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What To Expect From Your First Dentist Visit

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If you are visiting the dentist for the first time, you might be feeling a bit anxious about the visit. Not knowing what to expect can be stressful but the first visit is not to bad and if you let the staff know you are nervous, they will try and make it easier for you. 

Initial Exam

The first thing you can expect is to have a basic examination of your teeth by the dentist. They will look for cavities or problems with your teeth and talk to you about any issues that they find. If there are some cavities that need repair, the dentist will explain which teeth need immediate attention and what they will need to do to fix them. 

In most cases, the dentist will not fix them the same day unless they are really bad, They will want to schedule an appointment and have you come back to have the work completed. 

Follow Up X-rays

If the dentist finds cavities or damage that they are concerned about, they will most likely order some x-rays to determine how deep the cavities go. A dental technician will take the x-rays and make sure they show what the dentist needs to see before they let you go for the day. The x-ray process is not hard and will only take a few minutes for a complete set of x-rays of your mouth. 

If your x-rays show more damage than the dentist originally expected, it could change the treatment or procedure that you need, so it is important that they are complete. In some cases, the tech will take the x-rays before you see the dentists, so the dentist can reference them during your initial exam. If the dentist sees a problem with a tooth, they can look at the x-ray to see how far the problem goes quickly and easily.

Cleaning Your Teeth

Often on the first visit, you will get a full cleaning from a dental hygienist before you see the dentist. The hygienist will remove the plaque from your teeth, polish the surface for you, floss between your teeth and often you will have a fluoride treatment as well. 

The cleaning process does not take very long but will sometimes leave your gums a little sore. That is normal and should not be concerning to you. The dentist will be better able to check your teeth if they are freshly cleaned and you might find they feel better after as well. 

Visit a website like http://www.brooksidedentalgroup.com to learn more.


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