8 Tips To Make The Most Out Of Your Dentist Visit

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At Heidelberg Dentist we strive to make our patients comfortable for their dental visit. We understand that many people have a fear of coming in, and we want to help address that. Dental fear for some can lead to avoiding the dentist and concerns which were initially reversible lead to pain and costly and extensive treatment.

1. Let us know if you are anxious. If you have a dental fear, whether it’s from a bad past experience, or just a fear of pain or the unknown, let us know so we can help you. Whether it’s coming in early and having some green tea while you chat to our friendly front office staff, or spending more time in the initial consult to help address the fear. We are here to help!

2. Maintain your normal routine. Many people go into overdrive when they know their dental appointment is coming up. This often leads to aggressive brushing and flossing which can aggravate gums and weaken the enamel of your teeth.

3. Be prepared. If you are on a lot of medications, please bring a list with you. Sometimes medications which you think are irrelevant actually can impact your oral health or dental treatments that can be offered to you. If you have a lot of concerns, or want to discuss cosmetic options then come with a list of questions so you feel everything is answered and nothing is missed.

4. Share your history. If you are switching dental clinics, it’s great to have a copy of your records and Z-rays so the dentist can help diagnose current problems and understand your oral health.

5. Be honest. If you haven’t been brushing or flossing regularly (or just don’t know how), or are drinking or eating more sugar than you say- just be honest. We won’t judge and it will help us in diagnosing the problem and coming up with a tailor made solution.

6. Ask questions. If you aren’t sure about a procedure being recommended, or want to see photos, read articles, or take home more information, just ask! We are happy to provide as much information in the way that you would like it to help ease any fear.

7. If music relaxes you, or if you have a certain TV show or movie you would like to run, just let us know before and we can have it playing on our screen and speaker to help you feel comfortable. Also, if the temperature is uncomfortable for you then let us know and we can provide a blanket or extra fan.

8. Schedule regular visits. As weird as it sounds, if you are afraid of the dentist then you should be seeing us regularly. Frequent visits allow for any changes to be detected, and solutions to concerns or changes to your routine to be made very early which in turn prevents costly and extensive treatment, as well as tooth pain.

If you would like to see a friendly and caring team of dental experts in a relaxed environment, call us on (03) 9459 6300 or book an appointment online for the best dental treatment experience:

Publisher: Heidelberg Dentist

Baby teeth will fall out, so should my kids take care of them?

Yes! Dental health in deciduous teeth preempts what is to come in their adult teeth. This why getting into good habits early and eliminating any decay will make for better health.

Decay in baby teeth should be fixed - especially if those teeth are still going to be there for a few years.  Most decay can be restored without anesthetic and is a simple procedure that children react positively to.

However, once the decay has extended to the pulp of the tooth, that’s when it can be really painful for children and a more difficult procedure is required, along with the potential use of anesthetics. This can sometimes be frightening for the child which can lead to a fear of dentists and further neglect of their teeth and general oral health.

We advise parents of all our little patients with baby teeth to instill good oral health habits in their children from a young age. This helps keep the little tackers happy and their parents free of unnecessary headaches.

If you want to keep your child's teeth in the best possible condition, call us on (03) 9459 6300 or book an appointment online for a great dental treatment experience:

Publisher: Heidelberg Dentist

When is the right time to start taking my child to the dentist?

A good time to start bringing children to the dentist is when they are around 3 years old.  All their baby teeth are present by around 24-30 months and this is an ideal time to get used to the dental chair.

It's a good idea to vanquish any fears your child may have about visiting a dentist. So we advise parents to be positive, and if you have any fears of their own, to try not make them obvious as children absorb such sentiments easily.

The first visit is usually just a ride in the chair and a quick count of the teeth.  Even if you just bring your children to your own appointments, it helps take the fear out of the process and they'll be sure to get a reward from us that they can show off during the "show-and-tell" session at their school,  kindergarten or play school.


Call us on (03) 9459 6300 or book an appointment online for a dental treatment experience your child will really appreciate:

Publisher: Heidelberg Dentist