what can i expect at my first dental visit?

how do i prepare for my first dental appointment?

how can i calm my nerves before going to the dentist?

―

So the big day is here! Its time for your first visit.

Its natural to feel nervous. Don’t forget how far you have come.

Here are some ideas on what to expect and how you can get the most from your visit.

1.

There will be lots of paperwork to fill in. This is standard practice nowadays in healthcare settings. Its how we know the best way to keep you safe. So allow plenty of time to complete it so you don’t get flustered. Remember all the details of any medications you take as you will be asked.

Once this is done try and relax whilst you wait. You could take a tablet with a comedy on it for you to watch, or bring a puzzle book to distract yourself.

The dental team want you to feel relaxed, so do what you need to help yourself stay calm, listen to music, meditate or read a book. The dentist will probably be happy for you to bring a friend or relative with you if that helps.

2.

Meeting the dentist! In many dental offices you might be greeted by a dental nurse who will take you to the dentists room, or the dentist themselves may come and welcome you. There will likely be an opportunity to discuss your paperwork, your past dental history and dental issues before you actually have your mouth looked at. Many dentists find this non-clinical discussion helpful as it gives us an understanding where you are coming from and the things that concern you. I am always happy for someone to tell me about things that have happened in the past, or particular worries, so I know I can plan your care effectively to get you the best possible result. Make the most of this time to chat about your hopes for your mouth health now and in the future. When the dentist knows what you want (whether that is a full Hollywood super white smile or something you can chew with) they will be able to guide you towards the best possible options.

3.

The dental examination.

The dentist will ask you to come and sit in the dental chair and guide it into a position that allows a good view of your whole mouth. They will check your teeth, looking at any dental work you already have, and noting any cracks, worn areas, broken fillings or decay (cavities) . The dental nurse will record this long list of jargon by drawing a map of your teeth in your records, which the dentist can refer back to later They will also check your gum health with a special ruler designed to measure the depth of the gaps between the tooth and gum and read out a series of numbers to the dental nurse. The dentist will look at your bite and how your teeth meet so remember to bring any false teeth you have as they will probably want to check the fit and function.

Finally the dentist will carry out a full check of the soft tissues of your mouth looking for any areas of ulceration, soreness or miscellaneous lumps and bumps. This could be something as simple as where you have bitten your cheek while eating, but it all will be noted down.

Many dentists will take photgraphs of your teeth and mouth so they will be able to plan your care or monitor issues, after all a picture tells a thousand words. Then there will most liley be xrays taken so the dentist can look underneath your fiillings and at the supporting bones of your jaw to check for hidden day and gum health.

Phew, now that’s done. Well done. A thorough full check takes a long time. Now its time to think about your care plan moving forward