Family Dentistry

Learn more about family and pediatric (children's) dentistry by reading the sections below. The information provided will help in choosing the right family or pediatric dentist for you and your family.

Family Dentistry Practices

Family dentistry practices cater to the entire family and offer a full range of adult and children's dentistry procedures to serve patients of all ages.

For your children, your family dentist will provide comprehensive care designed to maintain dental health and ward off future problems. A big part of children's dentistry is education; making sure children know how to take care of their teeth can help them avoid future dental issues. In addition to providing general dentistry services for your children's dental needs, a family dentistry practice will visually instruct your children how to care for their teeth properly so that their teeth remain healthy and strong.

Family dentistry practices also offer a complete line of general-dentistry services geared toward adult teeth such as dental crowns and dental bridges, and may also offer teeth-replacement options such as dental implants and dentures. To improve the appearance of teeth and gums, your family dentist will likely offer cosmetic dentistry procedures such as teeth whitening and porcelain veneers. Your family dentist may also use aesthetic tooth-colored fillings to repair cavities in both adults' and children's teeth.

Pediatric (Children’s) Dentistry

Pediatric dentistry addresses the dental needs of children, from infancy through adolescence. Rather than being procedure specific, pediatric dentistry is age specific, focusing on your children's dental needs at a specific age. For your younger children, a pediatric dentist will maintain the health of baby teeth. Parents sometimes dismiss the importance of baby teeth because they are temporary. However, proper care for baby teeth can be critical. Baby teeth play an important role in learning to speak, and they serve as guides for permanent teeth. Improper care of your children's baby teeth can lead to gum disease and problems that have long-term consequences for permanent teeth.

As your children grow older, your pediatric dentist will monitor developing permanent teeth to be sure they come in healthy and straight. If, because of genetics or another reason, permanent teeth do not come in properly, your pediatric dentist will guide you to orthodontic solutions for aligning teeth, including braces, so that your children's teeth develop into a beautiful smile. For children who have extreme dental anxiety, a pediatric dentist can recommend safe sedation dentistry procedures.

Choosing a Pediatric Dentist

While DocShop's pediatric dentistry listings make it easy to find a highly qualified pediatric dentist in your area, finding the specific pediatric dentist right for you and your children can take a little research. It is best to begin looking for a pediatric dentist before your baby arrives or before your children develop a dental emergency. Contact a number of dentists, and ask them about their office hours and how they handle emergencies. A pediatric dentist who only fields calls during weekday office hours may not be the best choice. Ask the dentists how they stay up-to-date with the latest procedures and technologies, and what dental education they provide their young patients. And, from a practical standpoint, be sure to find out each dentist's costs for typical services such as checkups and fillings.

As you speak with each of the pediatric dentists, you will know if you will be able to establish a good rapport, and, perhaps more importantly, you will know if a dentist's demeanor will appeal to your children. A good pediatric dentist genuinely enjoys children and patiently listens to them when they express concerns or curiosity about their dental procedures. When you have narrowed your choices to two or three prospective pediatric dentists, visit their practices to get a feeling of the office environment. Talk to the staff and ask to see the materials the dentist provides to supplement dental education.

Remember, taking the trouble to research your prospective pediatric dentist will give you and your children peace of mind and help guarantee that dental visits will be pleasant, effective, and anxiety-free.

Locate a Family and Pediatric Dentist in Your Area

In addition to offering information on a variety of dental topics, DocShop provides countrywide listings so that you can quickly find a family or pediatric dentistry practice in your area. Find a Docshop family or pediatric dentist today to ensure the dental health of all your family members.