Patient Info

First Visit

From the first day you join our office, we will cater to your dental needs. As part of your first visit with us, you will fill out a comprehensive medical and dental history. These forms are important because they help us to determine the course of your treatment. We have to know about allergies, sensitivity to anesthetics, long-term medications, etc.

On your first visit we will conduct a comprehensive examination and a periodontal evaluation. Full mouth x-rays are necessary in order to fully examine you, as it gives us a picture of the tooth structure above and below the gum line, as well as enables us to evaluate the bone structure surrounding your teeth.

After gathering all of the necessary information, your treatment will be reviewed with you. This allows you and the doctor to develop a personalized plan for your oral care. We will work with you so that your oral care plan will be convenient for your lifestyle and busy schedule. We look forward to helping you maintain a happy, healthy smile.

Please review our Notice of Privacy Practices and Financial Policy prior to your first visit with us.

Emergencies

We sincerely hope that you never have a dental emergency, but if you do, we offer 24-hour emergency service for our patients. If the emergency occurs during our normal office hours, please call the office at 608-742-3272 and explain your situation. We will make every effort to accommodate you as soon as possible.

If the emergency occurs after office hours, please call 608-742-3272 and retrieve the emergency number provided on the voice recording. Call the emergency number and leave your name, phone number, and a detailed message as to the nature of your emergency we will return your call as soon as possible.

In the meantime, here’s what to do until you get to our office:

BROKEN FILLINGS: Save the filling if possible so we can have a look at it. Rinse your mouth gently with lukewarm water to remove debris – warm salt-water rinses or dissolved baking soda can be soothing. If the tooth is sensitive, protect it with dental wax or, in a pinch, sugarless gum.

LOST CROWN: Displaced crowns can sometimes be reused; hang onto it. Try to affix the crown with denture adhesive or, if it won’t stick, use dental wax to keep the tooth away from air.

KNOCKED-OUT TOOTH: Don’t panic. If we can treat you within about an hour, chances are we can reseat the tooth for good. Don’t touch the tooth root – this could damage delicate nerves. Gently replace the tooth where it belongs if you can, or keep it moist in milk.

DAMAGED BRIDGES, DENTURES, and PARTIALS: Do not risk home repairs. Glue can destroy composition materials and cause tissue erosion. Keep all the pieces, even the smallest, and call us to schedule an appointment. We can usually return an emergency repair to you within 24 hours.

TOOTHACHE: Toothaches are common and nasty. They tell you something is wrong that needs attention. Rinse your mouth with warm water and try to floss away any food particles. Don’t lodge aspirin near the tooth – it will irritate, even ulcerate, gum tissue. Ice packs or a numbing agent may make you more comfortable while you’re scheduling an appointment. Toothaches may go away, but the source of the pain won’t.

LACERATIONS OR JAW DAMAGE: Lacerations or jaw damage require immediate treatment at a hospital facility or an oral surgeon’s office. Take such injuries seriously. Delay may result in further damage.