Your First Visit
Don’t Be Nervous About Your First Visit with Us
Your first visit to our office is a time for us to get to know you and determine what your main concerns are. We will ease your fears by giving you as much information as needed to help you feel comfortable. Each member of our team is friendly and accessible, and we encourage our patients and their parents to ask questions. We believe that patients will feel more comfortable if they know what to expect and are well informed of a procedure before it occurs. We try to avoid any surprises and let each patient know everything we will do before we do it.What to Expect on Your First Visit
On your first visit, you will be greeted by one of our staff members and given a tour of the office. You will complete your initial paperwork, and we will perform a complimentary, no-obligation orthodontic exam. We evaluate many things relating to the face, the smile, the fit of the teeth, and the amount of room for all of the teeth during this time. Each of our offices is equipped with modern digital X-ray machines. Should diagnostic records need to be taken, we can accomplish this during your initial visit at no additional charge.
Suppose a patient is still developing and is not yet ready for treatment. In that case, we will recommend the patient be placed into an observation phase where we will follow growth and development to determine the appropriate time for treatment. So, no matter what your dental needs are, we have you covered.
Avoiding Dental Anxiety on Your First Visit
Our goal at Hook Orthodontics is to keep each of our patients relaxed and comfortable during every appointment in our offices, especially your first visit. If you do have dental anxiety, here are some tips to help make your first visit less stressful:
Talk to our staff – We understand entirely if you are nervous during your first visit. Please let us know, and we’ll do what we can to put you at ease.
- Ask questions – Dental anxiety is usually rooted in fear of the unknown. If any part of your treatment makes you uneasy, please ask questions.
- Skip caffeine and sugar – Caffeine and sugar tend to add to a patient’s dental anxiety. We recommend drinking either water or herbal tea instead.
- Breathe deeply – Breathing calmly and slowly has been proven to lessen the effects of anxiety. Deep and full breaths before and during your treatment will help to calm you down.
- Don’t rush yourself – Added stress will only increase your anxiety, especially when you’re nervous about your first visit with us. Try to avoid planning a busy day before or after your dental appointment to make everything go smoothly.
- Don’t avoid your appointments – Some people don’t go to the dentist for long periods of time because their dental anxiety can be overwhelming. Please don’t skip your dental appointments. Remember, preventative care is the best way to treat your teeth and is much less expensive and uncomfortable than waiting until a dental problem has gotten out of control.