If you are one of the many people who want to have brighter smiles, straight and pearly teeth, then it might be time for you to visit your local dentist in Jacksonville. If this is your first time to be sitting on a dental chair, you might wonder what to expect. This article is all about how you can benefit from dental visits and why you should make one regularly.
For some people, there’s always a motivation behind every dental visit. Some of them may have heard their co-workers talk about “halitosis” or some have crooked teeth which affect their appearance. It can hurt a lot, especially if one hears other people talk about their bad breaths. You can read more about halitosis when you click here. In the workplace, one may be afraid to speak, or they might feel bullied because of their teeth.
Of course, you won’t find the above scenario in every workplace. But they happen and besides, having excellent oral hygiene benefit the person and not his co-workers in the long run. Most may not find any problems with their teeth, but there’s always the thought of having a whiter and brighter smile which is prettier to look at.
Whatever the possible reasons that you have for visiting your dentist, you may also wonder how it works and what you can expect on each visit that you make.
The Benefits of Visiting a Dentist
During your first visit to your local dental clinic, your hygienist will perform a dental exam and prophylaxis. Prophylaxis is the dental terms of promoting healthy mouth, gums, and teeth. This includes protecting the teeth from cavities through fillings or removing a tooth that can’t be saved by a root canal. Here are other benefits that you can get from your dental hygienist.
- Effective removal of plaque and tartar deposits on the teeth
- Thoroughly cleaned mouth using fluoride products
- Straightened the teeth with the help of braces
- Forming habits such as regular brushing and flossing
- Relief from toothaches through extractions
- Identifying oral diseases while they are in their early stages
- Fresher breath and healthier mouth
Some people think that they don’t have to see a dentist since they are brushing regularly. Brushing may not be enough, especially if one tends to eat sweet and sticky food. The crook and crannies of the teeth can hide food bits, and they can serve as thriving places for bacteria.
How to Find the Right Dentist?
- Ask reliable sources such as families and friends. They should have achieved the goals that you want to see in yourself. There’s a considerable chance that they can tell you stories about the things that their hygienist did to them. Some may have experienced their health tooth extracted to correct a bite.
- Ask your physician if you trust him. Some members of the medical community know one another and recommend them to their patients. They would not want to risk their reputation when it comes to recommending a dental colleague so you can expect the best.
- If you are relocating to another town such as Jacksonville, ask your current dentist if they have someone whom they can recommend in the new place.
After considering some few recommendations for the new dental hygienist, you may need to research the following further:
- Discover if they accept dental insurance. If you have company insurance that cover x-rays, cleanings, or even root canal and the clinic take them, then they might be the right one for you. Read more about root canal treatments here: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/root-canal-treatment.
- Know their office hours so that you can adjust your schedule accordingly. It’s nice to have clinics that are open on Saturdays if you have day-offs on weekends.
- Choose somewhere close to your home or work. This way, you won’t have to drive far every time you have an appointment.
- If it’s possible, get the number of the dentist so that you can contact them in cases of emergencies. Some clinics can let you do referral services on weekends or holidays.
- Another thing to know is their policies on missed appointments. Some charge double if you were not able to go on your previous month’s appointment and some can let you off the hook. If there’s an emergency in your part, you should know whether they can reschedule your visit. Most often, some secretaries can check the available slots that can accommodate you, so don’t be afraid to ask them.
- Consider the costs carefully. It would help if you asked for estimates on procedures such as x-rays, cleanings, examinations, and others.
When you visit the office, you need to take note of the following:
- The cleanliness and orderliness of the office. It would be best if you had extractions and surgeries in a sterile environment. Some clinics have policies where patients are not allowed to see the dentist when they have flu and colds. The area should be orderly as well, where patients who have schedules should be catered first.
- The tools should also be up-to-date and frequently cleaned. The right dentist takes time to sterilize everything and use new brackets and appliance for your mouth to prevent infection.
- Take note if the staff are courteous. If there are questions that are bugging you, see if they answer you in a kind manner. They should also be knowledgeable about the practices, treatments, and policies of the clinic.
- Nowadays, due to the spread of viruses, see if you can find a clinic where the staff wear surgical masks, gloves, and other protective clothing. They should also require you to do the same to keep the place clean.
