{"id":306,"date":"2023-04-01T21:54:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-01T21:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.petalumasmiles.com\/blog\/?p=306"},"modified":"2023-05-11T21:56:35","modified_gmt":"2023-05-11T21:56:35","slug":"what-to-expect-if-you-have-not-visited-your-dentist-in-a-while","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petalumasmiles.com\/blog\/2023\/04\/01\/what-to-expect-if-you-have-not-visited-your-dentist-in-a-while\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Expect If You Haven\u2019t Visited Your Dentist in a While"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.petalumasmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-300x200.png\" alt=\"a patient attending their dental appointment\" class=\"wp-image-307\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.petalumasmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.petalumasmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/www.petalumasmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image.png 975w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re a busy person, at times it might seem impossible to keep track of everything going on in your life, and there\u2019s a good chance that despite your best efforts, things might slip through the cracks and become afterthoughts or forgotten about entirely! Unfortunately, something that people often neglect is routine dental care\u2014and though it might not always seem like a huge deal, skipping out on these routine visits can spell bad news for your oral health. But you also shouldn\u2019t fret about visiting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.petalumasmiles.com\/our-services.html\">your dentist<\/a> if you haven\u2019t gone in a while; at the end of the day, they still want to help your smile to look and feel its best! With that said, here\u2019s what you should keep in mind if you find yourself finally heading back to your dentist\u2019s office after an extended hiatus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">X-Rays Will Likely Be Necessary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, X-rays are standard in many areas of healthcare, and if it\u2019s been a while since you\u2019ve seen your dentist, they\u2019ll likely need to update the X-rays you have on file. These images give dentists a detailed view and understanding of your oral structures, so having updated ones on file is in everyone\u2019s best interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Expect a Comprehensive Oral Exam and Review of Your Medical Records<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your mouth will also need to be carefully examined\u2014your dentist and their team have undergone rigorous training to be able to identify oral health issues and their associated warning signs. If you haven\u2019t been to the dentist in years, it\u2019s likely that you\u2019ll have a cavity or two hiding in your mouth that will require attention, or some other type of issue that\u2019s not outwardly obvious. If your dentist has access to your previous medical records, they can also check their findings against them and have a better idea of your smile\u2019s medical history. One significant component of these oral examinations is checking for precancerous conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cleaning Might Take Awhile<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If quite some time has passed since your last visit, you\u2019ll likely have a significant amount of plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth. This is normal, but it might mean that you\u2019ll have to spend more time seated in the chair as the dental team cleans your teeth. This process is essential, so if you\u2019re feeling nervous or stressed out about it, you can inquire with your dentist about possible sedation options. It\u2019s also possible that you\u2019ll experience light bleeding during this cleaning, but you shouldn\u2019t feel unnerved by this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">You\u2019ll Be Given a Gameplan for Moving Forward<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s going to be in your best interest to return to your dentist\u2019s office every six months, or as often as instructed, to maintain your oral health moving forward. Your dentist is still your ally, even outside of their office, so be sure that you\u2019re asking for help and guidance concerning how to care for your teeth. They\u2019ll provide you with the knowledge and means to tackle any present issues and prevent future ones from unfolding so that when you come back next time, things are in much better shape!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A Petaluma native himself, Dr. Bob Koenitzer received his DDS from the University of California at San Francisco and has spent countless years continuing his education in a wide range of fields. His practice is thrilled to offer patients and families in Petaluma various types of services including preventive, restorative, and cosmetic treatments. If you have any questions about the article or would like to arrange a visit for you or a loved one, feel free to contact his practice <a href=\"https:\/\/www.petalumasmiles.com\/contact-us.html\">online<\/a> or by phone for further assistance: <strong>(707) 766-6666.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re a busy person, at times it might seem impossible to keep track of everything going on in your life, and there\u2019s a good chance that despite your best efforts, things might slip through the cracks and become afterthoughts or forgotten about entirely! Unfortunately, something that people often neglect is routine dental care\u2014and though [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What To Expect If You Haven&#039;t Visited A Dentist Lately | Bob Koenitzer DDS<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you haven\u2019t been keeping up with your routine dental visits, don\u2019t fret about getting back on track! Here\u2019s what you can expect.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.petalumasmiles.com\/blog\/2023\/04\/01\/what-to-expect-if-you-have-not-visited-your-dentist-in-a-while\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What To Expect If You Haven&#039;t Visited A Dentist Lately | Bob Koenitzer DDS\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you haven\u2019t been keeping up with your routine dental visits, don\u2019t fret about getting back on track! 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