If you’re a new patient at Glisten Dental Glendale in Glendale, here’s exactly what your first visit looks like — from the moment you schedule through walking out at the end. No surprises, no sales pressure, just a clear walkthrough so you know what to expect.
Before your appointment
Scheduling
Call 480-630-4446 or use our contact form. New patient appointments are typically available within 1-2 weeks for routine visits. Same-day slots exist for emergencies — mention if you’re in pain or have an acute problem.
When you call, we ask:
- Reason for your visit (routine checkup, specific concern, emergency, second opinion)
- Dental insurance provider (so we can verify benefits before you arrive)
- Any medical conditions or medications we should know about
- Any specific concerns or anxieties (so we can plan accordingly)
Before you arrive
We send new-patient paperwork by email (or you can fill it out online through a link we text you). Completing paperwork at home reduces your in-office time by 15-20 minutes. The forms cover:
- Basic contact information
- Medical history (conditions, medications, allergies)
- Dental history (last cleaning, prior treatments, concerns)
- Insurance information
- HIPAA acknowledgment
- Financial policy agreement
Bring to your appointment:
- Photo ID
- Dental insurance card (physical card or phone screenshot)
- Medical insurance card (relevant for certain medical-dental crossover situations)
- List of current medications (or bring the bottles)
- Prior dental X-rays if you have them digitally or on CD from previous dentist
- Any specific concerns you want to discuss (written list helps — easy to forget in the chair)
Arriving at the office
Our office is located at 4901 W Bell Rd Ste 140, Glendale, AZ 85308. Parking is available directly adjacent to the office; no street parking required. Entry is step-free.
When you arrive:
- Check in at the front desk
- Complete any remaining paperwork if you didn’t do it beforehand
- Brief wait in the reception area (typically 5-10 minutes — we aim to run on time)
- A dental assistant or hygienist brings you back to the operatory
Your new patient visit — what happens
Total appointment time: 60-90 minutes for a comprehensive first visit.
1. Introduction and history review (5-10 minutes)
The assistant reviews your medical and dental history, notes any specific concerns, takes baseline vitals (blood pressure, sometimes pulse), and answers initial questions about what the visit will involve.
2. X-rays (5-15 minutes)
Diagnostic imaging appropriate to your specific situation. Typically:
- Bitewing X-rays (4 images showing interproximal areas) for cavity detection
- Periapical X-rays (individual tooth images) for root tips and supporting bone
- Panoramic X-ray (full mouth overview) for new patients or when clinically indicated
- CBCT (3D cone beam) only when specifically needed (implant planning, complex cases)
Modern digital X-rays use substantially less radiation than older film X-rays — roughly equivalent to what you’d receive on a short airplane flight.
3. Photos (sometimes, 5 minutes)
Intraoral and extraoral photos for your records, used to document current state and for comparison at future visits. Also useful if we’re discussing cosmetic treatment where before/after visualization matters.
4. Dental exam by Dr. Dawood (15-25 minutes)
Comprehensive clinical examination including:
- Visual inspection of all teeth and soft tissue
- Tactile examination with dental explorer
- Oral cancer screening (tongue, floor of mouth, palate, cheeks, lips, lymph nodes)
- Periodontal charting (six measurements per tooth, bleeding assessment, recession measurement)
- TMJ evaluation (joint palpation, range of motion, click/crepitus assessment)
- Bite evaluation
- Review of X-ray findings
- Discussion of findings as we go, so you’re informed in real time
5. Cleaning (optional at first visit)
For many new patients, we schedule the cleaning as a separate second appointment rather than doing it at the first visit. Reasons:
- Comprehensive first visit is lengthy; adding a cleaning can push past 2 hours
- Once we’ve measured your periodontal status, we know whether you need a routine cleaning or a deep cleaning — different time requirements and different pricing
- Patients often appreciate processing the exam findings before committing to additional treatment
If you’d prefer to have the cleaning at your first visit, tell us when scheduling and we’ll allocate the time. For emergency patients, cleanings are secondary to addressing the acute problem.
