A dental check-up is not some last-minute appointment you keep in order to salvage a painful toothache. On the contrary, it is a regular and proactive component of your overall health routine.
To make sure you get the most out of your next dental visit, here are five practical tips:
#1: Don’t Wait Until Something Hurts
This is perhaps the most important piece of advice any dentist can give. Do not treat pain as an enemy. You should see it as nature’s alarm bell going off. By the time a tooth is in pain, it should be treated as a warning: You most likely have an underlying problem that has been developing for some time.
Most dental conditions are considerably less invasive and less expensive to treat when caught in their early stages. This is the case with most dental conditions, including tooth decay, gum disease and oral cancer.
This is why your dentist recommends a routine check-up every six months. This gives your dentist the opportunity to detect and address issues before they escalate into something far more serious.
#2: Be Honest About Your Habits
Your dentist is there to help you make informed decisions about your oral health. It’s not their job or responsibility to pass judgement. It pays to be honest and open when discussing your oral habits and condition with your dentist. These are some of the questions the dentist may ask during the consultation:
- Your diet;
- Your smoking habits;
- How frequently you actually floss;
- Whether you clench your jaw under stress, or;
- Whether you grind your teeth at night.
By giving your dentist the complete picture, you lay the foundation for them to provide personalised care. Half-truths inevitably lead to half-measures. Neither would be beneficial to your teeth, gums, or long-term health.
#3: Ask Questions and Expect Clear Answers
A dental appointment should always be a two-way conversation. Whether it be a shadow on an X-ray, a spot on your gums or a worn cusp on a back molar, do not be afraid to ask the dentist to clarify their findings following an oral exam. What does it mean? What are your options? Should you be concerned, and why? What happens if it’s left untreated? How urgent is it? You are entitled to understand exactly what’s happening in your own mouth. A good dentist will always take the time to explain without resorting to clinical shorthand.
#4: Mention Changes in Your General Health
Oral health and general health are way more interconnected than most people appreciate. Your teeth and gums are intrinsically linked to the various health-related events that your body is experiencing over time:
- Changes in your medication;
- A new medical diagnosis; pregnancy;
- Significant life stress;
- Nutritional changes, or;
- The development of conditions like diabetes, etc.
This is why it is always good practice to update your dentist on any changes to your health or circumstances since your last visit – even if they don’t appear to be dental-related. They may be more relevant than you think.
#5: Bring the Whole Family
Habits and attitudes that children form around dental visits in their early years tend to stay with them into adulthood. If children grew up observing their parents treating regular dental check-ups as a normal and routine part of family life, they are far more likely to adopt the same attitudes as part of a shared family value.
One of the ways to build an enduring culture of oral health in your household is to bring the whole family for a dental check-up every six months. It is also one of the most cost-effective health investments you can make. In the vast majority of cases, it takes less than an hour and would more than likely prevent thousands of dollars’ worth of treatment down the track. The choice is simple: Invest a little now or potentially pay far more later.
Don’t put off the dental visit until there’s a problem. That’s always the more expensive approach.
To book your next dental check-up at Molonglo Dental Surgery, contact our friendly team on 02 6287 1222.
