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It’s Been a Long Time since I went to the Dentist.  Now I’m too Embarrassed to Go!

You want to hurt a dentist’s heart?  Just say something like that.  We actually hear statements like this all of the time.  We don’t hear them in the office, though.  We hear them in casual conversation when someone asks where we work.  It’s strange how the phrase, “I’m a dentist” can turn happy hour into a confessional in no time at all.

No, we don’t hear this in our office because those who say this type of thing will not set foot into a dental office.  And that is what hurts our hearts.  We hope that, by debunking a few myths that lead to statements like this, we can convince you that it is never too late to start taking great care of your teeth.

Myth #1: You Should be Ashamed of Yourself.

Everyone has a different story.  We will not judge you if yours includes times of neglecting to carry out perfect oral hygiene for whatever reason.  Feeling ashamed will not help you change things; it will keep you at home in fear of what everyone else thinks.  It is okay to recognize any past mistakes or neglect that led you to your current state, but it is not okay to get stuck there.  Moving forward is the only way to get back on track toward a healthy mouth.

Myth #2: The Dentist will Make You Feel Guilty.

Just as we don’t believe your feeling of shame will help you, we also don’t believe our guilt-tripping will help you.  Dr. Ann and Dr. Lauren are both straight shooters, so you can expect the black  and white truth from them both.  They won’t sugar coat things, but they also won’t dramatize them.

The only way we can prove to you that we will not make you feel guilty about the state of your mouth is for you to make an appointment.  At your first visit with us, we will do a thorough evaluation of your mouth and discuss the areas of concern, as well as your options to fix them.

Myth #3: Your Mouth is the Worst We Have Ever Seen.

Nope.

Everyone says this, and it’s only been true once.  There is only one “worst”, and you are not it.  We can’t give you the details because that would violate HIPAA.  You’ll just have to trust us on this one.  Your mouth is not the worst we have ever seen.

In fact, the people who say things like this typically have very minor dental problems.  We tend to magnify our own problems, assuming they are worse than others’.  There is no need for comparison and nothing to be gained from it.  As the adorable toddler says to her daddy while fastening her car seat buckle in the viral video, “You worry about yourself!”

Myth 4: You Can’t Afford to Fix Your Teeth, so There is No Point in Going.

We understand that dental care is expensive.  Can we make a few arguments against this statement?

  1. The longer you wait, the worse things will get. The worse things will get, the more expensive the dental care will be.  Going to see the dentist sooner rather than later saves you money in the long run.
  2. Since your mouth isn’t the worst ever (see Myth #3 above), your assumption of how much dental work you need might be wrong. Don’t let a misconception on your part keep you away from the dentist and cost you more money over your lifetime.
  3. Even if you can’t afford to get everything fixed at once, Dr. Ann and Dr. Lauren will work out a plan to help you control the active dental disease and work toward restoring the breakdown of past problems. It is not uncommon for patients to slowly work through their extensive treatment plan over a few years.  The important thing is being committed to seeing it through, however slowly you may undergo the process.
  4. Preventive dentistry is not that expensive and helps slow down the snowball of active dental disease in your mouth. As you work through your dental treatment with Dr. Ann and Dr. Lauren, stay on top of your professional teeth cleaning visits with Phyllis and Nancy.  This helps stop new problems from cropping up while you fix the old ones.

Myth #5: You Can Just Wait until They All Fall Out and Get Dentures.

Well, technically you can.  But it sure is a terrible idea.  Knowingly allowing infectious diseases to grow and spread throughout your mouth is a risky game to play.  Chronic gum disease is linked with diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s.  Acute dental infections can spread to your airway, bloodstream, or brain and kill you.

And while dentures sound great to someone who has struggled with “bad teeth” or fear of dentists, they are not all they’re cracked up to be.  They look unnatural, and they do not function well in chewing your favorite foods (say goodbye to a nice, juicy steak). You are much better off keeping your natural teeth as long as possible!

Ready to Come Back to the Dentist?

Call Designer Smiles today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Ann and Dr. Lauren.  We will listen to all of your concerns and help you address them in a way that makes you comfortable.