The Importance of a Family Dentist

The New Year is upon us, with the most popular resolutions being to lose weight, make more money, get organized, or quit smoking. But what about your oral health? Isn’t that just as important as your physical health?

Lifetime Smiles in Austin recognizes that in order to have good oral health, you need to see a dentist — and more often than once in a blue moon. So what prevents people from seeing a dentist? One of the biggest reasons is fear. But apart from that, it’s not having one, not trusting one, and not being able to drag your kids in. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the importance of finding a dentist the whole family can feel comfortable with.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A FAMILY DENTIST

• Feeling comfortable. Dentist offices can be scary places, especially for kids. Think about the treatment rooms: sterile, devoid of pictures, and a bunch of weird instruments lying around that go in your mouth that you can’t see. Going regularly to a place breeds familiarity and finding a dentist you’re comfortable with is imperative to maintaining good, overall oral health.
• Preventative care. Having good oral health is just like having good health overall. You eat good foods, exercise, and get plenty of sleep in order to have a healthy body. This is all preventative care, so you don’t develop health problems down the road. Getting regular dental check-ups by your family dentist is vital to good oral health. Cleanings not only make your teeth shiny and bright, but the function is much more than just cosmetic. Removing the plaque and tartar from your teeth prevents tooth decay and gum disease. It’s also a chance for your dentist to check for other dental concerns he or she may notice, such as cavities or recessed gums. X-rays allow your dentist to see what’s happening with the roots of your teeth as well as other teeth that may be moving, such as with baby teeth and wisdom teeth). Oftentimes, by the time your teeth hurt, it’s a symptom of something much worse than a cavity — and of something much more expensive.
• Convenience. Having the entire family see the same dentist is very convenient. You can make appointments all on the same day, and you can develop a relationship with a dentist for many, many years. Furthermore, your kids won’t “age-out” of a pediatric dentist (one who specializes in children’s dentistry and usually only treats kids). A long-term relationship is key to building trust.
• All medical records in one place. Having a long-term family dentist allows for ease of treatment plans as well as diagnoses should something awry crop up. You can follow your dental history of all your family members in one place.
• Forming a bond/trust with your dentist. Many people don’t like to go to the dentist because they have had a bad experience in the past. Thus, this experience bleeds over into the present and prevents people from getting oral health care. Seeing a dentist regularly will form a bond and a trust, which is vital in the event of emergency dental care. If your son gets smacked in the face with a baseball over the weekend, do you really want to just go to the first dentist who crops up when you Google?

Like your skin, your teeth are often overlooked. They provide a very important service. After all, you couldn’t live without food, and if you’ve ever had a dental procedure, then you know how hard it is to eat without using some of your teeth.

Oral health care is important and should not be overlooked. Excuses such as “I don’t have time” are only increasing the likelihood you’ll have a serious dental problem that could cost you down the road. If you have kids, it’s imperative they see a dentist early on. This will not only alleviate the fear of the dentist, but your family dentist can find problems and fix them early on, which is much less painful and easier while your child’s skull is still growing. A family dentist will teach your child how to brush carefully and set the precedent of how important it is to see the dentist. This is vital for the future, so hopefully, your child will develop the life-long habit of good oral health.

THE LIFETIME SMILE DIFFERENCE

If you visit the dental office of Lifetime Smiles with Dr. Arzegar in Austin regularly, you will prevent future visits, such as having to have a cavity filled, a root canal, or dentures done. Our general dentistry services include the following: checkups and cleanings, X-Rays, dental sealants, emergency dentistry, customized sports guards, sleep apnea treatments, and TMJ Therapy, which is a disorder of the jaw.

We welcome and encourage families of all ages and all sizes. To us, you’re family. We treat everyone here individually and help them achieve a great, healthy smile for years to come.Contact Lifetime Smiles and book an appointment today!