The first visit takes about an hour and a half. We perform a very thorough exam. Your entire oral health is important to us, so no aspect of your mouth and it’s function is left out. This initial visit includes:
Paperwork that unfortunately takes time to fill out. We want to be as efficient as possible, so we have made this paperwork available for you to download from our website. Bring this with you or fax it to 512-491-8318.
X-rays of your teeth. These fall into two categories: some x-rays are taken inside your mouth and give us an up close view of the tooth, good for seeing cavities and infections of the tooth, bone and gums. The other x-ray (panoramic) is taken outside of your mouth, and shows us your entire jaw, TMJ, all the teeth, especially wisdom teeth, and sinuses. This is a great tool for evaluating the wisdom teeth, TMJ, and is a great cancer screening tool.
Cutting edge 3-D imaging is available in the office! No need to visit an imaging center.
Periodontal evaluation is a close look at your gums and bone structure that surround your teeth and hold them in place. We evaluate every millimeter checking for any tissue infections called gum disease or periodontal disease. Gum disease is a silent infection most of the time, but can become acute and very painful. Our goal is to prevent a big painful infection and tooth loss with timely care using the most advanced diagnostics and treatment available to dentistry today.
The periodontal evaluation is the tool that we use to determine what level of care you need. If your gums are typically healthy a regular cleaning is the correct level of care, however as the health of your mouth decreases the level and frequency of care we prescribe for you must be more involved.
The comprehensive exam will evaluate your teeth, jaws, gums, bone, TMJ, how your jaw functions and cosmetics. We then put all of the information together, prioritize any treatment and thoroughly explain and discuss our diagnoses and recommendations. If you are in pain, or have a specific concern we can schedule an appointment that will focus on that specific problem alone.
Cosmetic consultations are FREE!! So, if you would like to improve your smile, and would like information about what we can do for you, just give us a call and ask for your FREE cosmetic consultation.