Family Dentist

Dental health is a critical aspect of your overall health, and choosing the right dentist may feel a bit overwhelming at times. Not only are there all of the dental practices in your area to choose from, but there are different kinds of dentists - cosmetic dentists, general dentists, prosthodontists, pediatric dentists, the list goes on!

At Spokane Dental, and as a family dentist ourselves, we believe we offer a service that is comprehensive and convenient, but the most important thing when choosing a new dentist is to be educated on the various types so you can be confident and comfortable with your decision. If you’re looking for a new dentist but aren’t quite sure where to start, stick around, we’ve got you covered!

Common Branches of Dentistry

As we mentioned earlier, there are many types of dentists out there. Don’t worry, we’ll get into the details of family dentists in just a bit, but first let’s cover a few other areas of dentistry - this should help you identify if you feel a family dentist is the best fit for you.

Pediatric Dentist

Pediatric Dentists treat children of all ages, from infancy when a child gets their first tooth, all the way through their teenage years. They treat children for a range of conditions and diseases related to oral health, but also educate them on why dental care is so important (American Dental Education Association, 2023). A child’s oral health experiences all sorts of changes in their first years of life. From teething and getting their first teeth at just a few months old, then losing those same teeth six or so years later just to have their new, permanent ‘adult’ teeth come in. Due to all these changes, not just any dentist can treat a child. To be qualified to deal with the oral health of a child, pediatric dentists go through additional training that gives them additional knowledge and experience in caring for a child’s teeth, gums and mouth throughout all of the changes they experience.

General Dentist

A general dentist is a primary oral health care provider that is supported by dental specialists, allied dental professionals, and other health care providers. A general dentist will address health care issues beyond traditional oral health care and must be able to independently and collaboratively practice evidence-based comprehensive dentistry with the ultimate goal of improving the health of society (American Dental Education Association, 2023). Essentially, general dentists do just what their title says, general dentist work! They typically practice preventative care as they have a great amount of knowledge in various areas of dentistry. They also frequently rely on other types of dentists who specialize in more specific areas of dentistry.

Cosmetic Dentist

Cosmetic dentistry is the branch of dentistry that focuses on creating a positive change to the look and function of your teeth and smile. Cosmetic dentists are often who comes to mind when you think of porcelain veneers, or professional teeth whitening. While they do in fact provide those services, they are also well versed in dental reconstruction, dental implants, and they have the ability to help improve not only your functional and aesthetic concerns, but greatly impact your self-esteem with their treatment as well (American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, 2023).

Emergency Dentist

Just as there are emergency doctors and surgeons at your local Emergency Room, many dental practices have emergency dentists as well. Emergency dentistry is the area of dentistry that is involved with serious, sudden, and unexpected dental issues that need immediate attention. Dental emergencies are potentially life threatening and require immediate treatment to stop ongoing tissue bleeding or to alleviate severe pain or infection. This may include uncontrolled bleeding; cellulitis or a diffuse soft tissue bacterial infection with intraoral or extra oral swelling that potentially compromises the patient’s airway; or trauma involving facial bones that potentially compromises the patient’s airway (American Dental Association, 2023). Unfortunately, it’s not very common for people to prepare for dental emergencies as they would for other emergencies such as a house fire (safety exit plan, call 911), or a broken bone (trip to the emergency room!). Because of this, if someone is, say, experiencing severe pain from inflammation of the tooth, they may think they have to sit with the pain until the next available dental appointment. Nope! That’s where emergency dentists come in!

Family Dentist

All the areas of dentistry we covered are extremely important, and more often than not, family dentists are trained to provide services for them all! As we mentioned before, as a family dentist, we provide comprehensive and convenient care that is a good fit for almost anyone! Throughout your life, you may end up needing oral health care from many different types of dentists. A pediatric dentist in your young years and a general dentist as you age. You may end up having an accident and needing emergency dental care, or maybe you’ll want to build up your confidence and get your teeth professionally whitened! Instead of having to bounce around from dentist to dentist over the years, the right family dentist allows you the ability to have it all done at one place. A one stop shop for dental work!

Your Spokane Family Dentist - Spokane Dental

All in all, picking the right dentist for you can be a challenging process and there is no right or wrong answer. If you as a patient feel confident and comfortable with your dental provider and you are prioritizing your oral health, you are making the right choice! But if you are ever in need of a new dentist, would like to switch to a family dentist, or maybe you feel called to finally make that checkup appointment you have been putting off for the last few years, give us a call at (509)822-5614. Our team at Spokane Dental is here to help you with all of your dental needs. Schedule a consultation today and discover the convenience of a family dentist!