Choosing a Family Dentistry Clinic
Things To Look for When Choosing a Family Dentistry Practice
As important as dental care is to quality of life, many people struggle with fear and anxiety over the dentist’s office. Introducing your children to a family dentistry office at a young age can help mitigate this. Adults who have grown up receiving dental care throughout their life are usually better adjusted to the practice and more willing to go when necessary, including for preventative care.
If you are in the market for a new dental clinic for your family, choosing the right one can make all the difference in your child’s experience. Here are some things to keep in mind as you evaluate each provider to find the right one for your family.
Why Choose Family Dentistry?
Finding a family practice is ideal for children because it provides them with consistency throughout their development. When you choose a practice that they can return to throughout every stage of growth, you foster familiarity and comfort, which makes your children more likely to continue their routine dental care and preserve their oral health.
Family practices also simplify things for larger families because you don’t have to remember which family members see which dentist. When there are multiple care providers for members of your family, it can get confusing and important aspects of care may get overlooked.
How Do You Choose a Family Dentistry Practice?
When you’re ready to choose the right dental practice for your whole family, assess all of your options carefully. Schedule a consultation with each practice that you are considering so that you can find the one that is the best fit for your family. Before you get started, consider some of the important elements that can affect your satisfaction and quality of care.
Comfortable Environment
Comfort is critical, especially when you’re choosing a practice for your children. Look for an atmosphere that is welcoming, relaxed and upbeat. It is also beneficial to have an area with kid-sized furniture, toys and books as well so that your children feel welcome and entertained at the family dentistry practice. The goal is to foster comfort and ease for your children so that they are more at ease about their ongoing dental care. This reduces the risk of dental anxieties later in life.
Accessibility and Responsiveness
Another strong feature of a quality dental practice is accessibility. When you call the practice, are you able to talk with someone when necessary? Even if you’re forwarded to an answering service that passes the message along for a return phone call, if you’re getting in touch with someone and getting a call back in a timely manner, that’s a good sign. It’s important that the family dentistry practice you choose be accessible and responsive when you need it, whether it’s for a question about a child’s tooth injury or your dental bridge not fitting right.
Special Needs Accommodations
Sensory issues, neurological differences and developmental disabilities can make dental visits a challenge. When you have a child with any kind of sensory, neurological or developmental challenges, you need to choose your dental practice carefully. Take time to ask about their experience with your family’s specific needs so that you can be sure that your family member will be properly cared for and that the family dentistry office you select is well-equipped and prepared.
Emergency Services
Emergencies may not be your first thought when you’re considering dental care, but the truth is that dental emergencies can happen anytime, especially if you have active children. Kids who play sports or spend a lot of time physically active may be at risk of dental emergencies from impact injuries or other issues. Look for a dental clinic that has emergency care hours or works with an emergency dental clinic so that you can get the emergency treatment necessary in the event of an injury or trauma to a tooth.
Comprehensive Treatment
Children’s dental care can involve a lot of potential treatment needs, including orthodontics and wisdom tooth extraction. Keep this in mind when you choose a family dentistry provider. Look for an office that provides comprehensive care with oral surgery and orthodontic care included. These treatments can be traumatic for some children, so maintaining familiarity with the practice may help ease their anxieties, making the experience easier for everyone.
Current Technology
Technological advances have made dental care easier, less painful, and less traumatic than it was even a decade ago. Take this into consideration as you assess your options for your family’s dental care. When you attend your consultation, assess each practice based on its incorporation of the latest technology. Whenever possible, choose the family dentistry practice that is the most willing to adapt to technological advancements. This is the practice that will be more likely to stay on the cutting edge of treatment options and encourage pain-free dentistry.
Treatment Cost and Insurance Coverage
Although the priority should be finding a practice that’s the best overall environment for your family’s needs, don’t overlook the importance of choosing a practice that also fits your budget or your insurance plan. Consider whether you can reasonably pay out of pocket for dental care that your family might need. You may need to narrow down your family dentistry options based on your insurance coverage first and then select the best option from those choices. In either case, you’re sure to find the practice that’s the best fit for both your family and your budget.
Dental care is more important than many give it credit for. In fact, maintaining proper oral health can reduce your risk of heart disease, systemic infections and bone loss. Choosing the right dental practice is critical to this because your experience with a dental practice dictates whether you continue your care.
Don’t let the process of choosing a family dentistry practice become overwhelming. Keep these tips in mind to help you narrow down your options, assess each practice thoroughly and find the one that is the best fit for your family’s current and future needs. If you have other questions, or we can help in any way, contact us at Lakeshore Dental SC today.
Sources:
Times Square Dental
Dansville Dental
Mouth Healthy
Cataloochee Dental