Most people are registered with a dentist, and many attend semi-regular appointments, but not everybody knows how to get the most out of their dental services. Doing so can have a huge positive impact on your relationship with your dentist and your oral health. This short guide explains what you should do in order to get the most out of your dentist visits and the dental services they offer.

Keep Yourself Informed About What's Available

You may be familiar with the main services that your dentist has to offer, from examining your teeth to performing restorative work, fitting dentures and applying crowns. However, you might be less aware of the cosmetic dental services that are offered, from invisible braces to discreet retainers. The Oral Health Foundation explains that professional whitening by a dentist can make all the difference to your teeth, for example. For nervous patients, appointments with specialist dentists or even sedation dentistry may be offered - it's always worth asking! Speak to the receptionists at your dental surgery to find out about the full range of services offered, or keep an eye out for posters and leaflets in the waiting room. 

Stick To A Good Dental Hygiene Routine

If you stick to a good oral hygiene routine, you are less likely to need extensive dental work - which in turn, improves your feeling towards the dentist and makes visits to the dentist more of a mutually cooperative relationship rather than a chore to be endured. It also has the benefit of preventing pain, costing less, and ensuring that you spend your sessions with the dentist discussing how to improve your oral health, rather than just repairing it. Make sure you are brushing at least twice a day, as well as flossing and using a good mouthwash. You may also want to avoid certain foods, as suggested by the NHS, that have been proven to cause significant tooth decay, such as cakes, syrupy fruit, and flavoured yoghurt.

Make Sure You Attend Regular Appointments

The most obvious way to make the most of the dental services you have access to is to attend regularly - most dentists will want to see you every six months. This allows you to develop a close relationship with your dentist and catch any problems before they start. It also gives you the opportunity to make the most of the sessions by asking your dentist questions about the state of your oral health, what you could do to improve it and what they recommend. You may want to ask them for product recommendations, as some dentists carry samples for this specific situation.

Making the most of the dental services available to you can take some effort, but it's worth it to have a great, productive relationship with your dentist. Attend regularly with some good questions, take great care of your teeth and familiarise yourself with the range of services available, and you're sure to benefit.

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