How do you switch dentists?
There are three steps, and none of them needs your old dentist's permission:
- Call 540-921-3323 and say you are switching from another dentist. Have your insurance card handy, and we can check what your plan covers here before you come in. If you would rather not call, request an appointment online and the office will call you back.
- Ask your previous office to send your recent X-rays and records ahead of your visit.
- Come to your first appointment with a photo ID, your insurance card and a list of your medicines.
Getting your X-rays and records sent over
Ask your previous dental office to send your records to Pearisburg Dental Center before your visit, so they are here when you arrive. It is a routine request, though some offices ask you to sign a form first. If they need to know how to send them, they can call us at 540-921-3323.
The most useful things to ask for:
- X-rays from the last year or two. Recent images can save taking new ones.
- Your chart notes, including your gum measurements, so the dentist can see what has changed over time.
- Notes on any treatment that is partway through, such as a tooth with a temporary crown.
What to bring to your first appointment
A few things make the first visit simpler:
- A photo ID.
- Your dental insurance card, or your Medicare Advantage card if your dental benefits come through it.
- A list of the medicines you take, including ones that seem to have nothing to do with teeth.
- Any written treatment plan from your previous dentist, if you would like a second opinion on it.
- A note of anything that has been bothering you, such as a sore tooth, a rough filling or a question you did not get to ask.
What happens at your first visit here
It starts with a conversation, before the chair tips back: what brought you in, your health and your medicines. Then the dentist examines every tooth, your existing fillings and crowns, your gums and your bite. Every exam here includes an oral cancer screening.
If your gums are healthy, the cleaning can often be done at the same visit. If they show signs of gum disease, a deeper cleaning is planned as its own appointment. Before you leave, you get a plain explanation of what we found and, if you need treatment, a written plan and estimate. Your first visit covers it all in more detail.
Will a new dentist find different things?
Sometimes. A problem can be new since your last visit, or two dentists can weigh the same tooth differently, especially an old filling that could be watched or replaced. When we find something, we show you the image on the screen beside you and explain what we are weighing.
Where something can reasonably be watched, we will say so, and the decision is yours. If treatment your last dentist planned still looks right to us, we will tell you that too.
Coming back after a long time away
If it has been longer than you would like to admit, that is the usual reason people call. Nobody here is going to make you feel bad about it, and you do not need old records, or even the name of your last dentist, to start again.
Some people come back after years away and need nothing more than a cleaning, and others need more. Either way, you get a plain explanation and a written estimate, and nothing is started until you decide.
If nerves kept you away, say so when you call. We can go slowly, explain each step before it happens and agree on a signal for stopping. Sedation dentistry explains the nitrous oxide and oral sedation available here.
Insurance, family and getting here
If you are switching because your insurance changed, call with the new card and we will check what your plan covers here. How dental insurance works explains the terms on it. Retiring onto Medicare? Original Medicare generally does not cover routine dental care, and Medicare dental benefits explains what to check.
We see patients of all ages, so the whole family can move at once, and children's dentistry covers what a child's visits involve.
The office is at 300 Tazewell Street in Pearisburg, with parking at the door. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Call anytime. Appointment scheduling is available 24/7.
Questions patients ask
Do I have to tell my old dentist I am leaving?
No. All you need to do is ask them to send your records, and you do not owe anyone a reason. It is a routine request.
What if my old dentist has retired or closed?
Tell us when you call. If your records cannot be found, that is fine: the dentist takes whatever X-rays are needed at your first visit and starts from there.
Will I need new X-rays?
Only if there is a reason. X-rays from the last year or two, sent by your previous office, can often save taking new ones. If you have none, the dentist takes what is needed, with digital sensors that need a fraction of the exposure film did.
Can my whole family switch at the same time?
Yes. We see patients of all ages, including children. Mention everyone when you call and we will find each person an appointment.
Can I switch dentists in the middle of treatment?
Yes. Tell us what has been done and what was planned, and ask your previous office to send its notes along with your X-rays. The dentist will examine your teeth and talk the options through with you before anything continues.