While you may believe that a pediatric dentist is better suited to your children’s needs, a family dentist is just as equipped to look after their dental health. A family dentist is a dentist who treats patients of all ages–children, and adults, providing dental services under one roof: checkups, cleanings, examinations, fillings, x-rays, fluoride treatments, and sealants, among many others.
Having a family dentist has its advantages, but it has to be the right one. Only you can decide what’s best for your family, but here are the qualities you might consider in choosing the right dentist for you and your family:
- Offers emergency dental services;
- and multiple services aside from general dentistry
- Located around your vicinity
- Easy to make appointments with convenient clinic hours
- Accepts in-house plans and insurance coverage
- Comfortable and relaxing environment
In this article, we’ll go over them one by one.
Offers emergency dental services
It helps to know that you have a dentist on hand if something happens to you that requires dental care right away. You know you have found the right dentist if you can put your trust in him with any member of your family. You don’t have to look for an emergency dentist every time you have an emergency because it’s hard to look for one at the last minute. It’s always an advantage if your family dentist is available for emergency services and lets you schedule an appointment anytime.
If you have kids, this is most important. Most bizarre things can happen; your child can get his tooth chipped or knocked out at any moment, and such situations always occur at the most inopportune times. Having a reliable family dentist means that you may see them at any time and be confident that you will receive high-quality care, regardless of the scenario.
Offers multiple services aside from general dentistry
Family dentistry has been practiced for many years. Family dentistry offices, on the other hand, are unusual in that they offer a wide range of procedures in-house. The majority of dentists in North America — over 158,000 – practice general dentistry, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). General dentists, often known as primary care dentists, can treat a wide range of oral health issues for the entire family. Many general dentists specialize in areas such as orthodontics, root canal therapy, and aesthetic dentistry.
Family dentistry clinics or groups usually provide specializations or services for the entire family in one place. You can make appointments for numerous family members at the same time with a family dentist. Of course, this is contingent on the dental office’s schedule and availability. When looking for a family dentist, you can still inquire at offices. With this kind of scheduling flexibility, you’ll spend less time waiting for back-to-back or multiple-day appointments.
Located around your vicinity
One of the most significant advantages of having a family doctor is the simplicity of making only one phone call to schedule appointments for the entire family and driving to the same location.
Easy to make appointments with convenient clinic hours
Regular dental appointments occur every six months, so they’re easy to schedule well in advance. But so far in advance, they’re also easy to forget! And even if you keep them on top of your mind, life happens. Try to make sure the dentist you choose is adaptable enough to your schedule that a missed appointment won’t turn to a several-month delay. Frequent checkups are the backbone of dental health, and you will want a dental practitioner who will help you keep on track.
Accepts in-house plans and insurance coverage
Is your insurance accepted by the dentist? If the dental office you’re considering isn’t covered by your insurance, you might want to hunt for another option, as dental operations can be costly. It’s generally best to go with a family dentist that accepts your insurance and charges a reasonable rate. A dental clinic that does not accept insurance might be a significant deal-breaker for families on a limited budget.
Comfortable and relaxing environment
Once you’ve gathered your information—you’ve identified someone with the correct specialization, convenient hours, and plenty of support from people you can trust—there’s one thing left to do: go see them! Many providers will allow you to come in for an initial consultation or checkup. This will help you get a sense of the office, the personnel, and the dentist(s). After all, you want someone you can trust as well as someone who is qualified. You should seek out a dentist with whom you feel comfortable asking questions and who explains things in a way that is understandable to you.
The importance of oral health is fundamental and can’t be overstated. Oral hygiene minimizes the risk of infections, heart disease, and possibly cancer, aside from giving you a terrific smile. It’s a vital aspect of the entire health and well-being of you and your family.
You may reach us if you are looking for a family dentist in the Cedar Rapids and Marion, IO region. To schedule an appointment, contact us today!
