What Should You Expect at a Regular Dental Visit?

For many people, a routine dental visit is as uneventful as any other routine. For some people, though, dental visits come with anxiety, stress, or fear. If you’re hesitant to see your dentist for a routine appointment, take comfort in the fact that they’re there to help you, and they want to make the experience as enjoyable as possible for you. You can also take comfort in the fact that regular, routine dental visits play a large part in preventing the need for more complex or invasive procedures. It can be helpful to understand what to expect at your regular dental visit; after all, it’s pretty common to fear the unknown. While there are slight differences from dentist to dentist, of course, the actual elements of a routine dental visit are relatively simple and straightforward.

 

To start with, you’ll want to ask your dental office how much time to allot for your appointment, giving yourself enough of a cushion to not feel rushed. You’ll also want to check with your dental insurance provider when choosing a dentist, making sure they’re included in your plan and that you understand any copays you may have; if you don’t have insurance, ask the dentist’s office what you should expect when it comes time to pay for treatment. If it’s your first visit to a new dentist, get to the office early so you can complete paperwork and, if applicable, provide your insurance information.

 

For a routine visit, once you’re checked in, your dental hygienist will guide you to the exam room before seating you and covering your chest with a protective cloth. The hygienist will use a selection of tools, some metal and some ultrasonic, to scrape hardened tartar and plaque from the surfaces of the teeth, taking extra care to clean along the gum line. Then, they will floss and polish your teeth before rinsing away the last of the debris. If your jaw tenses or gets tired, or if you notice any pain in your mouth during your cleaning, tell your dental hygienist; you can take breaks whenever you need them. If you’re due for X-rays, your dentist and dental hygienist will also record and evaluate these images. After your cleaning, the dentist will enter the exam room, evaluating each tooth and measuring for pockets between the teeth and gums with a periodontal probe. Then, they’ll discuss their findings with you and determine your next steps.

 

If you haven’t seen a dentist in a year or more, you can expect the dentist to be a bit more in-depth, though you’ll receive the same basic care as you would in a routine visit. In most cases, dentists require X-rays for patients who haven’t been seen in a year or more; this allows them to assess the bone that supports your teeth and evaluate the structures throughout the entire oral cavity. You’ll also get a thorough, professional cleaning from the dental hygienist. The longer you go between professional cleanings, the more challenging these cleanings become, as tartar continues to layer and calcify on the teeth without professional cleaning. If you have sensitive teeth or gums, ask about a local anesthetic to reduce discomfort during this initial deep cleaning. If your mouth feels sore after cleaning, you can manage this discomfort with over-the-counter pain medication.

 

If your dentist determines that you have healthy teeth and oral tissues, you’ll want to see them for a follow-up cleaning and checkup around every six months. If your dentist finds anything concerning during your appointment, they may recommend additional or more frequent treatments. These treatments could include filling cavities, placing crowns, root canals, dental bonding, shaping, or a variety of other treatments depending on the issue. The only way to know for sure what treatments, if any, are needed is to see the dentist for that first visit, and to make regular dental visits one of your own necessary, manageable routines.

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