I Haven't Been to the Dentist in Years Please Don't Judge Me

If you haven't been to the dentist in years, making that first phone call can feel harder than it should. One thing we hear a lot at Dental Hygiene Centers is, "I know it's been way too long, please don't judge me." We won't. Whatever kept you away, we're just glad you're thinking about coming back.

People Wait for All Kinds of Reasons

Sometimes it's fear. Sometimes it's money or insurance, or a bad experience with another dentist years ago. And sometimes life just gets busy, and one year quietly turns into five or ten.

If you haven't been to the dentist in years, you might think you're the only one. You're not. A national survey reported by the American Dental Association found that nearly three out of four adults have some fear of going to the dentist. You don't owe us an explanation or an apology for how long it's been.

What Happens at Your First Visit Back

Your first appointment is about seeing where things stand today. It is not about what you should have done years ago. Before you come in, our front desk checks your insurance benefits so you know what's covered. If you're worried about cost, you can look over our insurance and financing options ahead of time.

Depending on what you need, your visit may include:

• Talking about any pain, sensitivity or worries you have
• Taking the X-rays we need to see what's going on
• A gentle dental cleaning and an exam of your teeth and gums
• Going over what needs attention first and what can wait
• Explaining your options and what they cost before anything is scheduled

You can ask questions at any point. If something doesn't make sense, ask us to explain it again. We would much rather you understand the plan than leave the office confused.

What If My Teeth Are Really Bad

This is usually the part people worry about most. Maybe you have a broken tooth you've been ignoring, or cavities you already know about. Maybe your gums bleed when you brush, you're missing teeth, or you just don't like how your smile looks.

Come anyway. You don't need to clean your teeth perfectly or get them "ready" before you see us, because that's our job. Bleeding gums can be an early sign of gum disease, and our gum disease treatment page explains what that care involves.

If there's more than one thing that needs work, it doesn't all have to happen at once. We'll help you decide what comes first and what can be planned for later. And if something hurts right now, call us about emergency dentistry instead of waiting, since we offer same-day visits when possible.

Tell Us If You're Nervous

Dental anxiety is real, and you don't have to pretend you're comfortable. Tell us when you book your appointment that you're nervous. Remind us when you sit down in the chair, and tell us if you've had a bad experience somewhere else.

The ADA's MouthHealthy guide to dental anxiety offers simple ideas, like agreeing on a hand signal when you need a break or bringing headphones to listen to music. Knowing how you feel lets our team slow down, explain each step and answer your questions as we go. You'll also see the same doctors at every visit, so you won't have to start over with a new face each time.

You Can Start From Where You Are

If you haven't been to the dentist in years and you keep telling yourself you'll call soon, this is your reminder to do it. You don't need perfect teeth first. You don't need a good excuse, and you definitely don't need to apologize when you walk through our door.

Our office is at 5995 South Pointe Blvd in Fort Myers, and we see patients from Cape Coral, Estero, Bonita Springs and nearby communities. Some of our patients come in every six months like clockwork, and some are coming back after years away. If you want a sense of what other people's visits were like, you can read our patient reviews.

When you're ready, request an appointment online or call us at (239) 286-9988. No lecture. No keeping score. Let's just see what's going on and take it from there.