How to Prepare for Your Next Dental Visit
Keeping your teeth healthy is a lifelong commitment, and it is worth investing in. Having beautiful teeth is a great boost for your confidence. You can talk, smile, eat and go about your daily business without feeling uncomfortable or embarrassed.
Making sure that you eat a healthy diet and brush and floss regularly are top of the list when it comes to oral hygiene. But so are regular dental visits.
While no one especially loves a trip to the dental office, being prepared can make the process that much less painful.
Take Care of Admin
There are a few bits and pieces of admin that need taking care of before the day of your dental visit. Depending on what needs doing, you may need to shop around for the right dentist depending on whether you need a quick clean, cosmetic dentistry or just a general check-up.
Once these are sorted, you can use your energy to stay as calm as possible before your dentist appointment!
- Choose the right dentist
- Confirm your appointment
- Provide a dental history
- Bring along your payment and insurance information
- Arrive early just in case
Beat the Anxiety
Since most of us are not fans of visiting the dentist, we tend to feel anxious once we are there. To help ease these fears, try and get a good night’s sleep the night before your appointment. As well as being well-rested, it is recommended that you don’t overdo the caffeine on the day either. Too much caffeine will make you extra jittery and anxious!
Another good tip is to make sure that you eat something before you head to the dentist office. Even a light snack will keep you from feeling lightheaded and ill, which will cause a spike in your anxiety levels.
If you are prone to anxiety, let your dentist know beforehand. They often have methods to help ease your fears, such as music or tv with earphones. In extreme cases, they may even offer you a light sedative or some nitrous oxide.
Talk to Us!
Don’t be shy with your dentist. There is nothing to be embarrassed about when it comes to your oral hygiene, and your dental visit is the perfect place to talk about any concerns or ask any questions.
The best thing to do is to write a list in case you forget something. Another thing to remember is to advise your dentist of any medication that you are taking. This helps them avoid any issues with anything they need to give on the day or prescribe to you.
It is also recommended that you take along any dental appliance such as retainers or mouth guards. These may need to be cleaned as they can build up tartar just like your teeth.
It’s Just a Dental Visit
While the idea of dental visits may give you sleepless nights, there is nothing to be worried about. If you get your admin and paperwork done ahead of time, you can arrive with a clear head and little to worry about. Now you know what you need to do before your trip to the dentist office, call us today to book your appointment.