Your First Appointment

Your first appointment with Coastal Smiles will include a comprehensive examination so we can obtain a clear picture of your current dental health and of course it is a chance for you to get to know us and to become more familiar with our dental practice. We will need to know your medical history as this could affect any treatment recommended and you will find our medical history form on our website. Alternatively, you can choose to arrive a little bit early to fill it in just before your appointment. Please bring details of any payment plans you participate in.

During this initial examination, we will want to take a set of x-rays. If you have recently had dental x-rays at another dentist, it is worth bringing these with you. Your examination will include a screening for oral cancer which is very quick and non-invasive. After thoroughly examining your teeth, gums and oral tissues, we’ll sit down with you to discuss our findings and if necessary any possible treatments using photos from our intra oral camera to explain things more fully.

What Happens at Your First Visit

1. Meet your dentist. Our team will welcome you and introduce you to your dentist, who will ask about your medical and dental history and any concerns you have.
2. Oral check-up. Your dentist will examine your teeth, gums and mouth to assess your current dental health.
3. Dental X-rays. X-rays help us check the bone and tooth roots and find problems that can’t be seen with the naked eye.
4. Gum health check. We check your gums for signs of inflammation or recession, as healthy gums are just as important as healthy teeth.
5. Jaw and bite check. We check your jaw alignment and bite, as bite problems can make eating difficult.
6. Oral cancer screening. A quick, non-invasive check for any unusual changes in your mouth.
7. Your treatment plan. If you need treatment, we’ll explain your options and give you a personalised plan with the timeframe and costs.

How to Prepare

As well as your medical history form, it helps to bring:

• A list of any medications you take
• Your health fund card, so we can claim on the spot with HICAPS
• Your Medicare card if your child may be eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule
• Your DVA card if you are a Veterans’ Affairs card holder
• Any recent X-rays from another dentist
• A note of any questions or concerns you’d like to discuss

We hope you find your first appointment a positive and comfortable experience. We are all very friendly here so please ask any questions you might have about your dental health. We are here to help you. You can call us on (02) 9971 8992 or visit Coastal Smiles Dee Why at Suite 1, 5 Dee Why Parade, Dee Why NSW 2099.

At Coastal Smiles we pride ourselves in providing our patients with the best dental care and ensuring that our patients are always well informed, if you would like to know more about the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights please click on the link below:
Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights.