When you find a family dentist that can treat the entire family, it’s like a dream come true. The convenience, the trust, and the relationship you develop with your family dentist is invaluable because you have your family’s oral health taken care of under one roof. Having a family dentist is one of the best ways to ensure that your entire family has access to quality dental care. A family dentist can provide comprehensive care for everyone in your household, from infants to seniors. However, according to the CDC only about 65% of people see a dentist regularly. Here are some of the reasons why you should choose a family dentist for your dental needs.
The Benefits of Having a Family Dentist
There are so many benefits of having a dentist who treats the entire family. Many people prefer a family dentist compared to individual specialists because you develop long-term relationships with your dentist over many years and it is more consistent than changing dentists every few years. Some of the perks of using a family dentist includes:
1. Comprehensive Care: A family dentist can provide comprehensive care for all members of your household, from infants to seniors. This means that you can get preventive care, such as regular check-ups and cleanings, as well as restorative and cosmetic treatments when needed. This comprehensive approach ensures that everyone in your family gets the dental care they need.
It also means that if you or your young one needs a dental service, your dentist can provide specialized services like pediatric dentistry or geriatric dentistry. This benefit is appealing to many people because it shows your dentist has a true dedication to the field and puts in the time and effort to understand all parts of dentistry.
2. Convenience: Having a single dentist for your entire family makes it easier to schedule appointments and keep track of everyone’s dental health. Instead of having to make multiple appointments at different offices, you can simply schedule one appointment with your family dentist and have everyone seen at once. This saves time and makes it easier to keep up with regular check-ups and cleanings for each member of your household.
Imagine having a family of four who requires two to three dentists. This alone can create multiple appointments throughout the year, causing loss of time from work and school. When you choose a family dentist, it means you can all go at the same time and schedule visits to avoid missing important school, sports, or work events.
3. Familiarity: When you have a single dentist for your entire family, you get the benefit of familiarity with that doctor over time. Your children will become comfortable with their dentist as they grow up, which can help reduce anxiety about going to the dentist’s office. And since the same doctor will be seeing all members of your household, he or she will be able to track changes in each person’s oral health over time and provide more personalized treatment plans if needed.
It is important to develop a good relationship with your family dentist because you need routine dental check-ups throughout your entire life. Dental visits don’t simply end when you become an adult. If your child is comfortable with their family dentist, there is a much more likely chance they will go for regular visits as an adult. Many people opt to avoid the dentist in adulthood, primarily because of a poor earlier experience or a lack of any relationship with a dental professional.
Finding the Right Family Dentist
Once you decide that having a family dentist is right for you and your household, it’s important to find the right one who meets all of your needs and expectations. Here are some tips on how to find the perfect fit:
1. Ask Around: Ask friends and family members who they recommend or if they have any experience with particular dentists in the area. Word-of-mouth recommendations are often one of the best ways to find quality dental care providers in any area.
One of the easiest and best ways to get an idea of who people in your community use is to ask on social media. You can start your search from other friends and neighbors recommendations to see who people trust and enjoy going to.
2. Do Your Research: Once you have some names in mind, do some research on each potential provider before making an appointment or committing to any particular practice or doctor. Look into their credentials, read reviews from other patients, and make sure they offer services that meet all of your needs before making any decisions about which one is right for you and your family’s dental health needs.
Most dental practices have a website and social media platform so you can check out their office and staff in advance. It also gives you a good idea of how they put effort into their practice when you see how they update patients or give good educational advice on their blogs or social media sites.
3. Visit Their Office: Once you narrow down your list of potential dentists, make sure to visit their office before making an appointment so that you can get an idea of what it’s like there and how comfortable it makes you feel overall. This is especially important if you’re looking for pediatric dentistry services since children may need extra comfort during their visits due to anxiety or fear about going to the dentist’s office in general.
4. Make an Appointment: Once you find a few potential dentists who meet all of these criteria, make an appointment so that you can meet them in person before committing to any particular provider or practice long-term for yourself or other members of your household who may need dental care services regularly over time.
There is a family dentist for everyone so it is great when you initially click with a dental group, but sometimes it takes some searching to find the perfect fit for your family. Ask questions about a dentist’s vision so you can see that you’re both on the same page when it comes to your oral care.
Conclusion
Choosing a family dentist is one of the best ways to ensure quality dental care for every
member of your household from infants through seniors. At Caldwell, Bills, Petrilli & West Dentistry, you’ll find an entire team dedicated to giving your entire family the dental care they need. No matter what your dental needs are from preventative care, to cosmetic dentistry, or restorative and emergency care. The talented staff at Caldwell, Bills, Petrilli & West cares about you and your family. We work hard to provide the best care possible for our patients. If you’re ready to start your journey to oral health, contact us today.