Mint Hill Smiles

Dentist in Mint Hill, NC

Your First Visit to Mint Hill Smiles - New patients in Mint Hill, NC

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Your First Visit · Mint Hill, NC

A Better Dental Experience

Making the decision to try a new dentist, or to come back to the dentist after a long time away, is not always easy. For some people it’s a practical decision. For others it takes real courage. Either way, we are so glad you are here and we want to make your first visit as comfortable and as free of surprises as possible.

This page walks you through exactly what happens from the moment you call us to the moment you walk out the door after your first appointment. We’ve found that people feel more at ease when they know what to expect before they arrive.

Booking Your Appointment

You can schedule your first appointment by calling us at (704) 323-7577, texting us, or booking online at minthillsmiles.dentist. When you call, one of our patient care coordinators will walk you through the scheduling process, answer any questions you have, and get you set up in our system.

Nobody likes surprises so I will tell you upfront that we collect a $50 reservation deposit at the time of scheduling. This deposit holds your appointment time and can be refunded or applied directly to any out of pocket costs on the day of your visit. We ask for it because new patient appointments are 90 minutes long and we reserve that time specifically for you. When people cancel at the last minute or don’t show up it prevents us from being able to provide a high level of service to everyone.

If you have dental insurance, give us your information at scheduling and our team will complete a benefits verification before your appointment . Doing this in advance means we will have a clear picture of your coverage ready before you arrive so there are no financial surprises at checkout.

If you don’t have insurance, that is completely fine. We see lots of people who don’t have insurance and most of them choose to use our in-house membership plan, Brush365. Ask us about it when you call and we can explain how it works and whether it makes sense for you before your appointment.

Before You Arrive

After you schedule, we’ll send you a link to complete your new patient paperwork digitally. This includes your health history and a few questions about your dental goals, what has brought you in, and anything you are hoping we can help with.

Completing these forms in advance means your appointment time is spent on your care rather than on paperwork, and it gets your appointment off to a smoother start.

When You Arrive

When you walk through our front door, our patient experience team greets everyone. We know and love all our patients and you’ll probably be surprised by how non-medical this first interaction feels.  

Before you head back for your appointment, one of our team members will show you around the office. This typically takes five to ten minutes and it is something we do for every new patient intentionally. We want you to see our space, meet a few smiling and friendly faces, and get a sense of where you are before you are sitting in a chair. Patients who are nervous consistently tell us that the tour helps. It transforms the office from an abstract source of anxiety into a familiar place.

Your Appointment

What Actually Happens

New patient appointments at Mint Hill Smiles are scheduled for 90 minutes. Here is how that time is spent.

The conversation comes first. Before anyone looks in your mouth they sit with you and ask about your dental history, what brought you in, what your concerns are, and what you are hoping to get out of your care here. We’ll ask about your last dental visit, any symptoms you have noticed, your brushing and flossing habits, and anything about your health that might be relevant. This is not a quick checkbox exercise. It’s a real conversation, and it is how we make sure your appointment addresses what actually matters to you. Tell us about your goals, your fears, and any specific things we can do to make you more comfortable. 

X-rays are taken. Most of our new patients have some X-rays taken. This gives our team the complete picture of what is happening in your mouth including between the teeth and at the roots where the eye cannot see. While some people will have x-rays sent from their previous dentist we prefer to take new ones because the quality of the image sent from another office sometimes prevents us from making a full diagnosis. We use digital sensors that expose you to significantly less radiation than traditional X-rays, and when we take x-rays you get a free second opinion from an AI software we use to analyze the images before the doctor reviews them with you. We’ll always  show you what we see so you understand your own oral health in real terms.

Intraoral photos are taken. Our clinical team will photograph areas of concern as well, including things like gum recession, wear, areas around old fillings, anything worth documenting or discussing. These photos become part of your record and allow us to track changes over time. It also makes more sense if we need to recommend any treatment when you can see in a picture showing what your tooth looks like instead of trying to “see a black spot” on an x-ray. 

Your gums are evaluated. We measure the depth of the pockets surrounding each tooth to screen for gum disease. Healthy pockets measure one to three millimeters. Numbers of four or greater indicate gum disease. We explain what we find in plain language before you leave.

Your teeth are cleaned. If your gums are healthy and you don’t have another pressing concern, we’ll go ahead and clean your teeth. Our hygienists are extremely gentle and thorough. They will remove tartar buildup from your teeth and then polishing to remove surface staining. We truly believe that fluoride varnish after every cleaning appointment is one of the best ways to prevent cavities due to our modern carbohydrate heavy diets. If fluoride isn’t for you, we also offer a hydroxyapatite tooth remineralizing varnish. 

The doctor comes in. Before your doctor comes in, your hygienist will review what they notice on your x-rays and clinical photos. Your doctor will do your exam, review your X-rays and photos with you and show you exactly what they see. We’ll discuss any treatment recommendations and come up with a plan together based on your goals. 

You’ll meet with your treatment coordinator. If your doctor sees anything that needs to be scheduled, you’ll meet with one of our amazing team of  treatment coordinators. They will walk you through the full treatment plan, answer questions about cost and insurance coverage, and help you figure out a sequence and schedule that works for your life. Nothing will be added to your calendar without your full understanding and agreement. Your treatment coordinator will make sure you leave with a plan you feel confident in and help you work through any budgetary concerns. 

Before You Leave

We’ll make sure you get a Smile Report Card that summarizes the state of your oral health and what, if anything, needs to be followed up on. It is designed to be clear and readable, something you can reference later and share with a family member if you want to think through treatment decisions at home. 

If everything looks healthy and no treatment is needed, we schedule your next cleaning and you are on your way. 

A Note for Patients With Dental Anxiety

If you are nervous about your first visit, please tell us when you call. You will not be the first anxious patient we have spoken with that day. Knowing in advance allows us to prepare your appointment with extra care, slow down where you need us to, and make sure the experience is manageable rather than overwhelming.

We have a full page dedicated to patients with dental anxiety if you want to read more about how we approach care for patients who are nervous. TLDR: we built this practice with you in mind, and your comfort matters to us from the first phone call.

Same Day Appointments Available at Dentist in Mint Hill, NC
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Your First Visit

Plan for 90 minutes. This gives us enough time to do the evaluation thoroughly, have a real conversation, and address any questions you have without rushing any part of it.
Complete your online forms in advance if possible, eat and drink normally, and brush your teeth before you arrive. That is all. You do not need to prepare answers to specific questions or research your dental history. We will figure out what we need to know together.
Come in anyway. Finding out what is going on is always the right first step, and knowing what is there gives you information to make decisions with. Our treatment coordinators are experienced at working through financial options and building a plan that is realistic for where you are. There is no pressure to commit to anything at your first appointment.
Absolutely. If having someone with you helps you feel more comfortable, we welcome it. We can often schedule family members together if they also need appointments. Just let us know when you call.
We ask for as much notice as possible so we have the opportunity to fill that appointment time for another patient. To keep your reservation deposit, we need 48 business hours notice to move or cancel an appointment.

We Are Ready When You Are

Call (704) 323-7577, text us, or book online at minthillsmiles.dentist. We are at 11300 Cresthill Drive, Suite 105, Mint Hill, NC 28227, and we serve new patients from Mint Hill, Matthews, Indian Trail, Stallings, Midland, Weddington, and southeast Charlotte, NC.

We accept most major insurance plans including Delta Dental, Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and United Healthcare. If you do not have insurance, ask us about Brush365.

We will take wonderful care of you. We promise.

Book your appointment today