You only see your dentist for a few hours each year, if you’re attending your twice annual check-up appointments. Too often patients are distracted by pain, dental anxiety, concerned with time or preoccupied with other outside influences and forget to address the questions or concerns that they have.
Your dentist and his or her team are ready and willing to take all the time needed to make sure that you have a great dental visit, so that you leave the office with your best smile. Use these tips from our dentists to help you maximize your next dental visit!
1. Let the dental team know of any pain or sensations that you have been experiencing. Although x-rays and dental screenings will show the dentist areas of the mouth that need treatment, they don’t alert the dentist of any discomfort you may be experiencing. Prior to the exam, it’s important to let the dental staff know if you’ve been experiencing any pain or sensitivity in your mouth. This not only helps them focus on promptly resolving the pain and determining what the origin of pain might be. Speaking up, also helps the staff determine the course of treatment that is most physically sensitive.
2. Don’t feel shy about asking questions about your treatment. Dentists and dental staff are accustomed to explaining treatment procedures to their patients. Every dental office has charts and models that can further illustrate the mouth. Dental staff work to deliver a great patient experience that hinges largely on making patients feel comfortable and informed throughout the treatment process. Speak up and ask if there’s something you don’t fully understand about the treatment plan.
3. Don’t assume that you can’t afford treatment. Delaying treatment based on cost not only puts your health at risk; the longer you wait to address the problem can end up costing you more money for complex treatments to repair damage. During your post-exam consultation explore different payment options that can help you finance the total treatment cost into more manageable fees.
4. Speak up if you are experiencing pain during treatment. When it comes to pain, there’s no one-size-fits-all model. Everyone’s tolerance is different. Still, your dentist and their staff truly want to make sure you are as comfortable as possible throughout your visit. Don’t be too shy or afraid to say something if you begin feeling pain at any point in the procedure. It’s the best, if not only, way to correct it!
5. Leave a review. Online reviews are your direct line of communication with a dental practice to let them know how they can make your next appointment even better. Leaving reviews on sites like Yelp, Yellow Pages, Google and Facebook are also a great way to let other patients know about the great experience that you had and recommend your favorite dentist to others!
Ultimately, your dental appointment goes by really quickly. Still, you can make the most of that time by speaking up about any pain, asking questions and not making assumptions about payment. Remember, your smile deserves the best care!
