Ever wished you had a chance to tell your dentist what you really wanted?  In Dr. Carstensen’s office, the first thing that happens is a time for you to do just that.  We really want to know what’s on your mind about your dental health.

On your first visit, you’ll meet everyone, starting with Marlene at the reception desk.  You’ve probably talked to her on the phone, and she’ll make sure your paperwork is handled.  Next, Jene’t our dental hygienist will escort you to a private room for you to have that chance to talk. 

Dr. Carstensen joins you and Jene’t for that conversation and to ask enough questions of you to get a good clear picture about your preferences for dental care.

If you have questions about who we are or our philosophies of care, this is a perfect opportunity to have those settled.

To make sure we can design the Master Plan for Optimum Health around your goals and current dental health circumstances, we’ll collect detailed data about every part of your dental health.  Often, a complete set of x-rays, diagnostic study models of your teeth mounted in a ‘bite simulator’ and digital photographs accompany the ‘hands-on’ examinations by Jene’t and Dr. Carstensen.

To make sure we always think about whole people not just teeth, we will ask if we might take a photograph for your clinical record.  Every time we open your digital chart, then, we connect a face with the clinical data.

Jene’t will measure your gums, six places around each tooth, to see where there is potential for gum disease.  She’ll look for where the gums have receded and many other details about the gum and bone support for each tooth.  If you have a history of struggling with this disease, she’ll be very interested in your story.

Dr. Carstensen will examine your jaw joints and jaw muscle function for comfort and smoothness.  He’ll check all the soft tissues for any sign of oral cancer or other abnormalities.  A report from Jene’t will help him with the periodontal (gum and bone support) examination, and each tooth will be carefully checked.

If you have excellent dental health with few needs, often you and Dr. Carstensen can create a Master Plan right then, and sometimes you can begin with a cleaning by Jene’t.  If your needs are more complex and require more ‘study time’ then you will be invited to return for a conference where you thoughts and the dentist’s are put together.

For our patients with the most complex needs, the specialists are consulted, either by Dr. Carstensen or by referring our patients for examinations by one or more other dentists carefully chosen to treat you with the same care and thoroughness you have come to expect from Dr. Carstensen.