How To Prepare For A Dentist Appointment If You Haven't Been In Years

You’ve made the decision: after years of putting it off, you are going to make an appointment with a dentist and find out exactly what you need to do to get your smile back into shape. Or perhaps a painful tooth made that decision for you. Whatever the reason, you’re taking a big step towards better health and a happier life.

But you’re worried. You’re concerned about what the dentist or hygienist will say when they see how badly you’ve neglected your teeth. And you’re scared that the cost of getting them fixed will be more than you can afford.

Relax – dental professionals are very accustomed to working with people who haven’t been able to access regular dental care. They want to help you get your smile back to healthy. And there are options that can help make dental treatment more affordable.

How To Manage Dental Anxiety

Sometimes it helps to know that you’re not the only one who is dealing with a particular issue. And when it comes to worry about dental care, you have a lot of company. About 20%-25% of people in the U.S. have what medical researchers describe as “dental anxiety.”

People get stressed about going to the dentist for many different reasons, from claustrophobia to embarrassment about their poor oral health, the cost of care and concern about getting a difficult diagnosis. Research from West Virginia University and the University of Pittsburgh even suggests that the fear of going to the dentist may be a genetic inheritance.

Dental anxiety can range in severity from just dreading a visit to the dentist to complete avoidance of dental treatment for many, many years. Of course, with avoidance of dental treatment comes poorer oral health. And the longer a person delays getting treatment the more their oral health will deteriorate, sparking yet more fear and embarrassment about going to the dentist.

Your dentist knows that there are a lot of reasons that keep people from getting regular checkups and cleanings. He or she is unlikely to make you feel bad about your oral health – instead your dentist will be understanding and do their best to put you at ease. If you do feel like your dentist isn’t treating you in a professional and compassionate manner, leave and find a dentist who knows how to treat patients right.

How To Talk To Your Dentist

If dental anxiety has been keeping you from seeing the dentist, you may wish to find a dentist who specializes in working with anxious patients. These dentists are particularly accustomed to working with people whose oral health has been compromised by delaying dental care.

If you can’t find a dentist who specializes in working with nervous patients, simply tell the person who you speak with when making your appointment that you are anxious about dental work, that you haven’t been to the dentist in a while, and you’d like to come in for a checkup and talk to the dentist about a treatment plan.

Treatment plans outline the dental care you need to get your mouth healthy again. When you review the plan with your dentist, tell him or her what you can afford to spend monthly or annually. Ask what treatments are the most important, and which you can delay for a little while. Be up front about what you can and cannot afford. If the dentist makes you feel bad about not getting all the treatments you need ASAP, you may wish to find another dentist.

You should also be able to ask your dentist if there are less expensive treatments that you can get now, to address your most urgent oral health issues, while you save up money for the procedures that you need. And if you have dental insurance, and your treatment plan exceeds your insurance’s annual spending maximum (typically $1,000-$1500) you should also ask your dentist about spacing out treatments so that you can get the most out of your insurance coverage. This is a very common concern, and your dentist will not be surprised when you ask the question.

Dental Insurance Spending Limits

Dental insurance typically has an annual limit of $1,000-$1,500 yearly. Once you hit that limit, you pay out of pocket for your dental care until your plan’s yearly reset date.

If you have a dental savings plan, you don’t have to worry about annual spending limits. You gain access to a network of dentists who have agreed to offer reduced rates to plan members. This can result in substantial savings for a wide array of dental services, including procedures not typically covered by insurance, such as cosmetic dentistry. Plan members report saving an average of 50%* on their dental care.

And, unlike dental insurance, with a dental savings plan you don’t have to worry about deductibles, annual spending limits, or waiting before you qualify for reduced rates. You can use your plan within 72 hours of joining to save on virtually all dental care, from checkups to root canals, crowns, bridges, and dentures – many plans even include discounts on treatments like dental implants and cosmetic services that insurance rarely pays for.

There are plans that fit every dental care need and budget. Use our calculator below to get a quick peek at how much you can save on your dental care with a dental savings plan.

*Discount Health Program consumer and provider surveys indicate average savings of 50%. Savings may vary by provider, location, and plan.