First Visit
You can prepare for your initial consultation by filling out your medical and dental histories and reviewing the HIPPA agreement.
 You can fill them out online using our secure server by clicking here. You can print them out and complete them before you come to the office for your appointment, or you can come to your appointment a few minutes early to fill them out in the office. After your paperwork is complete, your first appointment will consist of a review of your medical & dental history, radiographic (x-ray) and clinical examination. After your examination we will explain your diagnosis and treatment options. We will take the time to answer any questions you have regarding your treatment. After your consultation, we will be able to schedule you an appointment with the appropriate amount of time for the specific treatment that you need.
In some cases, your treatment can be completed at the time of your consultation. This is determined on a case by case basis. We work closely with your general dentist and will keep him/her informed of our recommendations and any treatment provided.
Please assist us by providing the following information at the time of your initial visit:
- Your referral slip and any X-rays if applicable
- A list of medications you are presently taking
- If you have dental insurance, bring your insurance card.
IMPORTANT: All patients under the age of 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at the consultation visit.
Please alert the office if you have a medical condition that may be of concern prior to treatment (i.e. diabetes, high blood pressure, heart murmur, artificial heart valves and joints, rheumatic fever, etc.), if you are on any medication (i.e. heart medications, aspirin, anticoagulant therapy, etc.) or if you have allergy to any medications (i.e. sulfa, penicillin, aspirin, etc.).
New
Guidelines for Antibiotic
Prophylaxis
On April 19th,
2007, the American Heart Association
announced a major change in the
guidelines for antibiotic
prophylaxis to prevent infective
endocarditis in certain dental
patients.
These
guidelines first appeared in 1955 in
an effort to prevent oral bacteria
from entering the bloodstream during
a dental procedure and causing an
infection of the heart valves (in
patients with mitral valve prolapse,
heart valve damage following
rheumatic fever, and patients with
artificial joints). These
recommendations were given as a
preventative measure, despite the
fact that there was little clinical
evidence or well-controlled research
to support this recommendation.
Those patients
who have taken antibiotic
premedication for many years already
this is not the first time these
recommendations have changed. What
has really changed is the way we
practice medicine and dentistry.
Recommendations for treatment should
be based upon tried and tested
clinical research. This is what we
call evidence-based
medicine/dentistry.
Those
individuals that the American Heart
Association and the American Dental
Association still advise to take
antibiotic prophylaxis before dental
procedures are those with artificial
heart valves, a previous history of
endocarditis, certain congenital
heart conditions and heart
transplant patients who develop
problems with a heart valve.
These
guidelines no longer recommend
antibiotic prophylaxis for patients
with mitral valve prolapse,
rheumatic heart disease, bicuspid
valve disease, calcified aortic
stenosis or congenital heart
conditions such as ventricular
septal defect, atrial septal defect
and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
These changes
will be significant and may cause
anxiety for many patients who have
taken antibiotics before their
dental treatment for many years.
Maintaining a healthy mouth through
daily oral hygiene and preventive
dentistry is a more effective way to
reduce the risk of infective endocarditis than taking preventive
antibiotics before a dental visit.
If you have concerns, please consult
your physician regarding your
situation.
For additional information:
click here
(Source ADA News, May 7, 2007)
X-Rays
 We will be taking several x-rays during the course of our examination and treatment. In our office we use the DEXIS digital radiography system. This advanced dental x-ray system allows us to magnify, manipulate and enhance these x-ray images to aid in diagnosis, patient education, and treatment.
If your dentist has taken x-rays, they may include them in their referral. We will review these x-rays in addition to the digital x-rays that we will be taking during our consultation and treatment.
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