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FAMILY DENTISTS IN WINSTON-SALEM
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LEAL, SPANGLER & JOHNSON
No matter what the age, everyone needs to see a dentist. If you have a family, then there may be people in your family with a vast array of different ages. This leaves you with two different options: finding dentists to meet the needs for different members of your family, or going with a dentist that can treat every member of your family. The latter is known as a “family dentist.”
WHAT IS FAMILY DENTISTRY?
Family dentistry is the field of dentistry that involves the treatment of patients of all ages. Family dentists are often able to treat children as young as one (or below), teenagers and even adults.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PEDIATRIC AND FAMILY DENTISTRY
While family dentists can perform pediatric dentistry services, they are not strictly pediatric dentists. Pediatric dentists specialize in the treatment of children’s teeth, and do not necessarily work on adult teeth. Family dentists, on the other hand, are able to provide pediatric services and adult services.
Even if a pediatric dentist is able to work on adult teeth, they may prefer to work with children. The same goes for dentists that strictly treat adults. Family dentists enjoy working with patients of all ages, and are generally good with both adults and children.
GENERAL FAMILY DENTISTRY SERVICES
“Family dentistry” falls under the category of “general dentistry.” Because of this, family dentists provide an array of services that are considered “general dentistry” services (although, they may be able to provide additional services as well). Below are the services that most family dentists
will be able to provide for both their adult and child patients:
CHECKUPS
Checkups are fundamental for the oral health of patients of any age. During a checkup, a dentist will look at the patient’s teeth, gums, tongue, jawbone and cheeks to ensure their health. This may include taking x-rays, as well as an oral exam.
Checkups allow dentists to catch any oral health concerns early on, and treat them before they get worse. This is why it’s so important for every member of the family to see a dentist for a checkup and cleaning every six months. These regular checkups can mean the difference between a very minor fix, and a major oral healthcare procedure.
CLEANINGS
Even if you brush, floss and rinse properly, you may miss some of the plaque, tartar and debris that only professional equipment can properly remove. This is why it’s important to visit your dentist every six months for a professional cleaning. During this cleaning, the dentist uses
special tools to clear away tartar, plaque and debris and remove any bacteria that may lead to infection and/or decay.
CAVITY TREATMENT
While cavities can be avoided, they are a very common oral healthcare issue. Family dentists are able to treat cavities for both their child and adult patients—which includes the removal of the decay, and the placement of the filling.
ROOT CANAL THERAPY
While root canal therapy can often be avoided with proper at-home oral healthcare, root pulp infections still may occur. Most general dentists are trained to treat root pulp infections, and perform root canal therapy to save and restore the affected tooth.
OTHER SERVICES
While family dentists may only provide basic general dentistry services, some family dentists may offer additional services, like orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry. If you have any questions about specific procedures and whether or not your dentist is able to provide those services, speak with your family dentist. If they are unable to provide the services that you are looking for, they may be able to recommend an excellent dentist that can provide those services for you.
CONTACT LEAL, SPANGLER & JOHNSON
Drs. Leal, Spangler, and Johnson in Winston-Salem, NC provide the highest quality dental care with a personal touch, thoughtfully considering each patient and their needs. We offer comprehensive family and esthetic dentistry and love helping people achieve a healthy smile.
We are accepting new patients.
FINDING A FAMILY DENTIST
Finding a general dentist for your spouse and yourself can be a pretty simple process. You likely know what you are looking for, and you can decide on whether or not you like a particular dentist. Searching for a family dentist, on the other hand, can be a little more difficult. You’ll need to make sure to find a dentist that not only the adults in your family like, but also the children.
SET AN APPOINTMENT
Once you’ve found a family dentist that you would like to try out, set an appointment. You may want to consider having your spouse or yourself go to the dentist before your children to see if you like them. Once you are comfortable with the dentist, set an appointment for your children.
Make sure to have your next checkup and cleaning scheduled for every member of your family!
