Whether you think your teeth are in perfectly good condition or you have a fear of dentistry that makes visiting nearly impossible, chances are you haven’t been to the dentist in quite a few years. However, you need to visit a dentist in Evergreen at least once every six months, regardless of how good your at-home care is.
Once you’ve scheduled an appointment, here’s what you can expect and how to plan, particularly if it’s been a long time since your last visit.
Make Sure to Have Time for Your Visit
The last thing you should do when you haven’t had a dental visit in several years is attempt to rush it. You’ll need to make time for the dentist to perform a cleaning, exam, and X-rays and have time to speak with you in greater detail. If it’s been several years since your last visit, your teeth will likely have seen better days, and therefore require additional time to address.
The whole visit will take anywhere from one hour to an hour and 30 minutes, so come to the office with this in mind. You’ll also want to arrive at your appointment at least 10 to 15 minutes early so you aren’t stressed and rushing to the office. Take the time to speak with the front desk and inform them about your insurance where applicable, especially if you’ve changed insurance plans recently.
Cleaning, X-Rays, and the Exam
The appointment will start with a thorough cleaning by a hygienist. Since it’s been a long time since your last visit, there will be many more layers of plaque to remove than usual. They’ll also remove tartar, which is the calcified form of plaque that can only be removed during a professional dental cleaning.
After your cleaning, you’ll have a dental X-ray taken in order to examine the deeper layers of your mouth, teeth and gums. If the dentist finds any issues, including cavities, gum disease or oral cancer then they’ll schedule a follow-up appointment.
A Much Higher Standard of Care
Keep in mind that dentists work hard to provide dental care that is as comprehensive and caring as possible. No one in the office will attempt to shame you for missing the dentist because visiting isn’t always so easy for everyone.
Additionally, treatments and procedures that were once inconvenient or painful to experience have dramatically improved since your last visit. As mentioned earlier, sedation dentistry makes receiving treatments far easier and getting covered for preventive treatments like cleanings and X-rays is more affordable, so there’s no reason not to get scheduled six months from now after this visit!
Don’t put off necessary dental visits. Schedule an appointment today to get your oral care routine back on track!