Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley CA
Nearly everyone with Internet access is familiar with the YouTube video that went viral in 2012, “Ain’t nobody got time for that.” Since then, that slogan has been applied to just about every facet of life. We get it, life is busy between shuttling the kids to and from their activities, to showing up on time to your hot yoga sessions, and meeting work deadlines. You probably roll your eyes at the thoughts of cramming one more responsibility into your already hectic schedule.
For many, this, unfortunately, means forgoing dental appointments. But, this is one of the worst decisions you can make regarding your oral health and your overall health. Today on the blog, we are sharing six tips for fitting dental appointments into a hectic schedule. So, whether you’re looking for a dental office in Santa Cruz with little to no wait, or want to find out how to shorten your dental appointments, these tips will help.
Communicate with our scheduler
When you call our scheduler to make an appointment, make them aware of any time constraints that you have, and be specific about why you are making the appointment. This way, they know exactly how much time will be needed, and you aren’t leaving our office in a rush to get on to the next item on your to-do list. Let the scheduler know if you have to leave at a certain time. This way, we don’t run you late to your next event.
Schedule your appointment early in the day
If you are able, choose an early appointment, or one at the first of the day. Since there will be no other appointments ahead of you, it ensures the dentist won’t be running behind, and you likely won’t have to wait long at all to be seen. Also, getting your appointment over and done with at the start of the day can help you move on to other important tasks on your schedule without feeling interrupted by having to leave work or pause your routine. Being the first on the agenda for the day isn’t always possible because these appointments fill up fast, especially for dental cleanings. So, schedule your next six-month cleaning while at your current appointment to have a better chance of getting a first of the day slot.
Call ahead
Some people live by the motto that if you’re not 15 minutes early, then you’re late. You may take this approach with your dentist appointment, and assume showing up early means you will get back for treatment quicker. But that isn’t always how it works. It can be helpful to call ahead an hour or two before your appointment to make sure that your dentist is on schedule. That way, you avoid showing up early when it’s unnecessary.
Arrive prepared for your appointment
If you are a new patient, count on filling out paperwork when you show up for your appointment unless you have completed these forms ahead of time. Also, if you’re an existing patient but had a change in your health history or contact information, you’ll need to complete new forms as well. So, find out ahead of time if you can update this information before you arrive, or allow enough time to do so when you come to your appointment at our Scotts Valley dental office.
Be productive while waiting
Make the most of your wait time by being productive. If you’re a teacher, considering bringing papers to grade or connect to our office’s WiFi if you need to check your work emails. Maybe you don’t have any work to do, but you could bring along a magazine or book to use your wait time as an opportunity to relax. Even if you don’t have to wait, come prepared so that you can be productive.
Remain committed to preventive care
Preventive care includes maintaining a good oral hygiene regimen at home and visiting your dentist every six months for checkups and cleanings. These efforts help reduce the likelihood that you will need restorative dental care throughout the year. And, if your Scotts Valley dentist recommends treatment, don’t ignore their recommendation. Doing so means that your oral health problem will become worse, leading to more extensive damage.
To learn about more ways to protect your oral health, or to schedule an appointment, contact Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry by calling (831) 438-4411. Our general dentists serve the areas of Los Gatos, Santa Cruz, and Scotts Valley.
