The benefits of proper dental and oral healthcare cannot be overlooked. One critical factor that catches people's attention whenever you open your mouth to speak is how healthy your gums and teeth are. If your gums and teeth are unhealthy or unappealing, they can significantly affect your self-esteem and confidence to speak and smile in public with your friends.

However, you can stay on top of your oral and dental health and avoid these issues by visiting your dentist regularly for dental check-ups. Any dental appointment is an essential opportunity to maintain your oral and dental health. However, for many, a trip to a dentist could stir a lot of anxiety and emotions, especially if it is your first time.

If you are wondering what to do and avoid before your dentist appointment, you are in the right place. Proper preparation for your dental visit could help you relax and improve your overall experience during the treatment.

Who is an Excellent Candidate for a Dental Appointment?

Prevention is better than cure, particularly in health and oral health matters. Frequent visits to your dentist are vital even if you do not have a dental emergency, like a knocked-out tooth or bothersome tooth pain. Regular dental visits help maintain gum health and detect oral conditions even if you no longer have natural teeth.

Whether you have issues with some of your teeth or a full set of teeth, your dentures are loose, or you are displeased with the odor of your breath, preventative dentistry should be part of your entire life. That means you should schedule frequent visits with your dentist for dental exams and check-ups.

Doing that allows your dentist to catch emerging oral and dental health issues before they become problematic and necessitate expensive treatments. While you should visit your dentist regularly (at least twice every year), you should schedule an appointment with him/her earlier if you have any of the following issues:

  • Swollen red, bleeding, painful, or tender gums
  • White spots on your teeth
  • Issues with your dental work or appliances
  • Persistent bad breath
  • Toothache
  • Loose tooth
  • Increased teeth sensitivity
  • Dry mouth
  • Difficult chewing or biting food
  • Jaw problems
  • Mouth sores

If you have any of these or other oral and dental health issues, you should prepare for a dental appointment with your dentist.

Helpful Tips on How to Prepare for a Dentist’s Appointment

What you do before and after your visit to a dentist is vital for optimal dental and oral health. Below, we will discuss crucial tips that can guide you on how to prepare for your dentist’s appointment, including what you can do and what to avoid, respectively:

What to do Before Visiting a Dentist

If you are unsure of what preparations to make before your appointment with a dentist, here are vital tips to keep in mind:

  1. Find a Credible and Reliable Dentist

Choosing a reliable dentist is a vital part of your dental visit preparations. That is particularly true if you are looking for a family dentist to care for you and your family’s oral and dental health needs.

Since proper record keeping is vital in dental health matters, choosing a reliable dentist or orthodontist you can count on for the longest time possible is important. When finding a reliable dentist for you and your family’s oral and dental health needs, you should consider the following factors for the best services that you deserve:

  • The dentist’s qualifications and experience
  • The dentist’s credibility and reputation
  • The dentist’s availability and accessibility
  • Whether the dentist is legally licensed
  • The dentist’s communication skills
  • Whether the dentist is equipped with modern dentistry equipment

  1. Confirm Your Appointment

It is unwise to assume that your dentist is prepared just because you scheduled your visit. To ensure a seamless experience and avoid unnecessary inconveniences, you should confirm your scheduled dental appointment at least one day before the date you should show up.

Most dentists use reminder systems to help patients promptly confirm their dental appointments. If you have a scheduled appointment with your dentist, these systems will send you an email, message, or text to remind you of the time and date to attend the appointment.

  1. Understand What Your Dental Appointment Entails

The dental treatment your dentist will recommend will depend on your unique needs. Generally, the dental treatments your dentist could recommend could range from routine check-ups to teeth extractions, whitening, root canals, or any other necessary treatment. Whichever the case, you should understand what your dental appointment entails beforehand.

Some dental procedures could require you to avoid food for a specific period before the treatment date. Detailed and clear information on what to expect during your dental appointment can also help you prepare for the scheduled treatment emotionally and financially.

If your procedure involves sedation or general anesthesia, plan for adequate rest and recovery. Clearing your scheduled tasks after your treatment should be part of your preparation for the scheduled dental treatment.

  1. Update Your Dental Health Records

Gathering your dental health records is important as you prepare for your visit to the dentist. If you will be a new patient to the dentist you have scheduled an appointment with, collecting your dental health records from your previous dentist is essential. Ensure you have transferred all your dental health records to the new dentist, including X-rays, recommended medications, and past treatment details.

