Family Dentistry

Did you know we’re only supposed to live for around thirty-five years? Without modern dentistry, that’s how long our teeth are supposed to last.

If you hope for your children to breach just half of the current average American life expectancy, it’s important you begin a comprehensive family dentistry plan.

Although these terms are often used interchangeably, dentists who practice general dentistry typically restrict their clients’ age to a specific group while family dentists will open their practice to people of every age. In doing so, this allows families with children ranging in age from toddler to teenagers to all attend the same practice.

·         You build a relationship with the dentist, which translates over to your children.

·         You feel safe and secure in your dentists’ judgments.

Additionally, the most important difference for young parents to take note of regarding the difference between general dentistry and family dentistry is philosophy. Dentists practicing family dentistry take care to educate your children on proper oral hygiene, ensuring they build life-long, healthy practices to keep their teeth and gums healthy.

·         If proper dental hygiene is not taught when your children are young, they will be less likely to incorporate healthy habits into their life.

·         All experts agree that prevention is superior to treatment. Treatment’s costly and painful while prevention is simple to maintain.

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Unlike specialized dentists such as orthodontists or prosthodontists, the family dentist serves a preventative role. It’s recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA) that you visit your family dentist for a checkup twice a year. During these checkups, your family dentist will:

·         Minimize plaque buildup.

·         Fill cavities.

·         Ensure gums are healthy.

·         Prevent tooth decay.

·         Educate you on possible tooth whitening procedures, if necessary.

Family dentists pride themselves in educating your children. You can feel secure in knowing that after their first visit, your child will:

·         Know how to best care for their teeth.

·         Understand the best flossing and brushing methods.

Most family dentistry offices these days have books, board games and even video games to keep your child entertained while waiting to be seen.

Once inside, your child will typically be seen by two professionals: a dental hygienist who will conduct a preliminary examination of your child’s teeth, document any changes, talk about proper hygiene, and answer any questions your child may have. Afterward, the dentist will arrive to:

·         Administer a more thorough examination of your child’s gums and teeth.

·         Review the cleaning and/or provide a more comprehensive cleaning, if necessary.

·         Diagnose any oral health issues, such as cavities or gum disease.

·         Suggest treatment options and/or discuss more preventative options.

As soon as your baby begins growing teeth, you want to bring them in for a check-up. The majority of the time these are just quick check-ups, lasting a minute or two. Once your child reaches the age of three, you need to bring them in for cleanings.

It’s important to acclimate your child to dentist checkups at a young age. Even though family dentists strive to make their visitations as accommodating as possible, many children can find the experience stressful and unpleasant.

There are many things you can do to alleviate this:

·         Don’t seem stressed yourself. If your child sees you don’t like the dentist, they won’t either.

·         Share the secrets of the tooth fairy.

·         Euphemize the experience by telling your child they’re going to see a special doctor who’s going to take pictures of their teeth for the tooth fairy.

Your mouth, jaw and teeth are some of the most important and sensitive parts of your body. As such, dentists spend years in school, training to ensure they are skilled professions when handling such sensitive areas.

Before even beginning graduate school, prospective dentists must earn an undergraduate degree and pass the Dental Admission Test (DAT). Afterward, they attend Dental School for 3 to 5 years. Obtaining a general dentistry education is rigorous and intensive. Even after all these years of schooling, prospective dentists still must pass the National Board Dental Examinations (NBDE). Only then are they licensed professionals.

While many dentists will choose to enter a general or family dentistry practice immediately following graduation, some will pursue a more specialized field.

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