It’s no secret that some people just don’t like going to the dentist. But, that’s largely due to the fact that they have unrealistic expectations and don’t fully know what a typical dentist appointment will be like. According to an AACD survey, virtually all adults (99.7%) surveyed believe a healthy smile is socially important, but it’s medically important as well. Here are some common myths about dentist appointments to comfort you before your upcoming appointment.

1. Myth: Brushing your teeth twice a day is enough to keep you from having to go to the dentist.
   If this were true, the entire dental industry would have gone out of business decades ago. The fact is, brushing twice a day is important, but you still need to visit the dentist a few times a year. Dentists have the proper tools and knowledge to get the hard-to-reach places in the back of your mouth — places that a toothbrush would never be able to reach. Aside from that, frequent dental checkups are important as well. One look into your mouth and a dentist can tell if there’s something wrong or if everything looks good.
2. Myth: Going to the dentist is always painful.
   Perhaps this myth stemmed from unrealistic portrayals of dentists and dentists’ offices in Hollywood movies such as “The Little Shoppe of Horrors.” Unlike those ridiculous Hollywood portrayals, a typical dental cleaning is virtually painless. It’s generally the more complicated oral surgeries that can be painful, such as wisdom tooth extraction surgeries, but in those cases, pain medications and/or anesthesia are almost always given to the patient.

 

3. Myth: Dentist appointments take hours.
   This, again, is an outrageous myth. Some dental cleanings can be performed in as little as 20 or 30 minutes. But even the longer dental cleanings shouldn’t take more than an hour at the absolute most. If you’re spending more than an hour in the dentists’ chair, you’re probably there for a reason other than a simple cleaning.

Ultimately, making frequent trips to the dentist is imperative to overall oral health, and going to the dentist is nothing to dread or be afraid of. For more information about dentistry or teeth whitening, contact Murfreesboro Family Dentistry.