No matter how big or small your family is, keeping up with everyone’s appointments and commitments can feel overwhelming. Add regular dental appointments on top of everything else you juggle, and it’s easy to see why these visits may slip through the cracks. 

Luckily, there are several ways to make it a little easier to squeeze in those crucial dental visits for the whole family. For families of every size, it’s important to know how often to see your dentist and how you can streamline scheduling your family’s dental appointments. 

How often should you visit your dentist in Wilson, NC?

It’s essential for all members of your family to visit the dentist every six months for a regular dental cleaning and evaluation. During these visits, your teeth are thoroughly cleaned, flossed, and checked for any possible problems. This allows you to catch and address dental issues before they become worse. 

Whether you’ve had dental issues in the past or never had a cavity in your life, these visits are key to maintaining good oral health.

6 tips for scheduling routine dental appointments for your family.

With the demands of work, school, and extracurricular activities, finding time to schedule and attend routine dental visits for everyone can be challenging. But you can make scheduling dental appointments a breeze with these six valuable tips: 

1. Look for a dental office with flexible hours. 

Dentists who have restrictive hours make it difficult to find time in your schedule for appointments. Rather than rearranging your entire week’s schedule or pulling your kids out of school early, look for a dentist with flexible hours who can accommodate your needs. 

Depending on what your schedule looks like, you may want to look for a dentist with early morning hours or late afternoon hours who can see you at a time that works for you. 

2. Download a scheduling app for stress-free dental appointments.

Consider downloading a scheduling or calendar app that makes it easy to see exactly what your family has planned and when. 

Scheduling apps allow you to quickly and easily get an idea of upcoming events at a glance. By inputting all of your family’s upcoming activities and events, you can see exactly when each member of your family is free and pinpoint the best time for your next dental appointment. 

Some good scheduling apps for family use include Cozi and Google Calendar. 

3. Make visiting the dentist a fun family outing.

When possible, schedule your family’s routine dental appointments on the same day to minimize office visits and disruptions to your normal routines. Making going to the dentist a family affair can create a less stressful experience for kids and turn it into a fun day for the whole family. 

Of course, if bringing multiple children to the dentist at once is too overwhelming, you can schedule their appointments on different days. What’s important is making dentist appointments as stress-free as possible for you. 

If you have multiple children, scheduling separate appointments for each of them also gives them an opportunity to spend one-on-one time with you. 

4. Schedule your routine dental appointments in advance.

One of the easiest ways to ensure your family’s dental appointments fit into your schedule is to schedule them in advance. 

The best time to schedule your next visit is when you’re still at the office. This allows you to book six months in advance and gives you the highest likelihood of getting the exact time and date you want. Refer to your scheduling app if necessary to determine the ideal time for your next appointment. 

For stress-free dentist appointments, consider scheduling them during less hectic seasons for your family. If winters and summers are typically quieter than springs or falls, plan your visits accordingly. Other factors to consider include:

• Sports schedules 
• Extracurricular activities
• Holiday celebrations 
• Birthdays
• Travel plans

It’s also a good idea to set multiple reminders on your phone, just in case you have to reschedule as the time gets closer. 

5. Don’t be afraid to change your approach as you go.

If something didn’t go smoothly before, during, or after your dental appointment, make a note of it so you can improve on it the next time. For example, if you hit bad traffic on the way to your 9:30 a.m. appointment, try choosing another appointment time when you are less likely to encounter traffic. If your appointments were pre-booked, give the office adequate notice and reschedule. 

6. Plan out Your Day the Night Before

To ensure your dental visit goes as smoothly and efficiently as possible, take time the night before to plan out and prepare for your day. Determine what you’ll have for breakfast, what you’ll be wearing, and what time you’ll need to leave to avoid feeling rushed before your appointment. 

Discover stress-free dental visits for the whole family.

If you’re looking for stress-free dental visits in Wilson, NC, look no further than Dixon, Boles & Associates. With flexible hours and advance scheduling, we make it easy to schedule dental appointments around your life. Contact us today to request an appointment.