While our office is currently accepting new patients, we are unable to book hygiene appointments at this time. If you are a new patient and would like to join our waitlist, please contact us using the form at the bottom of this page or call our office at (412) 795-5600. For all other appointments, please use the same form and we will get back to you soon!
Patient Forms, Map and Directions to Verona Office
Your first visit to Alcoma Dental Associates establishes a vital foundation for our relationship with you. During the first visit, we make sure to obtain important background information, like your medical and dental history, and give you time to get to know your doctor. To understand what to expect for your first visit to our practice, please read through this page. You should receive your new patient paperwork through email but if you have not received it or if you do not have email, please contact our front office. If you weren't able to fill out the paperwork before your appointment, we ask that you come 15-20 minutes before your scheduled time in order to do so.
What To Expect for Your First Cleaning and Exam
The dental hygienist will use a scaler to get rid of plaque and tartar around your gum line, as well as in between your teeth. After your teeth are completely tartar-free, the hygienist brushes them with a high-powered toothbrush. This is followed by an expert flossing session and rinse to remove any debris from earlier in the process. At this point, you may choose to have a fluoride gel applied to your teeth which will protect them from cavities in the coming months.
Other steps:
Professional teeth cleanings are scheduled twice a year, while X-rays are normally done once a year. X-rays including bitewing (ones that look for decay between your teeth), panoramic (one that checks the anatomical layout of your entire mouth and jaw), or periapical (ones that look closely at the roots of problem teeth) may be taken. Still, depending on what your dentist or dental hygienist observes in your mouth, they might do other exams during your visit. For children, a dentist may recommend molar sealants to help prevent cavities in hard-to-brush areas.
At the end of your appointment, the dentist will perform a detailed exam of your teeth, mouth, tongue, jaw, and x-rays. They will use a metal probe with an angled mirror to see behind and between your teeth and check for warning signs of cavities – softening of enamel and dentin. A routine dental exam also checks for indications of problems with the gums, such as swelling, redness, or sores. A screening for oral cancer is also completed at this time. Your dentist will also measure the periodontal pockets – the spaces between the top of the gum line and where the soft tissue secures a tooth in place. Periodontal pockets deeper than three millimeters may be a sign of gum disease (periodontitis).The dentist will feel your jawbones while you bite down, to make sure your bite is aligned and there’s no clicking from the joints. They will also look for signs of jaw clenching, such as worn grooves of the teeth.
The dentist and hygienist will listen to your concerns and address your goals for your dental health. If extensive problems exist, they may create a treatment plan for you so you can schedule future appointments.
Please let us know if there is anything we can do to make your appointment more comfortable!