Family Dental Care: All You Need to Know

You might be planning to change your dentist for several reasons. Perhaps, you are relocating to a new city and would like a dentist living closer to your home. Or, the current dentistry in Farmington New Mexico is not catering to your specific requirements. Or, you think you are paying way too much for simple dentistry procedures. 

Whatever the reason is, switching to a family dentist seems like the most viable decision, especially for those who need regular dental care or have signed up for orthodontic treatment. There’s a common misconception that general dentists and family dentists refer to the same professionals. 

While they may offer similar services, the two have notable differences. This post will discuss the basic scope of family dental care and why you should choose a family dentist instead of a generic one.

A General Dentist: Who Are They?

Becoming a general dentist requires minimal qualifications, hands-on experience during an internship, and a license. Eligibility criteria include at least 3 years of education on an undergraduate level and then 4 years of college for further dental study. Like all dentists, general dentists execute cosmetic dental treatments and invasive surgical procedures to restore your smile and bring a perfect alignment to your teeth. 

All dentists are the same and have similar goals, but general dentists are usually confined to patients of a specific age group. Suppose you need dental treatment for a 5-10-year-old kid and the dentist in your town serves only patients above 18. In that case, you are going to have to see another dentist that treats children. Remember, not all dentists offer the same services. To better understand what the dentist offers, you need to check their website or call them for a detailed list of the services available with quotes.

Here’s a list of some standard services a general dentist offers.

  • Root canal

  • Invisalign or metal braces

  • Routine cleaning

  • Veneers 

  • Dentures

  • Crowns

  • Fillings

  • Tooth extraction, including wisdom tooth extraction

Dentists often work with orthodontists to offer proper dental care. This brings us to the differences between general dentists and family dental care and how to choose between them.

What is a Family Dentist? How Do They Help?

As mentioned before, there’s not much difference between a general and a family dentist. Like a general dentist, a family dentist offers pretty much the same services as the former. They are also supposed to finish their undergraduate program and attend dental school, as well as an internship before they can start practice. 

The only major difference is that a family dentist isn’t confined to patients of specific age groups. They serve all patients, irrespective of age. This allows families to see the same dentist for all their dental care requirements. Whether it’s a child undergoing orthodontic treatment or an elderly patient wanting crowns, the same family dentist can help you with all your dental care needs.

Moreover, these dentists ensure that your family enjoys good dental care in and outside the dentist’s office. They teach your little ones the correct way of brushing and flossing, how often to brush, and what to eat and avoid for good dental health. They also show elders the right way to clean their dentures. 

A family dentist may or may not offer the same dental care services as a general dentist, but most of them have at least a basic knowledge of children’s dental health. Family dentists specialize in taking care of kids’ and adults’ dental care needs. They evaluate the oral hygiene of each kid and are trained to offer advanced dental care assistance as and when required. 

Simply put, you can consider a family dentist your one-stop destination for all your oral care requirements. Whether you need a root canal treatment or pediatric dental care, they can help you with all your oral health requirements. 

Services Offered

Most family dentists offer regular dentistry services, such as cleaning and filling, but some also specialize in orthodontic treatment and advanced surgical procedures like dental implants. It’s best to confirm their expertise and choose a professional offering an extensive range of services. Here’s a list of some common dental services you can expect from a family speciality dentistry.

  • They offer a 6-month cleaning program that comprises routine cleaning and evaluating your oral health every six months.
  • Fluoride treatments for children who are likely to get cavities.
  • Orthodontic treatments to straighten your smile.
  • Placing veneers on the surface of your teeth to hide discolouration.
  • Placing dental implants in your jawbone to provide support to the fake teeth.

Family dental Farmington is available for patients looking for more information about the types of services offered and the cost of dentistry operations.