Family Dentistry

Family dentists are dentists who have completed dental school and are trained to treat patients of all ages, from childhood to adult. These dentists can serve the entire family, making them a “one-stop shop” for everyone’s needs. 

What makes family dentists different from other specialized dental fields is that they’ve focused a part of their dental school training on pediatric dental care and the techniques and approaches that can help a child develop good dental hygiene into adulthood. This allows them to provide specific dental care to infants through 21 years old and beyond through all the unique health challenges that go along with the developing mouth. 

Family dentistry is just one of Bright Now! Dental’s offerings of comprehensive dental services, and with flexible scheduling and multiple locations, we make it easy for your entire family to get the affordable care you need, when you need it.

What is a family dentist?

A family dentist is a dentist who is able to offer a variety of services for all dental needs at every stage of life. From young, developing children who need special care to older adults with specialized oral health conditions, a family dentist can help you through the many stages of life and any dental health condition that occurs.

A family dentist offers many services, but these are some of the most common procedures and services they offer to their patients:

1. Routine dental cleanings and check-ups –  Regular cleanings every six months are vital for patients of all ages to ensure the dentist can catch conditions such as gum disease before they begin affecting your broader health. They also help your family dentist ensure your child’s teeth are developing properly.
2. Cavity prevention and fillings – As with many dental conditions, tooth decay can be minimized and quickly treated via regular cleanings. Tooth decay in baby teeth can cause problems in adult teeth that haven’t erupted, and it can lead to tooth and bone loss in adults.
3. Orthodontics – Orthodontics is the practice of correcting misaligned teeth and jaws by using appliances to slowly bring them back into place. While not all family dental care practices offer orthodontics in the same building, many of Bright Now! Dental’s family dentists are uniquely trained to supervise minor orthodontic treatment with our Reveal line of clear aligners, making getting a straighter smile even easier.
4. Trusted Referrals – You or a loved one may have a unique dental health situation that cannot be treated by a family dentist and requires a specialist. Your family dentist can provide you with trusted referrals to the specialists you need.

Why should you see a family dentist?

Seeing a family dentist for your oral health needs has a variety of benefits, such as: 

• Versatility: At a family dentist, the staff and dentists are trained to treat every patient who walks through their doors, allowing them to offer everything from restorative and preventative procedures like fillings and dentures to cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening.
• Tracking your family’s oral history: For developing children or those working on reversing the effects of gum disease, being able to keep the same dental provider for years helps to track the progression of a oral health without having to exchange documents from one office to another and allows the dentist to provide the best, most effective care.
• All-in-one location: A family dentist allows you and everyone in your family to receive care in one location with one provider, saving you time, money, and hassle. 

Pediatric Specialists within Family Dental Offices

Taking your child to regular cleanings and dental checkups at your family dentistry is important to establishing a lifetime of good oral health. Many family dentists have specialized training in pediatric dentistry, which can help ensure you and your child focus on maintaining good dental health hygiene such as regular brushing, flossing, and cleanings at the dentist.

Family dentists who are familiar working with children are better able to calm anxious children and treat antsy ones, and will often have more inviting waiting and treatment rooms for children, with toys or fun décor. Family dentists can also provide resources, guidance, and treatment options for childhood-specific dental issues like thumb-sucking or baby-bottle dependence.

Find Your Favorite Family Dentist at Bright Now! Dental

Bright Now! Dental is your family’s choice for quality, affordable dental care. Our friendly staff and experienced dentists can help make sure that everyone in your family gets–and keeps–a beautiful, healthy smile for a lifetime.

Find the Bright Now! Dental location nearest you to schedule an appointment today. Our locations are easy to find and get to, and we offer plenty of options to help you afford the care you need, from accepting most major dental insurances as well as CareCredit to financing plans and our own OneSmile Dental plan, which provides discounts on all dental services for one low annual fee for your entire family.