Welcome to our practice! We are happy that you have chosen us for your dental care. To help prepare you for your first appointment, we have put together some notes for what to expect.

For Prosthodontic Appointments: 
You need the care of a prosthodontist if:

• You are missing one or more teeth.
• You are interested in dental implants.
• You wear dentures or removable partial dentures.
• You want to improve the esthetics of your smile.

Prosthodontists are specialists in the diagnosis, restoration and replacement of missing teeth to restore function and give you a beautiful smile. Their additional specialty training focuses on the issues surrounding complicated cases. You do not need a referral to see Dr. Chou, however if your family dentist has referred you, you should bring with you the completed referral form and any current x-rays.

Your first appointment with Dr. Chou will last 45-60 minutes. Prosthodontic treatment takes into account many factors and preparation is a critical step for a successful outcome. She will collect detailed information about your health and dental status as well as your needs and concerns in order to provide you with an initial assessment.

Once you decide to proceed with treatment, the next step is the preparation of a customized treatment plan. This will require a comprehensive oral examination by Dr. Chou including the taking of any necessary xrays, photographs and impressions of your mouth.

Dr. Chou will review all of the information collected and finalize your customized treatment plan. Some treatments require multiple stages; if this is your situation, Dr. Chou will outline a timetable for the completion of your treatment as well as the approximate cost. You will then meet with one of our Patient Care Coordinators to discuss any further issues and schedule your appointments. Of course, Dr. Chou is always available for any clinical questions you may have.

For General/Family Dentistry Appointments: 
Your first appointment will include a new patient examination by Dr. Chou who will evaluate your general dental needs. A full series of x-rays will be taken at this time to help Dr. Chou with the diagnosis of any dental issues that you may have.  This will be followed by a hygiene cleaning by one of our dental hygienists.

You will need to arrive at least 15 minutes before your first scheduled appointment to fill out a medical history form and give our receptionist your dental insurance information.

If you have dental insurance, we ask that you provide the following information on your first visit:

• the name of your insurance provider
• the group policy number
• the Certificate or ID number
• the name and date of birth of the policy holder
• a copy of the benefit booklet