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Introduction Appointments Office Procedures Your First Visit Relaxation Tips Premedication Table of Contents |
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GETTING READY FOR YOUR 
Your dental appoinment may be for a regular checkup or the result of a problem you
have been having. Whatever the reason, visits to the dentist tend to bring on feelings
of anxiety and apprehension. So prepare to "Get Ready" for your visit! Getting ready
means taking control. The better prepared you are for your visit, the more comfortable
you will be. The more comfortable you are, the better will be your participation. An
active partnership with your dental team is a major factor in the quality of your oral
health care. Whether or not you are nervous about your dentist's visit, here are some
strategies that may prove helpful.
MAKING YOUR APPOINTMENT: 1. Pick an appointment time when you will not be rushed, physically strained or troubled by other concerns. 2. If you are a "slow starter" in the morning, don't take an early morning appointment time. If mornings are okay for you, first appointments and first appointments after lunch break, usually have the least amount of associated wait time. 3. When possible, plan your visits for months in which inclement weather will not make traveling difficult. 4. Arrange for a friend or relative to accompany you. Company will make the wait-time easier. If a companion is not available, consider using a car service or cab to and from the appointment rather than your own vehicle. 5. Ask the receptionist to check with the dentist for eating instructions depending on the type of visit. 6. Don't hesitate to ask the receptionist about costs for the visit, method of payment and any insurance issues you may need to know. PLANNING YOUR VISIT: 1. Write down any complaints or problems you may have been experiencing. If you can, write down times and dates. These may be important your dentist. 2. List your questions before your visit. Bring a pad and pen to record the answers and other information you might forget. 3. Make a list (or even better take with you) any medications (name and dosage) which you are taking. 4. List all health care practitioners who have treated or are treating you. Include their names, addresses and phone numbers. This is particularly helpful for coordinating your health care. 5. Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothes. Get a good night's sleep and don't forget to eat (a high protein snack and no caffeine are best) before your visit. Take along a healthy snack, in case the wait pushes you into meal time. AT THE TIME OF YOUR VISIT: 1. If you are ill-at-ease, share your feelings with your dentist and the staff. It helps them to know. Approach and treatment can often be tailored to your needs. 2. Don't allow yourself to become uncomfortable based on rumors or unpleasant stories. Ask your dentist to tell you the facts, in advance, about any treatment. Discuss as many options and choices as are available to you. Ask as many questions as you need to and, when necessary, ask for answers to be repeated. 3. Use visualization techniques before and during your visit. Concentrate on a pleasant memory or picturesque, tranquil place to which you have been. Practice deep, slow, rhythmic breathing. Systematically tighten and relax major muscle groups. Visualization is particularly helpful during dental treatment and procedures. 4. If your dentist, dental assistant or hygienist gives you instructions, ask for them in writing, or ask to have sufficient time for you to write them down. 5. If the dentist prescribes medication, ask to have the exact instructions written down (preferably on a separate piece of paper as well as on the medication itself). If you would prefer, ask the dentist to note that the medication does not have a child-guard cap on it. This is particularly important if you are a senior patient. Remember that as a recipient of health care services you are entitled to take as much time, ask as many questions and prepare in every way that makes you more comfortable. Organize and plan the details of your visit. Take control of the situation so that your visit will be as stress-free and productive as possible. Your dental team at Dentists' Office of the Hudson Valley appreciates the time and effort that you put into your visit and will be pleased to help you in any way possible with your "oral health care partnership."
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