Getting Started

Benjamin Franklin said, “Any job, once begun, is half done.”

There’s a lot of truth in that. The hardest part is taking the first step toward what you want.

Let’s take a look at what happens when you call our office for the first time.

You will almost certainly talk with Joan. Joan is our Patient Care Coordinator. You will like her. She’s friendly, smart and effective. She will listen to you and you will feel that she understands what you’re saying. Joan will help you make the right kind of initial appointment for what you need. And she will collect some information that will help us send you the basic information and health forms for you to fill out and return so we can feed our very hungry computer before you come in and spend our time with you at your visit instead of the paperwork. Those forms are also available here on the web site. Check the link at the left called Forms. The important thing is to get the forms back to us before your visit. That really helps. Joan will tell you all about this, don’t worry about it. It’s easy.

Of course, if it’s an emergency sort of thing, Joan will bypass all that and bring you in ASAP.

Let’s say it’s not an emergency and you called to become a new patient in our practice. When you arrive, you’ll meet Joan face to face and she will make you comfortable. When it‘s time, your next stop is with Dr. Ross.

One of Dr. Ross’ early mentors told him this: “Never treat a stranger.” Dr. Ross will sit down with you and get acquainted. He’ll be very interested in your goals for dental care – your “wish list” – and he’ll want to know a little about your dental history. This is a conversation, not an interrogation. Dr. Ross wants to know the best ways to help you and he’s a good listener.

Usually the next step is what dentists call record taking. Our terrific dental assistant Jennifer will normally do this with you. Definitely x-rays and photos. We take a lot of photos in our office because a photo is a million times better than a written description. The photos we take of you and your mouth also make it possible for Dr. Ross to study your situation when you’re not even here. And sometimes we make other records depending on your situation, like impressions for models of your teeth to study. Whatever is needed. 

Of course we need to take a close look at your mouth. The way we do this is with you. Dr. Ross believes that it’s your mouth and the more you know the better. Using your photos, your x-rays and you, we’ll take a tour of your mouth to discover exactly what your deal is. No, not just problems. We want to know what’s working well, what’s strong and what doesn’t need to be worried about as well as what is not the way you want it.

The evaluation is interesting and thorough and it is comfortable, too.

Sometimes, Dr. Ross will give you his ideas for your care right there. If necessary, you’ll have another visit for that. In between, Dr. Ross will create a document for you summarizing everything. Your wish list, the evaluation findings and the recommendations Dr. Ross has for reaching your goals will all be there and organized. It’s a sort of “road map” to take you where you want to be. You’ll have a copy for yourself.

And at that visit, Joan will help you with the economics and time needs for your plan. She’s very good at that. You might be surprised how possible things are when a smart helpful person gets things organized.

And then, it’s off we go. We’ll work your plan at the rate that works for you. But that’s a different story.