7 Key Questions to Ask the Dentist Before Scheduling an Appointment

Dental care is crucial, not something you can afford to let slip.

If you’ve recently moved to a new area, you’re going to want to entrust your oral hygiene with someone who makes you feel comfortable.

Best to be prepared! We’ve put together seven crucial questions to ask your potential new dentist before or at your first appointment to find the right dentist.

Read on for what you should ask the dentist.

1. Can You Get an Initial Overall Check-Up?

It might be best to book an initial, general check-up with your new dentist, where they simply look over your teeth and let you know if you require any work and what that work might be.

This will also give them a chance to speak to you and help you decide whether you feel comfortable with them.

2. What is Their Payment Procedure?

It’s very important to check in with your new dentist about how they will bill you for your treatment.

This means there will be no nasty surprises down the road, and you will know exactly where you stand concerning costs, payment methods, and insurance policies.

3. How Do They Suggest Improving Overall Oral Health?

Not only will this give the dentist a chance to flex their expertise, but their advice will also help you in the long run. The better you can take care of your oral health, the less you will need dental treatment.

Pick their brains about overall dental care, what you should and shouldn’t be doing, and so forth.

Then ask them more specifically about your personal oral health and what you can improve, such as brushing and flossing methods, how your gums look, and whether they foresee any problems.

4. Will They Provide an Oral Cancer Screening?

Like all other cancers, oral cancer needs to be checked regularly. This should be something your dentist screens for you.

Ask the dentist if, when, and how often they will perform this. Ask them their methods too; is it with equipment or do they just use their expert eye?

5. Do They Provide Orthodontic Treatment?

Should you find yourself requiring orthodontic treatment, you’re going to want to know if your new dental practice can provide it.

Orthodontists help patients with issues such as misaligned teeth, crowded teeth, and spacing, as well as a crossbite, overbite, open bite, and underbite issues.

Knowing your new dentist has the means to help you with such matters is always assuring. Click here to learn more.

6. Can They Help with Dental Anxiety?

It’s a common problem that many people face: being afraid of the dentist.

It’s a good idea to ask the dentist about their methods and how they can relax your dental anxiety.

Not only can they dispel myths, but a chat with the dentist about this can help you to trust them more with your mouth and teeth.

7. What is Your Policy on Continuing Education?

With dentistry always changing, as the dentist how they keep up with the developments in their field. This is a perfectly reasonable question to ask, so fire away.

Ask the Dentist … and Ask Us Too!

We hope this guide has been helpful ahead of your dental appointment. If you ask the dentist these questions, you know you’ve covered the basics.

There’s a lot more where that came from on our health blog page. Give it a click and explore.

And drop us a line at the contact page if you have any questions or would like to see any specific topics covered next.