“A Smile is a Curve that sets everything Straight” – Phyllis Diller
You may have heard this several times but what if a visit to the office of the dentist (the essential step to maintain one of your biggest assets -your smile) gives you the heebie-jeebies!
Well, if you feel that way, then you are not alone! But if you don’t do away with your dental office anxiety then it is your smile that is going to suffer.
So try to get rid of the preconceived notions and analyse the facts with a rational mind so that you can opt for the proper upkeep of your oral health.
A visit to the dentist is nothing to be afraid of. In fact, they are there to help and they will make your visit to the dentist’s office as easy and hassle-free as possible.
These days, in most of the established and reputed dental care clinics, you can watch TV or movies. The dentists may also break up the task that needs to be performed into a number of appointments so that you don’t have to go through a lot in one sitting.
What’s more, there are also options for sedation and pain relief so that the level of discomfort is not so much for you!
That is why you should not think twice before making it to the chair next time.
Here are certain things that you can expect from your dental visit. Take a look.
- X-rays – On the basis of your symptoms, risks of ailment and age, your dentist can recommend x-rays. With the help of x-rays, the dentist can diagnose impacted teeth, jawbones, cysts, tumours, abscesses, decay and other issues that are not detectable apparently. The advanced clinics today are mostly equipped with the most modern paraphernalia and they virtually emit no radiation – not more than what you receive while spending a day in the sun or watching TV. At the time of going for an x-ray you are also likely to wear a lead apron. If you are pregnant, then you should let your dentist know in advance, as under such circumstances, x-rays should be taken only in emergency situations.
- Comprehensive Mouth Examination – If this is the first dental appointment or if you are going for a dental check-up, chances are that your dentist will recommend a complete examination of your mouth. At the time of the exam, your dentist will scrutinize your mouth to dig out signs of potential issues including symptoms of gingivitis, tooth decay, gum disease or periodontal disease and many others. Your specialist will also enquire about the problems that you have been going through like sensitivity, toothaches or cosmetic concerns and so on. Once the examination is done with you, your dentist can put together an individual plan of treatment designed for improving the oral health.
- Thorough Mouth Clean-up – The check-ups almost always include the complete cleaning either from your dental hygienist or dentist. Your hygienist will attempt to remove the plaque built-up and tartar that can lead to cavities, gum disease, bad breath and other issues by scraping below the gumline with the help of a special instrument.
Follow-up Care for Achieving the Best Results
If your oral health is in good shape, then you can just go for your dental check-up half-yearly. On the basis of what comes to the front during the exam, you will be recommended a treatment plan that deals with the most needed care.
To tackle the issues like filling the cavity, repairing broken crown or removing wisdom tooth and others, you may have to come back sooner than another routine visit which is ideally once in every 6 months.
No matter what the problem is, you can rest assured that your dentist will suggest the best and simplest way to deal with it which will save you further trouble and help you maintain a beautiful and healthy smile for years together.