Family Dentistry: Getting the Family Teeth Healthy Together

Family dentistry is an ancient tradition and one that we believe is excellent for all families to adopt. The idea of seeing the same dentist for entire generations of the family, and being able to have that level of comfort and trust, is something that cannot be replaced easily. This same kind of relationship, as is established with family dentistry, is often found with the family physician. It is this bond that we find extremely honoring and effective in overcoming some of the basic patient anxieties that come with dentistry. We know there are a lot of people who are scared to go in to see the dentist. Dental anxiety is extremely common. However, the best way to counter this is to introduce the element of family dentistry. Consider the situation from the viewpoint of a child for a moment.

A child, naturally, does not enjoy coming in to see the dentist or any other medical provider for that matter. This is because you are taking the child out of their natural environment and placing them in one where there are strange sights, smells, and sounds. In this new place, there are people dressed strangely (scrubs or lab coats), there is equipment that needs to go into their mouth, and, worst of all, there is that chair you want them to lay back in. All of this is more than a little intimidating for an adult, far more so for a child. However, when you then introduce a friendly face by way of the dentist, the child is going to automatically relax. If they have come in before and are aware of the dental office, have seen you come in and leave unscathed, then they are more likely to be curious than afraid. Ironically, parents who bring their children in regularly have the same reaction when they see the care and comfort we provide, making their own treatment much more pleasant.

One of the most comforting things about seeing a family dentist is knowing that once you walk through the doors, the dentist and team are going to do everything in their power to make you comfortable and meet all your oral health needs. In addition to this, we have added two elements to help families. First, we make sure that whatever procedures can be done in-house, which is most general and family dentistry procedures, are done in the clinic. This prevents you from having to go all over to find the services from different providers for different family members. Whether it is x-rays or a filling, an extraction or braces, we are a one stop for your family. Often the needs of a family will change as the family members get older. This is when you need the convenience of being able to get all of your treatments from the same provider, in the same location. The second thing we do to make it convenient for families is to help you coordinate your schedules and appointments. This way, when you have multiple family members visiting the dentist, you can ensure that all the visits are close together and that the entire family is getting the maximum attention out of the time spent at the family dentist.

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