Types of Family Dentistry

The majority of dentist who are practicing are general practitioners who are trained and able to work with a wide spectrum of patients of all ages. A small minority of dentist are specialist that treats only in one of the nine specialty fields such as an oral surgeon or a dentist who treats only children.

When it comes time to decide what kind of dentist would serve your family best there are many advantages to choosing a family dentist. This choice makes it easier on your busy schedule to schedule appointments for the whole family with one practitioner instead of running all over town to take the kids to a pediatric dentist and you and your spouse to a general dentist.

A children's dentist may have a waiting room that is set up for kids with games and toys but it isn't the waiting room that should be selling point. When you are trying to decide between a family dentist and a specialist you need to ask yourself some basic questions. Is it going to make it easier or harder on you or whoever chauffeurs the kids to the dentist to have to go to a different dentist from the adults in the home? Is having a dentist who can only treat your child until they turn eighteen worth the future inconvenience? Wouldn't it be easier if your child grew up with the same dentist they could continue to go to as young adults who already knows their dental history and oral hygiene habits?

Your child should start seeing the family dentist at a young age, even while they still have only baby teeth to contend with. The dentist can educate your child and whole family about the proper care of teeth and help install good life long oral hygiene habits at a young age. Ideally if visits to the family dentist have begun at a young age it will be second nature to your child to take care of their teeth as they age and they won't develop a fear of the dentist chair that is so common in not only children but adults as well.

If your child is already fearful of visiting the dentist it can help for the family dentist to be someone who you are already familiar and comfortable with as a patient so you won't worry about the care and treatment your child will receive knowing the quality of care you already see from this doctor.