3 Things To Expect At Your First Dental Cleaning In Years
Posted on: 28 August 2019
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Putting off dental cleanings is something many people are guilty of. Perhaps you have been avoiding going back to the dentist out of anxiety, or maybe you kept canceling cleanings and now it feels like it's been too long. In any case, the important thing is that you are now heading back to the dentist for a cleaning after a long break. Here are a few things to expect so that you can feel relaxed and calm about your upcoming appointment.
Your Cleaning May Take A While
The main purpose of a dental cleaning is to scrape and clean away tartar buildup from your teeth and gums. This will leave your mouth looking and feeling much cleaner, with shiny tartar-free teeth.
However, since you haven't had a cleaning for years, you may have more accumulated tartar than someone who gets their teeth cleaned every six months. This isn't a huge deal, but it's a good idea to plan for a longer appointment and even consider taking the afternoon off from work.
Your Dentist Won't Judge You
One worry many people have after a long absence from the dentist is that their dentist will judge or even lecture them. This is highly unlikely to happen as most dentists are very used to seeing and cleaning teeth in all different states, including many patients who haven't been to the dentist in a long time.
In reality, your dentist will be much too busy examining, scraping, cleaning, polishing, and rinsing your teeth to say or do anything judgmental. If you're very nervous about this, you can always read reviews before you choose a dentist and choose someone known for their warm customer service skills.
You May Be Given Follow-Up Steps
Once your exam and cleaning are complete, your dentist may have follow-up steps to keep your mouth in tip-top shape going forward. For example, they may want you to come back to have your gums thoroughly cleaned in a separate appointment or to have a cavity filled.
Even if you don't need any extra work, they will have recommendations for you such as coming back for another cleaning much sooner than last time or using special rinses to keep your mouth free of bacteria.
Knowing what to expect has hopefully helped ease your mind about your upcoming dental cleaning. Having your teeth cleaned should be a positive experience that leaves you wondering why you put it off so long.