Family and general dentistry is important when attempting to avoid serious concerns down the road. While it is certainly important for adults to receive proper dental care, it is especially important for children to do so, as they are more prone to tooth decay and other oral health issues.
So, what is included with family and general dentistry? Such services range from preventive screening tests to extensive restorative dental procedures. Additionally, it includes treatment for everyone in the family, including young children who still have their baby teeth.
The following is everything you need to know about family and general dentistry services.
Preventive dental care is a fairly broad term that includes anything that helps prevent further oral health issues from developing.
One of the main forms of preventive care is testing to find out if there are any signs of dental health concerns. Common forms of preventive testing that a dentist may perform include:
It is important to be able to catch any signs of serious oral health issues as early as possible, to ensure proper treatment is administered in a timely manner. Otherwise, there is a chance of the disease, cancer or other serious health concern progressing.
Also, preventive care may simply include a dental filling to prevent a cavity from being exposed and leaving you vulnerable to an oral infection.
As it pertains to family and general dentistry, a restorative service includes any dental procedure that repairs a cosmetic or health concern, such as damaged or missing teeth.
While there are various forms of restorative services offered along with family and general dentistry, here are common restorative services offered by most dentists:
With restorative services, broken or missing teeth — which typically lead to cosmetic concerns — can be repaired. As we age, we are more inclined to suffer from tooth loss or damage, and restorative services can help improve the feel, function and appearance of teeth.
Last and perhaps most importantly, family and general dentistry includes any and all pediatric dentistry needs, such as dental cleanings, fluoride treatments and dental sealants.
The biggest mistake many parents make when it comes to the oral health of their children is assuming the health of their teeth is not important, since they are going to lose their baby teeth anyway. On the contrary, it is more important for children to receive proper dental care, as they are more vulnerable to cavities, and tooth issues at an early age could affect the way the permanent teeth grow in.
Subsequently, it is highly encouraged to have children make all their scheduled dental checkups and take advantage of other opportunities offered by family and general dentistry.
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