A first appointment is mostly assessment. The practice needs to understand your history, see what is there, and agree a sensible order of work with you before anything else happens. If it has been a long time, that is common and worth mentioning when you book so enough time is allowed.
Why people book this visit
Preventive appointments are the ones most easily postponed and the ones that keep small problems small. You do not need a symptom to justify booking.
- You recently moved to the Burlington area
- It has been a while since your last dental visit
- You want a second opinion
- You have an urgent, cosmetic, or restorative priority
What the visit usually covers
A preventive appointment is largely assessment: what is healthy, what is changing, and what is worth watching. The findings determine what, if anything, follows.
- Review of your goals and dental history
- Exam and appropriate imaging
- Cleaning when scheduling and clinical findings allow
- A prioritized treatment and maintenance discussion
What the first appointment covers
A first visit is an assessment, not a treatment session. Knowing the shape of it removes most of the apprehension.
- Medical history, medications and any previous dental experiences
- Examination of teeth, existing work, gums, bite and soft tissues
- X-rays where your history justifies them
- Gum measurements where appropriate
- A summary of findings and a proposed order of work
- A written estimate for anything recommended
What to expect at the appointment
Expect a review of your history and medications, an examination of teeth, gums and soft tissues, and X-rays only where your own risk and history justify them. If it has been years since your last visit, say so when you book so enough time is allowed.
You will be told what was found and what the sensible order of work is. Ask what is urgent, what can wait, and what happens if you choose to wait — those are reasonable questions and a good practice answers them plainly.
What a first visit typically involves paying for
Ask for these figures when you book so there are no surprises on the day.
- The new-patient examination fee
- Any X-rays taken
- Hygiene appointment, if booked at the same time
- Treatment found at the examination, quoted separately afterwards
Book the preventive visit
Choose the closest category when you request an appointment. We follow up to confirm what you need and arrange the visit with a Vermont dental practice, which handles clinical intake through its own process.
Common questions
What people ask before scheduling
It has been more than ten years. Is that unusual?
No — practices see it constantly, and it is one of the most common reasons people delay further. Say so when booking so a longer appointment is allowed and the visit can focus on assessment.
Will I need treatment on the first visit?
Usually not. The first appointment is normally examination and planning, with treatment booked afterwards. Urgent problems are an exception.
Can I bring records from my previous dentist?
Yes, and recent X-rays are particularly useful because they may avoid repeating them. Bring them to the practice rather than sending them through this website.
What if I do not want everything done at once?
That is a normal conversation. Ask for the plan in order of priority — what is urgent, what is preventive, and what is elective — and decide the pace yourself.
Do I have to have a cleaning at the first visit?
Not necessarily. Whether a cleaning happens on the day depends on the practice's structure and what the examination finds.
Can this website tell me whether I need treatment?
No. A website can help you choose the right appointment type. Whether anything needs treating is established by an examination, and where appropriate X-rays.
How often should I actually be seen?
The familiar six-month interval is a starting point, not a rule. Your gum health, decay risk, medical history and habits change the right interval — see what happens at a dental cleaning.
What does a preventive visit cost?
The practice can explain its examination and hygiene fees before you attend. Anything found during the visit is quoted separately — see dental insurance and financing.
Patient education sources
Sources were checked on August 19, 2026. Personal recommendations require a dental examination.