Family Dentist Near Me | Family Dental Care
"Although family dental groups have been around for years, they're unique in that they provide a variety of treatments in-house, whereas many practices are built around a specialty. According to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), the majority of dentists in North America – about 140,000 – practice general dentistry. General dentists can treat your whole family and are considered your primary care dentist.
To be sure, general dentists often do have training in many specialized areas, like orthodontics, root canal therapy and even cosmetic dentistry. What makes family dental groups appealing is how they offer more than one specialized dentist in their practice, offering the convenience of a "one-stop" solution for all your family's dental care needs. Whether you need a pediatric dentist, someone who specializes in treating children's teeth; or an endodontist, who treats the pulp and root – you can find family dentists who provide what you need at one office.
It's also more likely you can schedule appointments for multiple family members at the same time. Although this is largely up to how individual practices schedule their patients, it's a good idea to ask up front when searching for a family dental group. This means less time waiting for back-to-back appointments, or appointments on multiple days. This info can be found at https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/basics/dental-visits/family-dental-group-what-it-is-and-the-best-way-to-find-one-0315"
"General dentists are the main providers of dental care to people of all ages. At a routine visit to your family dentist, you will probably have a thorough examination of your mouth (including teeth, gums, and other structures), a professional teeth cleaning, and a discussion about your dental (and overall) health. If your exam reveals the presence of tooth decay, you will probably also have a filling in the affected tooth. Yet these procedures, while common, are hardly the only services your general dentist provides.
What Do Family & General Dentists Do?
Of an estimated 143,000 dentists practicing in North America, some 80 percent are general dentists. Unlike specialists, who are mostly focused on a particular aspect of dental practice, general dentists provide a wide array of services that are vital to your continued health, including:
- Preventive services — These help you maintain good oral health by stopping disease before it takes hold in your mouth. Regular exams (including diagnostic images such as x-rays) and professional teeth cleanings are a cornerstone of prevention. Your general dentist may give you detailed instructions to improve your at-home oral hygiene, and may also recommend preventive treatments such as sealants, if needed. And if you lead an active lifestyle, you can be fitted with a custom-made mouthguard at your dentist’s office.
- Restorative Services — When a problem is found, your dentist will ensure you get timely and appropriate treatment. Probably the most common (and highly effective) dental restoration involves removing tooth decay and placing a filling in the affected tooth. But that’s not the only restorative procedure general dentists provide. They offer you a place to go when you need prompt treatment for dental trauma—for example, a broken, loosened or knocked-out tooth. General dentists can diagnose and treat the causes of tooth pain or periodontal (gum) disease. They may also offer treatments for missing teeth, place crowns or bridgework, and help you get fitted with dentures. Some provide more advanced treatments, such as root canal therapy, orthodontics, and dental implants, as well.
- Cosmetic Procedures — Many general dentists can help you get the sparkling smile you’ve always wanted with a range of cosmetic procedures. These include teeth whitening, cosmetic bonding—even porcelain veneers. If a brighter smile is what you’re looking for, ask your general dentist about a smile makeover.
- Overall Health Concerns — In many respects, your oral health can be seen as a mirror of your general health. Some dental problems may reflect issues in other parts of your body, and vice versa. For example, untreated oral infections can lead to poorer control of diabetes, an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease, and complications during pregnancy. General dentists are trained to identify these and other issues, and offer appropriate treatment or referral when needed. One special concern is obstructive sleep apnea, a potentially deadly condition that can sometimes be treated with an oral appliance. General dentists can also offer nutritional counseling, advice on tobacco cessation and general health and wellness information. All of this info and more can be found at https://www.dentalplans.com/dental-information/types-of-dentists/general-dentist"
If you are looking for professional dental care for your whole family, give our team at LADD Dental Group a call! We have over 40 years of serving North Central Indiana families and we pride ourselves on giving our patients a reason to smile!
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