Many people visit a dentist only when they feel pain. If your teeth are already aching, that quite likely means that you are too late. A toothache caused by cavities starts small. First, you notice black discoloration of the tooth, then food lodgments followed by sensitivity on drinking and eating cold and/or hot foods. The ache from the tooth is the final call for help. Don’t wait till you hurt. Visit your dentist for a regular checkup.
Why visit a dentist?
Routine checkup: Routine checkups at the dentist can save you a lot of discomfort and money. Dentists check all areas of your mouth to make sure that there are no anomalies present. Moreso, general diseases like Diabetes, bone & joint disorders etc and oral cancers get detected often on a routine dental checkup visit.
Tooth pain: It is the second biggest pain a human body experiences only next to the pains of childbirth. Tooth pain generally starts at night during sleep. It often means that the cavity and the bacteria present in the mouth have reached the nerve and blood supply of the tooth, causing pain. Tooth pain can also be due to other reasons like an impacted tooth, fracture of the tooth etc. Therefore, visit your dentist without any delay should be your oral health mantra.
Jaw pain: If your jaw is aching or you have unexplained headaches or your tooth is too sensitive then it’s time to visit a dentist. Some headaches which cannot get diagnosed as any other disease are found to be of dental origin.
The joint, which helps in the movement of the lower jaw, is present on both sides under the external ear and is called in medical terms as the temporomandibular joint. If you feel pain in the opening and closing of your mouth, chewing and other regular activities, then you must consult your dentist for early intervention and diagnosis.
What should I expect?
The first dental visit makes everyone anxious but there is nothing in a dental visit to get dental anxieties about. Dentists are there to help and not to scare. On your first dental visit, you can expect a warm welcome from the dental staff. Your name, age and other general information are asked for the records.
After greeting and introducing himself/herself, the dentist will ask you to be comfortably get seated in the dental chair. He/she will ask your main reason for the visit. After addressing your main concern first, the dentist will do a complete evaluation of your mouth.
The examination includes checking all your teeth for cavities, hygiene maintenance of your teeth, checking other oral tissues of your mouth for any anomalies, any missing tooth etc. If an X-ray is required for the diagnosis, then it’s also done.
Your oral and medical health history is asked and noted down in the record after the physical examination of your mouth. The Dentists will explain to you all the treatment options available for the problem. Then the best treatment plan is devised with you.
According to the plan of treatment, what procedures should be done when will be decided after thorough discussion and explanation to you. The dentist will prescribe medications if necessary.
Some procedures are done on the first visit:
Cleaning and polishing of teeth: If you have plaque buildup and debris in your mouth, then the dentist will suggest you to go for cleaning. Cleaning and polishing of your tooth can often be done in the first visit.
What is Air Polishing how is it different from regular professional cleaning?
If the plaque and calculus have reached under the gum line, then a second visit is recommended to get it cleaned thoroughly.
Minor cavities filling: Small or moderate caries or decay present on the teeth may be filled on a first visit at the dentist’s office.
Start of a root canal: The first step of the root canal begins on the first day for relieving the pain. If the patient opts for a single day root canal, it is also provided. The decision rests in the hands of the clinician and the patient but is influenced by the schedule for the day.
Procedures that would sometimes require the dentist to give next appointment
Extraction: Complete removal of a tooth from the mouth is known as extraction. When the tooth is severely damaged, and there is no scope of recovery, then extraction of the tooth is done. Dentists usually give a morning appointment for the removal. If the infection is more, then an antibiotic course is prescribed. But sometimes, it may also be done on the day of the first visit if there are no associated complications deemed to occur.
Implant: To replace a missing tooth, an implant is recommended. Implant placement is a surgical procedure which requires a protocol and planned surgical intervention. For implant placement, an appointment is given.
Braces: Your appointment for the braces is fixed with an orthodontist. It is a lengthy procedure requiring multiple visits. Your next appointment with the dentist is scheduled for further follow-ups.
Orthodontics or braces treatment at Top Notch Dental Clinic.
Visit the Top Notch Dental Clinic to get a complete checkup of your mouth and an ideal treatment strategy by the Best Dentists in Delhi.