3 Crucial Questions You Need To Ask Your Dentist

Has it been a while since you last had a dental checkup? Are you worried about what'll happen when you go in for your upcoming dental exam? Some people develop a phobia of having their teeth worked on, only to ignore various issues until they become a serious problem. If this sounds like you, you're not alone. Almost nobody likes having to go to the dentist and have their teeth worked on and their dental hygiene judged. But by having a set of questions to ask before you even enter the office, you can help to alleviate your tension and make your visit go more smoothly. Some things you might want to consider asking include:

What treatment plan do you recommend for my teeth? You may have a completely different idea as to the state of your mouth than your dentist. You might think that a tooth is beyond hope, but your dentist will actually be able to save it. On the other hand, genetics may have dealt you a bad hand and you have to have a tooth pulled in spite of your wishes. It's important that you discuss everything that will happen so that you know what to expect on this and future visits.

What pain management options do you offer? For both treatments in the office and aftercare, it's important that you and your dentist are in agreement as to what will happen. If you prefer to be knocked out while your teeth are being worked on, you'll have to find a dentist office with that option. If you prefer to be awake, you'll want to make sure that the anesthetic that you're given will work with your physiology. Newer anesthetics may work better for you than an anesthetic that your last dentist used previously.

Are there other treatment options available? Sometimes, a dentist will make suggestions based on what he or she thinks you will want, not what is actually best for you. You'll need to take a variety of factors into consideration, such as how comfortable you are with the procedure(s) in question, how much your insurance will pay, and how much time you're able to take off work. For instance, a crown is often the best choice to save a tooth, but it can mean having to go back to the dentist at least twice: once for a root canal and a temporary crown and then again with a different dentist to have the crown put in place. If you can't afford to take this much time off work, it may be better for you to just pull the tooth now rather than risk a serious infection later. 

For more information, get in touch with a local dental office such as Naas Family Dentistry.


Share