Not Been To The Dentist In Years? 4 Tips For Surviving Your First Appointment Back
Has it been years since you've been to the dentist? Maybe you've been putting it off because of dental phobia, financial issues or other concerns. No matter the reason, you shouldn't be afraid to make an appointment, no matter how long it's been. Most dentists will be very understanding, and you'll feel a lot better once you've got it out of the way. Follow the four tips below to make your appointment run as smoothly as possible.
1. Be open about your situation
Are you embarrassed by how long it's been since your last checkup? You're not the only one, but lying to your dentist won't help the situation. Instead, be completely upfront about what's been going on. Rather than waiting for the dentist to ask how long it's been since your last visit, open your appointment with a quick explanation. For example, "To be honest, I haven't been to the dentist in four years as I was struggling with dental phobia." Once your dentist knows what's going on, they'll do everything they can to make you feel comfortable.
2. Make a list of questions about your teeth
Some dental issues will likely have cropped up in the years since your last appointment. Making a list of everything you want the dentist to address will ensure you don't forget anything while in the appointment. You could include questions about tooth pain, changes in the appearance of your teeth and overall oral health. If you have a long list, consider calling ahead to ask for a longer appointment.
3. Bring a friend for moral support
Many adults struggle with dental phobia so dentists are used to patients bringing in a friend or family member for moral support. Even having someone to sit and chat with you in the waiting room can help ease your nerves. It can also help to have another person in your appointment to listen to your dentist's treatment advice — it's easy to forget things when you're alone.
4. Schedule your next checkup immediately
Once your first checkup is over, you might be tempted to start putting off the next one. Avoid this by booking your next appointment immediately. Make this a habit and you'll never be in the position of having to explain a long gap between appointments again.
There's no shame in having avoided the dentist for a few years. Get over the fear of going back by following the tips above.
