Table of Contents

• Preparing for Your First Dental Appointment
• Get to Know Our Dental Team Before Your First Visit
• What to Expect During Your First Visit to Fletcher Family Dental
• Why It’s Important to Follow Your Dentist’s Advice
• Plan Your First Visit with Our Team Today

When was the last time you visited the dentist? If it has been a while, you aren’t alone. An estimated 100 million Americans will skip their yearly dental visit for a variety of reasons. While some patients will skip these appointments due to a lack of insurance or the fear of high costs, many patients will skip their dental visits due to anxiety.

This anxiety is even higher if it is your first visit to a new dental office. Not knowing what to expect can prevent you from making the call and scheduling your first appointment. However, as daunting as it can be to attend your first visit with a dentist, especially if you’re seeing a new dental team or visiting a new office, it’s a great step toward protecting your oral health.

If you are considering booking an appointment with our team of experts at Fletcher Family Dental, keep reading to learn more about what you can expect on your first visit. 

Preparing for Your First Dental Appointment

Going to visit any new medical professional can be incredibly intimidating, but especially if it has been a while since you’ve seen one. The anxiety experienced before visiting a new dentist is the same as the anxiety experienced before visiting a new primary care provider or specialist. A lot of this anxiety comes from not knowing how to prepare for your first visit. 

However, by ensuring you are prepared before your first appointment can greatly reduce any apprehension you may have. But what exactly should you do before visiting? The first step is ensuring your chosen office is covered by your insurance or that you have a complete understanding of their payment plan or in-office plan before your appointment.

Make sure to bring any essential insurance cards and information and arrive at your first appointment about 15 minutes early. This will give you plenty of time to fill out essential paperwork before going back. You may also need a copy of your ID, and bring a list of any current medications, allergies, and long-term smile goals. 

Finally, make sure to brush and floss before your first visit. This will ensure you have removed as much external debris before your cleaning, allowing your hygienist to focus on plaque and tartar along or beneath the gumline. If you have any questions or concerns, also ensure you have these questions written down so you can talk to your dental team during your appointment. 

Get to Know Our Dental Team Before Your First Visit

At Fletcher Family Dental, our team consists of many spectacular dentists, dental hygienists and assistants, insurance, new patient, scheduling and treatment coordinators, and office managers. When you partner with us for your first visit, you will have the peace of mind that you’re working with a compassionate team that brings comprehensive experience and training to the table. 

Our dentists, including Dr. Forest Christopher Port, have provided dental care to patients across Western North Carolina for nearly 30 years. With his education at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta and additional training alongside cosmetic dentists Dr. Ross Nash and Dr. Robert Lowe, he’s committed to delivering beautiful, strong smiles to all of our patients.

With his support and the compassion provided by our front-office team, you’ll feel confident and comfortable from the moment you step through the door. We know just how intimidating it can be to work with a new dental team, but we hope that our team of experts can help you quell anxiety and feel more confident from the moment you pull up for your first appointment. 

What to Expect During Your First Visit to Fletcher Family Dental

If it has been a while since you’ve visited the dentist, you may not know what to expect going into your first visit with our team. Unless you are visiting for a dental emergency, your first visit with our team will likely go as follows:

• X-Rays: Before your dentist or hygienist examines your teeth, the team will take comprehensive digital X-rays of your teeth to get a better look at your jawbone, tooth roots, and potential cavities that aren’t visible to the naked eye. 
• Exam: Once you’ve gotten X-rays, your dentist and hygienist will perform an exam. Your dentist will look for signs of cavities and other decay, while your hygienist will measure your gums to catch the earliest signs of gingivitis or periodontitis. 
• Cleaning: After the exams, your dental team will perform a comprehensive cleaning. If it has been a while since you’ve visited the dentist, you may need a tooth scaling and root planing to remove tough plaque, tartar, and calculus from beneath your gums. 
• Treatment Plan: At the conclusion of cleaning, your dental team will discuss any potential treatments you may need. Whether it’s fillings, crowns, root canals, or extractions, it’s essential that you take this advice to maintain good oral health. 

Why It’s Important to Follow Your Dentist’s Advice

As previously mentioned, at the end of your first visit, your dentist will provide you with any essential treatment recommendations. It can be incredibly tempting to disregard this advice. However, choosing to disregard any advice provided by your dentist can lead to much more complex and uncomfortable problems down the line. 

If your dentist has recommended treatments like fillings, dental crowns, root canals, or tooth extractions, it is essential that you follow this advice. Leaving tooth decay untreated can lead to further decay and the risk of it reaching the root of your tooth. From that point, you may experience more discomfort while eating, drinking, and speaking. 

If you are concerned about paying for more advanced dental treatments, our Fletcher Family Dental team offers financing plans to our patients. With these plans, you can schedule your essential treatment without having to worry about the upfront financial burden of getting more complex care. 

Plan Your First Visit with Our Team Today

When you’re ready to work with a great, compassionate, and reliable dental team in the Fletcher, NC, area, turn to our team at Fletcher Family Dental for expert support. We’ve provided comprehensive dental care to patients across the Greater Fletcher area and beyond for years, and we want to do the same for you. Whether you need to schedule your first visit, are considering cosmetic procedures, or want to strive toward better oral health, we’re here to help.

If you would like to learn more or schedule your first visit with our team, contact our team today by filling out our online contact form or call us at 828-674-8199.