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At Centennial Lakes Dental Group, we feel a comprehensive initial exam is extremely important. Because of this, we schedule a one hour appointment with the dentist for all adult new patients. This initial appointment will involve a review of medical and dental history, updating x-rays, an oral cancer screening, a gum screening, and careful tooth examination. Our focus is on you, and we always make sure to take time to hear exactly what your desires for your teeth are so that we can help you meet your goal.

For documentation purposes, we ask that you fill out health history and patient privacy forms prior to your initial appointment. When you and your dentist go over your medical and dental history, be sure to provide complete, up-to-date information on your health. Inform your dentist if you have experienced recent hospitalization or surgery, or if you have recently been ill. Also tell the doctor the names, doses, and frequency of any medications you are taking and the name of your physician. Make sure you bring up any unpleasant experiences you have had at past dental appointments, so that we can work to avoid those and make your stay as pleasant as possible.

X-rays are typically updated at your new patient exam. We feel it is important to have a full mouth set of x-rays (see below) or a panoramic x-ray taken every 3-5 years with bitewing x-rays usually taken annually. X-rays help the dentist view the structure of the jaw including: the position of any teeth that have not yet erupted, malformed roots, tooth decay, infection and other dental/jaw abnormalities.


The oral cancer screening involves looking for anything atypical on the gums, the hard palate, soft palate, tongue floor of the mouth and the lips. Oral cancer is a very serious disease and so the doctors at Centennial Lakes Dental Group make early detection a priority.

A tooth examination is then completed and any areas of concern are noted. Often a camera is utilized to show these problem areas. Various options for fixing those problems are then gone over and we form a treatment plan based on your goals and desires and our recommendations.

Regular Checkups

Don't brush off regular checkups to the dentist! Regular dental checkups are essential to maintaining good oral health. At Centennial Lakes Dental Group, we encourage regular checkups at least every six months. Seeing the dentist twice a year is recommended because your dentist can:

• check for problems that you might not see or feel
• find early signs of decay. At Centennial Lakes Dental Group we use a laser to aid in the detection of early decay in your teeth.
• treat oral health problems early, while they are still manageable

Regular checkups include a thorough cleaning, polishing, and an oral exam by the doctor. During the oral exam, the doctor checks the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks, and tongue. At each visit, the doctor also checks old fillings and restorations because constant pressure from chewing, grinding, or clenching can cause them to wear away, crack, and decay.