Patients of all ages receive basic dental care from a family dentist. This can include everything from emergency dental care to routine dental checkups. To work as a family dentist, you’ll need a dental education that includes dental school and clinical training. Dentists, like other medical professionals, must pass a licensing exam and complete continuing education requirements to keep their licenses.
The family dentist’s job is to manage the dental health of both new and existing patients on a daily basis. Routine examinations and cleanings, as well as appointments to address specific concerns such as emerging dental disease, are all part of the job. To ensure that their needs are met, patients with chronic dental problems may require more close monitoring and maintenance care. If an issue is outside the scope of the dentist’s practice, he or she can refer you to another health care provider. In the case of a referral, the dentist can provide a consultation along with a summary of the patient’s medical history for the new practitioner’s benefit.
In addition to routine dental care, family dentists may also provide cosmetic dentistry as well as treatment for common oral health issues such as cavities. Complex oral and maxillofacial surgery, as well as orthodontic treatments that necessitate the services of an orthodontist, are generally not available. A family dentist may collaborate with other health care providers to provide a patient with comprehensive care, such as checkups in between orthodontist visits or management of oral health in patients who take medications that cause dry mouth.
Patients can see a family dentist at any time during their lives, from infancy to old age. The dentist is equipped and trained to deal with pediatric patients, who can pose unique challenges due to their developing mouths. As patients get older, the dentist can keep an eye on any potential problems and provide preventative care. Because the dentist typically gets to know the patient well and is familiar with the patient’s detailed medical history, catching health problems before they become serious can be easier.
Along with a family dentist, some dental practices may include orthodontists and other specialists. This allows dentists to easily refer patients and keep them with the same practice for as many services as possible. This can be convenient for patients, and it may also lead to better outcomes because it provides more continuity of care. When doctors work in the same office and are familiar with each other, sharing charts, patient history, and previous experiences can be much easier.