Quick Answer: At Cliftonville Dental in Northampton, your first visit as a new adult patient starts with a thorough examination, including photographs and x-rays, then a detailed discussion of your treatment options with one of the dentists. The exam costs £135 and includes intra-oral radiographs. You can register with an online form or by calling 01604 604545, and appointments are available Monday to Friday.
Starting with a new dentist can feel like a bigger decision than it should be. You are handing someone a look inside your mouth, your medical history, and, if you are honest, a bit of your anxiety about what they might find. Knowing exactly what to expect at your first dental visit removes most of that uncertainty before you even sit in the chair.
This guide walks through what actually happens at a first appointment at Cliftonville Dental, a private dental practice at 65 The Avenue, Cliftonville, Northampton, using only what the practice itself has published about its process, fees, and patient support, so you know what is real rather than what is typical elsewhere.
How to Register as a New Adult Patient
Before any appointment happens, you need to register. Cliftonville Dental gives new patients two ways to do this: complete an online new patient form, or call the practice directly on 01604 604545 to arrange a date and time.
There is no separate registration fee mentioned anywhere on the site. The cost you are quoted is for the examination itself, not for joining the practice.
What Actually Happens During the Appointment
According to the practice’s own new patient information, your first visit is built around one core appointment: an examination. In the dentist’s own words, the visit involves “an extremely thorough examination including any necessary photographs and x-rays,” followed by the chance to “discuss in detail your treatment options with one of our dentists.”
That description breaks down into three real stages rather than one long, vague “check-up.”
| Stage | What Happens |
| 1. Examination | A thorough clinical check of your teeth, gums and mouth, carried out by one of the practice dentists |
| 2. Photographs and x-rays | Intra-oral radiographs are taken where necessary, as part of the same appointment |
| 3. Treatment discussion | Your dentist talks you through what they found and any treatment options in detail, before anything is booked in |
No specific appointment length is published on the site, so if timing matters for your schedule, it is worth confirming the expected duration when you call 01604 604545 to book.
The dentists named on the practice’s own team page include Dr Anesh Patel, Dr Arti Shah, Dr Samad Mirzayev and Dr Amita Peet, alongside facial aesthetics practitioner Phillip Ameerally. The practice states that all of its dentists follow the guidelines set by the General Dental Council (GDC), the body that regulates dentists in the UK, and directs patients to the GDC’s own register to verify this.
What a New Patient Exam Costs
One thing that separates a genuinely useful first-visit guide from a generic one is being able to say what it actually costs, rather than telling you to “contact the practice for pricing.” Cliftonville Dental publishes its new patient fees directly.
| Item | Price |
| New patient examination (includes intra-oral radiographs) | £135 |
| OPG radiograph (wider x-ray, if needed) | £79 |
| CT scan (if needed, for example for implant planning) | From £139 |
The practice is explicit about transparency around cost, stating on its fees page that it will “always make our charges crystal clear before we start work, so you’ll know exactly what you’ll be paying.” If you need finance to spread the cost of any treatment recommended after your exam, the practice offers a range of payment options through its Ways to Pay page, though the specific plan terms are not detailed on that page itself, so it is worth asking about this directly when you visit.
What to Bring to Your First Appointment
The practice’s new patient page does not publish an exhaustive checklist, but based on what registration actually involves (the online form or a phone call, plus the medical history every UK dental practice is required to take at a first visit), the practical items to have ready are straightforward.
| Bring This | Why |
| A list of current medications | Your dentist needs this to plan any treatment safely |
| Details of any allergies | Relevant if you need local anaesthetic or medication |
| Your previous dentist’s details, if known | Helps if old records or x-rays need to be requested |
| Payment method or finance query ready | The £135 exam fee is due at the appointment unless otherwise agreed |
| A note of any specific concerns or pain | Helps the dentist focus the examination on what matters most to you |
If you are registering online rather than by phone, you can complete much of this in advance through the new patient form, which should make the in-person part of the visit quicker.
If You Are Nervous About Your First Visit
Feeling anxious before a first dental appointment is common, and it is one of the few things Cliftonville Dental addresses directly for new patients rather than leaving unsaid. The practice states that it welcomes anxious patients and offers “non-invasive acupressure techniques” alongside intravenous sedation for those who need extra support to get through treatment.
This matters at the first-visit stage specifically because the exam itself, photographs and x-rays included, is usually far less invasive than whatever treatment might follow it. If anxiety is a genuine barrier for you, it is worth mentioning this when you register, whether by phone or on the online form, so the practice can plan the appointment with that in mind from the start.
The NHS’s own guidance on dental check-ups is consistent with what a first visit is meant to achieve, regardless of which practice you attend: “At each check-up, your dentist should examine your teeth, gums and mouth” (NHS, Dental check-ups). A first visit as a new patient is that same examination, just with the added step of a dentist meeting you and your dental history for the first time.
After the Exam: What Happens Next
Once the examination, photographs and x-rays are complete, your dentist discusses your treatment options with you in detail before anything further is scheduled. Nothing on the practice’s published materials suggests treatment is carried out in the same appointment as the initial exam, so it is reasonable to expect the first visit to end with a plan rather than a procedure, unless you and your dentist agree otherwise on the day.
If no treatment is needed beyond routine maintenance, this is also the point where ongoing appointments, such as hygienist visits, would typically be discussed and booked.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a new patient exam cost at Cliftonville Dental?
The new patient examination costs £135 and includes intra-oral radiographs (x-rays taken inside the mouth).
Do I need to bring anything to my first appointment?
Bring a list of any medications and allergies, details of your previous dentist if you have one, and be ready to pay the exam fee unless you have arranged finance in advance.
How do I register as a new patient?
You can register using the online new patient form on the Cliftonville Dental website, or by calling the practice on 01604 604545.
Will I need x-rays at my first visit?
The standard new patient exam includes intra-oral radiographs where necessary. A wider OPG x-ray (£79) or CT scan (from £139) may be recommended separately if your case needs it, for example before implant treatment.
Is treatment carried out during the first visit?
The published process describes an examination followed by a discussion of treatment options, not treatment itself. Any procedures would normally be planned and booked as a separate appointment.
What if I am nervous about going to the dentist?
Cliftonville Dental says it welcomes anxious patients and offers non-invasive acupressure techniques and intravenous sedation for those who need extra support. Mention this when you book so the appointment can be planned accordingly.
Can I see a dentist in the evening or on weekends?
The practice is open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm, and opens on one Saturday each month, so call 01604 604545 to check the next Saturday date.
Do I need a referral to become a new patient?
No referral is mentioned as a requirement anywhere in the practice’s new patient information. You can register directly online or by phone.
Who will actually examine me?
The examination is carried out by one of the practice’s dentists. The team listed on the practice’s own site includes Dr Anesh Patel, Dr Arti Shah, Dr Samad Mirzayev and Dr Amita Peet.
What happens if the exam finds a problem?
Your dentist will discuss the finding and your treatment options with you in detail as part of the same appointment, so you leave knowing what, if anything, needs to happen next.
Ready to Book Your First Visit?
If you are looking for new patient information and want a clear, transparent first appointment with published pricing, and sedation options for anxious patients, Cliftonville Dental in Northampton is accepting new adult patients now. Register using the online form or call 01604 604545 to arrange your first visit.
Written by Dr Anesh Patel
Dentist, B.D.S. M.F.G.D.P. (UK)
Co-owner of Cliftonville Dental, Dr Anesh Patel qualified from Kings College London in 1999 and has practised in Northampton ever since, with a special interest in cosmetic and implant dentistry.
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