In our ever-busy, day-to-day lives, with digital communication and social media playing significant roles, developing personal relationships with anyone outside your family, school, and work associates is rare. A family dentist is defined as a general dentist who provides oral health care for patients of all ages and families. Choosing a family dentist means that you and your household members will benefit from a personal relationship with a dentist who cares for (and about) your oral and overall health.
Dr. Thomas Wegner of Town & Country Dental in Oak Park is a family dentist who provides preventive, restorative, prosthetic, and cosmetic dentistry. Today’s blog will explain what that means in more detail, so you can determine whether a family dentist is the best option for you and the members of your household.
What training does a family dentist have?
A family dentist has the same training as a general or restorative dentist. All dentists complete a four-year bachelor’s program of their choice, then enroll in a four-year dental school. At graduation, the dentist will have earned a DDS, a doctorate in dental surgery, or DMD, a doctorate in dental medicine. He will also have completed a residency in the field of his choice.
Dentists must hold a license to practice in the state or states in which they provide care. The American Dental Association holds dentists to a set of regulations, including ethical considerations. Family dentists must also undergo a state-mandated number of continuing education (CE) hours each year. The dentist can select which topics he studies in his CE courses. Usually, CE topics differ for each dentist, so one’s training is a bit different than that of his peers.
What services does a family dentist offer?
As a DDS or DMD, a family dentist has studied, practiced, and can offer these and other general dentistry services and treatments:
- Preventive (checkups, cleanings, nightguards, fluoride, sleep apnea, teeth grinding, etc.)
- Children’s (preventive, restorative, sealants, etc., and parent education)
- Restorative (fillings, crowns, root canal therapy, extractions, etc.)
- Prosthetic (bridges, partial and full dentures, implants)
- Cosmetic (whitening, veneers, bonding, etc.)
- Orthodontics (traditional and/or Invisalign)
- Emergency Care
- Patient Education
- Sedation
What are the benefits of choosing a family dentist?
A family dentist will learn about your family members’ health and oral health histories, which can be beneficial in understanding the causes and potential concerns of children, based on their parents’ health.
Also, a family dentist will allow you to make simultaneous or consecutive dental appointments for family members. This makes six-month visits easier because it’s convenient to make just one family trip to the dentist’s office instead of separate visits for adults, who see a general dentist, and children, who go to a pedodontist.
By developing a personal relationship with your family dentist, you’ll also develop trust, which will make you feel comfortable and well cared for. At Town & Country Dental, Dr. Wegner and our team keep dental visits efficient, but we also invest adequate time in relationship development. Patients feel comfortable asking questions about dentistry, treatment plans, and comfort measures, as well as paying for care.
Your Family Dentist in Oak Park
Dr. Thomas Wegner of Town & Country Dental in Oak Park, IL, is accepting new patients. Call 708-383-0330 to reserve your complimentary meet-and-greet visit, or a checkup or consultation. With early and late weekday appointments, Saturday appointments, and an on-call dentist on Sundays, our team is available to serve you at a time that fits within your schedule. We accept most insurances and can file out-of-network claims, as well. Give us a call today!