You and your dentist have been through a lot together. There may have been pain, joy, and vulnerable moments over the years, and he or she may have even seen you drunk (on nitrous oxide). A good dentist is worth his or her weight in gold, but sometimes life happens. If you are faced with moving to a new area, the thought of leaving your trusted oral care practitioner can leave you less than thrilled. Here are some things that you can do to make your last visit count.

Make sure you keep your last appointment.

With a busy schedule and packing for an upcoming move, it can be easy to simply put off things like dental check-ups until after you are established in the new area. However, keeping your routine dental check-up now means that you will be able to take several months getting to know the area and finding the right dentist to meet your needs.

Ask your dentist for referrals.

If you have a great relationship with your current dentist, he or she obviously knows a bit about your personality and how to get along with you. Chances are also good that he or she knows other dentists, maybe even in your new area, who will get along with you as well. He or she may be able to provide some valuable insight about other good dentists in the area where you will be living.

Request a copy of your records.

Dentists, like the ones at Family Dental Center TriCities, PC, are required by law to keep your original dental records. However, he or she can provide you with a copy of all of your records upon your request. If you have had very much dental work done, any unusual procedures, or reactions to anesthesia, obtaining a copy of your dental record will be a very important part of establishing a new doctor-patient relationship. Go ahead and request the information. If your dentist is unable to get the information for you before you leave his or her office, have the copies sent to your new address.

Be prepared to settle up any balances on your account.

A sure-fire way to leave a bad taste in your dentist's mouth is to neglect to pay your bill. If you value your dentist, make sure that you do not have any outstanding account balances before you move. Also be aware that you may be asked to pay a small fee in order to cover the cost of copying and sending your dental records to your new home. 

Your last visit to your dentist can be a bittersweet experience. However, it does not have to be a wasted trip. By getting the information that you need in order to make your transition as smooth as possible, and getting the chance to see your dentist one final time before you go, you will have positive memories of your oral care for many years to come.