There are many factors to consider when looking for a family dentist. A lot goes into having good oral health than just a pearly-white smile. You and your family members must visit the dentist regularly to maintain good oral health. It would be best to find a family dentist who can solve all your dental problems, a dentist you can trust, and one you are comfortable and satisfied with.
According to research carried out by the CDC:
- Around 32% of adults aged 20-44 untreated dental problems
- 19% of minors aged 5-19 also had untreated dental problems
Additionally, 30,000 people living in the United States are diagnosed with oral cancer though it can be treated using proper dental care.
Services Offered by a Family Dentist
Some of the services offered to you and your children by a family dentist include:
- Sealants
- Gum disease treatment
- Identification and filling of a cavity
- Fluoride treatments
- Regular cleanings
- Orthodontics
Family dentists realize the changes that children's teeth go through as they grow, and they also understand that minors do not like dentist visits. It is essential to find a family dentist who is gentle to help children to have positive thoughts on visiting the dentist regularly and develop healthy oral habits.
Benefits of Choosing a Family Dentist
There are various benefits to choosing a family dentist. Some of which include:
It is convenient
Having a family dentist creates so much convenience for you and your family. How amazing is it to only make one appointment for the whole family? And the fact that you will not request for different day offs from work to take the children to the dentist.
You also do not have to take each person to their designated dentist. You all see the same dentist.
Eliminates Dental Anxiety
Anxiety and dental phobia is a significant problem that even parents fear. Dental anxiety, as well as a dental phobia, can cause family memes to avoid treatment. If any of you loved one is suffering from any of these situations, it would be helpful to have your oral health checked together.
Children develop these conditions early and having a family dentist can help them recover from this quickly. If you go for the check-ups together, your young ones will also gain some courage by seeing you do the same as mama doe because they like mimicking their parents. You also create a positive and lasting impression of visiting the dentist.
The good thing about visiting a family dentist together as a family after your children get used to seeing the dentist regularly, they will not have more problems with dentist appointments in the future.
Creates a Lasting relationship
It is essential to build trust between your family and your dentist. That way, everyone will express themselves ether without leaving any information behind or keeping any sensitive information to themselves. Giving all leads to the dentist helps them quickly diagnose the symptoms, and you and your family get the best treatment.
Having a trustworthy dentist is crucial to ensuring that your oral health and family members are in proper condition.
Preventive Care
Family dentists are familiar with several dental areas for people of different ages. Because children's teeth are at the developing stage, they often get checked by a family dentist to ensure that they have no problem. The dentist will also educate the children on some preventive measures to help them maintain their oral health. If your child needs teeth alignment, the dentist will tell that at an early stage and have it done when the child is still young, which is not more effective than those performed on adults.
You can also prevent tooth gum disease, cavities, and other dental problems through dental, riding, flossing, and brushing.
Family Dentists Have a Record of Your Family Dental History
The primary benefit of having a family dentist is that they have each family member's dental history. If your family members have had sensitivities, allergies, surgeries, and any dental disease, the family dentist has all that in his/her records. They always know the right treatment to use if you have an oral health problem with that information.
A keen dentist will also notice any changes in your mouth since your previous check-up and take the proper action. Some people may have an oral genetic disorder, and having the same dentist treating the whole family is more manageable and better. For example, if you have had a genetic problem before and the dentist treated you, he/she will be careful when treating your other family members.
Regular And Consistent Services
You should maintain good oral health; you should visit your dentist at least two times a year. Having a family dentist means that you and your family members will be confident and satisfied with the dentist's visit, and the chances of missing an appointment are meager.
Having a specific family dentist ensures that you get consistent treatments during all your visits. Some family dentists are also kind enough to remind their clients when their appointment is approaching, ensuring that none forgets to go for their appointments. Every time you visit your family dentists' office, he/she will offer consistent services to you and your family members.
Emergency Dental Services
It is vital to have a dentist available if something happens and you need dental care immediately. It should be a professional and trustworthy dentist. Once you have a dentist who is a call away, you save time and energy searching online for the right dentist. This also applies to your family members; if they have an oral emergency, you can always share the number of your family dentist with every family member in a way that they can contact him/her.
Your child may knock out their teeth in a hard way and require emergency dental check-ups; having a dentist you can be assured of quality service despite the time and situation is a relief to many parents.
Factors to Consider When Looking for the Right Family Dentist
It is essential to choose a family doctor that matches your needs and those of your family members. There are various factors that you should look out for before selecting a family doctor. Some of these factors include:
Insurance
Is insurance an accepted means of payment? Dental procedures for the whole family can be expensive. If the dental office does not accept your insurance cover, you should look for an alternative. Ensure you choose a dental office that takes your insurance network and has reasonable charges. If you are working on a tight budget, you may not want to choose a dental office that does not accept insurance.
Reviews and Testimonies
When choosing a family dentist, it is essential to first look at what people say about them. This will help you know their competency and how they handle clients. You can also ask your friends and family who have visited the dental office for their opinion.
Do not rush to pick a family dentist without asking around first. It is crucial to find a dentist who has positive reviews and has a successful track record.
Sites that could help you find for reviews include:
- Yelp
- HealthGrades
- Zocdoc
There are other sites that you could also find favorable to you. It may seem like a lot of work, but nobody wants to hire a family dentist with many negative reviews.
