New Patient Guide to your first appointment
Regular dental appointments are important as it ensures your teeth and gums are healthy. Check-ups allow you to keep track of your overall health and identifies for any trouble areas, making it a cost-effective choice instead of paying a larger sum for repairs and other dental procedures.
Maintaining proper oral care is a lifelong commitment involving brushing, flossing, and even eating nutritious foods in between your routine dental visits. However, squeezing in the time to go to your dentist can be difficult in this fast-paced, busy environment.
People often don’t have the time to check up on their oral health unless obvious problems arise, while others hold some apprehension due to fear of the unknown. Visiting your dentist is critical to preventing further serious complications, so knowing how to prepare for your check-up can help you maximise your appointment.
Preparing for a Dentist Appointment
Tip #1: Think About All Your Dental Concerns
The best way to make the most of your appointment is to reveal all dental concerns you have been keeping to yourself for months. Whether it’s grinding issues, plaque build-up, staining, or more, it’s better to come with a list of issues you want to discuss with your dentist.
Helping them identify issues ahead of time by showcasing your concerns will help them create preventive care that suits your needs.
Tip #2: Do You Have Dental Insurance
If you have an insurance plan that covers dental visits, check whether you have an in-network dentist from your provider’s network. Visiting an in-network dentist is typically easier due to lesser costs, while there are certain insurance benefits that also cover preventive appointments like bi-annual cleanings.
If you’re visiting a dentist due to major reasons such as cavity filling, root canals, and other in-depth procedures, it’s best to read up on your dental insurance to know whether you have any dental deductibles in your plan.
Tip #3: Prepare to Transfer Your Dental Records
If this is your first appointment with a new dentist, it’s in your best interest to transfer your dental records such as the full history of your teeth, x-rays, notes, and other valuable information that is relevant to your dentist.
Providing complete information of your dental records will help your new dentist understand your background and identify underlying problems. It will also freshen them up on any medications that they need to take note of. With that in mind, you can scan, fax, or email your new records to your new dentist days ahead of time for your appointment.
Conclusion: Preparation is Key to Maximising Your Dental Visits
Keeping your teeth, gums, and overall mouth healthy requires regular dental check-ups. While most people visit the dentist when the need arises, taking on appointments every few months will save you more time and money in the long run as it increases your chances of getting preventive care for any underlying dental problems.
If you are looking for a local dentist in Milton Keynes to help you with your dental needs, get in touch with us today to see how we can help.