Maintaining good oral health requires keeping up with routine dental checkups and cleanings. Having proper oral health contributes to many positives like social well-being. It can allow you to eat, speak, and even socialize without discomfort or embarrassment. Taking care of your teeth is a lifelong commitment that includes eating nutritious foods, brushing, flossing, and having regular dental visits.
To keep your teeth healthy, it’s important to make regular appointments for checkups and cleanings. At Sninski and Schmitt, we can see if you have any issues and create a treatment plan that addresses them. By maintaining your dental health routine and getting regular checkups, you can make sure you are staying on top of keeping your teeth healthy.
Regardless of whether you are getting ready for a dental checkup or a more involved dental procedure, there are certain things you can do to prepare for a visit with the dentist. Our Holly Springs dentist and Cary dentist at Sninski & Schmitt Family Dentistry want everything to go smoothly for you so we have put together 9 tips to help you prepare for your next appointment.
Tip #1: Confirm Your Dental Appointment
Most dental offices have automated calendar systems that send you texts or call you as reminders of your appointment. Be sure you respond in the manner that either the text or call requests in order to confirm or decline so the time is blocked out, or not, for your visit. This also ensures that you have the correct appointment time on your schedule.
Tip #2: Transfer Dental Records
Be sure you provide the dentist with access to your dental records, If you are a new patient, contact your former dental office and have your records sent to the new dentist.
Tip #3: Bring Your Payment and Insurance Information
Have up-to-date information regarding how you intend to pay for the services, whether it is through insurance or self-pay.
Tip #4: Provide the Dentist a List of All Medications with Dosages
It’s very important that your dentist knows the medications you are taking and the exact dosage. Either make a list or bring the medications with you to the appointment.
Tip #5: Arrive Early
If you are a new patient, you will need to complete some paperwork when you get to the office so arrive ahead of the scheduled time. But, even if you aren’t a new patient, it is still a good idea to get there a little early for your appointment so you aren’t rushing, which can make you feel more anxious.
Tip #6: Avoid Caffeine Before Your Appointment
Caffeine can make you feel jittery while you’re in the appointment. Too much caffeine can make it harder for the dental team to work on your teeth properly.
Tip #7: Write Down Questions and Concerns
Preparing for your dental visit includes writing down all questions and concerns so you can go over them with the dentist before the appointment. You can ease fear and anxiety by having answers to your concerns so you are better prepared for the treatment.
Tip #8: Bring Your Oral Appliance
If you wear an oral appliance, make sure you bring it with you to the dental appointment. Whether it is an appliance for sleep apnea, orthodontic retainers, or a mouth guard for clenching and grinding, the dentist can clean it for you. Appliances can build up tartar, the same way as your teeth.
Tip #9: Let Your Dentist Know if You’re Anxious
Communicate with your dentist any anxiety you are experiencing. There are different ways the dentist can deal with your nervousness such as sedatives, music, a TV, and others. Even just talking to the dentist about your fears and concerns can help ease your feelings of anxiety.
Contact Us for Your Next Dental Checkup
If you are looking for a dentist in Cary or Holly Springs, contact us. We take a wide variety of insurance plans and are currently accepting new patients. You can reach us at our Holly Springs dentist office at (919) 600-6262 and our Cary, NC dentist office at (919) 467-2203. Or, you can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.