Many people go years between dental checkups due to busy schedules, lack of insurance, anxiety about procedures, or simply forgetting to make an appointment. It’s easy for anyone to let life get in the way of taking care of oral health. But it’s important not to neglect your teeth and gums for too long.
When we see patients that haven’t been to a dentist in a while, they tell us that coming in for a checkup after several years is intimidating. But the pros to seeing a dentist far outweigh the cons, so here are some steps you can take to make that first visit after a long absence easier.
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Don’t Wait Any Longer To See A Dentist
Here are a few things you can likely expect when you go to the dentist again after not having a checkup for multiple years, based on our practice at Cedarwood Dentistry. There’s some information on the typical procedures and exam components, with a focus on what may be different compared to the routine 6-month cleanings you may have been receiving before your hiatus. We’re here to help you feel fully prepared and know what to anticipate at your first dental visit after putting it off for a while.
Get Familiar With Your Medical and Dental History
When you’re visiting the dentist after several years, we want to review both your medical and dental history. Since it’s been a while, you may need to locate as much information as you can to jog your memory. If you’re going back to the same dentist you last saw, they should already have some of this information (depending on how long it’s been).
Medical History
We will inquire about any changes to your overall health status and medical conditions since your last visit to the dentist. Chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, or respiratory conditions can affect your dental treatment, along with any recent surgeries or hospitalizations. We need to factor your current health into the exam and any proposed procedures.
Dental History
Of course, we’ll also ask about your dental history, including any past dental issues, treatments, or procedures. Since it’s been years since your last visit, we will likely have more detailed questions about your home oral hygiene practices, use of dental products, and any dental problems you may have noticed, such as tooth pain, temperature sensitivity, chipped teeth, or bleeding gums. Providing as many details as you can helps us better evaluate your oral health.
After A Long Break, You’ll Need A Thorough Dental Examination
For patients that we haven’t seen in a while, we usually conduct a more comprehensive examination, possibly spending extra time checking for cavities, gum disease, oral cancer, and other conditions that can develop over time. We carefully examine any fillings, crowns, or other dental work done in the past.
A comprehensive exam is especially important if it’s been several years since your last dental visit. We check all surfaces of your teeth and gums for any signs of decay, infection, or other issues and we may use additional diagnostic tools beyond the standard visual and tactile inspection.
For cavities, we look in between teeth and along the gumline where decay can be hidden from plain sight, usually using bitewing x-rays which can detect cavities between teeth that we can’t easily see. For gum disease, our dentist checks for signs of inflammation, swelling, or bleeding. The dentist will also feel for any periodontal pockets around teeth that could signal gum disease.
It’s always a good idea to check for oral cancer, so we may examine all soft tissues of the mouth, including under the tongue and along the cheeks and gums where cancers commonly develop.
We pay special attention to past dental work like fillings, crowns, bridges, implants, or other restorations, especially if it isn’t something we;ve done for you in the past. Over several years, these can weaken, deteriorate, or develop secondary decay underneath.
Overall, the comprehensive exam aims to uncover any issues that may have developed during an extended absence from the dentist. Taking the time for careful inspection of all oral tissues can help detect problems at an early stage when they are most treatable.
We Can Help You Get (And Keep) The Smile You Want
At Cedarwood Dentistry, we’re committed to helping you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted. Don’t worry about how long it’s been since your last visit – we’re only concerned with your health. It’s easy to schedule an appointment with us to discuss the best options for you, so contact us today!