5 Things Your Dentist Wants You To Know Before Your Appointment

10/Aug/2015

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You’re barreling through a busy week and probably haven’t given much thought to your next dentist appointment. But these simple suggestions will help you save time while also putting your mind at ease about any issues you’re concerned about. Here are five things your dentist would like you know before you come in:

1) If you’ve had X-rays taken recently with another dentist, you should contact your previous dentist prior to your first appointment with us and request X-rays be sent over right away. A full-mouth series is good for 5 years, and bitewings are good for one year. Your insurance may not cover them again. Your new dentist needs X-rays in hand to accurately evaluate the condition of your mouth.

2) If you are pregnant, don’t worry – it is totally safe to have X-rays taken. It’s important to take good care of your teeth and gums while you’re expecting because pregnancy causes hormonal changes that can increase your risk of developing gum disease. Don’t skip a trip to the dentist when you are pregnant!

3) If you haven’t been flossing much, don’t try to make up for it the day before (or the day of!) your appointment by over-flossing. That will only irritate your gums and make getting your teeth cleaned more uncomfortable. (Plus, we can tell if you have not been flossing!) Ideally, you should floss regularly, at least 4-5 times per week.

4) If you are concerned about a particular issue and would like it addressed during your appointment, please call before you come in, so we can schedule your time properly. It can be difficult for us to squeeze in additional treatments if we don’t know what you need ahead of time.

5) If you are a new patient, make sure your meter is set for two hours. The appointment may run shorter, but you should allocate that amount of time so you aren’t rushed. If you are a return patient, make sure you allow at least an hour.

Now you can sit back and relax before your appointment. You’ve just saved yourself (and your dentist) a lot time!

3 comments

Jade Brunet
September 22, 2016 at 10:48 pm

Thank you for this information concerning what one should know before a dental visit. It is good to know that flossing has to be done little by little between visits and that procrastination does not work in this field. Something else to consider would be to think of any possible questions before visiting a dentist to get concerns answered.
Jade Brunet
October 21, 2016 at 10:22 pm

I was looking to know more about how to prepare for a dental exam. It is good to know that flossing is something that needs to be done over time. I did not know that one should floss four to five times per week. Something to consider would be to show up early to the appointment to facilitate the dentist’s schedule.
Shayla Cademis
June 20, 2019 at 4:18 pm

Thanks for the suggestion to floss 4-5 times per week! My husband and I have decided to be more intentional about and invested in our dental health. Flossing currently isn’t part of our regular regiment, but I’ll have to be sure to add it in. Hopefully we can find a great dentist in our area who can help us maintain healthy teeth!