Choosing the Right Family Dental Care Provider

A big part of maintaining good oral health for you and your family is finding the right family dentist. Finding a family dentist who meets your needs and the needs of your children may not be easy. A family dentist is a general dentist who is trained and qualified to see patients of all ages, from children to older adults. Your goal is to find a qualified dental professional who is experienced in adult oral health treatments and who offers excellent pediatric care. When you find the right family dentist, every trip to the dental office can be a fun and positive experience. Before you search for the right family dentist for your family, it is important to consider what is important to look for in a dentist for your entire family.

What Parents Want

There are many things to consider when searching for a good family dentist. Your needs may be different than the needs of your children. The following are some of the priorities a parent may want to consider when looking for a family dentist:

• A good relationship: When you and your entire family are seeing the same dentist, it is important to look for a dental professional you have good rapport with. Good communication is key. You want to find a family dentist who you feel comfortable talking to. You want to make sure to find someone who you are able to ask questions and vocalize concerns to. Maybe you would like input on healthy snacks, or to make sure your daughter is flossing correctly. Whatever the question, you want to make sure you feel comfortable having these types of conversations.
• Experience: A family dentist with years of experience working with patients of all ages, including adults and kids, will be ready to respond to all of the needs your family may have. Before your first appointment, do some research on your family dentist. Look for reviews to read or the biography on their website and ask around for any feedback from local friends and family.
• Services: Before you commit to a family dentist you may want to review the list of services that they provide. Do they have a team of dentists in their practice who can meet all of the needs of your family, or will you have to go elsewhere for certain services? It is important to be aware before your commit if the dentist can meet the needs of your family.
• Logistics: Finding a dentist that logistically makes sense and is practical for your family is a big bonus. Is the dental office located close to your home? Will you be able to make appointments for multiple family members at the same time?

What Kids Want

The needs of your kids may be less clear for you. At the end of the day, your children want a dentist who is friendly, gentle, and comfortable working with kids. An inviting waiting room and toy prizes help to make an appointment as fun as it can be. The best thing you can do is help your kids develop a positive attitude toward the dentist and their dental visits by finding a family dentist who makes them feel good.

More on Family Dentistry : What is a Family Dentist?