Dentists And Their Checklists: Preparing For An Appointment

It isn’t unusual to harbor a fear of dentists. For some, it isn’t really so much a fear as it is an aversion. There are simply better ways they can think of to spend their days. But for others, it really is a fear and it must be dealt with. You cannot simply neglect your dental health because you don’t like going to sit in that dreaded chair. You have to face up to your fears and get through your appointments one-way or the other. Here are some tips to help you prepare for your appointment. They may not work for everyone, but they will surely relieve at least some of the stress.

For many people, dentists represent a lot of pain and humiliation. If this describes you, you may have no one but yourself to blame. A routine dental appointment isn’t supposed to hurt and you certainly shouldn’t be subject to humiliation. You have two choices in this instance. One, you should obviously find alternative care if you don’t think you are being treated respectfully by your current office. Two, and perhaps more importantly, you need to take better care of your teeth on a regular basis. Brush well, floss well, and use a good fluoride mouthwash. Stop snacking between meals and lay off the sugary stuff. It isn’t that difficult; you just have to turn it into a routine. When your teeth and gums are healthy, a checkup doesn’t hurt, your gums don’t bleed, and you won’t get lectures.

Speaking of bushing and flossing, go ahead and do so before your appointment. Most people do this instinctively, but if you don’t, you really should. For one, the hygienist is there to do the deep cleaning, not to remove the fur from your teeth that comes with sleep. Two, it’s just bad manners to make these people work in your mouth without doing at least the minimum to make it a habitable environment. Take the extra few minutes to maintain your oral health morning and night. Respect in the eyes of strangers may not be important to you, but you should at least have respect for yourself.

If nothing will get you prepared enough to deal with dentists, you should take a look at sedation dentistry. Some offices offer this service, where you are actually put under with sedatives before your appointment. It may seem extreme to those who don’t harbor the same phobias, but for those who do it can be a real lifesaver. See if a dental office in your area offers this feature.