Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, MI
Do you dislike going to the dentist? You’re not alone… far from it, in fact. According to data compiled by the American Dental Association, nearly half of all American adults do not see the dentist every six months as recommended by ADA. Of the approximately 48 percent who avoid going to the dentist, more than 32 percent reported they had not been to the dentist in the past year, and 21.3 percent of responders had not been to the dentist at all in the last few years.
We understand feeling some level of concern or anxiety about seeing the dentist, but you still need to go. Receiving professional care from a trained and experienced dentist is vital to achieving or maintaining good oral health. If you see an upcoming dental appointment on your calendar, resist the urge to cancel. Instead, a few simple steps of preparation can make your dental visit more pleasant. Just check out this guide recommended by Okemos’ award-winning dentist Dr. Christine Tenaglia.
Be sure to brush and floss
You should be doing this every day already, but we recommend sprucing up your teeth and freshening your breath with a quick brushing and flossing a couple of hours before heading to your Okemos general dentist. Make sure not to overdo it; for example, if you haven’t been flossing regularly since your last dental check-up, doing so right before the appointment or flossing too aggressively actually may damage your teeth and gums.
Resist the urge to whiten
Many patients opt to perform an at-home whitening treatment before their dental check-up. This is not a good idea, as many store-bought whitening products enhance tooth sensitivity, which can make for an uncomfortable dental cleaning. Instead, ask your dentist to apply a professional whitening treatment once your cleaning is complete. Not only will your teeth be free of tartar, but the treatment will be administered under the supervision of a qualified cosmetic dentist in Okemos.
If your child is seeing the dentist, be prepared
Maybe you’re fine with getting a dental check-up, but your child isn’t. It’s natural for children to be nervous about the dentist, even if they have been a few times, but especially if this will be their first dental visit. Children thrive on routine, and we recommend having a routine on days when there’s a dentist appointment on the schedule. This will help your children become familiar with the process and make the entire prospect of seeing the dentist much less intimidating. You can also call the staff at Tenaglia Smiles for advice; we’ve been providing high-quality family dentistry in Lansing since Dr. Tenaglia founded our practice in 1993. Our dental office in Okemos also has plenty of comforts to help make appointments as pleasant as possible.
General Dentistry in Okemos
Follow these steps, and we feel you’ll be much less nervous about your next dental visit. Maybe it has been quite some time since you had a check-up. There’s no time like the present to get back on track. Tenaglia Smiles is accepting new patients, and we’d love to help improve your oral health. We personalize our comprehensive array of dental services to your specific needs. Maybe your nervousness about seeing the dentist transcends into anxiety or outright fear. We offer NuCalm to patients suffering from dental anxiety.
Come see for yourself why Dr. Tenaglia is Okemos’ award-winning dentist. If you live in the communities of Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing in Michigan, call (517) 347-6733 to make your appointment at Tenaglia Smiles today.