One of the most important parts of caring for your smile is regular dental checkups. However, millions of people around the world struggle with this simple task! If you find yourself shuddering at the thought of scheduling an appointment with your dentist, you’re not alone, but these visits don’t have to be something you dread! Here at Germantown Dental Group, we want to help take the edge off your anxiety by giving you a better understanding of how routine visits work. Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect when you schedule a checkup with our Germantown office!
Ahead of time
When you schedule your appointment, be sure to ask for an estimate of how long the exam and cleaning are likely to take—then tack on a few extra minutes! Giving yourself an ample amount of time off school or work will help you relax and feel less anxious about getting back by a certain time.
If you’ve been putting off your visit for a while, you may require a little more time in the chair. You may want to take that into account if you have somewhere you need to be after your appointment. Want to avoid rushing altogether? Ask for an appointment time at the end of the day so you can head home and relax as soon as we’re done!
While our website gives you the option to fill out your patient forms online, you can also do it when you arrive for your appointment. If you’d rather do it this way, plan to arrive a few minutes early to give yourself time to complete them. You’ll want to have your driver’s license and insurance card ready when you check in at the reception desk. If for any reason you’re unable to make it to your appointment on time, please let us know as soon as possible. We’ll be happy to arrange a new date and time that works better for you.
Germantown Dental Group wants you to feel comfortable and cared for during every visit. Our team is trained to respond to any anxiety you may be feeling about your appointment, and we’ve created a relaxing atmosphere with soft blankets, refreshments, and personal headphones to keep things as stress-free as possible.
Once you arrive
Once you’re all checked in and it’s time for your appointment, we’ll take down a full health history for you. On subsequent visits with us, you’ll just need to make us aware of any changes to your health status. Most of our dental visits are checkups. Scheduling these visits every six months or so will keep your teeth and gums in great shape! They also allow us to catch any potential problems early on, which help prevent them from developing into something more serious.
Our regular checkups generally include a complete cleaning performed by one of our dentists or dental hygienists. Using a special instrument, we’ll gently, but thoroughly, clean below the gum line to remove any built-up plaque and tartar. This will reduce your risk of developing cavities, gum disease, bad breath, and other dental issues! We may also polish and floss your teeth before carrying out an in-depth examination of your teeth, gums, and mouth.
The longer you wait between dental checkups, the more hard tartar can build up on your teeth and around the gum line. A deep cleaning session to remove this tartar can be slightly uncomfortable for some patients, and your comfort is our priority—if your jaw feels sore or you have any pain while we’re cleaning, don’t be afraid to let us know. We’ll be happy to give you a break. Afterward, your teeth will feel extra clean, smooth, and shiny!
If you suffer from sensitive teeth, be sure to let us know when you schedule your appointment, when you arrive, or when you get in the chair. As noted above, we want you to be as comfortable as possible! We’re often able to offer a variety of numbing options before we begin the cleaning process.
Our ultimate goal is to help you maintain excellent oral health and provide quality preventative care by identifying and treating issues as soon as we can. To achieve this, we use the latest technologies, including digital X-rays and intraoral cameras, to provide convenient and comfortable oral exams!
During the exam, Dr. Whittemore or Dr. Gruen will inspect your teeth and mouth for any potential problems, including signs of tooth decay, gingivitis, and gum disease. The X-rays and digital images we capture will also give us a good look at what’s happening with the teeth, gums, and supporting bone structures. They can also diagnose problems that may otherwise go unnoticed, like impacted teeth, abscesses, cysts, tumors, damage to the jawbone, and decay in between the teeth.
If you have concerns or want to discuss any problems you’ve been experiencing, now’s the time! We’ll be happy to talk these through with you during your appointment.
Follow-up care
If it’s been a while since you had a checkup, you may experience a bit of tenderness after your first visit back. This can also happen if you’ve had a deep cleaning or dental procedure done. If your mouth is feeling sore, ask our doctors about taking an over-the-counter pain reliever. Be sure to let us know if you have any pain or swelling so we can advise you on the next steps.
If your mouth is healthy, we recommend an exam and cleaning every six months. If we find anything during your visit that requires further treatment, we’ll get you set up with an appointment before leaving the office. You’ll likely need to be seen sooner than you normally would so we can take care of the issue promptly.
Put your smile in the best hands with Germantown Dental Group
Whether you’re looking for a new dental practice or just haven’t seen us in a while, we’d love to welcome you to our Germantown office. You never have to fear a checkup here! Get in touch today to schedule an appointment and keep your smile looking and feeling its best.