It is no secret that even the thought of seeing the dentist can be a scary or anxiety inducing experience. Regardless of age or where you are from, negative thoughts of the dentist disrupts anywhere from 13% to 24% of people according to a study done by Harvard. For adults with apprehension towards seeing the dentist, it is hard to not instill that same anxiety to their children. One of the best ways to help get the dental care you and your children need is to find a great family dentist that creates a calming and welcoming environment that understands your concerns and meets you where you are at. A family dentist makes the experience great for everyone- parents and their children.
There are many different types of dentists out there, and while they all exist to take care of your teeth and gums, there are some slight differences in services offered that might make one specialty more applicable to you depending on what you are in need of. A family dentist can offer any range of services, but their team and clinic are going to align themselves towards the needs of children and their families. The dentist experience should make it as simple and straightforward as possible for your children. That means the entire staff knows how to engage with and help welcome kids, allow for consecutive appointment bookings so that everyone is able to get their teeth cleaned in one visit, and helps your children to rethink how they view visiting the dentist. A family dentist does not necessarily offer a specialty in services, but what they do is make it a family focused experience to give you and your children the best dental experience they can.
There are a lot of dentists out there- each with the necessary skills and qualifications to look and treat your teeth. So how do you know which one is right for you? How you value and prioritize your dental experience is your decision to make- but we wanted to highlight some things that might be towards the top of your list. One thing to consider is availability- being able to schedule multiple appointments within the same time block is a near essential for a busy family to get everyone's teeth cleaned at the same appointment. It is also important to notice how all the staff interact with your children- a dentist that knows how to calm a child in the chair is invaluable, but having a positive experience starts as soon as you enter the door.
Raising kids is tough, any parent would certainly recognize that. Finding a dentist that is right for you and your children is hard. Your dental health needs to be a high priority, but it can be tough to do so when you do not have the right dentist to help you along the way. Ultimately, the best way to find the best dentist for your situation is to make your expectations, and try out a few spots until they are met. At North Valley Dentistry, we pride ourselves on our comprehensive care that offers our patients the best treatment we are able to offer, coupled with our drive to make each person that steps into our office feel heard and cared for to the best of our ability. If you’re in the North Phoenix area, our team would love to see you!