time

How long will my dental treatment take?

money

How much will my treatment cost? Is there a way to stage the payments?

options

Are there different options?

What is preventative care?

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Once you have met the dentist and chatted about what you want, as well as discovered the state of your mouth right now, the dentist will be able to put together a plan for you. This can sometimes be time consuming, so it may not be possible to provide this in full the same day. The dentist will be able to give you details about what treatment is urgent, what is necessary, but less immediate, and what is an option for later. They will also highlight preventative care such as hygienist visits to minimize future gum disease or slow down tooth wear.

The final plan will give you costings so you have an idea of your budget, as this may define how often you can see the dentist. Its a good idea to think how much money you have available to work through the plan and discuss this with your dental team so they can guide you on how to balance the care and the cost.

1.

Essential items will usually need addressing first because there is infection or pain. You would usually know that these things are pretty urgent, and the dentist will discuss with you how soon they should be dealt with and the costs of doing so. The dentist may produce a plan for you that ‘baby steps’ you from simple treatment to more complex. By doing things this way (often called desensitization) you can often work your way up to treatment you never would have thought possible in a series of planned steps.

2.

Maintenance items are less urgent and could involve things like replacing chipped fillings or strengthening worn teeth. Gum health work may also fall into this category, as gums are the support structure for your whole mouth. In most dental practices a hygienist is a ‘mouth health coach’ who is there to help guide your brushing habits so you can keep your teeth as long as possible. Getting the most out of your hygienist visit will give you the best chance of success for many years to come.

3.

Long term or cosmetic care. Once your mouth is healthy again you might want to do something to improve what your teeth look like. Its important to get the health aspect right first before concentrating on appearance. This could involve tooth whitening, straightening your teeth or replacing false teeth with bridges or dental implants. This could be your ‘dental wish list’ and might happen at some point in the future, once you feel more confident in yourself and your dentist.