First dental visit at Warsaw Dental Academy, or how to start dental treatment properly
The first step to start a dental treatment is to effectively identify treatment needs and make an appropriate diagnosis. For this purpose, a first-time visit is carried out, during which a full diagnosis of the oral cavity and general health is carried out, consisting of an interview with the patient, radiological examination and intra- and extraoral examination. Based on the information obtained, our specialists, thanks to their professionalism and experience, make a diagnosis and establish a preliminary treatment plan that will meet the medical needs of a given patient. During the visit, our patient’s caretaker is present, thanks to which from the very beginning he is familiar with each case individually and allows him to thoroughly understand the situation of each patient. Our patients greatly appreciate the possibility of contact with him at every stage of treatment.
Stage one – medical questionnaire
During the first visit to our office, we ask our patients to complete a short medical questionnaire regarding their general health. The survey includes questions about general well-being, allergies, past illnesses or experiences from previous visits to the dentist’s office. The answers provided allow our specialists to take a broader look at the patient’s medical situation and take appropriate actions during treatment.
Stage two – interview with a doctor, getting to know the patient`s expectations
The visit begins with a short conversation with the patient, during which the doctor gets to know, among others, the patient’s treatment history, health situation, the date of the last visit to the dentist’s office and expectations related to treatment.
Stage three – diagnostics, radiological examination (pantomogram, CBCT scan)
Based on the initial diagnosis made by our specialist during the interview and visual examination, the doctor selects the radiological examination that will be conducted during this visit. In order to complete the visual part and make the dental examination complete, it is necessary to become familiar with the situation that takes place in the bone. For this purpose, our specialist, based on the initial diagnosis made during the visual examination, orders a radiological picture. Its type – pantomogram or tomography – depends individually on the patient’s situation. Indications for computed tomography include: root canal treated teeth or the presence of signs of inflammation. Both types of examinations are performed at the Warsaw Dental Academy, and after the visit, our patients receive a copy of the examination on a CD or in electronic form. The period in which the tests have a diagnostic value is about a year from their performance.
Is radiological examination necessary to perform a dental examination?
Definitely yes. Often, inflammations in the bones and teeth may not give any symptoms, which as a result of their course leads to tissue destruction – often irreversible. Adequately early diagnosis makes it possible to stop the spread of inflammation to the adjacent tissues and the resulting consequences, and often – to save the teeth and other structures affected by the disease. In the case of root canal treated teeth in modern dentistry, tomography is the basic diagnostic element. Each of the teeth has its own anatomy of the root system and root canals, which in the case of a panoramic photo can overlap themselves, distorting their actual condition. This situation can lead to the omission of one of the canals during treatment and the development of inflammation. Tomography showing the image of bones and teeth in a 3D projection allows for accurate diagnosis of root systems, preventing the occurrence of complications related to the omission of one of the canals during their development.
Is radiological examination safe?
Radiological diagnostics in our office is carried out in accordance with the current rules of protection against X-ray radiation, and the dose to which patients are subjected is comparable to radiation from a short passenger plane flight. Exposure to such a dose maximum once a year does not pose any health risk, and thanks to its diagnostic value, it allows for early diagnosis of the presence of inflammation.
First dental visit – completion of medical documentation – extraoral and intraoral examination
Intraoral photos of the dental arches are taken from various projections with a professional camera. The doctor assesses the condition of the soft tissues of the mouth and face, analyzing their color, structure and the presence of any changes. Then, hard tissues – teeth – are assessed. It is assessed, among others, their number, location, color, level of hygiene based on the presence of plaque or tartar and the presence of carious cavities. The situation visible in the oral cavity by the doctor during the examination is invisible to the patient and difficult for him to imagine. For this reason, photos are taken, which are then presented on a larger screen after the examination, which allows for an accurate presentation of the state of the teeth and making patients aware of the treatment needs.
Stage four – discussion of the study. Initial treatment plan
After the diagnostic part is completed, the doctor starts the conversation with the patient. During it, he discusses the initial treatment plan based on the treatment needs that our specialist noticed during the examination. The first stage of each plan is professional hygienization in the dental office. It allows you to remove plaque and dental deposits, which are the source of bacteria that cause the development of caries, leading to stopping its development. Sometimes, after a hygienization visit, it may be necessary to check the condition of the teeth in order to verify the original diagnosis. The hygienization treatment removes calculus/plaque deposits and discoloration, which can give a similar picture to caries, thanks to which the number of teeth that will require treatment may change.
Another point is the biological treatment of teeth affected by caries, so as to stop the destructive process for the teeth and prolong the life and presence of teeth in the mouth. Thanks to the previous hygienization visit, the oral cavity is free from caries bacteria, providing appropriate conditions for treatment, while increasing its effectiveness by inhibiting their spread. During the examination, the doctor is also able to determine, based on X-ray diagnostics and symptoms, which teeth require primary or repeated root canal treatment.
The next step is the aesthetics part. Our specialist presents the available possibilities of its improvement thanks to the use of orthodontic treatment with fixed or overlay appliances and prosthetic treatment thanks to the use of crowns and veneers or Bonding / Flow protocols injection . In order to better illustrate the given possibilities, our doctors use graphical visualizations and photos of cases that have been made in our clinic. At Warsaw Dental Academy, we approach each patient in an interdisciplinary manner. Each treatment plan is prepared according to the patient’s specific needs and expectations.
First dental visit and consultation with the specialist
Warsaw Dental Academy is a team of specialists educated in particular fields of dentistry. In the case of indications for periodontal, prosthetic, orthodontic or implant treatment, it will be necessary to consult a specialist with a doctor dealing with a given area of dentistry, who will diagnose the case in more detail and discuss treatment options. In the case of comprehensive treatments requiring the intervention of each specialist, our team of doctors works together to establish an individual plan for our patients.
Stage five – detailed treatment plan
After the visit, the patient’s caretaker conducts a conversation with the patient during which he receives a preliminary or final treatment plan, depending on the complexity of the treatment case. If it is necessary to consult a specialist in order to accurately diagnose the patient, then the caretaker consults the doctor directly in order to prepare a detailed treatment plan. Starting from the first meeting, the caretaker helps in setting the dates of visits, describing each stage of treatment and its costs in detail. He remains in constant contact with the patient, being ready for questions that may arise after the visits and oversees the agreed treatment plan.
What is the difference between the first dental visit and an emergency visit?
The first dental visit is an introduction to comprehensive treatment of the oral cavity. In the case when a patient reports to us as an intervention, i.e. with pain, broken tooth, lost filling or prosthetic supplement, our specialists first focus their attention on solving the given problem. Then, after successful resolution of a given ailment, a first-time visit is arranged for thorough diagnostics and determination of treatment needs.
Make an appointment today
Caries is a chronic disease characterized by its progression over time. If left untreated, it can lead to inflammation of the pulp and then periapical tissues, which may result in the need for root canal treatment or tooth extraction. Properly early diagnosis, its diagnosis and prompt treatment will stop the carious process and keep the tooth in the mouth for years to come, and significantly reduce the cost of treatment.
