What to bring to a dentist appointment: 7 things

Dentist appointments are often short. Once you sit down in the chair, your mouth is open, the light is in your eyes and the only thought in your head may be "let's get this over with". In that moment it's very easy to forget your medications, when the pain started or the question you wanted to ask. In this post we cover 7 things you can prepare before the appointment, how to note down a complaint and what is worth recording afterwards.

Why prepare for a dentist appointment?

As the NHS explains, a dentist doesn't only look at your teeth during a check-up; they also ask about your general health and any problems you've had with your teeth, mouth or gums since your last visit. Your diet, smoking and how you clean your teeth are also among the topics that come up.

Instead of trying to remember the answers on the spot, writing a few lines in advance helps you feel calmer and helps your dentist work with more complete information. The same idea behind our post on 7 notes to take to your doctor's appointment applies here too.

7 things to bring with you

You can write the list below in a note on your phone or on a small piece of paper. You don't need a long answer for each item; a few words are enough.

1. A list of your medications. Including prescription medicines, ones you buy without a prescription, vitamins and herbal supplements. Write down the name of each one and how often you take it. Some medications can matter when dental treatment is being planned; your dentist decides which ones matter, and your job is to bring a complete list.
2. A short note on any complaint. Where it is, how long it's been going on, how it started and how long it lasts. We explain how to write it in the next section.
3. Changes in your general health. Note anything new since your last visit, such as a new diagnosis, surgery, a hospital stay or a pregnancy.
4. Your allergies and past experiences. Any medication or material allergies you know of, and anything unexpected that happened during an earlier procedure.
5. Your previous dental treatment. Fillings, root canal treatment, extractions or X-rays done at another clinic. If you have any paperwork, bring it along.
6. Your mouth care habits. How many times a day you brush, whether you use floss or interdental brushes, and your sugary snack and smoking habits. Being honest about these helps you get more useful advice.
7. Your questions and worries. Treatment options, how long things take, cost, the next step or dental anxiety. If there's a question you feel shy about asking, put it at the top.

If it's a clinic you're visiting for the first time, the list matters a little more, because the dentist doesn't know your history. At a new clinic you usually fill in a health form along with your ID and contact details; if your list is ready, the form is easier too. If you feel anxious about the dentist, don't hesitate to say so when you book or at the start of the appointment. Knowing about your anxiety can help the dentist explain each step as they go and pause when needed. Some people also find it helps to have someone they trust with them.

How do you note down a complaint?

If you have a tooth or gum complaint, don't try to guess the cause; your dentist makes the diagnosis by examining you. Your job is simply to write down what you notice in plain words. These questions help:

• Which side of your mouth is it on, upper or lower?
• When did you first notice it?
• Does it get worse with hot, cold or sweet things, or when you chew?
• Is it constant, or does it come and go?
• Have you noticed any bleeding, swelling or tenderness in your gums?
• If you took a painkiller or any other medication during this time, what was it and when?

If the complaint changes over a few days, adding one line a day is enough, for example: "Tuesday, a brief twinge with cold water". That way, what you tell your dentist on the day isn't a guess but an observation you kept day by day. Short, dated notes say far more than a vague sentence like "on and off for a few weeks". Even so, don't decide on your own which medication you can take; ask your doctor, dentist or pharmacist about it.

A swelling in your face or neck that grows quickly, a high fever, or difficulty swallowing or breathing are not things to wait for an appointment for. If this happens, call your country's emergency number without delay.

What should you record after the appointment?

As soon as the appointment is over, while it's still fresh in your mind, noting down a few things makes your next visit easier:

• The procedures your dentist did or recommended.
• Any home care you were asked to do, or things to watch out for.
• A new prescription, if any, and what you were told about how to use it.
• The date of your next check-up or treatment session.

The NHS points out that the time between check-ups isn't the same for everyone, and that your dentist recommends it based on the health of your mouth. So rather than a general rule like "every six months", it's more accurate to record the date your dentist gave you. If you'd like to spread your dental, eye and general check-ups across the year, our annual health checkup schedule can be a good starting point.

How to keep track of this in Oveluni

In Oveluni, you can use Add appointment in the Quick add menu to save your dentist appointment with fields for the name, date and time, doctor's name, hospital or institution, and a note. If you like, you can also choose a reminder, such as one day or one hour before. No reminder completes a check-up automatically; when your appointment is over, you mark the check-up as completed yourself. For step-by-step setup, see the guide to adding a doctor check-up.

You can keep your pre-appointment list and the notes you take afterwards with A note, and see the medications you take in a single list under Medications. If you don't want your check-ups to appear in detail on the lock screen, you can turn on Hide appointment and pregnancy details in Notification privacy. Oveluni is coming soon to the App Store.

Sources

1. NHS: Dental check-ups
2. MedlinePlus: Dental health