Before your first appointment or treatment, your dentist will always ask you to fill out and sign a medical questionnaire. Although some of the information may seem irrelevant to dentistry, general health and oral health can sometimes be much more connected than you might think. This confidential questionnaire helps us tailor our approach to each of our patients.
At the Centre Dentaire & D’implantologie Boucherville your dentist on the South Shore dentist, we emphasize the importance of providing the most accurate and detailed information possible. It’s no coincidence that this document is mandatory for any treatment!
Every Question Has a Reason Behind It
Naturally, the medical questionnaire contains information about your dental health history, including previous extractions or surgery and any problems that might have resulted from these. This data will allow us to personalize our care so that all dental procedures will go smoothly.
There are, however, some sections of the questionnaire that relate to your general health. You may wonder why you are being asked questions that seem unrelated to dental care.
In fact, your general health is closely related to your oral health, and some diseases and conditions can have an impact on dental treatments. For instance, if you are diabetic, your recovery from surgery may be more complicated; if your blood sugar levels are not controlled, infections may be more frequent.
The same is true for patients with existing blood pressure problems or heart disease. These have to be taken into consideration before undergoing anesthesia. The use of an appropriate anesthetic may prevent complications. In certain instances, we might recommend inpatient care.
Therefore, we recommend that you let us know if you are ill, even though you might feel great today!
Because your dentist uses many different materials and products, it is also important to know about your allergies. This enables us to use alternate substances that won’t elicit a reaction from you, for example, nitrile gloves for patients allergic to latex.
Your habits should also be disclosed. Your dentist in Boucherville is never going to judge you for them, although there’s no point in hiding or minimizing the reality. For example, the use of cigarettes, drugs or alcohol can affect healing and predispose you to certain oral diseases.
Certain medications have also been known to affect the gums, the teeth and the entire oral cavity. A dental professional can help you avoid these problems. They’ll also take the necessary precautions when administering treatments, especially to avoid contraindications or negative interactions between different medications.
You should know that even some over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements can have an effect on your dental care. While you may feel it is unnecessary to mention them, it is always better to give too much information rather than too little!
Pregnancy should always be reported to your dental clinic so he/she can take the necessary precautions, as well as any physiological and hormonal changes such as the onset of menopause or puberty.
Finally, a medical questionnaire will include information about symptoms, especially psychological ones, that are not necessarily related to a disease, for example
- Aches and pains or migraines
- Breathing difficulties
- Stress
- Persistent cough
- Tremors
- Nausea
- Weight gain or weight loss
Having this information on hand helps us personalize our approach to ensure that your dental care experience will be a pleasant one.
Your dentist at the Centre Dentaire & D’implantologie Boucherville is committed to providing you with quality, personalized care, no matter who you are or what your medical history is. A properly filled out form makes for happy patients!
A Dedicated Team for Your Oral Health
At the Centre Dentaire & D’implantologie Boucherville, you’ll find passionate health professionals that can answer all your questions and help protect you from oral health problems. More than treatment, we offer you a personalized approach and a caring hand; come and meet us today!