Patient Information
Your First Visit
Perhaps your dentist or physician has just referred you to Dr. Scharf. Perhaps you are one of the hundreds of patients who come to us through the internet or because you saw Dr. Scharf of television, or via word of mouth and have been away from dentistry for some time. We want to give you an idea of what your first visit will be like and what you can expect.
When you call for an appointment we will gather some information about you and schedule an appointment that will be reserved exclusively for you. We will mail you a welcome packet containing information about our practice as well as a patient registration and a medical history form. By completing these forms at home before your appointment you can easily record information about any medications you may be taking and accurately complete the information required to access any dental insurance benefits to which you are entitled. By bringing this completed from to your first appointment, we will be able to see you promptly. These forms can be downloaded by clicking here.
Upon arriving in our office you will be warmly greeted by our receptionist and then by one of Dr. Scharf's treatment assistants. They will escort you to a private consultation area where you will meet Dr. Scharf. We strongly believe that each patient must be treated as an individual. Your first visit is designed to help us understand your unique needs. The first twenty minutes or so of your new patient visit will be spent talking with Dr. Scharf. You will have ample opportunity to discuss with Dr. Scharf what you want and don’t want, your likes and dislikes, concerns about your conditions, any symptoms or pain you may be experiencing, as well as any special needs. Dr. Scharf will talk to you about your medical and dental history. Once you are ready, you will move to the clinical area for an evaluation.
Dr. Scharf will perform a thorough head and neck examination as well as an oral cancer screening. This will be followed by a detailed periodontal and dental examination. Because the mouth is an entity unto itself, each tooth is related in some way to every other tooth. Dr. Scharf will examine the entire mouth in order to arrive at a correct diagnosis and treatment plan. Dr. Scharf will explain each of the clinical parameters he measures and their significance as he proceeds. Through this process of co-discovery, you will reach good understanding of the nature and severity of your condition.
Based on the findings and your desires, we will take the minimum number or digital X-rays images necessary for a diagnosis and treatment planning discussion. For periodontal patients this is usually a periodontal film series. Our digital X-ray system uses up to 90% less radiation than film based systems. For implant patients this is usually a dentascan. Our i-CAT scanner produces a CAT scan image with only 1/10 the radiation exposure of a medical CT scanner. No radiographs will be taken until their necessity is explained to and you agree that they are needed. If you have existing films that are available to make a diagnosis then we will not take any radiographs. This first visit usually lasts 40 minutes to one hour.
Dr. Scharf will discuss his findings and your treatment options with you at this first visit or at a subsequent treatment conference depending on the complexity of your needs. A separate treatment conference visit usually lasts 20-40 minutes. The fee for the initial examination includes the treatment conference visit even if it takes place at a separate visit.
At the treatment conference, you will get a clear picture of your condition and the treatment options available to you. We will highlight for you the pros and cons of each treatment option. Lastly the fees and time involved with each option will be explained. This will help you decide what treatment approach is best for you.
Our treatment coordinator will meet with you to make financial arrangements so that you can fit the treatment you want and need into your budget. We offer interest free financing and options that let patients spread out payments over time yet complete their treatment quickly. We will help you maximize any dental benefit you may have from your employer.