Your Welcome Appointment

August 19, 2019

The first time you call our office, a welcoming voice from one of our team members greets you.  We make an appointment that works best with your schedule and go over what to expect at your welcome appointment.  We always invite you to visit our website in advance to complete your registration forms.  You may also come in 15 minutes early to fill out these forms in our reception area.   Your first appointment is generally two hours, the first with Dr. Bryan Judd and the second with one of our Registered Dental Hygienists (RDHs).

When you first enter our office, you are greeted with warm smiles and hellos from our front office team.  Your personal information is entered into our system, then we invite you on a tour of our office.  You are offered water and a snack in the reception area where you will view our team-collage pictures on the wall, will be shown where to freshen up if desired, and see our treatment rooms.  

One of our Registered Dental Assistants (RDAs) will then escort you to a treatment room. We take a full series of digital radiographs (X-rays), a complete series of digital photographs, and then you receive a comprehensive exam which includes a state-of-the-art oral cancer screening with the Oral-ID.  We then examine the jaw joint and surrounding muscles looking for TMJ (temperomandibular joint) symptoms.  Our newest technology is used next—the CariVU, which allows us to see inside your teeth with infrared lighting.  Dr. Judd will go over with you what is seen, not only with the high-definition digital photographs, but also with an intra-oral camera to “take you on a tour of your mouth,” tooth by tooth which you will view on a 31-inch monitor.  If there are areas of concern, Dr. Judd will explain them to you in detail and recommend any treatment.  He treats every patient as if he were taking care of a family member; no questions are unimportant.  

After your exam with Dr. Judd, you will be introduced to one of our hygienists to receive a professional cleaning.  At this time, we will evaluate the health of your tissues using a technique called periodontal probing.  This will help us assess the current condition of your gums and bone to help guide us in determining the best type of cleaning needed for your oral health.  We then clean your teeth and discuss any concerns regarding your gums, then recommend any further cleaning appointments you may need.  At the end of your professional cleaning, our hygienists will use a device called the Diagnodent, a specialized laser light that sees into crevices of teeth.  This laser shows early signs of decay in the tooth surface.

When your professional cleaning is complete, Dr. Judd will meet chairside with you and your hygienist to discuss any findings or concerns, then recommend the best “next steps” to help you achieve optimal oral health.     Based on your oral health needs, your hygienist will recommend a 3-, 4-, or 6-month cleaning schedule—or recommend a deeper cleaning—all will be discussed with you so you are educated in making the best decision for your oral health.  We will then review with you any treatment Dr. Judd has recommended, to ensure you understand those recommendations. From there, you will return to our front office where a team member will find convenient appointment times for you to begin your journey back to optimal oral health.

From our front office team and assistants to your hygienist and Dr. Judd, we are here to answer all of your questions regarding recommendations made at your appointment.  Our team at The Art of Dentistry is very caring, knowledgable, and professional; our goal is to give you the very best dental experience of your life with “Uncompromised Quality and Care”.  

We are excited to welcome you to our office!  Call us at 916-789-2552 or visit our website at www.theartofdentistry.com.