tips for adjusting to dentures

When you have not been to the dentist for a long period of time, going back to the dentist can seem like more of a challenge than it is worth. However, your oral and dental care is extremely important to your overall health and well-being. Because of that, it is important that you stick with your plan to find a dentist and resume your treatment and care. Dentistry has changed a great deal in recent years, though, and it is important to know what factors to consider when choosing a new dentist and resuming dental care.

Some Dentists Now Offer Concierge Services

Concierge dentistry is a trend that began to gain popularity in recent years. It originated primarily from the frustrations of both dental patients and dentists themselves with the insurance agencies and policies for dental care. Many dentists feel as though insurance company restrictions and rules play too big a role in determining the dental care that patients receive.

For example, some plans will not pay for services such as root planing and descaling or root canals until a patient has maintained coverage for 6 months to a year. However, if a dentist determines that a patient need those treatments before that time, dental patients are often forced to wait, putting their oral health at risk.

Concierge services are a step away from the dental insurance market. These fee-based or membership services allow dentists to have more freedom in the treatments they provide to patients, and patients can receive better care than they might otherwise. Many of these concierge dentistry offices have monthly or yearly membership fees and then the patient can receive all the dental care they need without additional cost. And if you have extensive dental care needs after a long period of no dental care, this could be the perfect option for you.

Many Dentists Are Using Cutting Edge Technology

Dental technology has changed a great deal in recent years as well. Many of these changes improve upon dental patient comfort and their quality of care. For example, numerous dental practices (though not all) have moved away from using traditional x-ray machines.

New, digital x-ray technology creates higher quality images that are sent from the x-ray machine directly to your dentist's computer to be read. These new x-rays also use significantly less radiation than traditional x-rays, making them much safer for patients.

There are also panoramic x-rays that are an excellent resource for dentists and patients to get an overall picture of the entire jaw and mouth so that a dentist can develop an overall care plan based on the bigger picture of a person's overall dental structure and health. It is important to find a dentist that utilizes these newer technologies so you can get the best dental care possible going forward.

With these important factors in mind, you can be certain that you find the best possible dentist for yourself and resume your regular dental care.