New patients
The first visit should make the unknown smaller.
Accepting new patients in Johnstown, NY and Fulton County. See what to expect, what to bring, and how to reach us.
Direct answer
Welcome to Dunlap Family Dentistry.
Dunlap Family Dentistry welcomes new patients from Johnstown, Gloversville, Broadalbin, Amsterdam, and the surrounding Fulton County communities. This page tells you what to expect before your first visit, what to bring, and how to reach us. We respond to appointment requests within one business day.
What to expect at your first visit
A conversation before it is a procedure.
A first visit at Dunlap usually takes a little longer than a routine appointment, especially if it has been a while since you have seen a dentist. That is normal and it is not a lecture.
- We listen first. What brought you in, what you have been told before, what has worked, what has not, and what you would like to change.
- We examine carefully. A comfortable exam, appropriate X-rays if we do not have recent ones, and a look at anything you are worried about.
- We explain what we see. In plain language, without a preloaded treatment plan.
- We build the plan with you. What to do first, what can wait, and what to keep an eye on.
You are welcome to bring a partner, a family member, or a caregiver to your appointment.
If dental anxiety is a barrier
Tell us before the visit, not after.
If the dentist is genuinely hard for you, say so when you schedule. It changes how we book the appointment and how we work, and there is nothing embarrassing about it. Plenty of our patients started exactly there.
To be straightforward about what we do and do not offer: we do not provide sedation in this office. For patients whose anxiety is significant, we can ask your physician to prescribe an oral medication for you to take before the appointment. That prescription is a decision for your physician, not for us.
What we can do at any visit, without medication:
- Explain what is about to happen before it happens, not during.
- Agree on a signal that means stop, and actually stop when you use it.
- Keep appointments shorter and break treatment into smaller pieces if that helps you get through it.
- Start with a conversation and an examination, with no treatment at all on the first visit.
Paying for care
A plan you can actually complete.
We are happy to talk through the cost side of care before treatment begins.
- We will tell you what needs attention now, what can wait, and what is optional.
- For treatment that takes more than one visit, such as a crown or a denture, the cost is spread across those appointments. The balance is due on the day we deliver the finished restoration.
If cost is a factor in your decisions, tell us. That information helps us give you a plan you can actually complete.
What to bring to your first visit
A short checklist.
- Photo ID
- A list of current medications and dosages
- A short list of what you would like to discuss (concerns, symptoms, treatment you have been told you need)
- Records from a previous dentist, if you have them
If we have your paperwork completed before you arrive, more of your appointment time can be spent on the visit itself. We will send new-patient forms after you request an appointment.
Response time and scheduling
What to expect after you reach out.
- Online requests: We respond within one business day.
- Phone calls during office hours: A member of the team answers or returns calls the same business day whenever possible.
- After-hours calls: Leave a message. We return calls at the start of the next business day. For urgent situations, see below.
Office hours are Monday to Thursday, 8 am to 5 pm, and Friday, 8 am to 2 pm. We are closed Saturday and Sunday.
If your situation is urgent
Call rather than using the form.
If you are in pain, if a tooth is broken, or if something happened that will not wait, call the office. If the office is closed and you have a life-threatening situation (facial swelling that affects breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, or a head injury), go to the nearest emergency room or call 911.
For more on how urgent visits work, see Urgent Dental Care.
Address, parking, and access
Getting to the office.
Dunlap Family Dentistry is at 310 Jansen Avenue, Johnstown, NY 12095.
Parking. Patient parking runs along the right side of the building and continues around to the back, next to the patient entrance.
Entrance. Use the entrance on the right side of the building, toward the back. The building and that entrance are fully accessible, and there is a ramp at the door.
Sharing the building. A second dental practice is in this building and uses the same entrance. Once you are inside, signage shows which reception area belongs to which practice. Look for the Dunlap Family Dentistry reception area. If you are not sure, call (518) 762-4321 and we will point you the right way.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions.
Are you accepting new patients?
How long does the first visit take?
Do I need to complete forms before my visit?
How quickly will you respond to an online request?
What if I have not been to the dentist in years?
Can I bring my family in on the same day?
Where do I park?
Which entrance do I use, and is it accessible?
Another dental office is in the same building. How do I find you?
Do you offer sedation or nitrous oxide?
I am nervous about the dentist. What can you do?
Ready when you are
Come in with questions. Leave knowing where you stand.
Request an Appointment and we will follow up within one business day, or call the office at (518) 762-4321 during business hours.