Three Things That Could Happen When You Haven't Seen A Dentist In Over Two Years
Seeing a dentist twice a year is not only important for your oral and dental health, but it also ensures that you can continue to see the same dentist when you most need to. A lot of things can change in two years, which is why some dentists insist that you see them at least once, if not twice, in a year. Here is what can happen or go wrong if you have not seen a dentist in two years.
The Records Are Too Old
Outdated patient records (i.e., records that are more than two years old) cannot be consulted during a new visit to the same dentist. Either these records will be digitally stored elsewhere, or the information in them is no longer valid because of all of the different medical situations that have happened to you in two years. Your dentist will need to start an entirely new patient file, even though he/she knows who you are and is familiar with your dental work because he/she did it. This means that you have to schedule a "new patient" appointment, which takes you through all of the paperwork and new patient tasks, like full x-rays and family history questions.
You Have Had Some Major Medical History Stuff Take Place in the Last Two-Plus Years
A lot of medical history can happen in two or more years that you have not seen a dentist. For example, your blood pressure is high and you have to take medication for it, or you were in a car accident that broke your jaw and it had to be mended surgically. Many of these things can affect your general dentistry care, and your dentist does not have any of it on file in the office.
You Need to See a Dentist Immediately, but Now You Have to Go Through the New Patient Process
It is unfortunate enough if you have to go through the new patient process, but it is worse if you need to see a dentist right away for a chipped, broken, or damaged tooth. It means that the affected tooth has to wait until the appointment after the initial new patient appointment. You will have to find a way to chew on the opposite side of the affected tooth and do your best to keep the affected tooth clean. If you had been seeing a dentist more regularly, you could have seen the same dentist to repair the tooth almost immediately.
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