What Happens at Your First Dental Visit with Us?
At PQ Family Dentistry, Drs. Tim Belnap and W. Brandon Jergensen believe in providing quality dental care in a warm and friendly environment. We strive to provide top-quality treatment beginning with your first dental visit at our Ramona or Rancho Peñasquitos, CA, offices. You can rely on our team to welcome you and provide the best care possible.
Before You Arrive
For your convenience, you can contact us by phone or by email to begin scheduling your first visit with our practice. To make your initial appointment easier, you can fill out your patient forms before coming to our office. These forms are available online for you to print and bring with you. If you do not want to print the forms yourself, we can mail them to you before your first appointment.
Beginning Treatment Planning
When you come into our office for your scheduled appointment, we ask that you bring your insurance card or insurance information and your filled-out patient forms. To begin treatment more quickly, you can also have your most recent x-rays sent by your current dentist. Our staff will be happy to help you request these, or perform new x-rays if necessary.
At Your First Visit
For your first visit, we ask that you to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment. This extra time will be used to finish any necessary paperwork and for you to meet Drs. Belnap and Jergensen and our staff.
Once you are invited back to the exam room, one of our experienced dental hygienists will thoroughly clean your teeth, including getting rid of stains and plaque and tartar deposits. She will also perform an oral cancer screening. To ensure that you use proper oral care at home, your hygienist will check that you are using correct cleaning and flossing techniques.
Next, we will take digital x-rays which will give us more information about the health of your teeth. Dr. Belnap or Dr. Jergensen will then perform a complete oral exam, during which they will:
- Evaluate your oral health and hygiene
- Determine your risk of tooth decay, gum disease, or bone disease
- Check if you need tooth restorations or replacements
- Look at your jaw and bite for issues
- Assess your need for fluoride
Your dentist will ask you about any health problems that might adversely affect your oral health, such as diabetes or arthritis. He will also ask about any medications that you are taking that might influence your oral health. Once the comprehensive exam is completed, your doctor will discuss any recommended treatment with you and will make a treatment plan for your long-term oral health. If you need a couple of procedures performed, you can determine the timeframe for treatment.
To encourage proper at-home oral care, we give every patient a bag containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss.
After Your Exam
After finishing your exam, you can sit down with one of our team members to discuss insurance coverage and costs for your treatment plan. We accept most major credit cards as well as CareCredit℠ to help patients afford their necessary care. Before leaving our office, you can schedule your next appointment, whether it is for your next exam or to begin your treatment plan. We typically recommend visiting our practice every six months for a dental exam and cleaning, and we recommend x-rays once a year. In addition, to encourage proper at-home oral care, we give every patient a bag containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss.
Visit Us Today
If you are looking for a great dental office with a friendly, family-oriented environment, contact our practice today to schedule an appointment. We look forward to treating you and your family for years to come.
