You’ve booked your cosmetic consultation and are probably wondering what to expect. That’s good! Knowing what to expect makes the whole process easier. You’ll feel more prepared, more in control, and more confident about the decisions you’re making.
Dr. Steve Fountain leads Claremont Dental Institute and has been practicing in Claremont for over 30 years. He’s joined by a team that includes a prosthodontist, an oral surgeon, an endodontist, a TMJ specialist, and a nurse anesthetist. Their combined expertise shapes every consultation. Here’s what happens during a cosmetic consultation and how to prepare.
Before You Arrive
A few things you can do before your appointment will make the consultation more productive:
- Think About Your Goals: What do you want to change? What do you want to keep? Be as specific as you can. If you’re not sure, that’s okay. We’ll help you figure it out.
- Bring Photos of Smiles You Like: This helps us understand what you’re drawn to. It’s a starting point, not a blueprint, but it gives us direction.
- Gather Your Dental History: Any past work you’ve had done, including fillings, crowns, bridges, and orthodontics. If you have records from a previous Claremint dentist, bring those too.
- Write Down Your Questions: There’s no such thing as a silly question when it comes to your smile. If something doesn’t make sense, ask.
- Think About Your Budget: You don’t need exact numbers. Having a general sense of what you’re comfortable investing helps us prioritize what to do first and what we can phase over time.
You don’t need to bring a photograph of your own smile. We’ll take our own images during the consultation. We need context and conversation.
What Happens During the Consultation
Here’s the general structure of the visit:
- The Conversation: We start by talking with you about your goals. What do you want to change? What bothers you most when you look in the mirror? This part takes time, and we don’t rush it. Your answers shape everything that follows.
- The Comprehensive Exam: Dr. Fountain examines your teeth, gums, bite, jaw joints, and bone structure. He looks for signs of decay, gum disease, and wear that need to be addressed before cosmetic work begins. Depending on what he finds, he may bring in one of our specialists for a closer look.
- The Imaging: We take digital X-rays and 3D imaging to see what’s happening below the surface. This is where we find problems the eye can’t see, like decay between teeth, bone loss, or issues with tooth roots.
- The Bite Evaluation: Dr. Michele Pavlisin assesses how your teeth meet and whether the forces are balanced. With nearly 40 years of experience and training at the Dawson Center for Advanced Education, she is uniquely qualified to evaluate bite function. If the bite is off, we address that before recommending cosmetic work.
- The Restorative Evaluation: If you have existing dental work, Dr. Marcelo Durski evaluates how it fits with the new plan. His PhD in Dental Materials and his role as a peer reviewer for two dental journals mean he understands materials at a research level.
- The Smile Design: Using digital smile design technology, we show you what your smile could look like after treatment. You see the result before anything is permanent. You get to react, ask questions, and make changes.
- The Treatment Plan: Once we’ve gathered all the information, we create a personalized treatment plan. It might be one treatment or a combination. It might happen in phases. We build it around your goals, your budget, and what will actually work for your specific situation.
- The Financial Conversation: We walk you through the costs, what insurance covers, and the payment options available. We don’t want cost to be a surprise. We’d rather have an honest conversation upfront.
How Our Team Makes the Consultation Different
Most cosmetic consultations are done by a single dentist. That means the evaluation is limited to their training and expertise. When they encounter something outside their scope, they refer the patient elsewhere.
At Claremont Dental Institute, specialists work together under one roof:
- Dr. Fountain leads the practice and handles implant, cosmetic, and laser dentistry. He’s a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantology and has been serving Claremont for over 30 years.
- Dr. Pavlisin specializes in TMJ and bite function. She’s been practicing for nearly 40 years and teaches at Western University Dental College.
- Dr. Durski is our prosthodontist. He holds a PhD in Dental Materials and publishes research in dental journals.
- Dr. Hassan is our oral surgeon. She trained in oral and maxillofacial surgery at UCLA and evaluates bone health for implant cases.
- Dr. Karia is our endodontist. He trained at Temple University and evaluates whether seemingly damaged teeth need root canal treatment.
- Scott Bertrand, CRNA, provides advanced sedation options for patients who need them. That’s rare for a dental practice.
Together, we cover every aspect of cosmetic dentistry and restorative care. That means a more thorough consultation, a more comprehensive plan, and no need to go anywhere else for treatment.
What to Ask During Your Consultation
Here are some questions worth asking:
- What’s the plan for my smile? Ask for a specific breakdown of what they recommend and why.
- Why this treatment over another? There’s usually more than one way to achieve a result. Ask why they recommend this approach for your situation.
- What are the risks? Every treatment has potential downsides. Make sure you understand them.
- How long will it take? Ask for a timeline for the treatment, healing, and when you’ll see final results.
- What does it cost? Ask for a clear estimate. If there are options, ask for the cost of each.
- What if I’m not happy with the result? Ask about the practice’s approach to revisions or adjustments.
- What’s the maintenance plan? Cosmetic work doesn’t last forever. Ask what you’ll need to do to protect your investment.
How to Prepare for the Next Steps
After the consultation, you’ll have a treatment plan in hand. Take some time to review it, talk it over with family if you’d like, and come back with any additional questions.
You don’t have to commit to anything on the day of your consultation. We’d rather you take your time and feel confident in your decision.
If you’re ready to schedule, we’ll book the first appointment. If you want to think it over, that’s fine too. We’re here when you’re ready.
Serving Claremont and the Inland Empire
Claremont Dental Institute is at 601 East Foothill Boulevard in Claremont, CA. We proudly serve patients from Claremont, Pomona, La Verne, Upland, Montclair, San Dimas, Rancho Cucamonga, and across the Inland Empire.
If you’re considering cosmetic dentistry, we’d love to talk. Dr. Fountain and our team will take the time to understand your goals, evaluate your smile, and create a plan that works for you.
Call our new patient line at (909) 277-6919 today, or request an appointment online anytime.