Things You Should Be Telling Your Dentists

You would probably be surprised to learn of the connection between certain medical conditions and your oral health. For example, diabetic patients are more prone to experiencing dental problems, and periodontal disease can actually be an early complication of diabetes. Additionally, patients with certain heart conditions may require a antibiotic medication prior to receiving dental care.

For these reasons, we ask that you please provide us with your complete medical history—even if it includes something that is embarrassing, personal, or you don’t think is necessary for us to know. It’s important to realize that certain things that seem completely unrelated to your dental care (like diabetes) can significantly impact your oral health.

The more we know about your medical history, the easier it will be for us to take great care of you and your teeth!

Small Oral Issues

Many patients dismiss daily sensitivity, pain or bleeding when brushing, and jaw problems as “normal.” Or sometimes patients think that the dentist will just know about these issues or will be able to visibly identify that they are happening.

Unfortunately, we can’t always see that you are suffering from these symptoms during routine check ups. Oftentimes, these common issues are signs of a more serious condition, so it is important to mention them to us so we can create the best treatment plan possible, if treatment is needed.

Other Health Issues

It probably wouldn’t occur to you to tell us about your most recent headache. However, so-called “regular” issues, like headaches, are often a direct result of an oral condition. There are simple treatments available that can help reduce the frequency and intensity of these headaches.

Also, chronic dry mouth is a very common side effect of taking medications. The affects of dry mouth can be devastating, especially for the elderly. Letting us know about your medications and if you have experienced dry mouth is very important in establishing the right preventative care.

If you’re experiencing a medical condition that doesn’t seem like it can possibly be related to your oral care, we ask you to err on the side of over-disclosure and let us know about it. We may be able to help!

Your Smile Goals

Some patients feel uncomfortable bringing up subjects like missing teeth, crooked teeth, or chronic bad breath. Their smile goal might be to cure this bad breath or invest in braces to straighten their teeth but they may be too embarrassed to say so.

Rest assured, we’ve seen and heard it all. Please don’t let your discomfort or embarrassment prevent you from receiving help with your smile and oral health goals. We are a judgement-free office and take each patient’s concerns very seriously. In virtually every case, there is something we can recommend to assist you.

Your Privacy Is Of The Utmost Importance

If you’re worried about privacy, please know we are completely HIPAA compliant. Your protected health information and personal information is not shared with anyone without your consent. Additionally, our staff completes annual HIPAA training each year, so we’re always up-to-date on the latest practices.

Our computer records are also kept secure with firewalls, antivirus software and backups. Additionally, any information that is necessary to be electronically shared with other medical providers in your care is always sent via encrypted email. This ensures that your data is kept confidential and secure.

Finally, we’d like you to know that we’re not judgmental—we’re not here to scold, ridicule, or make fun of anyone. As a patient-focused practice, one of our primary goals is to develop a trusted relationship with our patients. It does not matter to us if you have had routine dental care or if you haven’t been to a dentist in years…what matters to us is that you are here now! We are thrilled that you have chosen to trust us with your care!

So don’t be shy – share these important pieces of information with your dentist to ensure you receive the best treatment and achieve your smile goals! Schedule your appointment with Smile Hilliard online or call 614.328.9489. We offer early morning and evening hours for your convenience!

We are committed to the best dental solutions for you and your family. Life is complicated. Dentistry doesn't have to be!

At our office in Hilliard, Ohio, Dr. Rachel Sanyk and the Smile Hilliard team are fully committed to providing our patients with the very best in general dentistry with comprehensive preventive, restorative, cosmetic, and therapeutic services.

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Smile Hilliard always goes above and beyond! Staff exudes professionalism. The cleanliness and overall aesthetic of the office is top notch. I’ve been going here for several years, before and after pandemic. Highly recommend!

- Josephine C

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This is hands down the best experience I have ever had at the dentist. Extremely professional and courteous staff. They numbed me for a filling today and I felt no pain at all. They let you pick a show to watch while they work.

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