For many patients, the consultation appointment is the most anxiety-producing part of the whole process. You don't know what to expect, what questions to ask, or what decisions you might be asked to make on the spot.
The good news: consultations are not commitments. They're information-gathering appointments — for us to understand your situation, and for you to understand your options. Here's exactly what to expect.
## Before Your Appointment
When you schedule a consultation, our team will ask you to complete new patient paperwork either online in advance or in our office on the day of your visit. This includes:
- Medical and dental history
- A list of current medications (bring this with you)
- Insurance information
- Your reason for the visit (referral from your dentist, self-referral, or emergency)
If your dentist has already taken X-rays, request a copy or ask them to send the images to our office before your appointment. This can save time and in some cases eliminate the need for additional imaging at your consultation.
## Arriving at the Office
When you arrive, you'll be greeted and checked in by our front office team. If you have imaging to review, it will be loaded into our system. You'll be called back within a short time to meet with the surgeon.
## The Clinical Examination
Your consultation begins with a focused clinical exam. Depending on your reason for the visit, this may include:
- **Review of your existing X-rays or imaging** — if your dentist sent panoramic X-rays, we'll review them with you
- **New imaging if needed** — for complex cases, dental implant planning, or situations where existing imaging is insufficient, we may take a cone beam CT scan (a 3D X-ray). This is done in-office and takes only a few minutes
- **Oral examination** — a direct examination of the area of concern, the surrounding teeth and tissue, and your jaw function
- **Review of medical history** — your surgeon will ask about health conditions, medications (especially blood thinners), and allergies that affect your care
## The Discussion
This is the most important part of the appointment. After examining your situation, your surgeon will:
Explain exactly what's going on. We'll show you your imaging and explain what we see — the position of your teeth, the condition of the bone, the nature of any pathology.
Describe your options. In most cases, there's more than one approach. We'll explain each option honestly, including the pros and cons.
Give a recommendation. We'll tell you what we think is best for your situation and why.
Answer every question you have. Don't hold back. There is no question too basic or too specific. You should leave the appointment fully understanding your situation.
## The Financial Discussion
Before you leave, our team will provide a clear cost estimate for the recommended procedure — including what your insurance covers and what your expected out-of-pocket cost will be. We'll explain financing options if applicable.
You are never obligated to schedule your procedure at the consultation appointment. Some patients come back a week later after thinking it over. Others schedule on the spot because they're ready. Either approach is completely fine.
## What to Bring
- Photo ID
- Insurance cards (dental and medical)
- List of current medications
- Any existing X-rays or referral documentation from your dentist
- A list of questions you want answered
- If you anticipate being nervous, consider bringing a trusted person with you — though this is not required
## What Questions Should I Ask?
- What are my options for this situation?
- What happens if I don't treat this?
- What type of anesthesia do you recommend?
- How long is the procedure and recovery?
- What can I expect the out-of-pocket cost to be?
- What does aftercare look like?
## After the Consultation
You'll leave with a written treatment plan (or the option to receive one via email), information about our patient resources, and a clear understanding of next steps — whether that's scheduling your procedure, getting pre-authorization from your insurance, or thinking it over before deciding.
## How Long Does the Consultation Take?
Most new patient consultations at Oral Surgeons of Indiana take 30 to 60 minutes from check-in to check-out. More complex cases — particularly full-arch implant planning with cone beam CT imaging — may take closer to 90 minutes.
We ask that patients arrive 10–15 minutes early to complete any remaining paperwork and allow our clinical team to pull up any imaging or referral documents before the surgeon comes in.
## What If I'm Nervous?
It's completely normal to feel anxious before a surgical consultation. Our team is experienced with anxious patients and will answer every question you have at whatever pace you need. You are never pressured to proceed with anything.
If you'd like, we can provide details about our sedation options before your consultation so you understand your choices before you arrive. Many patients are relieved to learn that IV sedation — where you're essentially asleep and remember nothing — is available for virtually all of our procedures.
Feel free to bring a trusted family member or friend for support. Having a second set of ears can also help you remember the information discussed.
To schedule a consultation online or speak with our team, call (317) 876-1095. We welcome patients from throughout Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Zionsville, and Central Indiana.
Learn more about our wisdom teeth removal and dental implant services, and what to expect from IV sedation.