Booking your first visit at a new dentist can feel like a leap, especially if it has been a while since your last appointment. This is a calm, plain-language walk-through of exactly what happens when you visit Cambridge Dental for the first time, from the phone call to the chair and back out the door. No jargon. No surprises.
Before you arrive
When you book your first appointment, our reception team will ask you a few quick questions over the phone: what kind of appointment you would like (a check-up is the most common starting point), any urgent concerns, and your contact details for confirmation.
On the day, plan to bring:
A list of any medications you are taking, including over-the-counter and supplements.
Your SuperGold Card if you have one. You receive 10% off most treatments.
Your ACC claim number if your visit relates to an accident or sports injury.
Any X-rays, treatment summaries, or correspondence from your previous dentist if you have them.
If your child is the patient, bring them with another adult where possible so any siblings can wait comfortably.
Tip: arrive five to ten minutes early so you have time to fill in a short medical history form before going through to your appointment.
Arriving at the practice
Your first check-up at Cambridge Dental takes around an hour. Here is what happens in that time.
A short conversation first
Before any examination, your dentist sits down and asks about what is going on. Is anything bothering you? Has anything changed since your last visit (or since you last saw a dentist)? What would you like from this visit?
This is the part of the appointment Dr Bernard Andersen and the team treats as the most important. "The best clinical treatment begins with listening," is how he puts it.
A review of your medical history
We will go through any medications you are taking, any conditions we should know about, and any allergies. Tell us anything, even if it does not seem dental-related. Important things can change between visits.
A visual examination
We look at the hard and soft tissues of your mouth, your neck, and your jaws. That includes teeth, gums, the inside of your cheeks, the roof of your mouth, your tongue, and the area around your jaw.
A check for plaque, decay, and wear
We check for plaque, tartar, decay, and any signs of wear or grinding. Anything we find, we explain to you in plain words.
Bite-wing X-rays
Bite-wing X-rays are taken at every check-up at Cambridge Dental, as standard. A bite-wing X-ray is a small image taken with you biting carefully on a card. It shows the top and bottom back teeth at the same time and helps us see decay that is starting between teeth, before it is visible to the eye.
Additional X-rays only if helpful
If there is a reason to take a fuller image (such as a panoramic X-ray that shows the whole mouth), we will explain the reason and the cost before taking any.
A bite and jaw relationship assessment
We check how your top and bottom teeth meet and look for signs of clenching, grinding, or uneven wear. These are easy to miss at home but can lead to bigger problems if they are left unchecked.
A summary at the end
Before you leave the chair, we will tell you exactly what we have found: what looks good, what to keep an eye on, and what (if anything) needs treatment. You will not leave the chair wondering what is going on in your mouth.
If you need treatment, what happens next
If something needs attention, we will not push you to commit on the spot. Instead, we put together a treatment plan with options ranked by what we recommend and why, plus a written, itemised cost estimate so you know exactly what each part of the treatment will cost.
You decide whether to proceed. You can come back next week, next month, or simply not. We will not chase you.
For larger treatment plans (multiple fillings, crown and bridge treatment, or a series of related visits), we can stage the treatment in order of importance and at a pace that fits your budget. Smaller treatments can be split into four interest-free weekly payments through Afterpay, approved at reception. We also work with ACC for accident-related dental treatment, prepare cost estimates for Work and Income Special Needs Grants, and offer a 10% discount for SuperGold Card holders.
After your visit
For routine check-ups, you will leave with a recommended schedule for your next visit. Most adults benefit from a check-up every six to twelve months, though some patients with higher risk factors benefit from coming more often. We will tell you what we recommend after we have seen you, not before.
For treatment plans, you will leave with your written cost estimate and a clear understanding of the next steps. Either way, you will not leave wondering. That is the standard the practice runs on, and it applies to every appointment, not just your first.
Common questions about your first visit
How long does a first visit take?
Around an hour. Standard check-ups thereafter usually take 30 to 45 minutes. We never rush.
How much does a check-up cost?
Costs vary depending on whether additional X-rays or investigations are needed and any additional treatment you select. Call us on 07 823 1210 for a current fee. You will always receive a written, itemised cost estimate before any treatment begins.
What if I am nervous about going to the dentist?
You are exactly the kind of patient our whole approach is built around. Many of our patients describe themselves as nervous, anxious, or overdue. Let us know when you book and we will allow extra time, explain every step before it happens, and adjust the pace if anything is uncomfortable. Bernard treats every patient as if they are five years old until proven different, which sounds odd at first but means we assume nervousness and design every appointment around the most cautious patient in the chair.
What if it has been years since my last dental visit?
You are not alone. Many of the patients we see at Cambridge Dental have been putting it off, sometimes for years. The first visit is short, calm, and focused on understanding what is happening, not on fixing everything at once. Nothing is decided or done until you are comfortable. We treat at your pace, not on a clock.
Do you offer emergency appointments?
Yes. If you are in pain, we will see you. Call us on 07 823 1210. For after-hours emergencies, Cambridge Dental is a member of the Hamilton Emergency Dental Group; the group shares an after-hours phone line on 027 492 3475.
Ready to book your first visit at Cambridge Dental? You can book online in under a minute, or call us on 07 823 1210 and we will find you a time that works. We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, with free on-site parking at 9A Anzac Street.
