Along with brushing and flossing your teeth every day, regular visits to your dentist for thorough examinations and teeth cleaning is vital to good oral health. Your dentist will check your teeth, gums and mouth to ascertain that your oral hygiene habits are serving you well, and to help detect and resolve any possible oral health issues you may be experiencing. In order to ensure that your appointment goes as smoothly and comfortably as possible, there are some simple things you can do to prepare.
Verify Your Appointment Time
You will normally receive a call from your dentist’s office to confirm your appointment the day before it is scheduled to occur. This is the perfect time to verify your appointment time, and also ask if there is anything you need to do (or not do) before your appointment. If there is any reason you cannot make it to your appointment, you should try to give your dentist’s office notice as far in advance as possible so that they can make use of that appointment time. At the very least, you can let the office know during their confirmation call.
Thoroughly Clean Your Teeth
Ideally, you maintain optimal oral hygiene habits all the time–not just before your dental appointments. Thoroughly cleaning your teeth just before your appointment can not only help to ensure that your visit goes more smoothly and quickly, it can help to eliminate any plaque or food debris that may be there so that your professional dental cleaning can be effective and focus on those things you cannot tackle on your own at home.
Transfer Any Dental Records
If you are preparing for your first appointment at a new dental office, take the time to transfer your dental records and x-rays prior to the appointment. This will save you both time and money during your appointment, and can help your new dentist be better prepared to service you when you arrive.
Prepare Your Insurance Or Other Payment
Whether you are a new dental patient or you have just switched dental insurance policies, it is important to make sure that your insurance or other payment method is set up prior to your appointment taking place. This will help to ensure that your appointment runs smoothly, without the added stress of figuring out how to pay just before or after your appointment. Not all dental offices accept all dental insurance policies, so this is something to sort out well in advance.
Arrive Early To Fill Out Any Necessary Forms
New patients certainly have some important paperwork to fill out, but even established patients may need to update certain forms and information at certain times of the year. This is especially true where patients are taking new medications or have experienced a change in their health since their last visit. For this reason it is always a good idea to arrive at the dentist’s office around fifteen minutes before your appointment.
Prepare a List of Questions Or Concerns
There are truly no questions or concerns that are so small as to be insignificant. In fact, minor issues that can seem unimportant can sometimes be the precursor to a major issue. When these issues are caught and resolved early on, you can be saved from spending significant time, money and discomfort down the road.
Tell Your Dentist If You Are Feeling Anxious
While it’s not unusual for patients to become anxious about dental appointments, there is no reason the appointment cannot be made as pleasant and comfortable as possible. If your dentist knows that you are feeling anxious about your appointment, they can take measures to help you alleviate your anxiety.
Remember, seeing your dentist at least once every six months is key to establishing and maintaining optimal oral health. With good preparation, your appointment will be a success and you will feel even better about setting your next one. For more information about how to have a pleasant dental experience and to schedule your next appointment, contact Avenue Dental Arts today.
