Family Dentistry

What is Family Dentistry?

Family Dentistry is the practice of general dentists who care for patients of all ages. A family dentist treats you and your entire family and care for your overall health. Your family dentist is responsible for the diagnosis, treatment and overall service to meet your oral health needs. If you ever need specialized dental treatment such as TMJ, Dentures, Cosmetic Dentistry or Endodontics, your family dentist will assist you in finding the specialized care you need.

How should I care for my teeth as I get older?

Maintaining good oral health is not only vital to having a healthy body, it can keep you smiling well into retirement. Brush at least twice a day (more often if you have periodontal disease) with fluoride toothpaste and a soft brush. Flossing in critical in removing plaque from between the teeth and below the gum line where your tooth brush can’t reach.

How can I protect my child’s oral health?

In addition to brushing and flossing twice a day, be sure to bring your child for regular checkups twice a year. Your child’s first dental appointment should be schedules for 6 month after the first tooth emerges, generally about 1 year of age. This first appointment will just be a quick check to see how the beginning tooth structure is developing.

As your child gets older, speak with your children’s dentist about the need for mouth guards if your child is playing sports such as basketball, baseball or soccer. Your family dentist is a perfect kid's dentist because they already are familiar with your entire family.

What should I do if my child’s tooth gets knocked out?

Call your children’s dentist immediately if a tooth gets knocked out, even on the weekend. Timing is critical to saving the tooth. Treat this as a dental emergency because thirty minutes can make the difference between saving and losing a tooth. Handle the tooth by the crown, never the root, and rinse gently under running water. For a child, place the tooth in a small container of milk to take to the dentist. For an adult, place the tooth in your mouth between the check and gum to keep it from drying out.

If a tooth is pushed out of alignment, use light finger pressure to gently push the tooth back into position. Do not force the tooth. Then bite down to keep the tooth from moving. Again, see your family dentist as soon as possible.

What kind of procedures does a family dentist provide?

Many family dentists are highly educated and trained on all dental procedures. Rather than specializing in just one area of dentistry, they can provide many different services for you and your family, such as:

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