What to Expect as a New Patient
Our highly trained team at MLDC provides compassionate care with cutting edge technology and commitment to your oral health.
With more than 30 years of experience, Dr. Guess believes in "comprehensive dentistry." This philosophy takes into account all of your tooth and gum needs, evaluates how anything might be affecting your whole-body health, and comes up with a plan that is systematic and efficient--saving you time and visits. Your involvement in your dental care is essential. Dr. Guess’ belief is that you should be educated on your individual needs so that you can make the best choices in treatment.
A standard new patient appointment involves a full set of x-rays, a comprehensive oral exam, an oral cancer screening, a TMJ evaluation, an obstructive sleep apnea evaluation, and an interview about your dental goals, needs, and concerns. Our patients come first and your comfort and health are always prioritized in our office. At your first appointment with our hygienist, we will take intraoral photos and especially focus on areas of concern which require attention. We cover oral hygiene information and educate our patients on good home-care. You are included in your treatment planning process so you can make informed decisions prior to next steps.
For children between 1-2 years, we offer a happy visit; this helps to familiarize our young patients with the dentist and become comfortable with our team. Around age 4, we will begin taking routine x-rays to monitor the development of your child’s teeth. On toddlers, our hygienist will begin brushing their teeth; on children ages 3+, if your child allows, our hygienist will begin professionally cleaning their teeth. We highly encourage your active participation in this appointment, and the appointments that follow, because the routine you set is what establishes your child’s oral hygiene habits as they age.
What to Expect at Your Child’s Visit for Treatment
Whether your child needs fillings, a stainless steel crown, an extraction, or something else, we will strive for the highest quality care to give your child a positive experience.
In order to minimize anxiousness or complications surrounding their appointment, we ask that you do the following:
Adequate sleep helps to reduce stress.
They may not feel like eating afterwards due to the oral anesthesia
This reinforces good oral hygiene and gives us a clean smile to work with.
If your child is very nervous or if you think they could benefit from having a comfort item with them, let them bring something like a blanket or stuffed animal with them. You could also bring along headphones for them to listen to their own music.
We can do this together at their appointment so we can explain the procedure to your child and answer any questions they may have.
Kids like to mess with the numb areas because it feels funny, but this can result in soreness and possibly mild pain when the anesthesia wears off.
If your child must return to school, keep in mind they may still have numbness from the local anesthesia for a few hours and may not be able to eat a normal meal. We will give you and your child post-operative instructions and it is imperative that you aid your child in following them.
