First Visits

Our practice is committed to providing you and your family with safe, gentle, and high-quality dental care. We understand that you or your child may feel anxious about visiting the dentist. We are sensitive to your needs, and it is our goal to make you feel comfortable visiting our practice while providing the best care possible.

Your first visit is all about you: your comfort, your happiness, and your health

During your first visit, we will review your dental and medical history forms, and take X-rays of your teeth and mouth. Then the dentist will meet with you to discuss your X-rays, help you create your own individual treatment plan, and answer any questions you may have.

At your next visit, one of our hygienists will clean and polish your teeth, and inspect your teeth and gums for cavities or early signs of tooth decay or gingivitis.

Bring your smile, but also remember to bring these with you to your first appointment

  • Your completed patient information form
  • Your insurance card

Regular checkups are an important part of maintaining a healthy smile!

The American Dental Association recommends a visit to your dentist every six months for regular checkups and routine teeth cleanings to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

We understand you have a busy schedule, so when you’re preparing to visit our office, please remember your appointments can last between 45 and 90 minutes.

Recommended Visits by Age 

First Tooth Visits (ages zero to two)

At All Smiles Dental, we recommend that you schedule your child’s first dental visit when the baby’s first tooth appears and no later than your son or daughter’s second birthday. At the first visit, with a parent at chairside, we will complete an oral screening, caries risk assessment, nutritional review, infant oral hygiene instruction, and fluoride varnish treatment. Having a well-baby dental checkup at a very early age connects your child to a dental home.

Children Comprehensive Care First Visit (ages three to five)

If you are unsure whether your child is ready for that first dental visit, you may want to schedule a meet-and-greet appointment. It will be helpful to receive all your little one’s registration information prior to scheduling the appointment. You can complete the forms from our website at the patient forms section, or we can mail them to you.

Once we receive all the appropriate material, we will contact you to schedule the meet-and-greet appointment. The ten-minute appointment will consist of meeting the staff, sitting in the chair, and receiving a toothbrush. In most cases we will be able to evaluate whether we will be able to schedule further appointments.

In the event your child is not ready, we will schedule another appointment in six months and try again. It is important that parents remember their apprehension prior to and during the first visit, and what they say about their past dental experiences, will very much influence how their children will behave at their initial visit. It is important to stay positive and make it fun.

Children and Teenagers Comprehensive Care First Visit (ages six to 17)

If you wish to make your child’s first visit at All Smiles Dental, it will be helpful to receive all patient registration material prior to scheduling the initial appointment. You can download the forms from our website or we can mail them to you. Once all the registration material is completed and received, we will contact you to make the first appointment.

If your child is transferring from another dental provider and has completed X-rays older than one year, we will still need to have our own set of appropriate digital X-rays. If your son or daughter needs X-rays that are fewer than 12 months old, we will provide the new X-rays at no charge.

The first appointment will consist of an exam, appropriate digital X-rays, teeth cleaning, polishing, fluoride, and oral hygiene instructions. Following the initial exam, the dentist will present the dental findings and treatment needs to the parent or legal guardian. Any further questions regarding insurance and payment policies will be reviewed by the administrative staff. This will be prior to scheduling any future dental visits.

Adults Comprehensive Care First Visit (18 and older)

The new patient first appointment at All Smiles Dental is a very detailed visit and will require a minimum of two hours to complete. It typically consists of an extensive exam, digital X-rays, written treatment plan, and case review.

It will be helpful to receive all patient registration material prior to scheduling the initial appointment. You can download the forms from our website or we can mail them to you. Once all the registration material is completed and has been received, we will contact you to make the first appointment.

If you are transferring from another dental provider and have completed X-rays that are older than one year, we will need to take our own set of appropriate digital X-rays. If you have appropriate X-rays and are in need of new X-rays that are fewer than 12 months old, we will provide you with new initial digital X-rays at no charge.

An adult dental cleaning may not be scheduled or completed on the first visit due to the different levels of gum disease and the patient’s treatment requirements. It is impossible for the person who schedules the initial visit to know what type of dental cleaning you require. The dentist is the only person who can make the diagnosis for the appropriate cleaning you require.

Following the initial exam, the dentist will present the dental findings and treatment needs for you to begin your treatment. Any further questions about insurance and payment policies will be reviewed by the administrative staff when you schedule the next dental visit.

Emergency Care Appointments

Patients who maintain comprehensive treatment at All Smiles Dental and experience a dental emergency will be seen as soon as possible: usually within two business days to diagnose and plan treatment. In the event that time permits, the emergency treatment will be completed that day.

Patients who are not being seen for comprehensive care at All Smiles Dental will be seen if the schedule and available times permit. Please arrive at least one hour prior to your visit to fill out the appropriate paperwork and insurance information. You can also download the forms from our website.

Normally, we do not take assignment of insurance benefits for non-comprehensive emergency patients unless the benefits can be verified prior to the emergency appointment. Please plan on bringing somewhere between $75.00 and $250.00 to cover your emergency treatment cost.

American Dental Association Maine Dental Association Academy of Genreal Dentistry