Best Things To Do Before Your Next Dental Visit

That time has come again. It’s time to see your dentist in Rocky Mount. But this time can be different. Whether it’ll be the first time visiting a new office or you’ve been going to the same dentist for many years, there are a few things you can do ahead of time to help make the appointment a little bit easier.

Confirm Your Appointment 

One of the easiest things you can do to prepare for your dental appointment and make sure the visit goes smoothly is to confirm your appointment with the office. Ideally, dental offices prefer confirmation 24-hours prior to your scheduled time. Many times dental offices will either call, text, or email you with an appointment reminder. Make sure to respond to these in a timely manner. If your dentist in Rocky Mount doesn’t offer that service, try to call the office a day in advance to confirm. This helps eliminate any confusion, makes sure you and the team are on the same page, and protects your personal schedule. 

Prepare Your Health History

Your dentist in Rocky Mount is an important part of your healthcare team, and just like medical doctors, they need to know your complete health and medical history. This means that even if you’re not a new patient at the office, you may still need to update your health history form. Make sure you know any and all prescriptions you take along with the dosage, share any health problems you may have, and communicate any changes in your health that may have occurred since your last visit. 

Transfer Records 

If this will be your first visit to this dental office, make sure you’ve contacted your previous dentist and requested to have your dental records transferred. Knowing your dental history, being able to access any x-rays or images, and reviewing your previous dentist’s notes will help your team give you the best dental care possible. 

Share Concerns

A lot can happen in between your dental appointments, and if anything does, it’s important for your dentist to know about it. Take a little time to think if anything has been bothering you, if you have any pain or discomfort, or if there are any parts of your smile you wish were different. Then share those concerns with your dentist. The best way to get the best result is to always be honest with your dental team. This will only help further customize your care. 

Know Your Schedule 

Most commonly, people see the dentist twice a year. That means that you’ll probably be asked to schedule your next appointment six months from now. If you haven’t looked that far ahead in your schedule, you may be clueless as to what days or times will or won’t work for you. Before your visit, check out your calendar to see if there are any upcoming vacations or prior commitments so you can get rescheduled on a date and time that works with your schedule. 

We’re always accepting new patients at our Rocky Mount dental office and welcome you to call to schedule a visit with us today.

About The Author

Dr. Richard Hunt

Dr. Richard Hunt has served as president of the NC Dental Society and the Dental Foundation of NC. He is the director and past chair of the LD Pankey Foundation and former chair of the Dental Assisting National Board. Dr. Hunt regularly teaches at the Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education and the UNC Adams School of Dentistry. An active member of the American Dental Association, he has represented his peers from NC, SC, and VA on the ADA’s Council on Dental Practice.

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