How to make a dentist appointment

Knowing how to make a dentist appointment is one of the first hurdles when it comes to getting the help you need. Not only can it be confusing and time-consuming if you don’t know what to do, but it can also add to your stress if you are someone who is anxious about visiting the dentist.

It’s natural to feel a little lost in the process and confused by the admin if you’re not used to booking your own appointments — we have all been there at one time or another! The good news is that we’re ready and waiting to guide you through everything you need to know.

Let’s take a closer look so that you know exactly what you need to do.

Why It’s Important to Schedule Regular Dental Appointments

Knowing how to schedule a dentist appointment will allow you to take care of your teeth on a regular basis so that you can:

  • Address any issues quickly and efficiently with help from a professional.
  • Get advice on how to adjust your oral hygiene routine to best meet your needs.
  • Ensure that you’re always offered the right treatment at the right time.
  • Check that issues below the gumline don’t result in pain and discomfort.

Booking a regular dental appointment with a trusted professional that you feel comfortable with will allow you to take proper care of your teeth throughout your life. The same is true if you are in the process of switching dentists — the sooner you book your first appointment, the better.

When you consider that acute tooth pain can impact everything from how you enjoy every mouthful of food to your quality of sleep, you see how important it is to plan ahead.

When Should You Book a Dentist Appointment?

When you want to take care of your teeth, you should always aim to make dentist appointment booking one of your regular items on your to-do list. Common situations when you should book a dentist appointment include:

  • Scheduling routine checkups to keep on top of your oral health
  • Booking an additional appointment if your individual needs change
  • Requesting an emergency appointment for pain below the gumline
  • Connecting if you spot urgent warning signs such as profusely bleeding gums

There are also several cases where it might be best to delay your appointment. Illness, injury, and unexpected travel commitments are all common reasons for doing so.

Many dental clinics will offer recurring appointments where you are automatically notified that you need to make an appointment in the coming weeks. This helps ensure that you never miss a visit to your dentist while at the same time giving you one less thing you have to remember to do unprompted.

How to Make a Dentist Appointment: Step-by-Step

Booking your appointment may well feel like a daunting prospect, and there’s no harm in admitting that you feel this way. It’s natural, but it’s also easy to manage and overcome with a little help from our step-by-step process, outlined below.

Find a Reputable Dentist

When you want to schedule a dentist appointment, you need to do so in a way that is both practical and convenient. Localizing your online search so that it includes your district or neighborhood will help you filter the results that are closest to you.

An example would be to google ‘dentist in Fountain Valley’, if you are in that area, to take a closer look at your options. Selecting the most prominent clinic by searching for glowing online reviews and patient testimonials will allow you to connect with the most experienced dental professional in your local area.

Contact the Dental Office

Next up, to book an appointment with the dentist, you will need to decide how you want to make contact with the dental office. There are a variety of different options that you may wish to consider, and they each have their pros and cons:

  • Call: Booking an appointment by talking to a human can provide reassurance and help build your confidence if you’re someone who is anxious.
  • Online Booking: Booking without having to wait on hold on the phone can be quicker and more convenient for some people, particularly longstanding patients.
  • App: A dental clinic that offers an app will be able to provide a streamlined point of entry into their booking system, saving you time in the process.
  • Walk-In: While every receptionist will do their best to help you, you will typically get a much more convenient appointment time if you can book in advance.


Top Tip: Calling during office hours will ensure you get a faster response and allow you to ask any questions while you’re making your booking.

Provide Necessary Information

You will be asked the following information when you book your appointment, and providing it in a timely manner will greatly speed up the process of being seen by a skilled dentist:

  • Name, address, date of birth, and contact number — if you haven’t visited the surgery before.
  • Insurance details so that the admin team knows how to process your specific case without delay.
  • Any longstanding issues you want the dentist to be aware of in advance, including anxiety.

The receptionist will be able to guide you through everything they need to know, depending on whether they have seen you before or you’re booking with them for the first time. They will then provide you with time slot options so that you can book an appointment that fits around your everyday life.

Confirm Appointment Details

You will also have to confirm your appointment at the dentist for the admin team to schedule you in and secure your spot. This is so that everyone is in agreement about when and where you will be seen, as well as how long the appointment is likely to take. Making a note of the confirmation details will help with the final step in the process.  

Add to Calendar & Set a Reminder

Adding the appointment to your phone’s calendar and setting a reminder the day before will help ensure that you’re never late. Appointments can sometimes overrun, resulting in a period of waiting time, but there are no guarantees that this will be the case if you are running late. Plan ahead and you will be able to remove the stress from your next dental appointment.

Tips to Make the Process Easier

A recent dental patient study found that feelings of intense anxiety around visiting the dentist are spread evenly throughout the population. With this in mind, there are several things you can do to make the process of booking your next dental appointment that little bit easier:

  • Make use of apps and clinic websites so that you can enjoy quick scheduling.
  • Be flexible with your timings so that you can get seen sooner rather than later.
  • Consider off-peak hours for faster service if you have the flexibility to do so.
  • Set a recurring 6-month reminder so that small issues don’t get ignored.

Knowing what to expect at your first appointment with a new clinic can also help a great deal.

What to Expect at Your First Appointment

When you book a dental appointment, there are certain things you can reasonably expect if it is your first appointment:

  • Working with the reception team to complete paperwork that covers your personal details and dental insurance can typically take 10-15 minutes
  • Cleaning, X-rays, and a dental exam will typically be carried out to assess the state of your teeth and may take in the region of 30-60 minutes in total
  • There will be a period of waiting between certain parts of the procedures, especially after an X-ray is taken as the images need to be assessed and analyzed

Work through this guide one step at a time and you will be able to book a convenient appointment without delay.

FAQ’s

How long does a dental appointment take?

Your first appointment will typically take 30-60 minutes.

Can I reschedule or cancel easily?

Yes, but it’s always best to do so with as much notice as possible.

What if I don’t have insurance?

Connect with us today and we will guide you through your options.

Is it okay to book a same-day appointment?

We are always happy to advise on the availability of same-day appointments.

How do I start going to a new dentist?

The first step is to connect and ask about their waiting times and the details they need from you.

Final Thoughts

If you want to know what do you need for a dentist appointment, the simplest approach is to follow our guide and then book with a dental professional in your local area. Scheduling is easy, quick, and vitally important when it comes to protecting the long-term health of your teeth. While we understand that booking an appointment may feel stressful or time-consuming, take a moment to look at options like this dental membership plan. It will help you stay on track and get the help and support you need.

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