Family Dentistry Can Improve Your Family’s Smiles
If you have children, we understand you want the best for them and that includes getting them the best dental care. If you’re looking for a family dentist in Farmington, NM that can take care of your child’s health, look no further than Desert Hills Dental Care. Our Farmington family dentists are skilled enough to protect your smile and the smile of your children with our family dentistry services. Keep reading to learn more.
What Is Family Dentistry?
Family dentistry is a field of dentistry concerned with addressing oral health at every stage of life, especially for teens and children. Family dentists are very similar to general dentists, but they tend to have more experience with younger patients, who often need extra attention and special care.
Family dentistry also places an emphasis on preventive dentistry, helping young and adult patients avoid the need for more costly and invasive treatment down the line. We’ll also advise your children on how to care for their teeth and advise you on how to help your children take care of their teeth.
Our experienced team of Farmington family dentists is proud to provide family dentistry services that help your entire family maintain their beautiful smiles. Keep reading to learn more.
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are thin, plastic-like barriers that are painted onto the teeth. These barriers prevent food particles from settling into the cracks and crevices in the teeth and causing cavities. According to a study conducted by the Community Preventive Services Task Force for the CDC, dental sealants reduce the rate of cavities on back teeth, where nine out of 10 cavities occur, by 80 percent.
This preventive measure is especially useful for children, who are still learning how to care for their smiles and are more prone to cavities. Besides children, adults can also benefit from dental sealants as well.
Fluoride Treatments
Fluoride treatments are another family dentistry method that can have long-term benefits for your smile and your children’s smile. Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps keep enamel strong by remineralizing teeth. Fluoride treatments involve a simple fluoride rinse that helps strengthen your enamel and protects you and your family from harmful tooth decay.
TMJ Treatment
If anyone in your family grinds their teeth at night (bruxism) or struggles with severe head, jaw, and neck pain, ask our Farmington family dentists about TMJ therapy. TMJ is an abbreviation for temporomandibular joint, and when these joints experience problems, it’s referred to as TMD or temporomandibular joint disorder. With our effective treatments and neuromuscular approach, you and your family can find long-lasting relief from TMD.
Frequently Asked Questions
Family dentistry often focuses on preventing the need for more costly procedures down the line, so you or your family member’s insurance provider is likely to cover some or all of the costs. We recommend contacting your insurance provider beforehand to confirm with them which costs they can cover.
If you or your children are underinsured or uninsured, don’t worry. We accept many different forms of insurance and offer third-party financing through CareCredit to help you and your family afford treatment. If you have any questions about financing, contact Desert Hills Dental Care by dialing (505) 327-4863, one of our knowledgeable staff members can answer your questions.
Our Farmington family dentists recommend visiting Desert Hills Dental Care as soon as your child’s first tooth begins to show, or no later than their first birthday. We’ll deep clean their teeth and gums, helping to prevent cavities and other uncomfortable oral health problems. We’ll also help instruct you and them on how to properly care for their smile, which will help them build good oral hygiene habits into their adult years.
Once your child is old enough to start seeing their family dentist, you should have them visit Desert Hills Dental Care at our Farmington office at least every six months. Depending on the state of your child’s oral health, our family dentists may recommend they see us more often. Ensuring your child sees us as needed will help our Farmington family dentists keep better track of your child’s health for more effective treatment, and help your child feel comfortable at our office.
Children are often nervous if not scared when they first start seeing the dentist. Before your child’s first visit to their Farmington family dentist, you can help them by bringing them to visit our office before their appointment. They’ll likely feel more comfortable at our office if they’ve been there a few times.
Additionally, you should let your child know what to expect by using children’s stories about the dentist and calming language to explain that the dentist is there to help. Rest assured that our Farmington family dentists will also help your child feel comfortable by building a relationship with them. We’ll take every step to keep them comfortable and explain to you and them what to expect before any treatment begins.
Choose Desert Hills Dental Care For Quality Family Dentistry
At Desert Hills Dental Care, our Farmington family dentists are ready to serve you and your family with quality family dentistry services. We’ll keep you and your family’s oral health in top shape, while helping your children feel comfortable at our office and build good hygiene habits into the future.
We offer family dentistry services to new and returning patients from our home location of Farmington and surrounding areas such as Kirtland, Spencerville, and Bloomfield, NM. Contact Desert Hills Dental Care by dialing (505) 327-4863 or fill out our contact form to schedule your family’s appointment and help them create smiles they’ll love.