As a responsible parent, one of the smartest decisions you can make is investing in your children's oral health. Some people go through life without visiting their dentists, and this ends up costing them severely in their old age.
Besides giving you a beautiful smile, good oral health is essential in preventing infections, tooth loss, heart disease, cancer, and other diseases. So family dental care is critical to you and your loved ones. If you are hearing about family dental care for the first time, here are some of the questions you might have.
What Is Family Dental Care?
Family dental care focuses on the oral health of a person at every life stage. It's meant to take care of your oral needs and your children's at all life stages. In an ideal situation, your children should only have to deal with one dentist throughout their lives.
You can interpret family dental care as a one-stop shop that allows you to book one dental appointment for your entire family. The family dentist will take care of everyone's needs. Some of the dental services offered include cleanings, dental fillings, dental implants, gum disease treatments, fluoride treatments, and professional oral advice.
When Should You Introduce Your Child to Your Family Dentist?
Your child's first oral visit should be after their first tooth erupts. In most cases, this is before their first birthday. At this stage, nothing much is done unless the child has noticeable oral abnormalities.
The main aim is to get the child accustomed to your family dentist and the sight of the dental office. As they grow older, they can have more purposeful dental appointments.
How Often Should Your Child See the Dentist?
Your child should visit your family dentist at least twice a year for cleanings and routine exams. But this can change depending on your dentist's professional assessment of your child's oral health.
When your child gets to six years of age, it's critical to maintain regular checkups, as this is the time when their premolars start to sprout. Molars are vulnerable to decay and other infections during their initial stages.
How Often Should an Adult See the Dentist?
Just like your children, you need to see your family dentist at least twice a year for cleanings, checkups, and preventative care. But your dentist may recommend more visits after assessing your oral health. For example, if you are undergoing Invisalign treatment, the dentist may require you to attend an orthodontic progress checkup every six weeks.
Reach out to a family dentist to learn more.
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