Tips For Fitting A Dentist Appointment Into A Busy Schedule

Posted on: 24 March 2017

Moving to a new city or starting a new job can leave you feeling crunched for time, which is why it isn't uncommon to let things like your regular dental visits slide. By the time you settle on a new dentist, who has time to fit in an appointment? Putting off routine dental care isn't a good idea, though. Cavities, gum disease, and other types of oral distress will just cost you more in time and cash later. The following tips can help you fit in an appointment with a new dentist.

Tip #1: Check in ahead of time

One of the greatest time sucks of seeing a new dentist is the paperwork. Even if your last dentist forwards your patient records, chances are you will still be given a stack of papers to fill out. Fortunately, more dentists are aware that this time-consuming practice is an inconvenience for their patients. Ask if you can fill out the paperwork ahead of time. Many offices will mail or even email the paperwork to you several weeks in advance. This gives you time to fill it out and send it back in so that everything is in their system in advance of your appointment.

Tip #2: Ask about alternative appointment times

The problem with most dental offices is that they are open only on weekdays during normal business hours, which is likely the same times that you have to be at work. For this reason, consider looking for an office with alternative appointment hours. Some offices are open on Saturdays, while others open early or stay open late. In this case, schedule routine things like cleanings and checkups in the morning before you go to work. Anything that may require a bit of recovery, such as a filling or crown replacement, should be scheduled in the evening or on the weekend so the numbing agent can wear off before you return to the dentist office.

Tip #3: Consider same day alternatives

In the past, many minor dental repairs required multiple office visits. For example, getting a crown meant a single visit for the tooth cast, which was then sent out to a lab. A second visit was required once the completed crown arrived so you could have it placed. Now many dentists have the ability to make items like crowns in-office, which means you can turn two appointments into a single appointment and save time.

For more help, contact a dentist in your area.

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