The Smile Daily

We hear some version of this pretty regularly at Norge Dental Center. A patient gets settled in the chair and, before we’ve even had a chance to take a look, says, “I’m sorry, I know my teeth are a mess,” or, “Please don’t judge me, I haven’t been to the dentist in years.”

Sometimes they laugh when they say it, but we can usually tell they’re genuinely embarrassed. They may have put off making the appointment because of it, and by the time they finally come in, they’ve already imagined all the things we might say about their teeth.

Here’s what we wish those patients knew before they ever walked through our doors: you don’t need to apologize to us.

Our job isn’t to lecture you about what you should have done five years ago. We want to know what’s going on now, what’s bothering you and what we can do to help. Sometimes that starts with a cleaning and an exam. Sometimes there are a few things that need attention. Either way, we’ll figure it out together.

If you’re nervous, tell us.

Dental anxiety is incredibly common, and it can come from all sorts of places. Maybe you had a bad experience when you were younger. Maybe needles make you nervous, you don’t like the sounds, or you simply feel uncomfortable not knowing what’s happening while you’re in the chair.

We’d much rather know that at the beginning of your appointment than have you spend the whole time trying to hide how uncomfortable you are. When we know what makes you nervous, we can talk you through things, answer questions along the way and take a little extra time when you need it. You’re also allowed to tell us if you need a minute. We promise, you won’t be the first person who has.

Don’t assume something is too small to mention.

Patients are sometimes hesitant to bring up little things because they don’t think they’re important. Maybe a tooth has been sensitive when you drink something cold, food keeps getting caught in the same spot, your jaw has been sore in the mornings or a tooth just feels “different” when you bite.

Those details can actually be very helpful. You know your mouth better than anyone, so when something doesn’t feel quite right, we want to hear about it. It may turn out to be nothing to worry about, but it may also help us catch something while it’s still relatively simple to address.

It’s okay to ask about the cost.

This is another conversation people sometimes feel uncomfortable having, but there’s no reason to be embarrassed about it. Dental treatment is an expense, and we understand that our patients have families, budgets and plenty of other things competing for those dollars.

If your dentist recommends treatment and your first thought is, “How am I going to make this work?” tell us. Ask questions. We can talk about what needs attention first, what the treatment involves and what options may be available. We never want someone to leave an appointment confused about what was recommended or afraid to ask what it will cost.

If there’s something you don’t like about your smile, you can tell us that too.

Maybe you avoid showing your teeth in pictures. Maybe there’s one tooth that has bothered you for years, your teeth aren’t as white as they used to be, or older dental work is starting to show its age. You don’t need to walk in knowing whether you need whitening, Invisalign, crowns or anything else. That’s what the conversation is for.

Sometimes a patient will almost apologize for bringing up something cosmetic because their teeth are technically “fine.” But wanting to feel better about your smile is a perfectly good reason to ask what your options are. There may be a simple solution you didn’t even know was possible.

And if it’s been a long time since your last dental visit, come anyway.

This is probably the biggest thing we wish more people knew. We have patients who put off making an appointment because they’re embarrassed by how much time has passed. Then another year goes by, and making that call feels even harder.

Life happens. People get busy, priorities change, finances change and sometimes dental care gets pushed further down the list than intended. We understand that. What matters to us is that you’re here now.

Some of our favorite moments happen when a patient who was nervous about coming in realizes the appointment wasn’t nearly as bad as they had imagined. There’s often a visible sense of relief when they realize we’re simply going to talk about what we see, answer their questions and make a plan that works for them.

At Norge Dental Center, we want you to feel comfortable talking to us about more than just which tooth hurts. Tell us what you’re nervous about, what has been bothering you, what you’re worried treatment might cost or what you wish you could change about your smile. Those conversations help us understand what matters to you, and that helps us take better care of you.

So if you’ve been putting off an appointment because you’re nervous, embarrassed or simply unsure where to start, give us a call. We’ll meet you where you are and go from there.

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