Aside from helping your dentist monitor the progress of your past treatments, these records can help your dentist perform a correct diagnosis and treatment. Even though you are an existing client, updating your documents, including your general medical health records, before the appointment with the dentist is vital.

You should inform your dentist during your dental appointment if you have any allergic reaction or are on any medication. That is particularly true if you have scheduled dental surgery because some medicines, like antidepressants, could affect your body's natural ability to clot.

  1. Practice Excellent Oral and Dental Hygiene

Flossing and brushing your teeth before a dental appointment is vital for two main reasons. First, presenting a clean mouth to your dentist, who will perform his/her services around it, is polite and mindful. Second, a clean mouth lets your dentist precisely assess your unique dental and oral health problems.

Flossing and brushing your teeth at least twice daily helps remove plaque build-up and food stuck between your teeth, which could eventually lead to gum disease and cavities. When brushing your teeth, use a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid damaging your enamel and making them oversensitive.

  1. Prepare Your Insurance Information and Payment

Most people overlook insurance coverage when preparing for a dental appointment, but it is paramount. Knowing what your insurance policy covers can help you avoid paying high costs for your treatment. Therefore, you should talk with your insurance provider beforehand to determine whether your policy will cover the scheduled treatment.

Most dental insurance policies cover preventative dental care costs, like routine check-ups and cleanings. If you are scheduled for a cosmetic procedure that requires dental crowns or teeth whitening, your insurance coverage policy could have some limitations. Understanding what your insurance policy can cover and what it does not can help you prepare your finances well before your scheduled procedure.

Aside from helping you prepare for a smooth and quick check-out process, understanding your coverage details prevents unexpected out-of-pocket costs. Also, discussing your insurance details with your prospective dentist is important. He/she can help you understand how to optimize your insurance coverage benefits.

  1. Have Adequate Sleep the Night Before the Dental Appointment

Having adequate sleep the night before your dental appointment helps make you comfortable during your procedure. Aside from promoting better physical health, adequate sleep before your dental appointment helps boost your mood and reduce anxiety before the scheduled dental procedure. Additionally, proper sleep before your dental appointment helps in post-treatment recovery.

  1. Wear Appropriate Clothing

Your choice of clothing during your scheduled dental appointment can improve your overall experience at the dentist clinic. Therefore, during your dental appointment date, you should opt for loose-fitting and comfortable clothing. Restrictive and tight-collar outfits could make you uncomfortable during your dental appointment.

Wearing comfortable clothes during your visit to a dentist makes you concentrate on having a seamless and hassle-free dental appointment without worrying about adjusting your clothing or outfit.

  1. Manage Your Stress and Anxiety

It is common to feel overwhelmed by stress and anxiety before your dental appointment, especially if it is your first time. However, there are several ways you can calm your dental fear and anxiety. For example, you can reduce dental anxiety by discussing your feelings with your dentist.

Dentists are trained to handle patients like you and are willing to work with you to adjust the treatment and make it more comfortable. An informative and honest conversation with your dentist can help reduce your worries and anxiety.

  1. Hydrate and Eat Your Meals Wisely

Preparing for a visit to the dentist will require careful dietary choices because some foods could affect your experience and your dentist's ability to conduct a correct diagnosis. For example, chewing ice could make your teeth sensitive, making it challenging for the dentist to determine whether the sensitivity is due to an underlying dental issue, like a tooth crack.

Generally speaking, your dietary choices before your visit to the dentist will depend on the scheduled procedure or treatment. A light meal is recommended before a routine dental check-up and exam appointment. However, you should avoid sticky and sugary beverages before the appointment.

On the other hand, if you have a scheduled surgical procedure where general anesthesia is necessary, avoiding solid foods at least six (6) hours before the appointment is advisable. Before gum or dental surgery, the last meals to consume should include:

  • Lean proteins to help in tissue repair after the surgery
  • Fruits and vegetables to improve your immunity
  • Soft foods, like soups, yogurt, or mashed potatoes, because they are easy to digest

In addition to making ideal dietary choices, you should stay hydrated before the scheduled dental visit. Staying hydrated before visiting your dentist for treatment has several benefits, including:

  • It helps lessen your anxiety and stress before the scheduled dental surgery
  • It helps promote adequate salivation, which is vital for your overall oral health
  • It helps rinse and wash away food particles on your tongue and mouth
  • It helps improve the efficiency of anesthesia

  1. Arrange Your Transportation Means

If you are scheduled for a lengthy dental surgery appointment that requires anesthesia or sedatives to make the procedure comfortable, arranging your transportation means ahead of time is essential.

