How To Prepare For Your Dental Check-Up

If you have a dental check up coming up, or you need to book one soon, getting prepared is next on your agenda! We have outlined some useful tips to help you get ready for your trip and keep your dental hygiene at its best. Keep reading to find out more!

How Does A Dental Check Up Work?

A dental check up should usually take place approximately every 6 months, but if you feel like you need an emergency visit or more frequent trips, you can decide to book in another check up. The check up will usually last about 30 mins to an hour, depending on your dental hygiene and whether any other treatments need to be carried out during the check up.

A check up is a simple way for your dentist to spot any problems and ensure that your dental hygiene is looking healthy! From teeth to gums, your dental hygienist will be looking at various areas of your mouth to ensure that problems are found before they worsen and become painful or harmful.

The Check Up Process

The process of your actual check up may vary demanding on your dentist, but these are some general practices to expect:

●     Your dentist will most likely ask you how your dental hygiene has been, if there have been any problems or if you are taking any new medications. This will help to give an overview since your last check up.

●     Your dentist will then carry out a check up on your teeth, checking your teeth, mouth and gums for any signs of damage or anything potentially harmful.

●     If you require any treatments such as X-rays or white fillings, these will most likely be carried out next.

●     Your dentist may ask you about your lifestyle so that they can advise you on improving your dental hygiene. This could include exercising, smoking, caffeine intake and other relevant factors. Understanding more about your lifestyle choices will help your dentist to make useful recommendations for improving your teeth.

Dental Treatments

You may have a dental problem that requires you to have a dental treatment of some kind. Your dentist should explain all of this to you in depth so that you understand what kind of treatment you are going through. It’s also important to note that there are treatments you can receive on the NHS, such as:

●     Crowns and Bridges

●     Dentures

●     Dental Abscess

●     Root Canal

●     Wisdom Teeth

●     White Fillings

These can all be done on the NHS where you will be charged a set amount, however, you may require or decide to opt for a private dental treatment. You can discuss this with your dentist in more detail.

How Can I Get Prepared?

Getting prepared for your dentist visit will help it go smoothly and quickly, so we’ve picked out some of the most important things to consider before you go to your appointment.

Book In Advance

Making a booking in advance and double checking the time and date of your appointment will ensure that you get to the dentist's office on time. There is nothing worse than showing up without an appointment, as it is likely that you won’t be able to make one on the day. Additionally, showing up at the wrong time is also not ideal, so making a booking and ensuring you have the correct date and time will help you get to your dentist appointment on schedule.

Provide A Dental History

If you've had a fair few procedures or dental treatments carried out, or some existing issues, providing your dental professional with your dental history can be useful. It can show them the treatments you’ve had prior, so they can check if everything is all in order. And, it can alert your dentist of problem areas or things to keep an eye out for regarding your dental hygiene.

Brush Your Teeth/Floss

This seems like a given, however, it is vital that you clean your teeth and floss before your dentist visit. Your dental hygienist will be able to tell how frequently you are brushing and how well you are taking care of your teeth, and there is little you can do about this the night before or day of your appointment.

However, brushing your teeth before the appointment will give your dentist the best opportunity to see what’s going on in your mouth and get a good look at everything. This way they can advise you with cleaning or treatments a lot better.

Bring Up Issues

If something in your mouth is bothering you and you want to address it, don’t be afraid to bring this up to your dental professional. Not only are they there to give you a check up, they are trained to help you take care of your teeth and give you professional recommendations on improving your oral hygiene.

It may just be a slightly achy tooth, or an ulcer in your mouth that you’re worried about. No matter what the problem is, your dental hygienist will be able to take a look and give you the reassurance you need to stop worrying. They can help you improve your dental hygiene and give you tips for maintaining a healthy mouth.

Avoid Coffee/Energy Drinks

Some foods and drinks are more prone to staining your teeth and causing overall damage. Caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea and other energy drinks can be extremely harmful to your mouth and cause prominent staining on your teeth, so avoiding excessive amounts of caffeine before your trip to the dentist is definitely wise.

Some of the other foods and drinks that stain your teeth include:

●     Red wine - This is one of the most common causes of tooth staining

●     Cola / Fizzy drinks - These sugar and carbonated drinks will wear down your teeth over time

●     Fruit Juices - While they seem like one of your five a day, they are extremely sugary and acidic which is bad for your teeth

●     Smoking - While it isn’t a food or drink, smoking any kind of tobacco product can do serious damage to your teeth

Combined with poor brushing and flossing, these foods and habits can drastically worsen the appearance of your teeth.

Dentist Anxiety

Anxiety about going to the dentist is extremely common in many people! It’s important to remember that there’s nothing to be ashamed of, and having someone performing a check up in your mouth can be a little daunting.

If this is the case, we strongly suggest that you bring up your anxiety with your dental professional, and when you make the booking for your check up. This way, dental staff are well informed about your anxiety and they can make the necessary preparations so that you feel more relaxed and comfortable during your visit.

If you have severe anxiety and feel as though your visit is going to be really challenging, there are options you can discuss with your dentist or dental team to help you out. Sedatives are a popular option that work for a number of patients, and there are various psychological techniques that can be applied to. What’s most important is finding a solution that works for you!

Dr. Rez Dentistry

We understand the importance of being proud of your smile, which is why we are committed to delivering excellent dental care to all of our patients. Our wide range of services are designed to cater to all of our patients, keeping them well looked after throughout all procedures. From tooth replacements to Invisalign, we offer a vast selection of ways for you to improve your dental hygiene.

For further information about the services we offer and how we can help you, feel free to get in touch with us here at Dr. Rez today. Our wonderful team will be happy to speak to you and answer any of your questions!