If you are experiencing a dental emergency, please call our emergency hotline at (732) 575-9440 and speak to Teri, to book your appointment as soon as possible!

How Long Do Dentist Appointments Take?

Patient scheduling dentist appointment while the office assistant smiles and writes down her information. Dentist appointments are often something that people dread. However, they are necessary to identify oral health issues and maintain a healthy mouth. If you take care of your teeth and gums, your visit can be quick and painless. But exactly how long do dentist appointments last? Our Point Pleasant dentist is here to answer that.

How Long Do Dentist Appointments Take?

The amount of time dentist appointments take depends on what kind of treatment you need. For example, checkups and small cavity management are usually quick, but certain procedures can take a couple of hours.

Routine Checkup/Cleaning

A routine dentist appointment usually takes between 30 and 45 minutes. If you need x-rays, you can expect to be there for an additional 15 minutes, bringing your total appointment time to an hour.

Cavity Filling

Getting a cavity filled can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour. However, it may be longer if you need something like root canal treatment. The size of the cavity being filled, the location of it in your mouth, and how it is fixed all affect how long your dentist appointment will take.

Periodontal Disease Treatment

Not all periodontal disease is the same. As a result, the time your dentist appointment will take depends on how severe your infection is. Here are common gum disease treatment methods and the average time they take to complete.
  • Scaling and Root Planing – One to two hours
  • Flap Surgery – About two hours
  • Grafting – About one hour

Broken or Chipped Tooth

An appointment to fix a chipped tooth will usually be between 30 and 60 minutes. inlay or onlay, you may need to schedule multiple appointments. 

What to Expect During Your Dentist Appointment

If you go to the dentist for a routine cleaning and check-up, here’s what you can expect: 
  • Check in with the front desk, so they know you’re there.
  • You will then get called back to your respective room, similar to visiting the doctor.
  • A dental hygienist will come in and clean your teeth. They will floss them, remove any plaque and tartar, brush them with a specialized tool, and oftentimes give you a fluoride treatment.
  • When the hygienist is done, the dentist will come in and take a close look at your mouth to make sure everything is as it should be.

What to Bring to Your Dentist Appointment

If it is your first time at a specific dentist’s office, you will need your dental insurance card and ID. Schedule Your Next Dentist Appointment at Coastal Dental Group Our experienced Point Pleasant dentist, Dr. Zicchino, can handle just about anything you throw at him. If not, he can refer you to a trusted expert to handle whatever specialty service you may need. Book a visit online or give us a call today!

About the Author

Dr. Joseph Zicchino provides a wide array of cosmetic dentistry services, including Invisalign® Clear Aligners, at his practice in Point Pleasant, NJ. He earned his dental degree from NYU Dental School and established Coastal Dental Group in 2004. For more information call (732) 714-1030 or to