Even though you are an excellent driver, having someone to drive you home after your dental appointment is vital because the lingering effects of anesthesia or sedatives could affect your ability to drive cautiously.

What to Avoid Before Your Dental Visit

Now that you understand what to do before your dentist appointment, you probably wonder what to avoid. Avoiding certain behaviors and activities before your scheduled dental appointment could help increase the success of the treatment and overall experience at your dentist's clinic. Explained below is what to avoid before your dental appointment:

  1. Avoid Arriving at Your Dentist’s Clinic Late

When you are a new patient, your first appointment will require you to fill out and complete some paperwork. Therefore, arriving at your dentist's clinic on time is vital to avoid unnecessary last-minute rush. Most importantly, arriving at your dentist clinic early (at least 10 to 20 minutes earlier) allows you to familiarize yourself with the clinic's environment and use washrooms if necessary.

If you have dental anxiety, arriving at your dentist's clinic on time could help ease the anxiety and ensure the best experience. Also, dentists are busy professionals, especially if they are reputable and their services are in high demand. Therefore, arriving late to an appointment can cause your dentist to fall behind on his/her schedule, which can inconvenience other patients.

  1. Avoid Certain Foods and Drinks

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, what you eat before your dentist appointment could significantly affect your treatment and overall experience. To that end, you would want to know the foods you should avoid before the dental appointment. Some of these foods and beverages include:

  • Sugary drinks and foods — Consuming and drinking large quantities of sugary foods and drinks could affect your blood test results during your dental appointment
  • Sour foods or acidic foods — Avoiding sour and acidic foods before the dental appointment is also essential to avoid tooth sensitivity, which can affect your dentist's ability to perform an accurate diagnosis of your dental issues
  • Alcohol — While technically alcohol is not food, drinking it before your dental appointment could cause dehydration, dry mouth, and mood disturbances
  • Coffee — Coffee, energy drinks, and various other caffeinated drinks could leave the mouth dry and increase your dental anxiety during your dental appointment

  1. Avoid Smoking or Chewing Tobacco

Smoking or chewing tobacco-related products could negatively affect your oral and dental health. Aside from causing teeth discoloration, smoking and chewing tobacco-related products could cause bad breath and weaken your immune system. If you are scheduled for a dental filling or surgical procedure, you should avoid smoking because it could affect the success of these vital treatments.

  1. Avoid Wearing Contact Lenses

Wearing contact lenses is not advisable, especially when visiting your dentist for a scheduled dental or oral surgery procedure. Wearing contact lenses is more comfortable than wearing your glasses, especially when anticipating a lengthy dental procedure, but it is not advisable if you have a scheduled oral surgery procedure.

Having your contact lenses on during dental surgery could be problematic because you will receive anesthesia or sedatives, meaning your eyes will remain closed for some minutes or hours. Shutting your eyes for an extended period when you have your contact lenses on could increase your risk of infection.

  1. Avoid Taking Painkillers

It is advisable to avoid painkillers like ibuprofen and opioids before your dental appointment. Instead, you can only take painkillers prescribed by the dentist. Taking over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers before your dental appointment could mask pain, making it challenging for the dentist to pinpoint painful areas of your gums, teeth, or mouth.

In other words, using painkillers could make you feel more comfortable than you are, making it challenging for your dentist to determine your pain severity for appropriate treatment. Additionally, using certain OTC painkillers like naproxen and ibuprofen could also thin your blood, increasing your risk of excessive bleeding during dental surgery.

Find a Seasoned Dentist Near Me

Regular dental appointments should be part of oral and dental healthcare practices. That means you do not need any dental emergencies or oral health issues to schedule an appointment with your dentist. However, proper preparations are necessary if you have a scheduled appointment with your dentist.

If you are wondering what you can and cannot do before your scheduled dental appointment, our dentists at Tayani Dental Group are here to help. Once you schedule an appointment with us, we will ensure you know all your dos and don'ts before your visit to our clinic to ensure everything goes smoothly and efficiently.

Call us at 949-741-0795 to discuss your unique dental and oral health issues with our reputable dentists wherever you are in Fullerton.