What happens if you haven’t been to the dentist in a long time?

 In brushing, cavities, diagnostics, gum disease, periodontal disease, toothache

Life can often get in the way of your dental appointments. Sometimes you can forget about them entirely. While we don’t like this to happen, we understand how it can. Ultimately, we don’t want your absence to make you nervous about coming in again. No matter how long it’s been, we’re happy to see you and to encourage you toward better dental health.

First things first, we’re going to ask you about your dental concerns. We want to find out if anything’s been bothering you over time or if you have any older issues we need to follow up on. This is where you can hit us with any questions you might have.

We’re going to go over your medical and dental history to update your patient file as necessary. Then we’ll take X-rays to give us a deeper idea of what’s going on with your teeth. If you haven’t visited us in a while, these are necessary steps to be sure there is nothing serious happening in your mouth.

At that point, one of our hygienists will perform a thorough cleaning. In the process, we will look for periodontal disease, broken fillings, cracks, and any active decay. Then the doctor will come in for a final look and a breakdown of your overall health and needs. The doctor will also perform an oral cancer screening at this time.

You’re going to feel so much better after we’ve finished our in-depth appointment. Before you leave, we’ll discuss scheduling your next appointment in six months or any follow-up appointments that are needed to address concerns. We’ll talk to you about your insurance coverage, too.

Don’t worry, we’ll send you on your way with a goodie bag that includes a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss to get you off on the right foot. We want to motivate you to stay on the healthy path!

It is our goal to make your experience as comfortable as possible. We practice patient-centric dentistry where we provide care in such a way that the patient’s best interests and wishes are sought and respected. No matter how long it’s been since your last visit, we would like you to give us a call to make that next, very important appointment!