What Can I Expect During My First Visit to Creative Smiles Belfast?

Here’s what actually happens when you book a first appointment at Creative Smiles Belfast. No padding. Just the steps, what they include, how long things usually take, what you’ll pay, and where people go wrong.

1) Booking and basics

You have two simple options. Call 028 9061 8545. Or send a message through the website form and choose the treatment you’re thinking about from the drop-down. You can also tick consent so the team can follow up with details. The practice is at 15–17 Upper Dunmurry Lane, Belfast BT17 0AA. Opening hours are typically Monday to Friday, with earlier starts mid-week. Check the contact page for the current times.

If you want a straight price guide before you go, the New Patient Exam is listed at £75 and includes small X-rays. There is also a Nervous Patient Programme option at £95, and separate consultations if you are considering whitening, bonding, orthodontics or implants. You’ll find itemised fees for hygiene visits, radiographs, fillings, crowns, dentures, implants and orthodontics. It’s a transparent list that helps you budget.

2) What to bring and how to prep

Bring a list of your medications. Note any allergies. If you clench or grind, take your night guard with you. Have a short note on anything that bothers you about your teeth—sensitivity, a chipped edge, a denture that lifts. Photos on your phone can help if a problem comes and goes. If you are anxious, say it in advance when you book. They schedule time to go slower and talk through options.

3) Check-in and forms

Reception will confirm your details and health history. If you used the web form, much of this is already captured. If not, you’ll fill it in on arrival. The team is used to questions. If you are here for a specific service, like implants or aligners, they will make sure the right clinician and any necessary imaging are lined up.

4) The clinical exam: what the dentist actually does

Expect a thorough look at teeth, gums, bite, and soft tissues. They take a prevention-first approach, so the dentist isn’t just hunting for cavities. They’re checking early enamel changes, gum inflammation, and anything that could snowball if ignored. An oral cancer screening is part of routine appointments here. That means a structured look for persistent ulcers, red or white patches, lumps, or other changes. It’s quick and important. Catching problems early is the point.

X-rays are taken when clinically indicated. Small intraoral films are common at a first visit and are already priced into the exam fee. If your case needs a panoramic view or 3D imaging, they can provide that too and will explain the extra cost first. The practice uses digital X-rays with low radiation and instant imaging, and has on-site CT scanning for complex planning. You see what they see. That makes decisions easier.

5) Hygiene on day one

If your gums need a professional clean or you are overdue, the dentist may recommend a hygiene visit. You can book that right away. You don’t need to be a long-standing patient to see the hygienist because Direct Access is available. During hygiene, expect removal of tartar and stain, gum disease management, home care coaching, and monitoring of gum health. If you smoke, they’ll talk through support and practical steps.

Common mistake here—people try to roll everything into one long first visit. If you need several X-rays, a full exam, and a deep hygiene clean, it’s often better to split this into separate, focused sessions. You get more time. Less rush. Better results. The team will advise based on what they find.

6) If you are a nervous patient

Say it up front. Creative Smiles actively welcomes anxious and phobic patients. Dr Mark Gilbert is Dental Phobia Certified, and the site explains how they tailor the pace, communication, and breaks to keep you in control. They also offer Relative Analgesia, which most people know as gas and air. It reduces anxiety, and unlike heavier sedation, you can typically leave and drive shortly after. Small touches matter too—relaxed environment, music, even aromatherapy to neutralise smells that trigger stress. These are not gimmicks. They’re there because they work.

Mistake to avoid: hiding fear until you’re in the chair. Tell them before you arrive. They’ll book the right slot length and approach.

7) Technology you may encounter

Three things stand out. CT scanning for precise implant and surgical planning with lower radiation than older tech. Digital X-rays that are fast and clear. Intraoral cameras to show you cracks, old margins, plaque traps, and wear. When you can see a crack on a screen or the depth of a gum pocket, the treatment plan clicks into place. Patients make better decisions when they understand the why.

8) Talking through options and costs

After the exam, the dentist will outline your options. Sometimes it’s simple—a small white filling, a hygiene visit. Sometimes it’s a plan with stages. Stabilise gum health. Replace a failing filling. Align teeth. Whiten. Restore edges. If you’re exploring a bigger change, there’s a Smile Design pathway where the team can simulate options, do a wax model, and even create a trial smile using temporary veneers before you commit. This is useful if you care a lot about shape and symmetry and want to test-drive the look. Costs are broken down in plain numbers so you can phase treatment.

9) How long a first visit takes

Plan for around 45 to 60 minutes for a full new patient examination with history, targeted X-rays, and a detailed discussion. Add time if you need a hygiene session the same day. If you’re booking a focused consultation—for example, implants or orthodontics—the timing depends on imaging and records. The team will advise when you schedule.

10) What happens if you skip steps

Skipping the first exam and X-rays means problems are found late. Cavities are small at first and can be reversed or sealed. Leave them and they drill deeper into dentine and turn into root canal cases. Gum disease starts as bleeding and inflammation you can barely see. Ignore it and bone loss follows, which is harder to reverse. Oral cancer screening is quick. Missing it removes an early safety net. None of this is scare talk. It’s the logic of prevention and why the practice emphasises routine checks and hygiene.

11) FAQs new patients ask

Will I get a same-day clean?
Sometimes yes. Often better to book a dedicated hygiene session so the exam can be thorough and the clean can be done properly without rushing.

Is radiation a concern?
The practice uses digital systems and takes X-rays only when clinically needed. Doses are low and justified. CT is reserved for cases where 3D information changes planning and safety.

Will treatment hurt?
Local anaesthetic for restorative work is standard. For anxious patients, gas and air is offered. The goal is comfort and control, not pushing through stress.

How often should I come back?
The general guidance is every six months, adjusted to your risk and gum status. People with active gum disease may need more frequent hygiene

12) First-visit checklist you can copy

• Address and directions saved. Appointment time in your calendar.

• Medication list and allergies.

• Night guard or retainers if you have them.

• Short note of symptoms or goals.

• If anxious, tell reception now and ask about the Nervous Patient Programme.

• Budget rough numbers from the fees page so nothing is a surprise.

13) A note on bigger smile changes

If you’re looking at veneers, bonding, aligners, or implants, expect records—photos, impressions or scans, sometimes a wax-up to preview shapes. The practice has a defined Smile Design workflow so you can review a temporary version before final work is made. This reduces remakes and disappointment because you give feedback early.

14) When a first visit is the wrong first move

If you have swelling, bleeding that won’t stop, severe pain, or trauma, book Emergency Appointments rather than a routine new patient slot. The team will triage that differently so you’re seen and stabilised quickly. You can fold back into routine care after.

Bottom line

A first visit at Creative Smiles Belfast is structured and practical. Book. Share your health history and your goals. Get a prevention-led exam with oral cancer screening, digital X-rays when indicated, and clear photos. If you’re anxious, say so and use the support on offer, including gas and air. Leave with a plan you understand, prices in writing, and realistic timelines. Then keep your hygiene visits and six-month checks so problems stay small. That’s how you get the best results here.