Five things to consider before your trip to the dentist office

Booked your regular dental check-up? Good job!  To make the most of your check up here are five things to consider beforehand (apart from brushing and flossing!).

New dentist?

If it's the first time you've been to this particular dentist office then you'll want to make sure they have the most information they can before your visit.  See if you can obtain your dental records from your previous office, especially if you've come from overseas.  If not have current contact details for your last dentist office and be ready to sign a disclosure so that your new dentist can have any relevant records sent over.

Check your health insurance

If you have extras coverage you'll want to make the most of it.  Find out what dental services are covered by your extras coverage and how much you'll get back.  If you have a limit for dental or all extras for each year then it's a good idea to check how close you are to any of those appointments.  It's important to know beforehand so that you don't get any surprises when it's time to pay.  It will also make it easier to plan and book any dental work that may need to be completed after your checkup.

Consider any changes to your dental health

Think about anything new with your teeth or gums.  You may forget on the day that you've noticed bleeding from your gums or that your back tooth on the upper left is giving you pain when you drink iced tea.  It's a good idea to make a note of anything you think of so that you won't forget.  If you're using new products or have altered your routine make sure to let your dentist know so that you can discuss the impact of these changes.

New medications or general health problems

It's important for your dentist to know if you've been diagnosed with any new medical problems.  Some problems such as diabetes can lead to problems with your teeth or mean that your dental health needs to be managed in a different way. Write down the name of any new medications or health diagnoses before your check-up so that you can discuss with your dentist how these may affect your dental health in the future.

Pregnancy?

If you're a woman then this is an important question to consider before your appointment.  If there's any chance you may be pregnant let your dentist know, as this may alter their suggestions for things like x-rays.  It's important to keep up regular dental checkups during pregnancy despite this!  Pregnancy is a time of increased vulnerability for your dental health.  Some women notice things like bleeding gums or a dry mouth while others find it very hard to keep up good dental hygiene due to morning sickness.  Let your dentist know if you're planning on becoming pregnant in the next 6-12 months as well so that they can plan any future check-ups or treatment around your plans.