Visiting the dentist can be stressful, especially if you have never been or it has been many years since your last appointment. However, with the help of a general dentist, your first appointment and every appointment after that will be a breeze. This post will review some tips to make your first general dentist appointment as stress-free as possible.
Preparing for an appointment with a general dentist is simple. When patients schedule their appointment online or by phone, they will need to provide their insurance information. If they do not have insurance, simply inform our staff, and we can discuss payment options upon arrival or by phone. In addition, our team will ask patients to fill out a medical intake form so that we may be aware of any underlying illnesses or injuries that may have occurred within the last five to 10 years.
Additionally, patients experiencing dental anxiety may find it beneficial to talk with our team before arriving in an effort to put their minds at ease. Though we take special care of all our patients, we can help develop a plan for those with overwhelming anxiety.
Upon arrival, patients will be greeted by our team, and we will help them through the check-in process. Once taken to the back of the office, patients undergo dental X-rays, oral examinations, consultations, and teeth cleaning.
The general dentist requires X-rays to determine the true state of each tooth and the jawbone to see which areas require attention. After, we will move on to the oral examination. The oral examination mainly determines the state of the gums and tissue in the mouth. The dentist will check for signs of infection, inflammation, lesions, and receding gumlines. They may also perform an oral cancer screening.
After the general dentist gets a clear view of the patient’s oral condition, they will review their findings, recommend a treatment plan, and establish an appropriate dental maintenance schedule. This will also allow the patient to ask questions or share concerns (crooked teeth, sensitivity, etc.).
The final step will be meeting with our dental hygienist for an in-depth cleaning. The dental hygienist will use specialized equipment to clean between each tooth, removing plaque and tartar. After the teeth cleaning, the dental hygienist will recommend cleaning products specific to the patient’s oral condition and educate them on proper oral hygiene habits.
After the appointment, patients will receive a plan for any conditions that require immediate attention, such as a broken tooth or gum disease. However, if the patient is in good oral standing, we will schedule their next checkup appointment in six months’ time. Moving forward, general checkup appointments will not be nearly as long as the first because we will not have to perform as many tasks as before.
Of course, if a situation arises in between appointments that damages the mouth, contact our office. It often causes more harm than good when patients are aware of a problem but wait six months or longer to remedy it.
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We understand that scheduling your first dental appointment can be nerve-wracking for several reasons; however, our team is here to help every step of the way. If you have questions or want to schedule an appointment with our general dentist, contact us today.
Request an appointment or call Davis & Dingle Family Dentistry at 803-567-1804 for an appointment in our Columbia office.
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