A Different Kind of New Patient Exam in Santa Barbara, CA

Your first visit to Whole Health Dentistry in Santa Barbara, CA  is about much more than checking your teeth. It’s an opportunity for us to understand the full picture of your oral health, overall health, history, lifestyle, and goals so we can care for you thoughtfully for years to come.

Every new patient begins with a Comprehensive Examination unless pain or an urgent dental need requires our attention first.

Biological dentistry respects the intricate connection between the mouth and body. Our approach looks beyond individual teeth to understand how the health and structures of your mouth may support or impact your overall wellness. From airway and oxygen saturation to inflammation, function, and the materials used in your mouth, we take the time to understand how everything works together.

This comprehensive approach creates a foundation for personalized, preventive care, including professional routine cleanings through PEAK Hygiene, biocompatible materials, tooth-preserving treatments, ozone therapy, and other recommendations designed around your individual needs.

Your Story Comes First

Your Comprehensive Examination actually begins before you arrive at our office.

We collect detailed information about your dental and medical history, lifestyle, current concerns, and health goals in advance. For some patients, this process begins as much as a month before their appointment.

Amelia carefully reviews this information and prepares your story for Dr. Copeland, giving her important context before you ever sit in the dental chair.

Your 90-minute appointment is intentionally designed to give you time to be heard. We’ll talk through your concerns, questions, experiences, and goals while completing an extensive assessment of your oral and overall health.

And our work doesn’t end when you leave the office.

Thoughtful Planning Beyond Your Appointment

Following your examination, Dr. Copeland spends additional time reviewing and connecting everything we’ve learned. This may include studying your CBCT scan and screenshots, bitewing radiographs, photographic records, health history, and other findings.

Over the following hours or days, she develops your personalized treatment plan and creates a visual Keynote presentation to help you clearly understand what we see and what we recommend.

When appropriate, our team also communicates with specialists, compiles records and referrals, and researches products or resources specific to your needs.

You may leave your first appointment with referrals and product recommendations while your complete treatment plan is still being developed. We believe thoughtful care takes time, and we don’t rush the process simply because your appointment has ended.

The $888 Comprehensive Examination fee reflects both your 90 minutes with Dr. Copeland and the extensive work that happens behind the scenes, including CBCT review, treatment planning, specialist correspondence, referrals, and preparation of your personalized recommendations.

Components of a Comprehensive Examination

At Whole Health Dentistry, we value your time and understand how hectic today’s busy schedules can be. Your Comprehensive Examination is a dedicated 90-minute appointment designed to establish a thorough baseline for your care. Future Annual Exams are approximately 30 minutes and focus on maintaining and monitoring the foundation established during this initial visit.

Your Comprehensive Examination includes:

• Collection and evaluation of your oral and dental history
• Assessment of your current oral and dental health, vital signs, and full-body health
• Evaluation of the jaw joints and muscle systems associated with oral function and posture
• A visual examination of your teeth, gums, bite, and other oral structures
• Examination of individual teeth, including gums, bone support, furcation, root proximity, and attachment levels
• Examination of bite function
• Head, neck, and oral cancer screening
• Cone Beam 3D imaging to evaluate the teeth, jawbones, facial bones, sinuses, foramina, airway, and other surrounding structures
• Bitewing radiographs for every patient, typically updated every two years. Recent diagnostic films from a previous dentist may be submitted for review
• Detailed photographic records for documentation and treatment planning
• Vitamin D3 level testing
• Assessment of your aesthetic desires and goals
• Time to discuss symptoms, concerns, and questions
• Personalized treatment options based on your individual findings and goals
• Specialist referrals and compiled records when needed

A Foundation for Long-Term Care

Our Comprehensive Examination is designed to give both you and Dr. Copeland a deep understanding of where your health stands today and where your care can go from here.

Rather than treating your first appointment as a standard dental checkup, we use this time to listen, investigate, connect the details, and create a thoughtful plan specific to you.

To schedule your new-patient Comprehensive Examination at Whole Health Dentistry, text our Santa Barbara office at 855.441.0001.