Dr. Enrico DiVito is a general and cosmetic dentist who specializes in laser dentistry at the Arizona Center for Laser Dentistry in North Scottsdale. A graduate of Arizona State University and the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco, Dr. DiVito returned to Arizona and established a private practice in 1980. He founded the Arizona Center for Laser Dentistry in 2007. Here, he discusses what patients need to do before going into the dentist for an exam.
When a patient books an appointment, we try to get him or her into the office for an exam or check up as quickly as possibly. However, there are a few things he can do ahead of that appointment to make the day go as smoothly and quickly as possible.
Typically, the best thing that a patient can do to minimize discomfort at the dentist’s office is to maintain oral hygiene year-round—not just in the days or hours before their semi-annual cleaning. That means brushing each time the patient eats during the day—so twice a day if they eat two meals a day, three times a day if they eat three times—and flossing at least once every 24 hours.
There are times, however, when a patient might notice pain in between appointments. Or, of course, if a patient breaks any teeth, then he’s going to want to come into the dentist right away. What can be tricky for some people is to understand what constitutes as an oral emergency. Because if you are dealing with pain in your mouth, you are not going to want to just wait until your next cleaning or check up to get that looked at.
What we typically ask our patients here at the Arizona Center for Laser Dentistry is how long they have been having sensitivity of the teeth. Whether their teeth are suddenly over sensitive to hot or cold, we will ask how long the issue has been going on. If a patient calls and says the pain has been happening for just a couple of hours, then we will tell the person to take a pain reliever. However, if the pain goes on for longer than 48 hours—and if it comes back even after it has gone away for a period—then that would be something that needs to be checked out right away.
So when someone is preparing for their dental exam, in addition to the daily hygiene work he needs to do, he also needs to know the difference between when he does and does not need to book an emergency appointment for pain or other issues.
In all cases, if a patient calls us and says that he or she is in pain, then we will get that patient into the office that same day. As a general dentist, it is important to me that I treat patients who are in any form of discomfort and help them find relief. So we will squeeze the patient in at some point in the day, if they call and say they are experiencing pain and need immediate treatment. If we identify the problem and it turns out the treatment process is much more involved, then at least we can give them something for that pain and possibly an antibiotic, as well. And what we will do after that is reschedule the patient for a time when he can have a lengthier appointment. But at least up until that follow-up appointment, we can make sure he is out of pain.
Because we are innovators in the field of laser dentistry here at the Arizona Center for Laser Dentistry, I have had patients come visit me from surrounding areas. I have even had new patients book appointments from out of the state. In the majority of cases, it is not that these patients don’t like their current dentist or anything like that. But what is happening is they hear from their neighbors and friends about a laser dentist in Arizona who is doing procedures pain-free and without drills, and these patients want to check it out. They realize their dentist isn’t using lasers, and it makes them start to think that maybe their dentist isn’t keeping up with the times.
So in general, patients come here to the Arizona Center for Laser Dentistry because we have such great laser technologies. But before they come in, they need to make sure they have kept their teeth in proper condition all year by eating right, brushing multiple times a day, and flossing at least once every 24 hours. That is how patients are going to keep their smiles healthy and white.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
