LOOKING FOR A NEW DENTIST?

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Dunwin Dental is accepting new patients. We will ensure that your transition to us from your existing dental provider is seamless and efficient.

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WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR FIRST VISIT

 

When you come to our dental office for your first visit, you will meet a team of professionals made up of your dentist, Registered Dental Hygienist, Chairside Dental Assistant, and Patient Coordinators. They work together to provide you the dental care and treatment you need. Please bring:

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• Your health card for medication purposes.

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• Any medications you are taking. Some side effects can affect the conditions in your mouth. Different medications can also interact negatively with each other.

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• Insurance information, if you have dental insurance coverage.

 

When you enter our office, the patient coordinators will greet you and answer any questions you may have. They play a key role in your relationship with Dunwin Dental. They will give you some forms to fill (paper, email or iPad depending upon your preference) if you already haven’t completed them. The forms will ask for important information such as medical conditions, smoking and alcohol consuming habits, pregnancy, family history, etc.

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We need this information to make appropriate treatment recommendations to you and administer your file. For example, your phone number is required to contact you for follow-ups – treatment, appointment and refunds. Any medical conditions you may have can affect your dental care and treatment you can receive. Effects of some medications may interfere with the effects of other medications. If you smoke or consume alcohol, you may be at higher risk for certain types of oral cancer. If you are pregnant, you may need to postpone certain treatments during your pregnancy and get professional teeth cleanings more frequently.

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Additionally, we will ask questions related to looseness of your teeth, bleeding of your gums, sensitivity of your teeth to hot or cold, grinding of your teeth, tightness of your neck or jaw muscles etc.

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If you’re nervous about seeing a dentist, please let us know. We will ensure that you have a comfortable and relaxing experience.

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After you are done completing the forms, one of our staff members will seat you in one of the operatories.

 

Your dentist will explain the procedure to you and examine your mouth for things that can affect your oral and overall health. She will record the condition of each tooth, record if any of your teeth are missing, diagnose your teeth and find the problems in your mouth. Your dentist will document her findings in a chart called odontogram. Some of things that your dentist will look for during your dental exam:

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• Damaged, missing or decayed teeth.

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• Cavities while they are small. The sooner you catch them, the cheaper they are to treat.

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• The condition of your gums to check for gum disease. You may have gum disease and not know about it. Inflammation or other signs of gum disease can lead to tooth and bone loss.

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• Check previous dental work like root canals, fillings and crowns to ensure they are not loose and find if any of them have decay or are defective.

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• Check your mouth for any signs of cancer, and other suspicious growths or cysts. This is very important if you smoke or use tobacco.

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• Signs of bleeding or inflammation on your tongue and on the roof or floor of your mouth.​

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• The position of your teeth (e.g., spacing, bite).

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• Signs that you clench or grind your teeth. This can cause headaches or a sore jaw and in serious cases lead to hearing loss and tooth loss.

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• The health and function of your joint that joins your lower jaw to skull (temporomandibular joint or TMJ), and any pain or tenderness.

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• Catch oral conditions that cause bad breath or dry mouth.

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• The general condition of the bones in your face, jaw and around your mouth.

 

Along with a visual inspection of your mouth, your exam may also include a check of your neck area. The dentist will feel the glands and lymph nodes for possible signs of inflammation. This could be a sign of general health problems.

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A chairside dental assistant under the direction of your dentist may also take dental X-rays if your dentist thinks it is necessary. X-rays can show problems like cavities, fractures, impacted wisdom teeth, bone loss, abscesses or cysts, growth problems, some type of tumours etc. that can’t be seen by the naked eye.

 

Based on the problems found, your dentist will recommend a treatment plan and options for care that best meet your needs. She will answer your questions. If you don’t understand something or are not clear about the exam, diagnosis, treatment plan or related costs, please feel free to ask her.

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At the end of the procedure(s), patient coordinators will help you with the insurance claim(s), process payment for the procedure, and schedule your next appointment according to the instructions of your dentist.

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INSURANCE AND DIRECT BILLING ACCEPTED

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For your convenience, we accept MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Cash. We also directly bill your insurance provider and accept all insurance carriers.  

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