How To Prepare For Your Dental Check-Up
You don’t need us to tell you that dental check-ups and regular visits to your local dentist are important for preventing dental decay and gum disease and protecting your teeth from unnecessary harm or damage.
Regardless of how well you take care of your teeth at home or how rigorous your oral hygiene habits are, every patient experiences some type of tartar accumulation over time. This tartar causes tooth decay and gum disease and gives teeth a yellow hue.
But if you hate the dentist or fear going for whatever reason, you might be apprehensive about your next visit – and that’s understandable. Some patients feel that the dentist will judge the state of their teeth, especially if it’s been a while since their last check-up.
So, if you’re nervous for whatever reason, here are five simple ways you can prepare for your next dental exam:
Confirm your appointment
We’ll likely text or email you to confirm your appointment. If you haven’t received this, it’s best to call us at least 24 hours before your appointment to double-check and confirm that we’ve booked you in.
You can book a check-up online.
Brush and floss your teeth before your appointment
It might be a tradition for you to clean your teeth well before the dentists have a look around. But while it’s not a requirement, some dentists recommend it, as it helps reduce the amount of time our dental therapists spend cleaning them, or there’s less debris or food particles on the teeth, making issues like tartar build-up easier to spot and address. It’s also recommended that you don’t eat right before your appointment for the same very reason.
Communicate any fears first
Even though we’re dentists, we’re human and sympathise with how you feel about coming to the dentist. So, if you’re a nervous patient who suffers from dental anxiety or frequently misses their appointment due to a phobia, then don’t be scared to make us aware of this fact. There are certain things we can put in place to reduce your anxiety and improve your experience, which are not always automatically in place for every patient we see. We have many tools at our disposal to deal with dental anxiety, and can even offer oral or conscious sedation to help you feel relaxed and complete your treatment.
Communicate your problems clearly
If you’re visiting the dentist for a particular reason, don’t be afraid to tell us why, as it will help us identify the root cause of your problem and arrive at an accurate diagnosis. While we appreciate that some issues might be embarrassing, do be as honest as possible when filling out dental history forms, for example, as it’s best to give the dentist as much information as possible to treat your case efficiently and promptly. Remember, we’re here to help you smile more confidently, so let us know exactly how we can do that.
Understand your budget and payment methods beforehand
Visiting the dentist can be stressful enough for some patients, so limit your stress and anxiety as much as possible by understanding your costs beforehand and determining how you’d like to pay. For example, if you’re paying with dental insurance, understand your coverage and if your particular provider accepts us. Go through your insurance policy and even check with our staff before your appointment if there’s anything you don’t understand.
You can browse our private patient fees here.
Affordable dental finance on all treatments over £995.00
