3 Questions You Should Ask Your Dentist

Do you remember your last visit with a dental care provider? Did you leave with unanswered questions regarding how you should properly care for your teeth? What if I told you that you are not the only one that feels that way? Try asking your friends and family members or even your coworkers, and chances are they will probably tell you the same thing happened to them. Have you, your friends, family members or coworkers ever considered that maybe your level of patient care could be the result of your efforts as well? Perhaps asking questions can enhance your experience with your dental care provider in addition to aiding you in obtaining the information necessary for you to take better care of your teeth. It is the intention of this article to discuss 3 specific questions to ask your dentist on your next visit.

The first and perhaps most obvious question you can ask your dentist is: “How often should I schedule visits?” While most of us have grown up with the idea that you should schedule your dental appointments twice annually, information has the tendency to change over time. As a result of such, it is best to just ask your dental care provider what they think is best. This is particularly relevant for those individuals who are undergoing treatments that require timely subsequent visits, such as root canals. Another question you can ask your dentist is: “Is there anything I can do to further protect my teeth from decay?”

We all know that brushing twice daily and flossing are the most recommended ways to decrease your chances of developing tooth decay and subsequent disease. However, your dental care provider may be able to provide insight with respect to which brands are more effective or even additional steps you can take within your regimen to protect your teeth. 

The third question you can ask your dentist is: “Is there any other less invasive or alternative treatment available?” With new technology being introduced all the time to make dentistry practices more effective as well as improve your oral health, it is quite possible that there are alternative treatments or even less invasive ones available in lieu of current, and perhaps even outdated, methods. Be sure to ask your dental care provider, if there are any new methods, and if there are then you should also inquire about the costs and benefits as opposed to the current methods.

Since we all have to go to the dentist, we might as well make the best use of the experience. The only problem is many of us aren’t necessarily equipped with the proper tools and questions in order to do so. You should ask your dental care provider how often should you should schedule visits, is there anything you can do to further protect my teeth from decay and is there any other less invasive or alternative treatment available. You should be able to open a dialog that can and will enhance your experience.