Family Dentistry

Family dentists are the perfect solution if you want to treat every family member. Even more so than general dentists, family dentists understand how to work with young children who may not be comfortable in the chair. It’s a great way to curb fears that often start early and are harder to challenge as people age.

What Does a Family Dentist Do?

You can count on a family dentist to perform the following tasks:

• Check-ups: You should ideally be visiting the dentist when a child’s first tooth comes in, or at least by their first birthday. These exams give the dentist a better idea of how your child’s oral care will develop over time and can make it easier to schedule preventive services that can save you thousands over your childhood and adolescence.
• Cleanings: Your child’s baby teeth may not stick around forever, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need to be cleaned. The stronger their teeth are, the more likely they’ll be able to handle wear and tear over time, and the healthier their gums will be.
• Periodontal cleanings: When hormonal changes can cause damage to the gums, a family dentist in Northampton, MA, can be an asset for kids and teenagers as they enter puberty.
• Custom guards: From nightguards to mouthguards, the right protective wear can help keep kids from losing or damaging their teeth during physical activity. They can also help curb habits like teeth grinding and potentially help straighten teeth without the need for braces or clear aligners.
• Sealants: Due to the porous nature of children’s teeth, treatments like sealants or fluorides can help prevent cavities in a child’s teeth. Even the most responsible child can benefit from these measures, as they can drastically reduce the odds of any tooth damage to new adult teeth.
• Restorative dentistry: This branch of dentistry includes any services that make the mouth whole again. While fillings are most common for family dentists, it can also refer to non-surgical root canals, crowns, or cosmetic services.

Why Choose a Family Dentist?

Part of the reason why families choose a family dentist is simply for practicality. When you can keep everyone’s records together, scheduling services and keeping up with any necessary appointments is easier. However, there are more benefits to the right practice that may meet the eye.

Not only will dental staff have a more complete picture of everyone in the family, but they’re also there to stop bigger problems before they occur. Whether it’s a crown, filling, or extraction, their goal is to keep teeth as healthy as possible as they develop, so kids are less likely to need major dental work even as they head into their 50s and 60s. Plus, family dentists are equally effective at treating the adults in the family, recommending services that will preserve the integrity of each tooth.

Family Dentistry in Northampton

At Wohl Family Dentistry, the goal is to treat families who want to streamline their dental care without sacrificing the quality of every treatment. Every effort is put into saving all the hassles of patients as they age. Whether that’s preventing an extraction with a root canal or braces with the help of a mouthguard, we’re here to catch problems long before they have a chance to progress.