A new patient dental exam is your first visit to a dentist’s office, where the dentist checks your teeth, gums and bite so problems can be found early. We see new adult patients in Redondo Beach, a short drive from Torrance, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.
The first exam also sets a baseline that later visits are compared against. Untreated decay is common: according to the CDC’s 2024 Oral Health Surveillance Report, nearly 21% of U.S. adults aged 20 to 64 had one or more permanent teeth with untreated decay. If you are new to the area, switching offices or overdue, call (310) 542-6988 to book.
What Happens at a New Patient Visit
At your first appointment, our dentists and team perform a complete oral examination, which covers these steps:
- Visual inspection. Your dentist looks closely at your teeth, the structures that support them and the other tissues of your mouth.
- Digital X-rays. X-rays may be taken to look for tooth decay, bone loss and other problems a visual check cannot show.
- Oral cancer screening. An oral cancer screening may be performed to look for abnormalities in the soft tissues of the mouth.
- Gum evaluation. A periodontal probing and examination checks the health of your gums and whether there are signs of gum disease.
- Bite analysis. Your bite, also called occlusion, is analyzed to identify problems with how your teeth fit together.
- Review and plan. After the exam, your dentist reviews the findings with you and recommends any treatment that is needed. Your options are explained so you can decide with the full picture.
The point of the exam is early detection. Conditions found while they are small are generally easier to treat. If your dentist recommends treatment, ask to see what was found and to hear the options before you decide.
The Exam Is Not the Same as a Cleaning
The first visit is mainly an exam, a look at where your oral health stands today. A routine cleaning is a separate job: it removes plaque and tartar that brushing cannot. Ask us when you book whether a cleaning will be scheduled with your exam or on its own, so you know what to expect on the day.
How to Prepare
You can save time at the front desk by filling in the new patient forms, which the office provides online to complete before your appointment. Beyond that, a few things help the visit go well:
- Write down any problems you have noticed, such as sensitivity, a tooth that hurts when you chew, or bleeding when you floss, so you remember to raise them.
- Bring your insurance information if you have it, and ask us which other items are helpful, such as records from your last dentist.
- Brush and floss as usual beforehand.
- Tell us if you take medications or have a health condition, so your dentist has the full picture.
If It Has Been a Long Time, or You Are Nervous
Many adults put off a first visit because it has been years, or because the dentist makes them anxious. You do not need to explain or apologize. Say so when you book, and ask us what can make the visit easier. If fear is what has kept you away, there are comfort options for dental anxiety that can help.
Who Will See You
Dr. Moshe Eizdi leads care at Redondo Beach Dental Group. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Southern California, where he graduated with honors, and his work covers cosmetic and restorative dentistry, including implant restorations.
Bringing the Whole Family
The practice offers general and family dentistry alongside pediatric care, so adults and children can be seen at the same Artesia Boulevard location. For a baby or young child, the AAPD and CDC recommend a child’s first dental visit when the first tooth appears and no later than the first birthday.
What a New Patient Visit Costs
The cost of a first visit depends on what is done that day. An exam on its own costs less than an exam with X-rays, and whether a cleaning is added changes the total. If the exam finds something that needs treatment, the cost of that treatment is a separate question from the exam itself. Ask us for an estimate so you know what to expect.
Most dental insurance plans treat exams as preventive care, which plans often cover at a higher rate than other treatment, up to a set number of visits per year. We accept PPO plans; ask us how your plan applies to a new patient exam. If you have no insurance, we offer an in-office plan, and payment plans through Cherry, CareCredit and LendingClub are available for costs your plan does not cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a new patient exam at a dentist?
A new patient exam is a complete check of your teeth, gums and bite at your first visit to a dental office. At Redondo Beach Dental Group it includes a visual inspection, a gum evaluation and a bite analysis, and X-rays and an oral cancer screening may be added.
How much does a new patient dentist appointment cost?
The cost of a new patient appointment depends on whether it includes X-rays, whether a cleaning is added, and how your insurance applies. Ask Redondo Beach Dental Group for an estimate so you know what to expect.
Can you go to the dentist just to get your teeth cleaned?
You can go to the dentist for a cleaning, and many people do. A cleaning and an exam are two different parts of preventive care, so ask Redondo Beach Dental Group when you book how the two will be scheduled if it is your first visit.
What if I have not been to the dentist in years?
Starting again after years away is common, and a new patient exam is the right first step. The exam shows where your teeth and gums stand today, and your dentist then explains what, if anything, needs treatment so you can plan from there.
Will I need X-rays at my first visit?
X-rays may be taken at a first visit when your dentist needs to see decay, bone loss or other problems that a visual check cannot show. Whether you need them depends on your own mouth, so ask us what to expect.
Does a new patient exam include an oral cancer screening?
An oral cancer screening may be performed as part of a new patient exam at Redondo Beach Dental Group. It looks for abnormalities in the soft tissues of the mouth, where early changes are easiest to deal with.
Do you accept my insurance?
Redondo Beach Dental Group accepts PPO plans, and coverage for an exam varies by plan. Ask us how your plan applies to a new patient visit, and ask about the in-office plan if you do not have insurance.
Book a New Patient Exam in Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach Dental Group is at 2511 Artesia Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278. We are open Monday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Wednesday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call (310) 542-6988 or request an appointment online, and tell us if it has been a while or if you are nervous about coming in.