PATIENTS
WE ARE ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Your first visit with us may be different than first appointments you’ve had with other dentists or doctors. We take our time to focus on you and make sure you’re receiving the highest quality of care. First, you’ll have an in-depth conversation with Dr. Astugue to go over your health history and concerns and do a comprehensive exam that will include X-rays, photos, and a CEREC scan, which is a fast and easy procedure that uses an imaging wand to scan the inside of your mouth. All of this imaging is excellent for us to have as a diagnostic tool, and it’s also important as a record for your chart. That way, if there are changes in your oral health down the road, we can detect it early and prevent bigger problems. Proper risk assessment and prevention is key to optimum oral health.
If you’ve been seeing a dentist on a regular schedule prior to visiting us, or if you have no major issues to address, you can usually have your hygiene (a.k.a. “your cleaning”) completed on the same day as your exam with Dr. Astugue. Like Dr. Astugue, our hygiene team is thorough yet very gentle. If you’re in need of a deeper clean or have other treatments that need to be done, we’ll schedule you for a second visit to take care of these things.
We know your time is valuable. While you can be confident that the care you receive from us is comprehensive and detail-oriented and that you’ll never feel rushed through your appointment, we also pride ourselves on running a dental practice that is efficient and respects our patients’ busy schedules.
New Patient Forms
If you’d like to fill out the forms in person, please arrive to your appointment 20 minutes early.
Questions? Please call our front desk at 504-286-3880.
Financial Info
Our focus is on providing patients with a premium dental experience. From our top-notch quality of care to our personalized treatment planning, we are proud to take care of our patients’ diverse needs with the best in dental procedures and technology. We operate as a “fee for service” dental practice. That means that all patients, whether private-pay or insurance-based, pay the same cost for dental services. We are not contracted in-network with any insurance providers, but we can submit your claim to your provider. Your coverage will vary based on your plan. Our front desk will be happy to help you out with any questions about how this works.
Calm, Comfortable, & Caring
If you’re feeling nervous about your dental appointment, rest assured that dental anxiety is something that many people struggle with from time to time. The comfort of our patients is one of our top priorities. We want you to have a great experience at our office, and if you’re feeling anxious at all, just let us know.
We’re happy to talk you through the procedure step-by-step if that helps you feel calmer. Or we can provide you with distractions if that feels better to you. We have headphones and a great selection of music, TV screens, comfy blankets, and pillows. We also offer nitrous oxide (a.k.a. “laughing gas”) which you receive through a nosepiece during the procedure. It is a mild sedative that often creates a feeling of euphoria, and it typically relaxes patients almost instantly. You are totally awake and aware while receiving nitrous oxide, and the effects of it wear off within minutes of it being withdrawn. Other prescriptions such as Ativan can also be used to temporarily alleviate anxiety. Ativan is a benzodiazepine medication (same class of drugs as Xanax), and its effects last for several hours, so depending on the circumstances, it is sometimes a good option for patients too.
The friendly environment of our office helps kids feel safe. As a father of three young girls, Dr. Astugue is great at helping kids relax so treatments can be completed successfully. If you’re a parent with a child who feels scared of dental work, communication with us is key. Together, we can put your child at ease and ensure they have a positive experience.
We Look Forward to Hearing From You
If you’d like to schedule an appointment with us or if you have a question for us, please call our front desk at 504-286-3880 or use the Contact Page to send us a message. Our front desk will be happy to assist you! Or if you’re in the Lakefront area, feel free to swing by and talk to us in person.
If you’re currently a patient, we’d love to receive your feedback or an online review. Positive reviews spread the word about the care we provide at our dental practice, help new patients find us, and are important for the success of a local business. If you’d like to leave us an online review, you can do so by visiting our Review page which has direct links to our online listings for easy access. We really appreciate you taking the time!
If you’re on social media, connect with us on Facebook and Instagram. We also hope to see you at various local events. You can catch Dr. Astugue each year in the Knights of Babylon during Mardi Gras!
Office Hours
Mon-Thur: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Kevin C. Astugue, DDS
Family & Cosmetic
Dentistry
Contact Info
100 Allen Toussaint Blvd
New Orleans, LA 70124
(504) 286-3880
Email Us