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Family Dentistry in Cary, NC

From children as young as one, to adults in their later years, everyone needs a dentist. While there are dentists that specialize in treating adults or children, there are also dentists that are able to perform family dentistry for your entire family’s needs. When you are looking for a dentist
that can take care of your kids, your spouse and you, you’ll want to find a dentist that specializes in family dentistry.

What Is Family Dentistry?

Family dentistry is a field of dentistry that involves a dentist treating an entire family—as opposed to just adults or children. With a family dentist, your child can maintain the same dentist throughout their entire lives—even into their adult years.

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Family Dental Services

Family dentistry involves a variety of different services—most or all of which your family dentist may be able to provide based on your family’s needs. Below are a few of the basic family dentistry services that you can expect from a your family dentist.

Checkups and Cleanings


The cornerstones of family dentistry are checkups and cleanings. These two services are the most universal, and every family dentist should be able to provide them for each member of your family. Checkups and cleanings are also some of the most important dental services—as
they can help to avoid any major dental problems, as well as ensure that patient’s teeth stay clean.

During the cleaning process, your dentist or dental hygienist will remove tartar and debris that has accumulated—ensuring the health of your teeth and gums. This cleaning process will:

  • Reduce the chances of tooth decay
  • Protect against gingivitis
  • Remove stains
  • Prevent cavities

The checkup process involves the dentist taking a look at a patient’s teeth, gums, cheeks, tongue and jawbone to ensure their overall oral health. This will involve a visual inspection, and it may also include x-rays. X-rays will allow your dentist to look at your family members’ and your teeth to check for decay the may not have seen, the health of the teeth below the gum lines and even the health of the jaw.

With checkups, your dentist is able to catch oral health issues before they worsen. These problems may include:

  • Tooth Decay
  • Gum Disease
  • Cavities
  • Cancer
  • Bone Loss
  • Cracks or Chips in Teeth

A family dentist will be able to clean the teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue of every member of your family, and will be able to check for and diagnose oral health problems—ensuring they get the treatment they need before any oral health issues worsen.

Restorative Dentistry


There are times when teeth are damaged, or have decayed to the point in which they need to be restored or even replaced. When this is the case, you’ll need to undergo restorative dental services. Some of these services include:

  • Dental Fillings
  • Dental Crowns
  • Tooth Implants
  • Veneers
  • Root Canal Therapy

Restorative services will help to ensure the health of the tooth that is affected, as well as overall oral health.

Pediatric Dentistry


Pediatric dentists are dentists that specialize in the care of children’s teeth. While their teeth look similar to yours, baby teeth actually have certain differences that can only be treated by dentists that specialize in treating the teeth of younger patients. Pediatric dentists also know how to work with children to ensure their visit to the dentist is pleasant.

Cosmetic Dentistry


Cosmetic dentistry is the field of dentistry that involves cosmetic procedures. While some of these services (like teeth whitening) are almost entirely cosmetic, other services (like dental bridges), serve important functions for overall oral health. While not every family dentist provides a wide range of cosmetic services, many family dentists will at least be able to provide basic cosmetic services that restore the patient’s smile, and ensure their oral health.

Can Any Dentist Be a Family Dentist?


While many dentists can work on the teeth of adults, teens and even children, not all dentists are well-equipped for family dentistry. Some dentists may specialize in the treatment of adult’s teeth for example, and may not be well-practiced in the field of pediatric dentistry.

It’s also important to understand that—even if a dentist is able to care for the teeth of every member of your family—it doesn’t mean they want to. Some dentists don’t like to deal with adult or child patients. This is why it’s important to find a dentist that specializes in family dentistry,
instead of trying to convince a dentist to work on the teeth of every member of your family. There are plenty of dentists that are willing to, and capable of, working with every member of your family.

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Finding a Dentist for Your Whole Family


Because not every dentist specializes in family dentistry, it’s important to find a dentist that is able to work with each member of your family—no matter what their age is. It’s also important to find a dentist that you personally like and trust to help with your family dentistry needs. Once
you’ve found a dentist that you like, check their availability, and price for their family dentistry services. Also check with your insurance company to see if they will work with your dental insurance.

You may want to consider visiting the dentist before your children, just to make sure that the dentist that you have chosen is right for you. While there are many excellent, qualified family dentists, not all dentists are the right match for every family. Visiting the dentist first will allow you to evaluate their family dentistry services firsthand, so you can make an informed decision about their quality and friendliness. Visiting the dentist first may also build a child’s trust in the dentist—as they will follow your lead. If you like the dentist, they’ll be more inclined to like the dentist as well!

Choosing the right family dentist is an important decision—as this dentist will be performing family dentistry for your family for a long time. That’s why you’ll want to make sure that you pick a dentist that is able to provide a variety of family dentistry services. It’s also important to pick a
dentist that you can trust. Schedule a visit with a family dentist for your next checkup and cleaning to see if that dentist is right for your family.