Has it been a long time since you have visited the dentist? If so, don’t worry. You are not alone in this category. Many people let years lapse between dental appointments, and the number one reason is out of fear of being embarrassed or ashamed by how a dentist may react to their teeth.
Rather than worry about that, we encourage you to relax. At May Family Dental, we are here to help, not judge. Read on to learn why it is so important to see a dentist, what you can expect if it has been awhile since your last appointment, and how we will put you at ease.
Why Are Routine Dental Appointments So Important?
While everyone wants to have stains removed from their teeth, this is hardly the only reason for a dental visit. Unfortunately, the food we consume does just stain our teeth, but it also deposits bacteria and plaque on them.
Brushing and flossing alone simply will not remove all of the plaque that builds on your teeth. A dentist can reach those areas that your toothbrush cannot get to and give you a more thorough cleaning. Additionally, routine checkups allow us to catch small problems before they become larger, minimizing the need for extensive dental work in the future.
How Does May Family Dental Cater to People Who Have Not Seen a Dentist Routinely?
You can count on us to put you at ease if it has been a long time since your last dental visit. We want you to feel comfortable. So, no lectures, no judgment. Instead, our focus is on improving your oral health by going forward, not by criticizing you for your past dental hygiene.
What Should I Do If I Haven’t Seen a Dentist in a Long Time?
We encourage you to schedule an appointment with us. We have two offices to serve you—one in Logan and one in Zanesville. You can reach our Logan office at 740.385.2631, our Zanesville office at 740.452.5441, or request an appointment online.
Once your appointment is on the calendar, adhere to a routine cleaning schedule by brushing twice a day and by flossing. This will give you the opportunity to notice if you have bleeding gums or any particular areas of sensitivity before coming in to see us. If so, you will want to mention those concerns at your appointment.
What Will Happen at My Appointment?
First, you will be asked to fill out a form about your health history and to review our privacy policy. If you want to save time, you can print those forms out in advance here. Remember to bring your insurance card with you too. Don’t have insurance? No worries, we accept patients without insurance too.
Once the paperwork is out of the way, we will be ready to see you! At your appointment, we will carefully examine your teeth, discuss any problems you may be experiencing, remove plaque and tartar, provide oral hygiene advice, and look for signs of gum disease, tooth decay, and oral cancer.
You can expect your first appointment to be a longer one. We do not say that to scare you, but we do want you to block off enough time on your calendar. The appointment tends to be longer because, with new patients, we really like to get to know you (and your mouth)! Also, a cleaning after a dental absence typically requires more time.
Finally, before you leave, we will discuss a dental plan and how we can best care for your mouth going forward.
Still have questions or concerns? Contact us and we will be more than happy to answer them!
