avoidance of Dental check-ups
It’s common for people to hesitate booking their dental check-up for a variety of different reasons, sometimes multiple. We want to help you understand why you put off your check-up so you can overcome it and prioritise your oral health. Why? Because it’s literally our job to care for you and regular check-ups is an integral part of maintaining a healthy mouth. So, what’s blocking you from booking that dental check-up?
1. cost
Many people worry about the cost of dental procedures. Whether you have private health insurance or not, this is a very real concern for many people. We understand the anxiety that financial pressures can cause.
At Butler Dental we have many payment options to reduce the financial burden of dental check-ups and treatment. We are happy to discuss the options with you without judgement, and help you get the care you need.
2. feeling embarrassed
Many people who miss their regular dental check-ups feel shame or embarrassment about the state of their mouth. You may be concerned about the smell of your breath or the state of your teeth. You may have had an experience in the past where a dentist has told you off or made you feel ashamed for a lack of oral care, or you may just be anxious about having someone come in so close to your face.
It may help to keep in mind that dentists get close to people’s mouths all day every day and are not there to judge you but to educate you on how to care for your mouth. Finding a dentist that you feel comfortable with is also really important in reducing any shame or embarrassment. Building a rapport with the dentist and getting regular check-ups with them can also provide additional comfort to you.
3. Lack of need
Many people are sceptical visiting a dentist without an obvious ‘need’ and don’t understand the benefit in regular dental check-ups. The scepticism only increases if a check-up results in further treatment being needed.
Regular check-ups are important, not to feed our incomes, but to avoid big dental issues down the track. The smaller check-ups and treatments prevent the need for larger and more invasive treatments. We want you to feel confident that any treatment we recommend is always in your best interest, not ours.
4. Horror stories
Many people have or have heard a horrible dental story. We’ve heard plenty ourselves! Often these bad stories can have you avoiding a dental check-up because you don’t want the horror story to happen to you.
When you find the right dentist, who is considerate of your needs and concerns… you don’t need to fear having a negative experience. With effective communication comes effective and targeted treatment which means you get exactly what you need.
5. Fear of needles or pain
A fear of needles or pain can come from previous bad experiences or stories you have heard. Some people are nervous about the needles themselves, experiencing pain, not getting numb at all, or even the after effects of anaesthetics. All of these are legitimate worries but with the right care, don’t need to become your reality.
Butler Dental has a range of sedation and treatment options available for you. Even a basic check-up can trigger someone’s fear of pain so no procedure is too small to let us know – we’re here to help you.
6. feeling vulnerable
Some people find it difficult to lay down for a period of time and not be able to see everything that’s happening around them. This can make some people feel unsafe, particularly if they’re not used to regular dental check-ups.
We would like for you to tell our dentists in Butler if this is difficult for you and we can assist in reducing this feeling. We can make you aware of everything happening around you – describing objects, noises and scents and make sure you’re ok throughout your treatment. We can also offer alternative solutions to help you feel comfortable so we highly recommend speaking to our dentists about your personalised treatment approach. We also have some other tips to help you manage anxiety during your procedure.
7. time
We live very busy lives these days and time can be a big issue for people trying to fit everything in. Another big obstacle in having regular dental check-ups is remembering to book at a time when its needed.
If time gets away from you or your schedule is busy, there are things we can put into place to help make sure you stay on top of your check-ups. We can help schedule your appointments in advance so you don’t have to. We also have online booking available so if you’d prefer to handle it yourself, you can.
8. Sounds and smells
How does the smell of the dentist feel for you? Many people have very specific associations between certain smells and the dentist. These can make you not want to go, particularly after a negative experience. If certain smells trigger you, please let us know. It may also help you to bring a scent with you that you find calming.
If you fear particular sounds at the dentist (the sound of the drill for example) it’s important to let us know. We can talk you through each and every little thing we’re doing to comfort you and also give you additional time if you need it. There are things we can do to help prevent these issues from impacting your ongoing oral health.
we're here to help
Talk to our friendly staff about what’s preventing you from booking your dental check-up so we can create a treatment plan that makes you feel as comfortable as possible. We want you to know that we genuinely care about not only your oral health and wellbeing but your wellbeing as a whole. Communicating any concern is the first step in the process for us to understand and cater for your needs. No concern is too small or insignificant. If it’s preventing you from booking a regular dental check-up, it means something to us and we want to help.