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If you’ve found your way to our website, it’s likely because you need dental care. Perhaps you’re unhappy with your current provider or looking for a second opinion on a recent dental diagnosis. Either way, we’re happy you’re here and we’d like to share with you what makes our practice different. 

At our practice we’ve developed a proven methodology to strengthen your dental health as you age, not just maintain it. By identifying your unique dental risks, we develop a dental strategy to not only prevent problems but to help your smile look better and feel healthier over time. 

The result is fewer emergencies, a higher quality of life and a smile that keeps getting better with time. 

Our approach is built on two core principles: personalized care and long-term relationships. We get to know our patients and their dental needs and make decisions that are in their best interest. Here’s what that looks like.   

We start with a thorough new patient exam

While it’s tempting for a patient who hasn’t been to the dentist in a while to come in for a cleaning, this may not be in your best interest. Before we schedule your first appointment, we ask a series of screening questions. These questions aren’t meant to “upsell” you, but to understand what you truly need. 

If you have a history of great dental health and maintain a regular cleaning schedule, we will schedule a cleaning and pick up where your last dentist left off. However, if your history suggests more complex needs, we’ll schedule a comprehensive new-patient exam that will help us identify your dental needs. 

This exam allows us to gather information to develop a comprehensive and personalized dental treatment plan that helps you achieve your goals and improve your dental health. 

We identify your dental risks 

During the new patient exam, we take the time to understand your individual dental risks. This first appointment is designed for deep data collection. We take detailed x-rays and photos and look at every aspect of your oral health, including: 

• Caries risk: Your susceptibility to tooth decay and the bacteria that cause it.
• Gum health: The health of your gums and the foundation supporting your teeth.
• Functional risk: How your bite works and any potential issues with jaw joints or wear.
• Smile satisfaction: A subjective but crucial aspect of your overall happiness and confidence.

The data we collect during this appointment – what we call our “breadcrumbs” – will guide your care over time. For example, if you tell us about a clicking in your jaw joint, we’ll note that. Five years from now, if that issue gets worse, we can look back at our initial notes and see how things have changed. 

Or, if you’ve had a past dental experience that caused you anxiety, we listen to that and note it down. Your trust is everything to us, and acting on those personal details is how we earn it.

We create a personalized treatment plan 

Once we have identified your dental risks, we create a personalized treatment plan that provides a clear roadmap to achieve your dental goals. In our practice, the goal is always to help our patients get to 100 with all their teeth. Each decision we make supports this goal. 

When developing a treatment plan, we categorize your needs into A (urgent), B (important but not urgent), and C (cosmetic or elective). We focus on your A needs first – the things that need to be addressed immediately, like a cavity or a tooth at risk of breaking. Then we move on to your B and C needs. 

This organized approach ensures we’re always addressing the most pressing issues while keeping your long-term goals in sight.

Ready to get started?  

When you choose a dental practice, you’re not just choosing a place to get your teeth cleaned. You’re choosing a partner in your long-term health. Our goal is to move beyond the traditional cycle of reactive dentistry and instead build a proactive, personalized plan that strengthens your smile as you age. 

By focusing on personalized care and long-term relationships, we help you avoid dental emergencies, improve your quality of life, and achieve a smile that you love—a smile that truly gets better with time. 

Ready to get started? To schedule a consultation with our experienced team of dentists, call us at 813-689-4226 or schedule an appointment online.