Dental consultation
Your first visit: an unhurried examination, a diagnosis explained on your X-ray, and a written plan with options and an estimate.
The consultation is the first step for any treatment and the only one we recommend to everyone. A first consultation is for explaining and getting to know each other, not for treating: we look together at what is going on in your mouth, show you on the X-ray, and only then talk about what comes next.
You leave with a written plan, not a decision made in a hurry.
Suitable if
- Your first visit to our practice.
- A check-up after a long break from the dentist.
- A second opinion on a treatment plan from elsewhere.
- Pain, sensitivity or any change you have noticed.
Not suitable if
- An emergency with strong pain, swelling or bleeding: then call straight away.
Your alternatives
A consultation has no alternative, but it can take different forms. For a routine check-up it can be short and followed by a clean. For a more complex problem, such as an implant, a restoration or braces, it includes extra X-rays and a longer conversation about the options.
If you already have a plan from another dentist, bring it: we explain what we see, without comparing practices, so you can decide on your own terms.
How it goes
Consultation and plan
We start with a conversation: what brought you in, what bothers you, the treatment you've had and the medicines you take. Then we examine your teeth, gums, bite and soft tissues.
Preparation
Depending on what we see, we take a panoramic X-ray (OPG), which shows all the teeth and bone in one image, and, where we are planning an implant, a three-dimensional CBCT scan.
The consultation itself
We show you the images on screen and explain what we see in plain language. We go through the options, with the strengths and limits of each, and answer your questions. After the consultation, you get a treatment plan and an estimate.
Check-ups and maintenance
You take the plan home and decide in your own time. For most patients, a check-up every six months keeps small problems from becoming big ones.
How long it takes overall
- Conversation and examination
- about half an hour
- X-rays, if needed
- in the same visit
- Explanation and plan
- in the same visit
- Written plan and estimate
- at the end or within a few days
What the cost depends on
We tell you what the consultation costs when you book. What the treatment that follows will cost only becomes clear after the consultation, which is why we don't quote over the phone. The estimate you get shows every stage and what it includes. Details in the guide to treatment cost.
The written plan sets out the options for your problem, the stages of each, how long it takes, waiting periods included, and the estimated cost of each stage. If something comes up that couldn't be seen at the consultation, we tell you before doing anything extra, not after. For larger treatments, payment can be spread in stages, by cash or card.
Costs
How the cost of a treatment is set →What you will feel
A consultation doesn't hurt: we don't do any treatment without discussing it first. The examination means a mirror, a fine probe and a light; an X-ray takes a few seconds.
If you are afraid of the dentist, tell us at the start. We tell you beforehand what happens at each step and stop whenever you raise your hand. More on how we work with nervous patients at Nervous patients.
Risks and limits
X-rays use a low dose of radiation, well below other medical imaging; we only take them when they show something we can't see otherwise. If you are pregnant or think you might be, tell us first.
A consultation sees a lot, but not everything: sometimes a problem is only confirmed during treatment. When that happens, we tell you before doing anything extra.
After treatment
After the consultation you get your written plan. If you need time, take it home; if you have questions later, message us on WhatsApp. What to bring to your first visit is on the First visit page.
Common questions
- How long does the consultation take?
- Usually about half an hour, longer if we take X-rays or you have a lot of questions. Appointments are spaced out so nobody is rushed.
- Does it hurt?
- No. At the consultation we don't treat anything; we examine, take X-rays if needed and talk.
- How often should I come for a check-up?
- Generally every six months. More often if you have complex treatment or gum problems.
- What should I bring to the first consultation?
- Recent X-rays if you have them, a list of the medicines you take and any treatment plan you received before.
- Do I get the price on the spot?
- You get the written plan with the estimate at the end of the consultation, or within a few days for complex cases.
- Do I have to start treatment straight away?
- No. The plan is yours: read it at home and decide, informed, what happens next.