Going to the dentist can be scary, intimidating, and uncomfortable. Most people dread going and some people don?t even go at all. The key to having a successful dentist appointment is making sure you have a dentist you are comfortable with. Communication between you and your dentist is crucial to having a productive appointment. Whether it?s communicating about dental issues, concerns, or overall health, it?s important to know how to effectively communicate with your dentist.
You need to actually go to the dentist
Believe it or not, you can?t know if your teeth are healthy if you don?t actually go to the dentist! Some people believe while it?s important to go to the dentist when you?re a child, you don?t have to go once you?re an adult. But this isn?t true at all! Your dental health never stops being important, especially once you are older. Dental health problems are just as common as other health problems and it?s important you do what you can to keep your teeth healthy – like going to the dentist regularly!
There can be many reasons people don?t go to the dentist, including:
- Fear of pain
- Fear of needles or drills
- Lack of insurance
- The sounds and smells
- They think they don?t have to go
If you had a bad dentist experience in the past, don?t be afraid to try again! Modern dentistry isn?t as scary and uncomfortable as it used to be. Most dentists are understanding of people?s fears or worries and will work with them to make sure they have a pleasant, productive experience. It?s important to communicate with your dentist about any fears you have so they can be aware of them and be sure to ease your concerns.
It?s important to find a dentist who speaks the same language as you.
Spanish and Portuguese are two of the most spoken languages in the world – so why does it seem so difficult to find a Spanish or Portuguese speaking dentist? Going to the dentist can be scary to begin with, let alone going to a dentist you are unable to communicate with. Could you imagine if your first language was Portuguese and you didn’t have a Portuguese speaking dentist? It?s important to be able to effectively communicate with your dentist so you can be sure your teeth are in tip-top condition. Luckily, there are a lot of resources online to help you find a Spanish or Portuguese speaking dentist near you.
Questions you should be asking your dentist.
Besides the typical ?how do my teeth look?? there are a few other questions you should be asking your dentist to ensure you?re getting the most out of your visit:
- What can I be doing to improve my teeth?
- Is there any food or drinks I should be avoiding?
- How do I keep my teeth healthy in my older age?
- What could I be doing to make my teeth whiter?
- Could any of the medications I?m on impact my teeth?
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