The goal of a family dentist is to make it as easy as possible for everyone in your family to receive necessary oral care under one roof. It is beneficial for people to see a dentist twice a year for cleanings and examinations; those with preexisting conditions, such as severe gum disease, may need to visit even more often. These routine visits help prevent a host of otherwise avoidable dental problems while also enabling dentists to detect serious issues early on.
Dental care is essential for every age group, from early childhood all the way until the senior adult years. The American Dental Association recommends that parents start taking their kids to the dentist when the first baby teeth start to erupt, and no later than the age of one. Six-month appointments should continue from here on out. To that end, family dental offices provide multiple services for both children and adults from dentists who are trained to work with patients of all ages.
Each family dental office may offer different services depending on patients' needs. The following are among the most common services you are likely to find at a family dental clinic. Keep in mind that if you are unsure about what a particular location may offer, you should contact them directly with questions and concerns.
Family dentists usually offer regular dental cleanings and exams to patients of all ages. These are necessary to prevent dental problems from developing. If there are issues present, catching and treating them early can prevent them from becoming severe. Oral health issues that are allowed to develop can cause extreme discomfort and be very expensive to treat.
Dentists recommend that children start having regular dental exams during the first year of life, perhaps even before the first teeth emerge. Adults are not immune to decay and require regular cleanings and exams as well. Family dentists often perform fluoride treatments during routine cleanings to prevent tooth decay
If there are cavities present from tooth decay, they can usually be treated with fillings. This involves removing the decayed material by drilling and then using a composite or amalgam to fill in the hole. The filling procedure is basically the same for adults or children, but young patients may require some extra reassurance, which a family dentist is trained to provide.
Sealants form a protective barrier between the teeth and agents that cause decay. They are most often recommended for children to prevent cavities. However, some adults, especially those with deep grooves in their molars, can also benefit from this preventative treatment. According to the American Dental Association, dental sealants can reduce the risks of developing a cavity in molars by as much as 80%.
Adults can be self-conscious about the appearance of their teeth. Family dentists may provide tooth whitening and other cosmetic treatments to enhance your smile. Some of these can also improve your tooth and gum health, such as dental bridges and crowns.
Before choosing a family dentist, take stock of your family's dental needs. Is someone in your family at high risk for tooth decay? Maybe you have concerns about tooth loss, staining, or enamel erosion. This tells you what services you should seek from a family dentist's office and helps you choose from the available options.
While regular dental care is necessary to preserve oral health, it can be difficult to work appointments into a busy schedule, especially for examinations and cleanings. In addition to offering multiple dental services for children and adults at one location, family dentist offices often have more than one dentist on staff and can offer you appointments for multiple family members either all at the same time or in close succession. This is more convenient because you can arrange for everyone in your family to have regular cleanings and exams at the same time. This only requires you to remember one appointment time and prevents you from having to make multiple trips for different family members.
Depending on the availability of appointments, family dentists often allow you to schedule appointments for everyone in your family at once. They are trained to treat patients of all ages and offer multiple services so you can receive all your treatments at one location. However, they do not all offer the same services, so this is something you should research before choosing a clinic.
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