The New Patient Process

We slow down at the beginning so we can make better decisions later.

Many patients come to Nelson Family Dental because they want someone to really look at their teeth.

Not just one tooth. Not just what insurance covers. Not just a quick glance and a list of procedures.

Our new patient process is designed to help us understand the whole picture: your concerns, your history, your photos, your bite, your gum health, your old dental work, your missing teeth, your tooth wear, and your long-term goals.

Sometimes the answer is simple. Sometimes the answer is complex. But either way, we want the recommendation to make sense.

Family Dentistry

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Dental Implants

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Cosmetics

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Dentures

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Comprehensive Care

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Family Dentistry ✳︎ Dental Implants ✳︎ Cosmetics ✳︎ Dentures ✳︎ Comprehensive Care ✳︎

What happens behind the scenes?

A lot more than most patients realize.

After we gather records, Dr. Chris spends time reviewing the details before making recommendations. That may include:

  • Digital photographs

  • X-rays

  • 3D scans

  • Bite and tooth-wear patterns

  • Gum and periodontal health

  • Old crowns, fillings, bridges, implants, or dentures

  • Missing teeth and shifting teeth

  • Cosmetic concerns

  • Risk factors that could affect long-term success

  • Whether a specialist should be involved

This is the part patients do not always see, but it is one of the most important parts of the process.

Good dentistry is not just what happens in the chair. It is the thinking that happens before treatment begins.

A practice built around relationships.

Nelson Family Dental has been part of Redding since 1960, this picture shows Dr. Chris and Dr. Leon separated by a few decades, but our practice today is not just built on history. It is built on relationships, trust, communication, and doing the little things carefully.

We were honored to be recognized by the Redding Chamber of Commerce, but the reason that recognition matters to us is simple: it reflects the kind of practice we are trying to build every day.

A place where patients feel known.
A place where details matter.
A place where complicated dentistry is explained clearly.
A place where long-term relationships still matter.

A comprehensive exam does not mean a huge treatment plan.

This is important.

Looking carefully does not mean we are looking for more dentistry to do. It means we are trying to understand what is healthy, what is stable, what is breaking down, what can wait, and what needs attention.

Some patients need very little treatment. Some need maintenance and monitoring. Some need a phased plan over time. Some need a more comprehensive approach involving cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, dentures, worn teeth, old crowns, or full-mouth reconstruction.

The point of the process is clarity.

Why we usually separate the exam and consultation.

When a case is simple, the next step may be simple.

But when the situation is more involved, we often separate the records appointment from the consultation. That gives Dr. Chris time to study the case, organize the findings, and think through options before sitting down with you.

We do not believe complex dentistry should be rushed into a ten-minute conversation at the end of an appointment.

You deserve time to understand what is happening and what choices are available.

You will see what we see.

We use photos, scans, and real examples because they make dental decisions easier to understand.

Many patients tell us:

“I’ve never had someone look at my teeth this way.”

That is the goal.

When you can see what we see, the conversation changes. It becomes less mysterious, less rushed, and more useful. Instead of being handed a treatment plan you do not understand, you get to be part of the discussion.

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Photo by Dr. Chris Nelson - 2013 Sundial Bridge in the Snow