Has it been a while since your last dental checkup? That’s okay. It is never too late to work on getting back on track when it comes to your oral health. In fact, the American Dental Association (ADA) reports that approximately 43% of all Americans do not see a dentist as often as they should be. If you have taken a hiatus from the dental office, you may have forgotten what a typical appointment looks like. Continue reading to learn what you can expect during your upcoming visit.
How Long Should You Allow for Your Appointment?
If you haven’t been to the dental office for a while, it is a good idea to get there a little bit early so that you can fill out all of the needed paperwork regarding your contact information, medical history, and dental insurance information if you have it. After this is complete, you can get started. You should reserve about an hour for your appointment so that your dental team has plenty of time to complete everything and answer any questions that you have.
What Does a Typical Dental Appointment Look Like?
Here are the different steps that will occur during your first visit back to the office:
X-Rays
Having x-rays taken on a regular basis will help your dentist to see any issues that are not easily detectable by the naked eye. This includes jawbone issues, impacted teeth, tooth decay, and other problems. This process is quick and painless. A lead apron will be placed over your chest and an x-ray sensor is placed in your mouth. You will be instructed when to bite down. It will only take a few seconds.
Cleaning
Your dental hygienist will clean your teeth using special dental instruments. They check your gumline, remove plaque and tartar, floss your teeth, and polish them to remove surface stains.
Checkup
After your cleaning is complete, your mouth will be examined by your dentist. They will check for signs of gum disease, tooth decay, oral cancer, and other abnormalities. This is a great time to bring up any issues that have been bothering you so they can be addressed. Your dentist will discuss findings with you and what steps are next.
Ask Questions
Your dental checkup is a great time to learn more about oral hygiene, dental treatments, and anything else you want to know. Who is better to ask these questions to than your dentist?
Be sure to schedule your next appointment before you leave. This way, you can stay on track with your visits and maintain excellent oral health.
About the Practice
At Brown Reynolds Snow LeNoir Dentistry, you have a team of five dentists who all graduated from the Medical College of Virginia. They are committed to continuing education in order to keep their knowledge and skills sharp. If it has been a while since your last visit, they’d be happy to help you get back on track. For more information on regular checkups or to schedule an appointment at their office in Richmond, visit their website or call (804) 288-5324.