When was the last time you visited a dentist? For most of you, it is likely that you have not had an oral health check-up in ages, and that is bad. Although there is no hard and fast rule regarding how often you need to visit a dentist, it is better if you visit once every six or seven months.
Such visits are necessary as we need to keep our oral and dental health in check. Sadly, most of us are too hesitant to visit the dentist, but that should not be the case. So set an appointment right away, and have your teeth and mouth checked.
Of course, most of you have not been to the dentist in years, and have probably forgotten what you can expect from your visit and check-up. So if that is indeed the case, this article is for you. Here is a list of things you can expect from an oral check-up if you have not visited the dentist in years.
Making Your First Appointment
For many of you, this is probably the first time you are setting up a dentist appointment as an adult. Firstly, congratulations! Welcome to adulthood. And secondly, do not let anxiety get the better of you when making an appointment with the dentist.
After you have done your research as to where you are going, give them a call. First, ask for available dates and timings of your preferred dentist. Then, schedule an appointment and provide them with the details of what kind of treatment you are seeking.
As you are going in after almost a year or more, you should ideally opt for a full oral check-up. Finally, on the morning of your appointment, or a couple of hours before your slot, give them a call again. This is to confirm your appointment and make sure that your dentist is present on that day.
Dental Treatment is Expensive
In case you never noticed, dental treatment has always been expensive. As an adult, now that you have to pay the bills by yourself, you will just notice it a lot more easily.
Costs will vary depending on the experience of your dental surgeon, and the type of treatment you are getting. Dental implants are usually expensive. A front tooth dental implant cost is around $1,000 to $3,000. Add the abutment and crown costs, and you will have to spend an extra $1,500 to $2,500.
An oral surgeon will take up to two hours to perform these surgeries. A normal dental check-up can cost around $50 to $200. In some cases, you can get it for free if your health insurance covers it. Hence, it is always a wise decision to check your health insurance to see if you can get things done much cheaper.
Problems You Never Noticed
One of the main reasons to visit the dentist regularly is to keep tabs on your dental health and allow them to identify any sort of problem. Once you delay for a few months or a year, those problems can worsen. And in such situations, you might not even feel anything wrong on your own.
However, a visit to the dentist will unravel all the issues developing internally in your mouth. You are bound to be surprised by some of the things the dentist mentions are wrong with your teeth.
Might Need an X-Ray
Do not get alarmed if your dentist asks you to get an x-ray. They only need this report to get a clearer view of what is happening inside your gums and mouth in general. It will only take a few minutes and is a painless process, in case you were wondering.
Once the x-ray is done, and your dentist has completed the check-up, it is time to receive your results. Here, you can expect a few things. In the best-case scenario, your teeth are fine, and you have good oral health. Anything opposite to this means that you will have to visit the dentist a few more times in the future for further treatment.
Colored fillings are some of the most common treatment methods that dentists advise. However, you might have to come in for root canal therapy or gingivitis treatment if things are a bit worse. As long as there is no serious infection, you can expect a couple of more visits to the dentist at least.
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