Family dentistry is an area of dental care that will provide dental services for all ages. Like general dentists, family dentists gain extensive education prior to beginning their practice. However, a family dentist will take their education a step further and specialize in providing quality care for people of all ages. Family dentistry is supposed to help you address the oral needs of you as an adult as well as the oral needs of your children; family dentistry is in place to help and meet the oral health needs of all stages of life.
As a family dentist, it is understood that kids will have different dental needs than adults do. Family dentists are trained to deliver care that is specialized to make sure that the unique oral hygiene needs are met and will be taken care of. A major benefit of a family dentist is that the same dentist can take care of your dental health from infancy, into childhood, your teenage years, and on into adulthood. Family dentists are trained to give gentle care and approach to dentistry. They take great pleasure in knowing that kids will always have a positive experience whenever they have an appointment. This will help in building great experiences for children with dentists, which is always good.
In general, most family dentists will offer services related to preventive dentistry and oral hygiene. There are some family dentists that offer orthodontia, oral surgery, and cosmetic dentistry as well. Some of the more common services that you will find a family dentist will provide include:
- Cavity Checks and Fillings: Cavities are the most common preventable childhood health conditions; a family dentist specializes in identifying and treating cavities with fillings.
- Fluoride Treatments and Dental Sealants: Fluoride and dental sealants can help fight cavities; these treatments are often used in children who are more prone to cavities.
- Gum Disease Treatment: Gum disease is very common in adults; family dentists use procedures such as gum flap surgery, deep cleanings, and antibiotics to deal with cases of gum disease or gingivitis.
- Orthodontics: In most cases, family dentists will offer orthodontic assessments; not all of them offer orthodontics in house; they may have to refer you to other specialists in that area.
- Regular 6-Month Cleanings & Exams: 6-month exams and teeth cleanings are extremely important. They will allow your dentist to monitor your child’s oral hygiene as well as the health of your mouth.
You may find that your family dentist may offer some other additional services, these just happen to be the most common services you will find a family dentist will provide.
