Dentists appreciate patients who do their part to initiate good communication. Learn what you can do to open the doors of communication between yourself and your dentist.
Good dentists want to have good communication with their patients,
but many patients are not always sure how to talk to their dental care professionals. Remember, your oral health is ultimately your responsibility, so you need to make sure you have an open line of communication between your dentist and yourself.
When you are at your dental office, make sure you ask a lot of questions. This will ensure that you understand what is going on with your oral health. The more questions you ask, the more open dentists will be with you to explain what is going on with your health.
Similarly, you need to be honest. When your dentist asks how often you floss, be honest. It’s tempting to stretch the truth, but this does not help your dentist diagnose any problems he sees in your mouth. He might misdiagnose a problem that could be easily fixed by flossing more regularly if you are not honest. In many situations he knows that you are not being truthful, and thus lying will only make you look foolish.
Dentists may sometimes ask questions that do not seem to apply to your oral health. For instance, you may be asked about your personal and family medical history before or during your exam. Do not feel uncomfortable with this. Many problems, like high blood pressure and heart disease, affect the health and appearance of your teeth. Even things that occurred when you were younger, such as the frequent use of antibiotics when your teeth were still growing, can affect the look of your teeth.
Some of these questions are vital to your health when visiting the dentist. For instance, if you have high blood pressure and need to have oral surgery, you must let your dentist know. Patients with high blood pressure are more prone to a reaction from anesthetic than those without this condition.
It is sometimes hard to chat when you are in the dental chair. After all, someone’s hands are in your mouth during your checkup. Make sure you take time to talk about your questions or concerns before or after the actual exam. Good dentists will plan some time for this into their schedule when making patient appointments. If you have concerns, such as a history of oral cancer in your family, address these at your appointment, rather than wondering about them until a problem develops. Remember, your dentist appreciates patients who facilitate communication, so make every effort to ask your questions when you are in the office.
Facilitating communication may not seem like that big of a deal, but the truth is that dentists are busy, and they may not always remember to address all possible concerns at your appointment. Make their job easier and take charge of your dental health by asking questions and seeking out the answers. Not only will this make you have a good relationship with your dentist, but it will also help you to have the healthiest possible mouth for many years to come.
