Karl Jobst

Dental Etiquette: 5 Do’s and Dont’s

| KarlJobst

You are reminded to uphold good manners everywhere you go, but few people actually understand how to do the same when they visit a dentist. It is essential to ensure you don’t burden your dentist by doing things that don’t subscribe the required dental etiquette and expected of any patient. Although it is within the confines of your dentist to address all the issues you think your dental health is facing, you are indebted to ensure you give him or her the best time by not behaving in a manner that goes against common dental etiquette. Karl Jobst Grove OK is a dental expert and he advises that you should understand these five do’s and don’ts of dental etiquette.

You need a break from your cell phone

Sinking your head in your cell phone all the while as your dentist tries to diagnose you is one of the most annoying things. Sometimes your dentist will want to ask a few questions about your dental history and things you have been taking to understand where to start and if you are too committed to responding to messages and calls this might not augur well with the professional. It is necessary to allocate ample time to your dentist by ensuring your phone does not distract both of you from the issue at hand.

Hold off on lipstick

You might decide to wear your awesome lipstick, but don’t get annoyed when the dentist advises you to get it off. Lipstick can stick on instruments as the dentist works on you, and I don’t believe there is any professional who is interested in getting tools soiled with alien colors. Observe etiquette by not wearing any lipstick on the day you will be checking in for checkups at your dentist’s office.

Be open about your home dental practices

Some people will want to lie to their dentist about their dental practice and this will obviously not go well with the entire treatment process. It makes it harder for the dentist to exactly locate what is ailing you as sometimes your home dental habits point to a source of what you are going through and with this information the dentist can find a solution without having to take you through many sessions of diagnoses. This mostly works against you as you will most likely not get what you need to solve the dental problems you are harboring.

Ask questions

Dentists agree that no question is stupid as long as it relates to the process they are undertaking. It is, therefore, essential that you seek information on anything you seem not to understand. You could even ask for alternatives to different processes and you will be surprised by the wide array of options that are available that the dentist is willing to propose to you. Asking questions also ensures your doctor proceeds faster as they are able to understand what you prefer to be undertaken to address your problem. A question is seeking an opinion and clarification on what might turn out to be one among many options that you could have exploited.

Don’t smoke before the visit

Smoking is discouraged across the medical sphere, not just in dentistry. When you expect to see a dentist, this is one of the things you should not try and do. You need to have your mouth free of any residues of tar that might compromise the diagnoses that are conducted on you. If you could quit smoking altogether, you would reap more benefits as this practice leads to teeth staining and loss, and could even lead to throat cancer.

How to Overcome Anxiety and Prepare for a Dentist Appointment

| KarlJobst

It is quite easy to understand why some people feel a bit anxious as an appointment with the dentist draws near. After all, many people still hold the perception that dental procedures can be uncomfortable and may even be painful. While the perception is still fairly common, it is one that is entirely unfounded and may lead to patients missing out on necessary dental care. Even the procedures that once had a reputation for leading to significant discomfort have been so vastly improved that patients are quite surprised to find that these anxiety-inducing procedures are hardly worth the pre-appointment worry.

Even though the anxiety many patients feel before an appointment is due to erroneous or outdated beliefs about dental procedures, it does not mean that being able to allay a sense of worry in advance of the appointment is an easy task. For most people, a bit of research into the nature of the procedure they are scheduled to undergo will be more than enough to calm their nerves before heading to the office. The younger segment may benefit from an added incentive to go with the accurate information, so a baseball fan in need of dental work may be far less anxious with the promise of a dream vacation that begins with spring training transportation.

For others, the concern may be a bit greater and will require a more involved approach. This may mean speaking with a dental professional well in advance of the appointment to go over the procedure, or it may be as simple as speaking with someone who has recently undergone a similar procedure. There is another group of individuals, however, that feel a more acute feeling of anxiety that requires a more nuanced approach. When the feeling of anxiety becomes so great that it feels almost paralyzing, it is important to seek out a form of therapy that reduces these feelings so that necessary dental work can be completed.

Through the use of cognitive behavioral therapy, researchers have found that as few as six sessions can reduce anxiety to a degree that patients are able to overcome their feelings of fear in order to receive the treatment they need. In some of these cases, patients needed to have sedation before being able to undergo dental procedures. After the therapy sessions, the majority of these individuals no longer needed sedation and were far better equipped to deal with the stress they felt before their appointment.

The reason this type of therapy works so well is due to the fact that the goal is not to entirely eliminate the feelings of anxiety, but rather to help the individual cope with those feelings in a more effective manner. The anxiety will be present or will return at some point before or during the procedure, but the patient will be better equipped to manage their emotions so they are able to experience firsthand just how comfortable dental procedures are and how their fears may have been wholly based on misconceptions.

Of course, not everyone feels anxiety before a dentist appointment, but it is still necessary to understand the procedures and to prepare accordingly. Patients in need of dental care should be able to clearly outline any dental issues they may be concerned with and should be prepared to ask any questions they may have regarding their appointment. As for long-term preparation, regular dental care is obviously critical for avoiding some of the more serious dental issues, and those who brush twice daily and floss regularly are far more likely to enjoy continued dental health.

Implementing The David Kravitz Snapchat Tactic For Children

| KarlJobst

I love my patients, especially the children. The children always bring a smile to my face, but sometimes it can be a struggle to bring a smile to theirs. Children have this fear of dentists, so it is imperative that we do everything we can here at Karl Jobst DDS to ensure the children are leaving happier with conquered fears and healthier smiles.

What tactics do you fellow dentists use to get your young patients to smile or much less, relax? For me, I found that showing them David Kravitz Snapchat typically helps. I let them use my phone while I do my work. I know, that sounds crazy to most people, so you’re not alone in that thought. The last thing most people will do is let a child handle their phone, but understand this psychology, if you’re a “scary dentist” the last thing a child wants to do is upset you.

I’m not going to lie, the Snapchat thing wasn’t my idea. It was more of my assistant’s idea. She says her children watch David Kravitz Snapchat all the time and it’s hilarious enough to make them laugh. I thought, “Hey, what have I got to lose?” You know what? It worked for me. This is a new tactic I have just started using on my scared kids and I’ll admit, his Snapchat is pretty funny. It’s tools like this that make jobs like mine so much easier and more fun to do.