“Always be prepared” is the official motto of the Boy Scouts, and while you won’t have to worry about bringing camping supplies to your cosmetic dentistry consultation, it’s still a good idea to make sure you’re ready for the occasion!
“That makes sense,” you might be thinking, “but what can I do to get ready for a casual chat with my dentist?” Consider this your play-book – and feel free to make note of anything else you think of along the way.
Write Down Any Questions or Concerns
You probably have plenty of questions about your treatment (and maybe even a few concerns). This is great, but it’s also easy to get caught up in the moment and completely forget everything you wanted to bring to your dentist’s attention. Write your questions down and take the notes with you to your consultation; that way, you can feel confident that you’ve covered everything.
Review and Update Your Medical History
Maybe you’re a new patient visiting a specific practice for the first time, or maybe you’ve been seeing the same dentist for a while now. Either way, you’ll have to fill out or have already filled out a medical history form. Though cosmetic dentistry treatments are extremely minimal, it’s still important to make sure your information is up-to-date and accurately reflects your health situation.
Track Your Prescriptions and Supplements
On that note, it’s also vital that you mention any and all current prescriptions and supplements. Some medicine can interfere with anesthesia and dental sedation, so for your safety, please be honest with your dentist. If you have quite the laundry list of pills to keep track of, write them down on paper or in your phone, or consider bringing the bottles with you so your dentist can examine the label.
Have an Idea of What You Want
This might seem obvious, but it definitely helps to have an idea of what you want to accomplish with a dental cosmetic treatment! You don’t have to have all of the details worked out by any means. However, if you don’t at least have a goal or an aesthetic flaw you’d like to correct, it’s going to be hard for your dentist to make beneficial recommendations.
Take Notes
Last but certainly not least, you can prepare for your cosmetic dentistry consultation by simply bringing a notebook and pen with you. How many times have you thought you would “absolutely remember” something, only to completely forget what was talked about? There’s no shame in this (everybody does it at least once), but jotting down important notes will help you avoid a few extra phone calls!
At the end of the day, everyone’s a bit different, so your consultation-prep might not look exactly the same as someone else’s. These ideas can help you start thinking about what you might need in order to feel ready for your appointment, though. And if you decide to stick to every single tip after all, rest assured – you can’t go wrong!
About the Practice
Dr. Ronak Patel has over 20 years of experience in the field of dentistry, and knows just how much of a positive difference good dental cosmetics can make in a person’s life. He prides himself on personalized treatment planning; when you meet with Dr. Patel for a cosmetic dentistry consultation, you’ll find him hanging off of your every word, listening intently so he can find the best way to help you achieve your smile goals. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Patel, contact his office at 484-406-3110.