When it’s time to choose a dentist, you want to make sure you are choosing the right professional for your needs. Nearly half of all adults, about 46% of those 30 years and older, show signs of gum disease. Often this is attributed to the fact that they do not keep up with their dentist appointments. If you are looking for a dentist, you might be wondering what the difference is between general dentists and family dentists. Let’s look at the differences.

General Dentists

It's crucial to visit the dentist from time to time to make sure everything is in check. According to Dentistry Today, 20% of Americans don't visit a dentist. This isn't advised and finding the right practice is the first step to take. General dentists often don't treat children and adolescents. They specialize in dental services for adults. Adult dental services and pediatric dental services differ vastly. If you're an adult looking for new dental services in your area, general dentistry will probably suit your needs. Occasionally, general dentists will offer specialized oral care as well. This will depend on each practice, however.

Family Dentists

A family dentist is someone who treats both adults and children. They also treat teens. Family dentists will treat everyone in your family in one spot. Many families find this very helpful as it assists them to keep their scheduling streamlined and less confusing. Family dentists will provide all the same types of services as a general dentist would, but you can also bring your small children to the dentist. Having consistent care for all of your family members is a valuable thing. Using a family dentist can help your children with dental anxiety as well. When you see the same professional throughout your experience, it can help put fears to rest. Most teens do not want to start seeing a different dentist when they get older so this solves that problem too.

A family dentist will provide preventative, restorative, periodontal, pediatric, and cosmetic services. A family dentist typically will not provide orthodontic care, though. If someone in your family is in need of orthodontic care, they'll need to visit an orthodontist. This is a very specialized field of dentistry, and most family and general dentists don't provide that service.

If you're searching for a new dentist for your family, you should consider family dentistry. Please contact Mitchem Dental today. We'd be happy to discuss our services and to schedule an appointment for you or your family.