Whether you’re pressed for time in a busy schedule or experiencing anxiety about visiting the dentist, you don’t want the stress of daily life and dental exams to get in the way of making sure you get the most you can out of your time at the dentist.
Consider the following tips to make sure your next dental appointment goes smoothly while all of your needs and concerns are thoroughly addressed.
10 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Next Dental Appointment
1. Ask About Check-In Procedures When You Schedule
For your safety and that of the team at Dentistry of West Bend, we’re closely following health safety recommendations from the CDC, the American Dental Association, OSHA, and WDA.
As health safety rules, recommendations, and regulations have been shifting almost daily, our check-in procedures and in-office health safety protocols are changing, too.
Before your appointment, we recommend contacting our office to find out if anything has changed regarding masking requirements, waiting room policies, or our current check-in procedures, so you’ll be prepared and know what to expect.
2. Pay Attention to Problems Between Appointments
While the primary purpose of routine dental appointments is the prevention of oral health problems, they can still occur. We encourage you to pay attention to new symptoms or other changes as they occur between your appointments. Symptoms that can indicate an oral problem include:
- Tooth sensitivity
- Bleeding, tender, or swollen gums
- Persistent bad breath
- Mouth sores that don’t heal properly
- Jaw pain or other pain from clenching or grinding
- Problems with brushing or flossing
Make note of these issues and be prepared to talk with Dr. Harding about them.
3. Be Honest About Dental Phobias and Anxiety
If you experience anxiety at the dental office or suffer from a dental phobia, you’re not alone. We strongly encourage you to be honest about these issues and any other worries you have about visiting the dentist.
Dental phobias and dental anxiety are quite common, and we offer a variety of sedation dentistry options and other accommodations that can help you relax in the dentist’s chair and get the dental care you need to stay healthy.
4. Come Prepared With Everything You Need
When you arrive for your appointment, make sure you have a copy of your dental insurance card, your I.D., and any necessary medical records.
Additionally, you can download and complete your patient intake forms on our website to save time when you check in for your next appointment.
5. Be Prepared to Update Your Medical History
To ensure safe and effective treatment, the dentist needs to keep current records of your medical history – just like your regular doctor.
Be sure to update your dental hygienist on any recent changes, the prescription medications you take, over-the-counter medications you take, and any nutritional supplements as well.
6. Write Down Your Questions Ahead of Time
In the flurry of a dental exam, when you have dental tools working in your mouth, it can be easy to forget any questions or concerns you might have for the dentist.
To get the most out of your appointment, we recommend writing down your questions before your appointment and bringing the list with you to discuss with Dr. Harding during your appointment.
7. Care for Your Teeth Between Appointments
The primary purpose of dental cleanings and exams is preventative care designed to stop oral health problems before they start.
The treatments we provide you in our office, however, can only go so far to maintain your oral health. It’s essential that you also practice good oral hygiene at home between appointments. Brush and floss your teeth twice each day, using proper techniques.
8. Ask About Financing and Other Flexible Payment Options
If you are on a tight budget, that doesn’t mean you need to forgo regular dental care or specialized treatments for dental issues that arise.
We accept dental insurance and also offer a variety of flexible payment options, financing, and even a dental membership plan designed to help all of our patients access the dental care they need without financial burden.
9. Learn to Improve Your Oral Hygiene
In addition to a cleaning and exam, patient education is another vital aspect of your routine dental appointment. Ask Dr. Harding or your dental hygienist for any tips, tricks, or dental tool/product recommendations that can enhance your at-home dental hygiene routine.
10. Choose a Dentist You Trust
One of the best ways to make the most out of your dental exams is to choose to see a dentist you trust.
Our dentist and the rest of our team strive to develop strong dentist-patient relationships. We always listen carefully to your concerns, pay close attention to detail, and do our best to make sure we go above and beyond to meet all of your professional dental care needs.
Schedule Your Next Dental Exam at Dentistry of West Bend
At Dentistry of West Bend, our team strives to help our patients get the most out of the dental care they receive from us – from working hard to create pleasant experiences in our dental office to providing top quality care and patient education with the most advanced dental tools.
To learn more about our full list of preventive, general, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry treatments or Dr. Harding, we welcome you to stop by our office or contact us to schedule your next dental cleaning and exam.
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