The New Patient Experience
Outside of an emergency, your first appointment with Dr. Bloom will be a unique experience, different from a cursory check-ups.
You’ll be invited in to meet with one on one with Dr. Bloom—your time to decide if we are the practice for you, and for Dr. Bloom to understand more about you. We love it when patients share stories about their life (work, family, passions). We believe in forming a relationship with you, and hope to to earn your trust. Consider this your opportunity to share concerns and goals for your teeth, mouth and smile, and any anxieties about the dental experience. We understand that everyone is different, and has unique circumstances, temperaments and objectives. Our goal is to set you a course towards optimal oral health.
The Multi-Phased Comprehensive Evaluation
STEP 1
As a TMJ/bite specialist, Dr. Bloom will evaluate your jaw joints (TMJ’s), chewing muscles and your bite. If you have headaches, jaw tenderness, or clicking and popping in your joint etc. this bite evaluation provides the critical information to protect your dental health.
STEP 2
Your gums, and other soft tissue parts of your mouth will be evaluated for signs of diseases, oral cancer and injury, and we’ll perio chart each tooth to assess heath, depth of gum issue and the surrounding bone.
STEP 3
If it’s been over two years since your last series, we’ll take a full series of x-rays, then evaluate each tooth for their health, and the condition of any existing restorations (fillings, crown, bonding etc.). At this time, Dr. Bloom will also do an aesthetic evaluation addressing your concerns of the look of your smile.
STEP 4
We will take a digital scan of your mouth, as well as static impressions from which we’ll make a model that is mounted on a highly calibrated bite simulator (articulator). The mounted model of your mouth is Dr. Bloom’s single most important diagnostic tool. It gives him a complete picture of how you function, if you complain of bite related issues Dr. Bloom will find the root cause.
STEP 5
We’ll take a complete set of close-up photographs of your teeth and face, as Dr. Bloom believes most emphatically that these photos provide crucial information that might be missed by the digital scan, x-rays, and mounted models. During the entire process, Dr. Bloom will share what he’s discovering, as well as actively listening to your questions and concerns.
The Consultation
Following your comprehensive evaluation, Dr. Bloom will take time to study the information and form a thoughtful plan that addresses your goals. We’ll invite to schedule a subsequent consultation to discuss the findings and how to best proceed with a treatment plan that suits your life, and short, and long term dental health goals.