Answered: What should I do to prepare for my first appointment?
03.12.2024
Nervous about your first trip to the dentist? Perhaps it’s been a while and you’re worried about how this will go. Or perhaps you’ve changed dentists after falling into a routine with your old dentist. Or maybe you’re preparing a child for their first ever trip to the dentist’s chair.
Whatever your situation, we’ve got you covered. We can help you to prepare for your first appointment, so you feel ready for anything. From feeling confident in the chair to preparing questions you don’t want to forget, let’s explore how you can prepare for your first appointment with us.
Step one: let us know if you’re nervous
We’ll be in a better position to help you if we know about your dental phobia in advance. We won’t judge you for your admission, and it can actually help us to deliver better care. If you haven’t been to the dentist for a very long time, simply let us know when you book your appointment.
We may ask more questions on the phone, or we may wait for your appointment to learn more. Please try to make sure you arrive with plenty of time. And if you can’t make it for any reason, always let us know in advance. If you fail to show up without warning, we may have to give your place on your patient list to someone else, and this could make it more difficult for you to find dental care in the future.
Step two: brush your teeth
Brushing your teeth before your appointment is not so much about protecting your dentist from bad breath and more about making sure you feel confident. If your teeth are clean and fresh, you’ll feel more confident when we ask you to open wide.
You can bring your toothbrush with you and brush your teeth right before your appointment if this helps you to feel more prepared.
Step three: write down your questions
If you’re nervous about your visit, you might forget to ask important questions. We recommend writing them down so you don’t forget anything because of nerves. Remember that there are no silly questions and we’ve heard everything. If you’re curious about how to care for your teeth, or if you have an embarrassing dental health problem that you would like to address, we’re all ears.
If you are visiting with a child for the first time, we expect you will have lots of questions. Remember that we can help with a wide range of children’s dental health issues. So if you have questions about dummies, thumb sucking, teething or weaning, we’re here to help.
Step four: try to relax
We know it can be daunting to get back to the dentist after a long time away. Relax and know that we have everything under control. You won’t be judged for your oral health problems, and we are all working together to help get your teeth back to optimum health.
If you’re nervous about treatment, you might be reassured to know that you won’t have any extensive treatments during your checkup. We’ll always confirm you are happy to go ahead before starting any treatment, and it will usually take place during a follow up. This means you’ll have a chance to prepare and ask questions about the treatment before moving forward.
Step five: book your follow-up
If you need a follow-up treatment, we recommend booking this before you leave. This will help you to commit to the treatment. If you go home without booking the treatment, there is a good chance you will put this off and might end up making the dental problem worse by leaving it too long.
If you get the all-clear during your checkup, it’s still a good idea to book your next checkup. This can take the pressure off having to call and book in the future. You’ll know exactly when you are expected to return for a checkup, and this can be a big source of relief for those who are nervous about dental visits.
Step six: don’t delay treatment
If you are in pain, don’t ignore it and hope that it will go away. Pain is a sign that you need to visit a dentist urgently. If you ignore the issue, you run the risk of a small dental problem becoming much worse. By being brave and booking an appointment at the first sign of dental pain, you can quickly address the problem. This might mean a much shorter and more straightforward procedure.
Final thoughts on preparing for your first visit
If you’re nervous about trips to the dentist, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Dental phobia is very common and therefore very easy to address. By working closely with your dentist, you can start to feel more confident in the dentist’s chair and soon a trip to the dentist will be routine and easy.