When you visit your family dentist, you can get everything you need in one location. This includes oral examinations, professional cleanings, dental sealants for children, teen retainers, and dentures for seniors.
Choosing the right dentist for your family, like Mulkins Main Dental will help ensure everyone has healthy smiles. Knowing the difference between a general dentist and a family dentist will aid you in making the best choice for your needs.
Versatility
Many people make the mistake of thinking that family dentists are the same as general dentists. In reality, there are some distinctions between the two.
While family and general dentists undergo the same rigorous undergraduate and dental school training, the biggest difference lies in the age groups they treat. While a general dentist will restrict their patients to a certain age group, family dentists accept patients of all ages.
This flexibility makes it easier for families to get dental care from a single source. In addition, it eliminates the need for parents to find a new dentist for their children when they reach elementary school or have to coordinate multiple appointments with different dentists across town.
Moreover, family dentists often play an important role in teaching patients of all ages good dental habits. This can range from educating toddlers on proper brushing techniques to showing elderly patients how to clean their dentures properly.
Convenience
A family dentist has the training and experience to provide comprehensive dental care for patients of all ages. This can save families time and money by eliminating the need to visit multiple practices. This also means that patients can take care of all their oral health needs at one location, from regular cleanings to fillings and more.
Additionally, a family dentist can help teach patients of all ages proper teeth-brushing techniques and other important habits to ensure healthy smiles. This includes teaching toddlers how to brush their teeth properly and showing elderly patients how to clean their dentures best.
Family dentists can also perform X-rays and dental examinations to look for issues like gum disease, infections, or tooth decay. They can also offer cosmetic treatments, oral surgery, and restorative dentistry to address more significant issues. This can include dental implants, root canals, and other procedures that a general or pediatric dentist would need help performing.
Scheduling
In contrast to a general dentist, who typically restricts their patient age to a specific range, family dentists treat patients of all ages. This means that parents can send their children to the same provider, from toddlers to teenagers, and then later have the same provider care for their elderly parent when needed.
Family dentists can provide the same procedures that a general dentist does, such as teeth whitening and dental fillings, as well as more advanced services like veneers and crowns. Additionally, they can provide orthodontic treatments for crooked teeth and malocclusions and habit-breaking appliances to address tongue thrusting or mouth breathing, among other issues.
Family dentists can also schedule multiple appointments for family members at the same time or back-to-back if necessary, which can ease the hassle of managing everyone’s schedules and travel needs. This is especially helpful for families with young children, as it can help alleviate the stress of juggling childcare and school drop-offs and pick-ups.
Experience
While all dentists are highly trained professionals, family dentistry takes a special level of experience to care for patients at every stage of life. From educating young children about the importance of brushing and flossing to helping elderly patients keep their dentures clean, this type of dental professional is experienced in a wide range of oral hygiene treatments.
The fact that a family dentist knows the medical histories of multiple members of a patient’s household also means they are familiar with any hereditary conditions that could impact teeth and gums. They can provide orthodontic treatment like sealants for kids, retainers for teenagers, and dentures for older people, as well as therapeutic services and cosmetic treatments, including tooth whitening and veneers.
With so many benefits, opting for a family dentist makes sense. After all, shuttling family members to different dentists across town can be stressful and time-consuming. Find a local family dentist today and enjoy the convenience of receiving all your dental care in one location.
