What Do Family Dentists Do?
The field of dentistry has diverse aspects with different specializations. It’s easy to get caught up in all the designations when you have to decide to visit a dentist in Vancouver. If you have to go to more than one Vancouver dentist, that means you would have to spend more money. If this is preventable, then it’s an option to choose. You can always take a cue from the title ‘family dentist’ itself. It brings the whole point in perspective. In this article, we will see who family dentists are and how they differ from other specialties.
Family dentists are equipped with the knowledge to take care of you from birth till death. In other words, they can manage your dental health from infancy, throughout childhood and the teenage years, into adulthood. This is not to say your family dentist in Vancouver BC will not make some referrals along the line. However, you can be sure that they understand dentistry at all ages. They are not as specialized in pediatric dentistry as pediatric dentists. But, they usually have experience in working with children. They also know the differences between oral health in childhood, teenage years, and adulthood. Hence, they can deliver specialized care to each group in a way that meets their unique hygiene needs. They’re the family’s one-stop-shop for everything dental.
How Are Family Dentists Trained?
Family dentists are well trained. They go through three or more years of undergraduate education and four years of dental school. They also go through residency training. This is where they acquire all skills to offer general, preventive, and comprehensive dental treatment for all ages.
What Services Do Family Dentists Offer?
You can get all dental services at the office of a family dentist in Vancouver BC. However, they do offer some services more commonly than others. Because they cater to the family’s needs, they’re more into oral hygiene and preventive dentistry. It’s a family dentist’s job to ensure that everyone in the family leads a healthy oral lifestyle. This way, they can keep all dental problems at bay. This is not to say they don’t offer other services. Some family dentists also offer orthodontia, oral surgery like dental implants, and cosmetic dentistry.
The most offered services are:
- Regular 6-month cleanings and exams: This is an important aspect of family dentistry. It allows the Vancouver family dentist to keep tabs on everyone’s oral health periodically. These cleanings and exams are for everyone in the family.
- Fluoride treatments and dental sealants: In line with the practice of preventive dentistry, fluoride treatments, and dental sealants are services offered by family dentists. Fluoride and dental sealants help to combat cavities, a common occurrence in children. This is because they’re prone to a lot of sugar consumption. They are also poor managers of their oral health. Because cavities are the most common preventable childhood health condition, family dentists also identify and treat cavities with fillings.
- Orthodontics: Your family dentist in Vancouver will most likely offer assessments for orthodontics. They can help your children with fixing braces if need be. This will correct the alignment of their teeth. If they don’t, they will refer you to trusted specialists in the field.
- Treatment of gum disease: Gum disease is a common occurrence in adulthood. Family dentists are well equipped with the knowledge to manage this condition. They use procedures like deep cleanings, gum flap surgery, and antibiotics to deal with cases of gingivitis or gum disease.
How Do Family Dentists Differ From General Dentists?
General dentists are trained extensively like family dentists. They also receive three or more years of undergraduate education as well as four years of dental school. One major difference between both specialties is that general dentists may restrict their patients to a specific age group. This means everyone in the family won’t get treatment at the office of a general dentist in Vancouver. They offer routine cleanings and check-ups to their patients. They also offer services like crowns, veneers, dentures, bonding, and tooth extraction.