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Your New Patient Visit at Santa Monica Bay Dental

At Santa Monica Bay Dental, we view your first visit as the foundation of a long-term relationship. This important appointment is dedicated to thoroughly reviewing your medical and dental history. It’s an opportunity for you to meet your doctor and our team, creating a comfortable space for discussing any dental health concerns and treatment options. We emphasize a relaxed environment for your initial visit, ensuring there’s enough time so you feel at ease and unhurried.

Step 1: Your Appointment

As soon as you enter Santa Monica Bay Dental, our warm and welcoming staff will be ready to help you check in, inform your oral health team that you’ve arrived, and assist with insurance verification if needed. To expedite your visit, we advise filling out any new patient paperwork that was included in your appointment confirmation email before your arrival.

Once all initial procedures are complete, one of our amiable team members will guide you from the waiting area to a private treatment room. During your appointment, our dental professionals will review your dental and medical history and discuss any concerns or issues related to your oral health. For a comprehensive assessment of your oral condition, our dental assistant will conduct X-ray imaging to closely examine the structure of your jaw, the positioning of your teeth, and the overall condition of each tooth.

Step 2: Your Exam

At Santa Monica Bay Dental, your comfort and care are our top priorities. As you settle into one of our treatment rooms, a team member will thoroughly review your dental and medical history, addressing any specific concerns you might have. We are committed to utilizing cutting-edge dental technology, including intraoral cameras offering a detailed 3-D visual tour of your teeth and jaw. This advanced technology enables us to make precise diagnoses and tailor treatment plans specifically for you.

Your comprehensive dental examination includes an in-depth evaluation of your teeth, gums, and mouth, complemented by x-ray imaging to gauge your overall oral health. We also incorporate artificial intelligence to enhance the accuracy and depth of our X-ray analysis, ensuring a thorough assessment of your dental images. Our aim is to support you in achieving your dental objectives while maintaining your utmost comfort and satisfaction. Following the examination, we will take the time to discuss our findings with you and provide recommendations for any treatments or procedures that may be beneficial.

Step 3: Your Hygiene Visit

At Santa Monica Bay Dental, your initial appointment involves a comprehensive oral health assessment. Our dental team will meticulously examine your teeth, gums, and overall mouth health to create a tailored treatment strategy that addresses your unique dental needs. The decision to perform a cleaning on your first visit will depend on your current oral condition.

Our experienced dental hygienist will conduct an oral cancer screening and assess the health of your teeth and gums. If cleaning is necessary, our hygienist will expertly use either traditional dental instruments or state-of-the-art water-powered tools to eliminate plaque and tartar accumulations. Additionally, you’ll receive customized advice on maintaining optimal oral hygiene and preventing gum disease. The complete hygiene evaluation typically lasts about 45 minutes. After your visit, we’ll equip you with a toothbrush, dental floss, and toothpaste to support your at-home dental care regimen.

New Patient Forms

To streamline your upcoming appointment, Santa Monica Bay Dental offers patient forms online for your convenience. Filling out these forms prior to your visit contributes to a more efficient check-in process. If you’re unable to complete the forms online beforehand, we kindly request that you arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time to fill them out at our office.

Complete New Patient Forms

Learn More About New Patients at Santa Monica Bay Dental

Certainly! Santa Monica Bay Dental is always delighted to welcome new patients and often has the availability to schedule appointments within a few weeks or, occasionally, even within a few days. Your first visit will usually comprise a thorough examination and any essential X-rays the doctor conducts. This initial appointment is also an ideal chance for you to share any particular issues or concerns you might have with our dentists.

In the past, booking a first appointment with a new dentist was often just for a dental cleaning. However, at our clinic, we follow contemporary dental practices that mandate that all new patients receive a detailed oral examination and, if needed, X-rays. This method ensures that our dentists gain a full and precise insight into your oral health before starting any treatment. If a dental cleaning is deemed necessary following this examination, we frequently offer the convenience of same-day appointments for this service.

Our goal is to make the payment process as convenient as possible for our patients by providing various options.

Before your treatment starts, our dental team will provide you with a benefits estimate and assist in processing your insurance claim. We will help you navigate the claim submission process when we are not within your insurance network. It’s important to remember that patients are responsible for paying any difference between the insurance benefit and the total cost of the treatment. Payment is expected during service unless alternate arrangements have been made in advance.

If you have any questions regarding your insurance coverage, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 310-453-8606.