about past treatments can help your new dentist provide the best possible care.
Check Your Insurance Coverage
If you have dental insurance, you will definitely want to bring your plan information along with you to your dental visit. You should also review your coverage to help you understand what kind of out of pocket costs you can expect to incur following your visit and/or for future treatments that may be needed.
Fill Out New Patient Forms
You’ll want to arrive a few minutes early to your dental appointment so that you can fill out your new patient paperwork. As you complete the paperwork, answer the questions about your medical history carefully. Even though you might at first think your medical history is not relevant to your teeth, in reality your overall health and your oral health are linked in many ways. Your dentist will definitely need to know if you are diabetic, pregnant, a smoker, a drinker, or on any medications, as these factors must be considered when recommending various dental procedures, especially oral surgeries.
Consider Your Dental Needs
The final thing you will want to do in order to prepare for your first visit to California Dental Group is to think about your current and future dental needs. If your visit was prompted by pain or sensitivity, make sure you can describe which teeth or parts of your mouth are affected. But don’t just consider immediate problems—think back over the past 6 months and see if you can think of any other problems the dentist should know about. Write down any questions you may have for the dentist so you can be sure to remember to ask them during your appointment.