Affordability
Most dentists who offer dental services using the latest technology and procedures tend to be very expensive. Paying for all family members might be close to impossible, especially if you are under a budget. It is crucial to look for a family dentist who offers professional dental services at an affordable fee.
Even with insurance cover, there is still no need to choose a dental care office with an excessive fee.
Credentials and Education
For a dentist to be approved in the U.S, he/she has to attend a certified school and pass all exams then graduate. They should also make sure they are up to date with the new procedures and technologies. To know their credentials, you a look at their website or even enquire from them about the following:
- The time they have been operating.
- Their education as well as credentials
- If they are continuing with their education after graduation
If two or more dentists operate the dental office, it is essential to inquire from them. You may also want to enquire if they treat children because some dental clinics do not treat young children. If your children need braces, it is crucial to inquire about the same and outline care after the braces. It is advisable to look for a family dentist who offers more than one procedure. A dentist who does cleanings, fillings, and other dental routine services are better and will save you more time than providing only one service.
Services
It is crucial to find a dentist that offers the services you are looking for. A dentist that provides multiple services is better so that all your family members can get the dental care they need. Having a dentist who handles oral problems for all your family members saves you time, money, and energy. Some of the dental services you may look out for include:
- Tooth removal
- Invisalign
- Kids dentistry
- Family dentistry
- Cavity treatment
- Root canal treatment
- Preventative dentistry
- Treatment of gum disease
Instead of hopping from one dentist to the other looking for services, it is better to find all the dentist's benefits.
Office Culture
When looking for a family dentist, it is essential to look at the dental office's culture and atmosphere. Make an effort to visit the office and look at:
- The culture of the office
- How do you feel when at the office?
- How are the staff members? (are they friendly?)
- Will your children like the environment, and will they feel comfortable?
- Is it safe for the kids and is it clean?
If your family members like the dental office feel comfortable, they will always be willing to go for their dental checkups.
Current Technology and Procedures Knowledge
Dental technologies and procedures keep changing every other day. It is crucial to find a family dentist that is up to date with these technologies. To know if the dental facility is updated, look out for modern services like Family dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and restorative care. You can also enquire from them if they are updated on the latest procedures.
You can also enquire if they offer rotary endodontics. This involves root canals and other treatments to save an infected tooth. If the dentist can provide these services, that is an additional advantage. If you require a root canal as most people do, you do not have to search all over the internet; you are sure your dentist offers treatments for root canals using new technologies that are more effective than the traditional tools.
Personality
Finding a dentist who has a great personality is a plus on top of being skilled and experienced. It would help if you looked for a family doctor who will sit with you and explain everything to do with your oral health. A dentist who has experience working with children understands how challenging it can be to handle a child and handle them with gentleness. You may want to ask yourself the following questions:
- Does the dentist seem kind?
- Does it blend with you and your family?
- What does the dentist's personality look like?
Qualities That Your Family Dentist Should Have
Some of the qualities of a great family dentist include:
Trustworthiness
It is vital to find a dentist who is experienced and good at what they do. Dentists use sharp metal instruments in your mouth to perform procedures; hence it is essential to find a dentist you can be sure will not cause harm to your mouth. This will make you trust them with eleven of your other family members.
Great Personal Interaction
Dentists spend most of their time near your face operating in your mouth. The dentist is supposed to create a comfortable interaction between him and the patient. Professional dentists will always find it comfortable working close to their patients regardless of their dressing or bad breath.
The Power to Ease The Patient
Great dentists are comfortable to communicate with. Since most patients are always nervous and anxious about oral procedures, great family dentists will always try to connect with you personally and explain every process to calm you down before beginning the procedure. This will make you feel dentists care and kindness.
Detail Oriented
Since dentists work in your mouth, a tiny space, a family dentist needs to be detail-oriented to avoid causing more harm to your teeth and bite. You should find a dentist you can trust with your oral health to prevent these instances.
Aesthetically Focused
Dentists need distinctive mastery techniques. This is mainly thought of as an art. Dentists should put more focus on aesthetics as much as they put on observing good oral health. Your dentist's aim should be to make your smile more confident and restore good health on your teeth.
Passion Towards Their Job
A dentist who loves what he/she does every day will always do their best to help you. Dentists who find it fascinating to restore your oral health will always be devoted to maintaining your oral health. They enjoy putting a smile on the patient's mouth.
Good Communication
A great dentist should explain all the procedures to you most thoroughly and efficiently for you to understand. This will allow you to know what is going in and out of your mouth.
A dentist should also set the tone of your conversation to be comfortable sharing all your concerns and airing all your questions. And they should be able to answer this in the simplest way.
Every time you go for a dental check-up, make sure you obtain information on caring for your child's teeth and preventative care.
Show Compassion and Concern
Dentists should tell how a patient is feeling during a procedure, and they should be able to express their care and concern. A great family dentist will keep checking on their patient to ensure they are not in any pain and doing fine. They will make sure that throughout the process, you remain comfortable and with no pain. They will even be more passionate and kind to children.
Leadership
The right dentist should be able to run their business correctly and ensure that everything is in order and that all the patients' needs are catered for. They will take both positive and negative feedback and correct where patients complain about it.
Find a Family Dentist Near Me
Our skilled team at Tarzana Dental Care provides superior oral care to patients in Tarzana. We offer dental care services at an affordable rate. Our dedicated team provides exceptional dental care services, ensuring that we restore your smile in the best and safest way. Contact us today at 818-708-3232.