Your First Visit
An unhurried first visit on Scenic Hwy.
Plan on about an hour. You will not be rushed. You will not be sold treatment you do not need. And you will leave knowing what is going on in your mouth and what to do about it.
Step by Step
What happens, in order.
Arrival and check-in.
Plan to arrive a few minutes early. The front desk will greet you, confirm your forms, copy your insurance card if you brought one, and let you know what to expect on the bill at the end of the visit.
X-rays, if needed.
Updated digital X-rays are usually part of a new-patient visit. They take a few minutes, use a fraction of the radiation of older film, and give Dr. Agrawal a clear picture of what is happening between the teeth, at the roots, and under existing restorations.
A careful cleaning.
Your hygienist will do a thorough cleaning — removing plaque and tartar, polishing, and checking your gum health with a periodontal probe. If your gums need more focused care, you will hear about it now rather than later.
Dr. Agrawal’s exam.
After the cleaning, Dr. Agrawal does a comprehensive exam. He looks at every tooth, checks your bite, screens for oral cancer, and reviews the X-rays with you on the screen. He will point to anything that needs attention and explain why.
A plain-English conversation.
If treatment is needed, he will walk you through what the options are, what each one costs, and what would happen if you chose to wait. If nothing is needed, he will say that. You can ask as many questions as you like. There is no rush.
Scheduling the next step.
If you need a filling, a crown, or another visit, the front desk will help you schedule it — usually within a couple of weeks. If you are just here for routine care, they will book your next cleaning before you leave.
Why we go slowly
A first visit is the start of a long relationship.
Some patients have been coming to this office for thirty years. Some are bringing children whose grandparents were patients here in the 1970s. Continuity of care is the single biggest predictor of long-term oral health, and continuity begins with the first visit going well.
If something about the visit does not feel right — if you have a question we did not answer, or if you want a second opinion on a recommendation — please say so. We would much rather hear it in the room than guess about it later.