Unveiling the Benefits Offered in Family Dentistry
When you finally decide to visit a dentist’s office near you, you are likely to get overwhelmed by the numerous titles and specialties that exist in dentistry. Ideally, many of the dental services you would require are available in general dentistry. But what about family dentistry in Dallas? Is that a place for you? The distinction between general and family dentistry may not quite be obvious to anyone. While both these specialties offer similar services, family dentistry stands out as a specialty dedicated to families as a unit.
What Is Family Dentistry?
It is a branch of dentistry that caters to families, as opposed to catering to individuals only. Ideally, if you need to find a dentist in 75227 who can attend to the oral needs of all your family members, then you should be looking for family dentistry near you. A family dentist near you will have at least some training regarding working with children. This way, the dentist who attends to your family in a dental office near you will offer the best care to your kids just as much as to you as an adult. In that regard, it is safe to think of family dentistry as a one-stop-shop for you and your family’s oral needs.
Many patients who get access to family dentists end up sticking to the same dentist throughout their years. As such, it is possible to walk your oral health journey with one dentist, right from infancy throughout your adult life.
Benefits of a Family Dentist
While there are many types of dentists in dentistry, family dentists provide the following benefits:
- Convenience – you have access to one dentist who can handle all the oral needs for you and your entire family.
- Long-term services – you can grow with your family dentist through the different stages of your life and still find his/her services relevant for your oral health.
- Versatility – family dentists offer different services all in one office. Ideally, if you are looking for an orthodontist, an endodontist, a periodontist, or a pediatric dentist, a family dentist can offer all these services in one office.
- Wholesome experiences – one of the primary advantages of family dentistry is the wholesomeness provided, particularly regarding fostering positive experiences for children. Kids are even more likely to enjoy dental experiences when they stick with one dentist for a long time, as well as when they do it together with other family members.
- Educational services – while all dentists may be careful to sensitize their patients on the importance of proper oral health, family dentists make this a primary objective. They are keen to educate patients of all ages on the fundamentals of dental care, especially on matters of proper oral hygiene and good oral habits.
Common Dental Services Offered in Family Dentistry
Many of the services offered in general dentistry are also offered in family dentistry. The only difference is that family dentists ensure that the services are availed adequately to patients of all ages for a wholesome family experience. Some such services include the following:
- 6-month cleanings and dental exams – these routine dental practices foster good oral health while promoting positive attitudes toward dental appointments, especially for children.
- Cavity checks and fillings – checking for dental cavities on teeth and taking the necessary restorative measures is a core function of family dentists. Any signs of dental cavities are mitigated in the early stages. In the case of dental caries that have already developed, a family dentist will incorporate tooth fillings to repair and resolve the cavities before they worsen into severe dental decay.
- Orthodontic assessments and treatments – while all family dentists may offer orthodontic assessments, not all of them offer orthodontic treatments in-house. As such, some family dentists may refer you to an orthodontist who will further manage your issue. However, it depends on the kind of dentist you have and whether or not they offer such services in-house.
- Fluoride treatments and dental sealants – are used as proactive measures to protect teeth against infections, more so among children between the ages of 6 and 14 who are very prone to dental cavities.