Long Time Coming: Going To The Dentist After A Long Time As An Adult

Posted on: 13 November 2017

Adult life tends to get busy. There is work, bills, personal needs, and social priorities that you have to attend to. For this reason, appointments that are not regular can get tossed by the wayside. You may look up one day and realize that you have not been to the dentist in a long time. If it has been years since you have been to see the dentist, you may need to prepare in a few more ways than the average person. Here are some ways to prepare yourself if you are going to the dentist after a few years:

Make a list of any tooth or gum issues since your last visit

If you have had any particular mouth pain or tooth pain since your last visit, you should make a list of these issues. The issues that you have had since your prior visit can give the dentist some information on whether or not you may be having particular gum or tooth issues. If you have any persisting issues, write down as much detail as possible and how often you experience these issues. If you have had no problems, consider writing down your current dental habits, such as how often you brush and floss. 

Track down your medical records

Though it may be difficult, the first thing that you will need to do is to track down your dental records. Find the last dental office that you went to and see if you can get your X-rays and examination notes from this office. If you are not able to find your last dental records from adulthood, ask your family if they have any of your childhood records. Learning about your prior dental history and the history of any fillings, crowns, or implants will help your new dentist figure out where you stand. 

Ask for a full exam and cleaning

Along with a dental cleaning, you will need the works done to determine where your dental health stands. You will need to get X-rays and have your dentist look at the health of your gums, the root of your teeth, and your jaws. Your dentist may need you to come back if there is extensive work, such as root canals that need to be done. For heavy issues, such as jaw alignment, you may need a few appointments to have your jaw repaired. If you only need a few fillings, you may be able to get them done in the same service or at least the same week as your cleaning. 

Contact local dental care services for more information and assistance. 

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Providing Children With Dental Knowledge

When my three children were young, they were all excited to go to the dentist. The dentist's office was great fun with a large fish tank and a variety of puzzle toys in the waiting room. I liked the pediatric dental office so much that I jumped at the chance when I was offered a receptionist job. Many of the children who came to see the dentist were not nearly as happy as my children. Most kids were scared and anxious, and I learned fairly quickly that the children were worried because they had no idea what to expect. The dentist at the office provided me with a set of dental tools that I could show to the children. I explained how each of the devices worked. This eased the fears, and I started this blog so parents could share dental information with their children before dental visits.

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