Tip #1: There's No Reason to Be Embarrassed It's the dentist's job to provide professional oral care and advice—not to judge or shame their patients. Depending on the dentist's chairside manner, they might give a mild lecture or some good-natured teasing about staying away so long.
If you haven't been to the dentist for quite some time now, you're going to need professional dental cleaning. Since you haven't been to the dentist for several years, you will likely have plaque buildup around your teeth. This is perfectly normal and is not something to be embarrassed about.
If you haven't been to the dentist in over 10 years, it is likely that you will need to fill a cavity and/or take preventative action against gum disease.
Usually, the recommended maximum amount of time between dental appointments is six months. However, your dentist in Fairfax may recommend that certain people visit more often, including those who are at higher risk of developing dental problems such as: Pregnant women. Smokers.
Tips to Overcome Your Embarrassment of Going to the Dentist
Communicate your concerns. Explain to your dentist why you're embarrassed before your visit. Sharing your concerns with the dentist and dental staff will help them adapt their treatment to your needs and put you at ease while you're in the chair.
Patients who neglect proper care of their mouths by not regularly seeing a dentist, risk not only getting tooth and gum disease, but they also risk getting diseases and illnesses in other parts of their body. Some major health conditions related to oral health include heart disease, diabetes, stroke and breast cancer.
A lot of people are hesitant or afraid of the dentist because of bad teeth or chronic dental problems. If you're one of them, rest assured that there's nothing to be embarrassed about.
If you haven't been to the dentist in several years, there's a good chance you may have one or two cavities that require attention. If you are visiting the dentist due to severe pain, you may need root canal therapy to address an infection that has entered the underlying pulp.
Many people are anxious and afraid to see the dentist. They don't like the sounds and smells in the dental office. They worry about pain from having their teeth cleaned. They stress about problems the dentist may find during the oral exam.
As far as statistics for the average number of cavities, the number varies across different age groups. In general, adults develop an average of three cavities during their lifetimes. This means that the average adult has three or four fillings in their mouth.
If dental anxiety or fear has stopped you from seeing your dentist, you're not alone. An estimated 80% of Americans have some level of dental anxiety, with 9% to 15% avoiding the dentist entirely due to anxiety or fear.
More than 100 million Americans don't make it for their routine cleaning and exam each year. One of the most common reasons for that is anxiety. Some people have actual phobias of the dentist.
Teeth may come in slightly later and this is usually perfectly fine, but if the eruption pattern is abnormal or no teeth have erupted by the age of 18 months, we may diagnose it as delayed tooth eruption.
One in Five Consumers Rarely or Never See the Dentist.
A reasonable goal is to visit the dentist at least once a year for an oral health checkup, although some evidence suggests that those at a low risk for disease may extend to 18-24 months.
Mercury is toxic.
One of the most important topics in “what dentists don't want you to know” is about Mercury. Some dentists still use mercury in their fillings, but composite filling is by far superior. Some countries have gone so far as to ban mercury fillings over safety concerns.
Teeth contain saliva, blood and tissue so it's considered medical waste. This means that most times it cannot be given to the patient.
Dental anxiety is fear, anxiety or stress associated with a dental setting. Being scared to visit the dentist can result in delaying or avoiding dental treatment. Things like needles, drills or the dental setting in general can trigger dental anxiety.
We'll conduct a comprehensive mouth examination
Our exams involve taking a comprehensive look at your teeth, gums, and jaw and discussing your x-ray findings. Your dentist will review your bite and evaluate your risk of gum disease and tooth decay. We'll also check your tongue and gums for early signs of oral cancer.
Neglecting this can cause infections in your teeth and gums that can lead to tooth decay, gum disease (periodontitis), tooth loss, dry mouth, mouth ulcers, and other problems that can create the climate for worsening dental health.
Some Patients Take More Time
Some people have smaller mouths that are more difficult to work in. Others have high anxiety surrounding dental visits and need more attention and special care than the usual patient. Some people have a particularly sensitive gag reflex.
Cavities are nothing to be embarrassed about, and they are definitely not something to try and ignore. Cavities that are not caught early on at your regular check-ups can cause tooth pain or aches, especially after ingesting hot, cold, sweet food or beverages.
During routine dental examinations and cleanings, dentists can detect oral symptoms of stress, including orofacial pain, bruxism, temporomandibular disorders (TMJ), mouth sores and gum disease. If you're feeling tense or anxious, you should keep a watchful eye for signs of the following stress-related disorders.
Symptoms of tooth decay
tooth sensitivity – you may feel tenderness or pain when eating or drinking something hot, cold or sweet. grey, brown or black spots appearing on your teeth. bad breath. an unpleasant taste in your mouth.