Staying Alive – Why You Should Visit Your Dentist
What to Expect When You Haven’t Been to the Dentist in Years or when visiting for the first time
By DR. SIBUTI RIRO, CONSULTANT PERODONTIST
Haven’t been to the dentist in years? Some of us regularly put off going to the dentist, sometimes with good intentions. Surveys done in various countries have cited that about 40 % of the people have never been to the dentist and are silently suffering from various dental diseases.
For most people it is recommended to see a dentist for an annual check-up and x-rays (unless there are dental issues that need to be monitored more often). Visiting the dentist twice a year gives the dentist an opportunity to keep an eye out for any oral health problems, while also checking in to make sure that both the teeth and the gums look right. It’s not just a sales pitch from the dental profession – if you don’t see the dentist for a long time it is likely to cost you more stress, money and pain in the long run.
The reasons why people skip the dentist vary. A lot of people experience anxiety or even fear going to the dentist and avoid it. Others are concerned about the cost, especially if they’re not covered by dental insurance. And if dental care isn’t conveniently located or doesn’t have flexible hours, it can be hard to coordinate it with a busy schedule. Moving and not finding a new dental practice right away is another thing that can throw off routine visits.
Whatever the reason for not going to the dentist, when you do decide to go, you’re sure to have questions. Here are some things to keep in mind and what to expect at the dentist after a long absence.
- There’s no reason to be embarrassed
Feeling self-conscious or embarrassed about your teeth can make it tempting to avoid the dentist altogether. But this can lead to worsening dental problems and more complex treatments down the line.
It’s the dentist’s job to provide professional oral care and advice—not to judge or shame their patients. Depending on the dentist’s chairside manner, they might give a mild lecture or some good-natured teasing about staying away so long. Anything harsher would be unprofessional and might indicate you should shop for a different dentist.
Listen to the dentist suggestions for future care with an open mind. Don’t feel the need to explain or make excuses. The important thing is you made the appointment and you’re taking care of your teeth now.
- Your appointment might take a while–know what to expect
Be sure to set aside sufficient time for your appointment. Since it may have been years since your last appointment, the dentist will almost certainly need updated paperwork and a full dental history. You are essentially starting from scratch. If you are pressed for time consider seeing your dentist on a weekend.
Once you’re in the dentist’s chair, the exam and cleaning may take longer than you’d expect. A good dentist will want to do a thorough job.
- Be ready for X-Rays
Even if your teeth feel fine, the dentist may have to take a full set of x-rays to get the full picture of your dental health. X-rays are the only way to see very small cavities or tiny cracks in the teeth. Finding a cavity before it gets big enough to cause any pain is the best possible scenario.
Left untreated, cavities, chips, and cracks can let in bacteria that cause infection. A filling, root canal procedure, or even extraction might be necessary if it’s left to get too big.
- There could be some bleeding or pain
Dentists do everything in their power to make patients comfortable, but there can be a bit of bleeding or pain during a cleaning. This is especially true when it hasn’t been done in years.
Touching tender gums with dental instruments can make them bleed too. It’s usually only a little and will stop after a short while.
The harder the dentist has to work to scrape plaque off the teeth, the more likely there will be some pain. It might linger for a few hours after the appointment but is rarely serious. Both pain and bleeding are less likely when teeth are brushed and flossed often—a good reason to have a regular dental care routine.
- You might need more than one appointment
Even if your teeth are feeling fine, there could be underlying problems like tooth decay or gum disease. It’s unlikely that a dentist would fix a dental problem right away. Instead they will schedule another time to perform whatever procedure is needed. When you come back, they will have sufficient time set aside and all of the necessary equipment ready.
Cavities, root canal problems, or periodontal issues won’t go away on their own. They will, however, get worse, causing more time, money, and pain. While it might be frustrating to find out there are dental issues that require more visits, the important thing is that you’ve gotten the ball rolling to get them fixed.
Regular dental visits help prevent pain and tooth loss. Good dental health even helps overall physical health. And nice clean teeth simply look and feel better.
Now that you know what to expect during your dental visit especially if you have never been to the dentist in years, we highly recommend that you schedule your first visit.
Dr. Sibuti Riro is a consultant Periodontist at Supreme Smiles Avenue Dental Center located in Kilimani along Tigoni Road directly opposite Naivas Kilimani entrance. He can be reached via 0721568972
