Your first visit with the hygienist is very important to us at Cranford Dental. We value dental hygiene and preventive care. We will use your first visit to start a program that will help you keep healthy teeth and gums for a lifetime.
Our goal is to treat each visitor to our office with kindness and concern. We want to give the best possible dental care to our local community. We trust that you will feel comfortable as you come in the front door.
Thanks to Betsy Oliver, RDH, for writing this post. Betsy is a hygienist AND a pharmacy technician. She offers great advice on dental hygiene and on how medications affect dental health. Great job, Betsy!
Check In
We ask that you arrive 10 to 15 minutes early for your first dental appointment. This will give you time to complete paperwork and fill out health history information. Bring your most current insurance information.
You can also fill out your information on line and submit it prior to your initial visit. Then you will be set to go when you arrive!
Our front office staff will answer questions you have about your visit. At Cranford Dental our staff is cross trained. The staff member at the front desk will be able to address concerns about your hygiene visit.
Meet your Hygienist
A registered hygienist will meet you in the waiting area and take you back to her treatment room. You can know that you are in good hands. Our hygienists are tops.
Each hygienist completed a two year intense training program. They all stay current on the latest best treatments for healthy teeth and gums, recently completing a one year study on treating gum disease.
Best of all they know how to make you feel comfortable and relaxed at your dental visit.
Your Initial Exam
Your hygienist will review your medical history, including recent health diagnosis. She will discuss medications (including supplements) which may affect your oral health. Please discuss oral concerns and pains with her at this time.
The hygienist will examine your teeth and gums, charting existing restorations. She will take digital x-rays or review current x-rays from your previous dental office.
She will then proceed with a periodontal and tissue exam. This will include taking measurements of your gingiva in relation to bone and checking your gums for bleeding. She will note any abnormalities in tissue appearance.
Read here to see exactly how this exam helps diagnose gum disease.
Read here if your hygienist recommends treatment for gum disease based on this initial exam.
Your Teeth Cleaning
The hygienists at Cranford Dental love to clean teeth! They know that the removal of calculus and plaque is vital for healthy teeth and gums. The dreaded scraping sound is music to their ears!
You should be aware that your teeth are being professionally cleaned rather than just brushed. You should not leave a dental office commenting, “That felt just like it did when I brushed myself.”
Hygienists are trained to go under the gum to remove tartar that you cannot see. It would be impossible to remove this with a brush at home.
Next comes the funnest part of your cleaning: selection of a prophy paste flavor. Like Baskin Robbins, we offer a wide range of flavors; if you think of a flavor we probably have it!
Your hygienist will polish over each tooth using your favorite flavor. This is important as it helps with stain removal. You will get that wonderful slick and clean feeling that we all love.
After polishing, the hygienist will make recommendations in oral hygiene. She will offer ways to help you improve your home care. Truthfully, hygienists enjoy scraping hard materials from teeth but they love keeping teeth and gums healthy. Their goal is to get each patient’s mouth to top health.
Your Dentist Exam
Your hygienist will review her findings with either Dr. Cranford or Dr. Robinson. They may show you pictures of problem areas. Hopefully they will say that you have done a great job with home care and there are no problems to discuss.
Your dentist will examine your mouth, teeth, and gums. She will perform a complete and comprehensive exam that includes and oral cancer screening. She will address any dental concern and discuss future treatment needs.
Our dentists love questions. This is the time to express concerns, point out areas that bother you, and discuss your oral health as it relates to your overall health.
Your Happy Hygiene Visit
At this point we hope you will see why so may people love to see their Cranford Dental hygienist every six months. Our hygienists really are tops!
Your hygienist wants you to leave with a nice goody bag and a big smile. She will give you a top quality new toothbrush and toothpaste as you leave. Patients love our hand sanitizer, chap stick, ear buds, pens, ice bags, or other fun logo products.
Enjoy your logo products or pass along to your friends as you tell them about your great experience at Cranford Dental!
Your Dental Family
Your experience and care at Cranford Dental will hopefully change your mind about not liking the dentist and erase any fear or anxiety that has bothered you in the past.
We love our patients and trust that you will love your hygienist, dentist, and other staff members at our office. We treat our patients like family and love to welcome multiple generations from the same patient families.
If you have questions or concerns about your first visit, contact us online or call 803-324-7670.
Welcome to the Cranford Dental Family!
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