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Your First Visit...
Your first appointment gives us a chance to get to know each other. Together, we review your dental and medical history, paying particular attention to your concerns and needs as well as your hopes and desires. Perhaps you deeply desire beautiful, white, and straight teeth. Maybe you are mostly concerned about health, function, and comfort. Or maybe you are only concerned about cost or what insurance covers. Whatever your concerns are, we will listen and explain solutions.
Our initial examination is very thorough. We look carefully at your gums, jaw joint, teeth, and jaw muscles. We screen for oral cancer, and take x-rays and photographs when needed. We do this with minimal discomfort.
Unlike many dentists who take a "quick-fix" approach to each isolated problem, we believe strongly that a plan must precede any treatment. Our team approach assures your involvement in every dental decision. By establishing specific goals and a vision for your end result, we can stay on track as we work to achieve the outcomes you desire.
At your first appointment, our doctors personally review all of the information gathered during the exam. He or she will then explain his or her findings and diagnosis. After explaining various treatment choices, we will work together to develop a dental care plan based on our findings and your desires and priorities. We understand that often your budget determines the choices you select. At the end of your visit our administrative staff will discuss with you a full range of payment options to help you afford the dental treatment that you want.
We hope to discover and be able to discuss whatever obstacles may be standing in the way of you getting the proper treatment you need. People may refuse needed dental treatment due to fear, budget constraints or time. There are other reasons, but those are the primary ones. We have found it's best to get these issues out in the open with honest, open discussions. If we know what your concerns are, it will help us to work together to find solutions.
We understand that many people fear going to the dentist. Just the thought of walking into a dental office is enough to stop some people from scheduling an appointment. We treat people from all over Snohomish County. We have helped many of our patients overcome their fears of dentistry. Remember: our first visit together is to get to know one another and to develop a dental care plan that you are comfortable with. If you have previously had a bad dental experience that has been keeping you from going to the dentist, we want to help you. We want to know about your bad experience to convince you it will not happen again. We begin overcoming your fears and anxieties by putting you totally in control of your dental visit. We will discuss with you how you can have comfortable, positive dental experiences.
The benefits of a comprehensive examination at your first visit are:
- Knowing all the facts about your dental health to help you make decisions that will be best for you
- Having a complete dental plan to keep your teeth and gums healthy for the rest of your life
- Knowing how you can utilize your dental insurance benefits to the maximum
- Knowing how to prioritize your dental needs to fit your budget
- Knowing how much out of pocket expense to expect
- Knowing how much time will be involved in your treatment
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"I wanted straighter, whiter teeth. Dr. Donald Crow listened, explained options, and gave me a beautiful new smile."
Kent, age 42
Bonding, veneers, and professional teeth whitening give Kent a star-caliber smile.
"Everybody here really cares about me. They have helped me overcome my fear of dentistry and I now look forward to coming back."
Dawn, age 28
For 13 years, fear kept Dawn from getting dental care. After a combination of cosmetic and general dentistry, Dawn has a dazzling smile. Dawn will graduate from the Shoreline Dental Hygiene program in 2002.
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