Yes — Oregon Health Plan members are welcome with no waiting list, and OHP typically covers your new patient exam, X-rays, and cleaning at no cost. Call with your member ID and we'll verify your coverage for free before your visit.

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Your first visit, step by step, no surprises, no lectures

Q: How long is the first visit?

Plan on about 60 minutes. That covers digital X-rays, a full exam with photos, a real conversation with the doctor, and a written price sheet for anything we recommend. If we're running ahead, you're out sooner. We won't pad the appointment.

Q: Can I do the whole visit in Spanish?

Sí, todo — from the front desk to the doctor's explanation to the written price sheet. Spanish is spoken at East Salem Dental every day, not just on certain shifts. No interpreter phone line, no waiting for a translator.

Q: What if I need a lot of work?

Then you'll get a plan, not a lecture. We'll rank everything by urgency, show you the photos so you can see why, and put every price in writing — priced about 20% below the typical Salem office. You choose the pace; nothing is scheduled until you say so.

One hour, one honest conversation, and a written price sheet before anything is scheduled. Whether it's been six months or fifteen years, here's exactly how it goes.

💵$99 new patient examexam + X-rays bundled 💬Se habla españolevery day, every visit

Before you arrive

Bring three things: a photo ID, your insurance card or OHP member ID, and a list of any medications you take. That's it. Our new patient forms are online, so you can fill them out from your couch instead of a waiting-room clipboard — though we keep a real clipboard handy if you'd rather do it here.

When you book, we run a free benefits check. We verify your PPO or OHP coverage before you ever sit down, so you know what's covered before the visit, not after. No surprise statements six weeks later.

The visit itself, step by step

Plan on about 60 minutes from walk-in to walk-out. Here's how it goes:

1A warm welcome — English o españolYou're greeted by name, in whichever language you're most comfortable in. Spanish is spoken here every day, not by appointment.

2Digital X-raysQuick, low-radiation digital images — done in minutes, on the screen right away.

3A real conversation with the doctorDr. Vasquez or Dr. Tran sits down and asks what's bugging you and what you actually want — before anyone picks up an instrument.

4The exam, with photos you can actually seeAn intraoral camera shows you your own teeth on a screen. You see what we see, no taking anyone's word for it.

5A plain-English explanationWhat's healthy, what needs attention, and what can safely wait. Ranked by urgency, no jargon, no scare tactics.

6A written price sheet — before anything is scheduledEvery recommended treatment with its exact price, on paper, in your hand. You decide what happens next and when.

What it costs: $99, all in

Your new patient exam and X-rays are bundled at $99 — a combination that typically runs $250 or more at other Salem offices. That's not a bait-and-switch promo; it's how we price everything. Our fees run about 20% below the typical Salem office on purpose, because we'd rather fill our schedule with neighbors than pad each bill.

The no-lecture promise

Been away 5 years? 10? 15? You'll get a plan, not a guilt trip. Roughly a third of our new patients haven't seen a dentist in years, and the story is usually the same: life happened. We know. Nobody here will sigh at your X-rays or ask "why did you wait so long?" We start from where you are today. If it's been a while, our post on coming back after years away is written just for you.

Nervous? You set the pace

Dental anxiety is real and we take it seriously. Go at your own speed, agree on a hand signal to pause anything at any moment, and bring your headphones — plenty of patients get through a visit on a podcast and we're not offended. Just tell us you're nervous when you book, and we'll build in extra time.

Insurance, OHP, or no insurance at all

We're in-network with most PPO plans and we welcome Oregon Health Plan members with no waiting list — OHP typically covers your first exam, X-rays, and cleaning at no cost. See our insurance & pricing page or the OHP details page. No insurance? Our Smile Membership from $29/month covers your preventive care and discounts the rest.

First-visit questions we hear a lot

How long is the first visit? +

Plan on about 60 minutes: X-rays, a full exam with photos, a real conversation with the doctor, and a written price sheet. If we're running ahead, you're out sooner. We won't pad the appointment.

What does the first visit cost? +

Our new patient exam and X-rays are bundled at $99 — the same combination typically runs $250+ elsewhere in Salem. With most PPO plans and OHP, your first visit is often fully covered, and we verify your benefits for free before you arrive.

Do you take OHP? +

Yes — Oregon Health Plan members are welcome with no waiting list, and OHP typically covers your first exam, X-rays, and cleaning at no cost. Details on our OHP page.

Can I do the whole visit in Spanish? +

Sí, todo — front desk, doctor's explanation, and the written price sheet. Spanish is spoken here every day. Más información en español.

What if I need a lot of work? +

Then you'll get a plan, not a lecture. Everything ranked by urgency, photos so you can see why, and every price in writing — about 20% below the typical Salem office. You choose the pace; nothing is scheduled until you say so.