Family Dentist vs. General Dentist: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters?
It is important to choose the right dentist for you when it comes time to maintaining your oral health. Understanding the differences between “family dentist” vs. “general dentist” can help you to make an informed decision regarding yours and your families dental care. We’ll explain the differences between general and family dentists in this article and why it is important to choose the right dentist for you and your loved ones.
What is a General Dentist?
General dentists are dental professionals who provide a wide range of dental services to patients of all ages. They are trained in diagnosing, treating, and managing overall oral health needs including routine cleanings and fillings. Dentists who are general practitioners typically only focus on prevention and common dental problems.
General dentists can treat patients of any age, but some choose to concentrate their practice on one particular demographic. For example, they may focus exclusively on seniors or adults. While a general dental practitioner can treat children technically, they may not have the necessary experience or comfort to deal with young patients. Similarly their practice may not be setup with Children’s care and comfort as a focus.
What is a family dentist?
A family dentist is a dentist who treats patients of all ages, and focuses on comprehensive care. Family dentists are able to manage the dental health needs of adults, children, and seniors under one roof.
Families can benefit from using family dentists as they can focus more on building relationships with members of a wide age range. Patients can benefit from continuity of care by having their entire family treated at the same dental practice. As patients get more comfortable with their dentists and office, they can reduce dental anxiety.
While family dentists are skilled at treating patients of all ages, they might not have the specific training and expertise that pediatric dentists have in meeting the particular dental requirements of children. This is one possible drawback of selecting a family dentist over a pediatric dentist. Pediatric dentists receive additional training that is centered on child psychology, behavior management, and the growth and development of children’s teeth. With this specific understanding, pediatric dentists may better address the worries and phobias of their young patients, make their office more kid-friendly, and offer more individualized preventative care—which can be especially helpful in the crucial early years of dental development.
Key Differences Between Family Dentists and General Dentists
1. Scope of Practice
Family dentists are more flexible in their treatment of the dental needs of your entire family. General dentists tend to focus on adults or more specialized dental care.
2. Experience with Children
Most family dentists have some training and experience with regards to pediatric dentistry. However both family and general dentists can struggle to handlethe unique challenges of treating young children. Family dentists are typically more capable of creating a kid-friendly environment, which can help make dental visits for children less stressful.
3. Continued Care
The continuity of care provided by a family dental office is one of its biggest benefits. Family dentists are able to monitor and manage dental care more consistently because they treat their patients for the duration of their lives. They can also catch potential problems early and maintain a comprehensive dental record.
4. Convenience:
A single dentist can handle all of your family’s dental needs, reducing the number of appointments you have to schedule and streamline billing and care. Families are often able to schedule appointments around their busy lives. This makes it easier to keep up with regular dental care.
How to Choose the Right Dentist for Your Family
Consider your family’s needs when choosing between a general and family dentist. Assess the age of family members that need dental care. A family dentist with experience in pediatrics can be an advantage if you have young kids. If your household is primarily made up of adults, however, a generalist who focuses on adult care may be a better choice. Consider the dental services that your family needs. Ask the dentist if he offers specialized services, such as cosmetic dentistry or orthodontics, or if he can refer you a specialist. You can make an informed decision by researching the dentist’s credentials, reading reviews and asking for recommendations from family and friends.
At Open Sesame Dentistry, our focus is solely on professional kids dentistry, we have over 20+ years experience specialising in Kids Dental care in NYC, as a result our procedures, patient care, and treatment plans developed specifically with children in mind are far superior to any general or family dentist.
The Importance of Building a Long-Term Relationship with Your Dentist
A long-term relationship can improve the quality of dental care. If you visit your dentist regularly, he or she will become familiar with all of your concerns, including any dental issues, preferences and history. This continuity allows your dentist to give you more personalized care, and monitor your oral hygiene more effectively. Families can benefit from having a dentist that knows the dental history of each member. This will make it easier to deal with hereditary dental problems and to ensure everyone gets preventive care.
The comfort and trust that develops over time can also make dental visits more enjoyable, especially for kids who initially may be anxious to go to the dentist. If you are looking for a general or family dentist, a relationship that is long-lasting can be beneficial to your oral health.
If you are looking for a specialist kids dentist in NYC, then give the team at Open Sesame a call today, alternatively you can book an appointment with us below. We look forward to meeting you, and taking care of your little one’s oral health!
