Can I tell a new dentist I'm embarrassed about how long I've stayed away?
HealthI rang a dental practice, heard "When was your last check-up?" and said I would call back.
It has been several years. Recently my gums have bled when I brush. [NHS advice says bleeding gums should be checked by a dentist](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gum-disease/), so I want to make the appointment rather than keep changing toothpaste and hoping the conversation disappears.
The embarrassment is partly mine and partly from a previous visit when I felt scolded. I do not know how this new practice would respond. My partner says there is no point mentioning the fear because the dentist needs facts, not an explanation of why I avoided them.
Would you say it on the booking call, or wait until the chair? I want to give an honest history without starting the appointment by apologising for being the sort of patient I imagine nobody wants.