HOW OFTEN DO YOU GO BACK AFTER TREATMENT?

Haha, Dr. Google strikes again...been there myself. I remember getting veneers a couple years back—super excited, thinking I'd walk out with a Hollywood smile right away. But nope, first few days felt like I had someone else's teeth in my mouth. Weird sensation, sensitivity to hot coffee (my lifeline!), and even biting into a sandwich felt off. Of course, I did the classic move: spent hours online convincing myself something was terribly wrong and I'd need a full mouth reconstruction or something equally dramatic.

After a week of paranoia and lukewarm coffee (ugh), I finally went back to my dentist. Turns out, all I needed was a tiny adjustment to the bite alignment. Took maybe five minutes tops, and suddenly my mouth felt like mine again. Lesson learned: dentists know teeth better than random internet forums (no offense to us here, haha).

Now, whenever I get any dental work done, I give it a few days to settle, but if something feels off beyond that, I'm back in the chair faster than you can say "sugar-free gum." Honestly, life's too short to suffer through tooth weirdness when a quick tweak can fix it. Plus, my dentist probably appreciates me not showing up with a printout of WebMD diagnoses anymore...

I get what you're saying, but honestly, I tend to wait a bit longer before rushing back. I've had dental anxiety forever, so I'm always hoping things settle down on their own...probably not the best strategy, but it usually works out okay.

I totally get the anxiety thing—been there myself. But have you ever had something minor turn into a bigger issue because you waited? I once ignored a toothache, hoping it'd just fade away...ended up needing a root canal instead of just a filling. Since then, I've learned it's usually better to bite the bullet and go back sooner rather than later. Do you find waiting helps your anxiety or makes it worse in the long run?

"I once ignored a toothache, hoping it'd just fade away...ended up needing a root canal instead of just a filling."

Yikes, I feel your pain on that one—literally. My daughter had something similar happen last year. She complained about sensitivity in one tooth, and at first, we thought it was just temporary or maybe she brushed too hard. We waited a bit, hoping it'd settle down on its own. But after a couple of weeks, it got worse, and by the time we finally went back to the dentist, what could've been a simple filling turned into a more complicated procedure. Lesson learned for sure.

For us, waiting definitely made things worse—not just physically but emotionally too. The anxiety built up because we kept worrying about how bad it might get. Honestly, the anticipation was probably worse than the actual treatment itself. Now, I'm much quicker to schedule follow-ups or check-ins if something feels off. It seems counterintuitive, but facing the issue head-on actually helps ease anxiety in the long run.

But I also get why people hesitate. Sometimes you hope things will resolve themselves because going back can feel overwhelming or stressful. It's human nature to avoid discomfort, right? Still, from my experience, the relief of knowing exactly what's going on usually outweighs the stress of waiting and wondering.

I'm curious though—do you find that having a dentist or doctor who understands anxiety makes it easier to go back sooner? We've found that having someone patient and empathetic really helps my daughter feel more comfortable about returning for check-ups or treatments.

I totally get that anxiety you're talking about... I've been putting off going back myself because my last dentist wasn't exactly patient or understanding. Now I'm looking for a second opinion, hoping to find someone who actually listens and doesn't rush through appointments. It's reassuring to hear that finding the right dentist made a difference for your daughter—maybe it'll help me too. Glad things worked out better for you guys in the end.