6. Treatment plan discussion (10-20 minutes)
After the exam, Dr. Dawood sits down with you to review:
- Current state of your oral health
- Any problems found (cavities, gum disease, cracked teeth, etc.)
- Recommended treatment in priority order
- Realistic timeline and sequencing
- Alternative options where they exist (e.g., bridge vs. implant)
- Honest prognosis
You have time to ask questions. Nothing is decided at this visit other than scheduling follow-up care. You don’t have to commit to treatment — take the plan home and think about it if you’d like.
7. Financial discussion (5-10 minutes)
Our front desk coordinates the financial conversation separately from the clinical one. After you’ve agreed on what treatment you want to pursue, we verify your specific insurance coverage, give you an exact out-of-pocket estimate, and walk through payment options including insurance application, CareCredit, in-office payment plans, and our membership plan for uninsured patients.
See our financing page for the full breakdown of payment options.
What we don’t do
- We don’t surprise-bill. Cost is discussed before treatment begins, not after.
- We don’t sell treatment in the chair. Clinical findings are discussed; treatment decisions happen in the post-exam conversation without pressure.
- We don’t recommend unnecessary work. If you don’t need a crown, we don’t upsell a crown. If you’d genuinely be better served by extraction plus implant than trying to save a compromised tooth, we say so.
- We don’t rush. Comprehensive first visits are intentionally long. You get our full attention.
- We don’t guilt-trip about past dental care. We meet you where you are. If it’s been 10 years since your last dental visit, we’re glad you’re here now and we’ll build a plan to address priorities over time.
Common first-visit questions
How much will this cost? New patient special for comprehensive exam + X-rays is $79 for uninsured patients (see our new patient specials). With insurance, typically covered at 80-100%. Treatment costs depend on what’s needed — all specific pricing is given before any treatment begins.
How long does a first visit take? 60-90 minutes typically. Budget 2 hours including drive, paperwork, and any buffer for running slightly over.
Will I need X-rays at every visit? No. Bitewings typically every 12-24 months for healthy patients, more frequently for higher-risk patients. Panoramic every 3-5 years or when specifically indicated.
I haven’t been to a dentist in years. Will you judge me? No. We see patients who’ve been away from dental care for 10+ years regularly. Meeting you where you are and building a plan forward is what we do. Come in — the conversation is straightforward and non-judgmental.
I’m anxious about dental visits. What can I do? Tell us before the appointment — we can plan accordingly. Options include nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for mild-to-moderate anxiety, oral sedation for moderate-to-severe anxiety, and IV sedation for severe phobia. See our sedation dentistry guide. Non-pharmaceutical approaches (noise-canceling headphones, breathing techniques, stop signals, shorter appointments) also work well for many patients.
What if I need treatment right away during the first visit? For true emergencies (severe pain, abscess, knocked-out tooth), we treat same-day. For non-urgent findings (cavity that needs filling, crown that needs replacement), we typically schedule follow-up visits to complete treatment rather than doing it during the exam appointment — allows proper time and planning.
Can my family member come to the appointment with me? Yes. You’re welcome to bring someone for support. Spouse, adult child, friend, or caregiver can sit with you during the exam and treatment planning discussion if you’d like.
I have children. Can they come to their appointment the same day as mine? Yes — family appointments where we schedule parent and children consecutively are routine. Request when booking.
After the appointment
- Written treatment plan emailed to you, if desired
- Insurance claim filed electronically for any services rendered
- Follow-up appointments scheduled before you leave, if you want to proceed with treatment
- No-pressure approach if you want to think about the plan before scheduling follow-up
Scheduling your first visit
Call 480-630-4446 or use our contact form. We’ll verify your insurance, book a time that works, and send the new-patient paperwork before your visit. Looking forward to meeting you.