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Oral Health Resources

Find downloadable information about common dental issues and procedures. For more information catering to your patients’ needs, visit www.KnowYourTeeth.com, the Academy of General Dentistry’s public Web site.

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>> Making the Most of Your Dental Visit
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    Making the Most of Your Dental Visit

    Making the Most of Your Dental Visit

     

    With today's daily grind getting busier and busier, it's hard to get an extra minute. So trying to get a doctor's appointment in between work and play can be difficult – you have to make every moment count.

     

    "Your dentist is a great resource of information concerning overall health as well as your oral health. You should be able to ask him or her any questions you might have," said Academy of General Dentistry spokesperson Manuel A. Cordero, DDS, MAGD.

     

    Here are a few things you can do to make your visit easier.

     

    How to prepare for a dental visit:

     

    • Get a good night's sleep
    • Avoid beverages with caffeine or sugar on the day of your visit
    • If your dental visit coincides with your mealtime, bring a healthy snack
    • Wear comfortable clothing
    • Bring a list of medications and vitamins (name and dosage)
    • Jot down questions, and bring them with you

    What to expect at a dental visit:

     

    • Expect your dentist to perform a thorough examination, detect potential problems and provide an appropriate treatment plan.
    • An exam may include some or all of the following procedures:
      • Medical history review
      • Soft and hard tissues examination (bone and teeth)
      • Complete oral and head and neck screening
      • Periodontal (gum) disease evaluation and a detailed charting of your mouth, which may include X-rays

    Updated: February 2007

     
    The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is a non-profit organization of more than 35,000 general dentists dedicated to staying up-to-date in the profession through continuing education. A general dentist is the primary care provider for patients of all ages and is responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, management and overall coordination of services related to patient's oral health needs. Learn more about AGD member dentists or find more information on dental health topics at www.agd.org/public.

    Contact: The AGD public relations department at 312.440.4308 or media@agd.org.

    Note: Information that appears in General Dentistry, the AGD's peer-reviewed journal, AGD Impact, the AGD's newsmagazine and related press releases do not necessarily reflect the endorsement of the AGD.