Seeing a dentist twice per year is an important part of properly caring for your oral health. You have likely heard this suggestion most of your life. Going to those routine dental appointments means that you are an established patient with your dentist. What happens if you don’t go to those routine appointments? Do you still need to be an established patient with a St. Augustine dentist? You should go to your routine dental appointments! But even if you do not make routine dental care a priority, it is still essential to get yourself established as a patient with a St. Augustine dentist.

What does it mean to be an established patient?

Being an ‘established patient’ with a dentist is also known as being a ‘patient of record’. These phrases simply mean that you have been to that dentist before. The dentist has a record of you and the services you have received. If you ever go back to that dentist, he or she will be able to pull up your information and have a history of your dental care in that office.

What are the advantages of being an established patient?

One of the big advantages of being an established patient is that you have somewhere to go when a dental problem or emergency arises. Many dentists have an after-hours messaging service that allows current patients to leave a message if they are experiencing pain or have a dental emergency. You must be a patient of record in order to reach out to a dentist and get emergency care. In addition, dentists leave space in their schedules to accommodate current patients who need quick care. If you are not an established patient you will have to wait for a new patient appointment to open up. When you need dental care quickly, waiting to become an established patient can feel unbearable. Being proactive and getting established as a patient now is a way for you to protect your future self from dealing with untreated dental issues.

Where in St. Augustine can I go to get set up as an established patient?

There are plenty of dentists to choose from in St. Augustine, Florida. You will need to take some time to explore the options and find the one that is a good fit for you. Dental Remedies is a dental practice in St. Augustine that offers a long list of dental services for the entire family. You can find some new patient deals and perks on the Dental Remedies website. Call and schedule your initial appointment and get set up as a patient of record. Once you are an established patient at a St. Augustine dental practice you can rest assured that you will have access to the care you need if you ever experience a dental emergency.

If you recently moved to St. Augustine, make it a priority to get set up with a local dentist. You never know when you are going to need dental care. Make sure you are ready when the time comes for emergency dental care.