What Happens During a Dental Visit?

A dental visit is one of the most beneficial appointments you can make for yourself. Visiting the dentist regularly every six months as recommended can be very helpful in preventing many different types of oral health issues. 

Your dentist can find, detect, and treat anything from early gum disease to fitting you for dentures. The list is massive when it comes to how a dentist can help you. You should never take for granted a regular check-up. 

The routine examination is one of the most important visits you will have to the dentist. Your dentist can focus on prevention and any problem areas through routine x-rays or questions you may have for them. 

A routine visit can be completed in an hour, and this is a small price to pay for something that will encourage you to keep your natural teeth for as long as possible. 

Seeing the dental hygienist

When you first arrive at your dental appointment, you will usually be seen by the dental hygienist before your dentist. The hygienist will take any necessary x-rays you may need at this visit. X-rays are the best way to see if any issues are developing beneath the surface of the gums that you can't see with the naked eye.

Your hygienist will then take you to your exam room and begin cleaning your teeth. They will remove any tartar or plaque buildup since your last visit. They will also give you professional flossing after they have cleaned your teeth. You will then have your teeth polished and given a fluoride treatment. 

Once the hygienist is completed with your cleaning, you will feel like your teeth are shiny and new. This is usually the best reason for attending your routine visits. 

The dental exam

The dentist will be in the room after the hygienist. They will look over your x-rays to determine any issues inside your gums that need to be addressed and treated. 

Your dentist will discuss any notes the hygienist has given them from your cleaning, and then they will begin looking over your entire mouth. The dentist will look for cavities, distress, plaque, decay, or any oral health issue that requires immediate repair. 

Your dentist will also check your gums, neck, and the roof of your mouth for any problems. They will discuss your oral health with you after they are complete and go over any recommendations for you. 

Your dentist wants to be sure they complete fillings, crowns, or any issues as soon as possible and can even give you suggestions on what you can do differently at home to prevent any diseases from forming. 

Your dentist will screen your mouth for any oral cancer while you are there as well. They want to make sure they give you the most detailed examination because your dentist has the same goal. They want you to keep your natural teeth for as long as possible and will do anything they can to make sure that happens. 

Ask questions

It's during these routine dental visits that you have your dentist's undivided attention. Make sure to ask them anything that has been on your mind when it comes to your oral health. Whether the question is as simple as giving you tips to floss better, or maybe you have been feeling more tooth sensitivity lately. 

Your dentist can only help you if they know the whole story. They are available to help you have a healthy mouth that feels as good as it looks. 

If you are having pain, make sure to let them know. There may be an issue they can't see with their eyes or the x-rays, but that doesn't mean that everything is ok. 

Make an appointment today

You want to make sure you are scheduling and keeping your regular appointments with your dentist twice a year. Your dentist can only help you if you come in to see them. 

Your dental coverage typically pays for routine dental visits, but if you are unsure, you have the right to call the dental insurance company or ask your dentist's office staff to call for you. 

Call your insurance company if you need any dental work to find out if you will have an out-of-pocket expense. You can be prepared to pay or set up payment arrangements with the office staff if you do. 

Don't put off an important visit to your dentist. Learn more by contacting your dentist and asking questions directly. 

Request an appointment here: https://www.bluebonnetdental.com or call Bluebonnet Dental at (281) 501-9372 for an appointment in our Houston office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Dental Visit in Houston, TX.