New Patients at Lakeside Dental
Thank you for considering Lakeside Dental for your dental care. Whether you are new to Salt Lake City, looking for a new dental home, have not been to the dentist in a while, or simply want another opinion, our goal is to make getting started straightforward and comfortable.
Our mission is improving lives by building personal relationships through compassionate, ethical, and high-quality dental care. That starts with listening to your concerns, understanding your goals, evaluating your dental health, and helping you make informed decisions about your care.
What You Can Expect
We value your time and strive to see patients as close to their scheduled appointment time as possible. We also understand that visiting a new dentist — or returning to dental care after some time away — can feel overwhelming. Our team is committed to listening to your concerns, answering your questions, and helping you understand your options without making you feel rushed or pressured.
Whether you are visiting us for preventive care or have a specific dental concern, you can expect compassionate care, honest recommendations, and high-quality dentistry focused on your individual needs and long-term oral health.
Your First Visit
Your first appointment gives us an opportunity to get to know you and establish a good understanding of your oral health. Depending on your individual needs, your visit may include:
- Review of dental and medical history
- Discussion of concerns and goals
- Appropriate dental X-rays
- Examination of teeth, gums, bite, and surrounding tissues
- Periodontal evaluation
- Other diagnostic records when appropriate
- Discussion of findings and recommendations
We will take the time to explain what we see, answer your questions, and discuss reasonable treatment options so you can make informed decisions about your care. Not every patient needs exactly the same first appointment. Someone coming in for routine preventive care may need something very different from a patient with dental pain, extensive previous dentistry, periodontal disease, or a specific restorative or cosmetic concern.
Our goal is to develop an approach that makes sense for your oral health, priorities, goals, and individual circumstances.
Will I Get a Cleaning at My First Appointment?
Often, but not necessarily. Before performing a dental cleaning, we first need to evaluate the health of your teeth and gums and determine what type of preventive or periodontal care is appropriate. For many patients, a routine cleaning can be completed as part of the initial visit. If we identify periodontal disease, significant buildup, an urgent dental problem, or another condition that changes the priorities of the appointment, we may recommend a different type of treatment or schedule additional time. We would rather determine what you actually need than assume every new patient should receive exactly the same treatment.
Dental X-Rays and Previous Records
The type and number of X-rays we recommend depend on your dental history, age, risk factors, symptoms, previous records, and what we are evaluating. If you have recent X-rays or other dental records from another office, you are welcome to have them sent to us. We do not automatically repeat diagnostic records simply because you are a new patient.
If It Has Been a While
People get away from dental care for many reasons. There is no judgment about how long it has been or the current condition of your mouth. We will evaluate where things are now, explain what we see, and help you determine reasonable next steps. If several areas need attention, we can help prioritize what is urgent, what can wait, and how treatment may be phased around your circumstances and goals.
What If I Have Dental Anxiety?
Dental anxiety is common, but what causes it can be different for everyone. We’ll listen to your concerns and what has made dental care difficult in the past, then adjust our approach to your individual needs. We’ll be gentle, explain what we’re doing, answer your questions, and work with you to make each visit easier, more manageable, and as comfortable as possible.
Second Opinions
Dentistry sometimes involves more than one legitimate treatment option. If you have received a treatment recommendation elsewhere and would like another perspective, bring any treatment plans, X-rays, photographs, or other records you have available. Dr. Keith Egan can evaluate the situation, explain what he sees, and discuss the options he believes are reasonable. A second opinion does not obligate you to have treatment with us.
Dental Insurance
We work with dental insurance and are happy to help patients understand and use their benefits. Coverage, deductibles, annual maximums, waiting periods, and frequency limitations vary by plan. Dental insurance can be useful, but it does not determine what treatment is clinically appropriate.
View Insurance & Financial Information
No Dental Insurance?
Lakeside Dental offers an in-office Dental Access Membership Plan for patients and families without dental insurance. Membership includes specified preventive or periodontal services along with savings on many additional eligible treatments performed in our office.
Learn About the Dental Access Plan
Before Your Appointment
- A valid photo ID
- Your dental insurance card, if applicable
- A current list of medications
- Information about relevant medical conditions or allergies
- Recent dental X-rays or records, if available
If you have recent X-rays or other dental records from another office, you are welcome to have them sent to us. We will review the information available and determine whether additional diagnostic records are needed. We do not automatically repeat diagnostic records simply because you are a new patient.
New Patient Forms
Complete your new patient forms before your appointment when possible.
Se Habla Español
El Dr. Keith Egan habla español con fluidez, y algunos miembros de nuestro equipo también hablan español. Con gusto podemos conversar sobre sus inquietudes, opciones de tratamiento y cualquier pregunta que tenga, ya sea en inglés o en español.
Ready to Schedule?
If you are looking for a dentist in Salt Lake City, we would be happy to meet you. Your first visit is an opportunity for us to understand your dental health, hear what is important to you, and begin developing an approach that fits your individual situation and goals.
Request An Appointment | Call 801-596-3000 | Se habla español
