How to choose a new family dentist in Bonita Springs

What is the difference between a general dentist and a family dentist?

When choosing a new family dentist in Bonita Springs, it’s important to understand the difference between a general dentist and a family dentist, as this can influence your decision based on your specific needs.

A general dentist primarily focuses on adult dental care and offers a range of services, including check-ups, cleanings, fillings, crowns, bridges, and sometimes more specialized procedures like root canals and cosmetic dentistry. Their training allows them to treat various dental issues, and they are an excellent choice for adult patients.

On the other hand, a family dentist, such as Pelican Landing Dental, is similar to a general dentist but with an additional focus on treating patients of all ages, from children to the elderly. This makes family dentists particularly convenient for families looking for a single practice to manage the oral health of all family members. They are trained to address age-specific dental issues and often provide a more child-friendly environment that can help manage younger patients.

Choosing between a general dentist and a family dentist depends largely on your personal or family’s dental needs. A family dentist might be more beneficial if you have children and want a practice that can grow with your family. For individual adult care, a general dentist would typically suffice.

How often should I see my Bonita Springs family dentist, and why?

Regular visits to your family dentist in Bonita Springs are crucial for maintaining optimal oral health. Most people should visit the dentist every six months, but depending on individual oral health conditions, we might suggest more frequent visits.

Regular visits to our practice are important for several reasons.

1. Prevention: Regular check-ups help prevent dental issues such as cavities and gum disease by allowing early detection and management.
2. Cleaning: Dental cleanings remove plaque and tartar that brushing and flossing alone cannot eliminate. This helps prevent tooth decay and periodontal disease.
3. Early detection of dental issues: Frequent visits allow your dentist to spot early signs of problems like tooth decay, gum disease, and even more severe conditions like oral cancer.
4. Maintenance of previous dental work: If you have fillings, crowns, dental implants, or dentures, your dentist must check that everything is in good order and functioning correctly.
5. Advice and guidance: Regular visits provide an opportunity to get professional advice on oral hygiene, dietary choices, and other behaviors that affect oral health.

For families who need a new dentist in Bonita Springs, having a family dentist who can monitor the dental health of all family members over time is invaluable. These visits are not just about checking for problems but also about building a history of your family’s dental health, which can benefit long-term care and treatment planning.

What happens during a new patient appointment?

A new patient appointment in our dental office is a comprehensive session designed to establish your dental health baseline and address any immediate concerns you might have. Here’s what typically happens during this initial visit:

1. Patient registration: You’ll provide personal information and your medical history, including current medications, allergies, and past surgeries or treatments that may affect your dental care.
2. Dental history and concerns: We’ll discuss your dental history and any specific concerns or symptoms you might be experiencing. This helps us tailor the examination and treatment plan to your needs.
3. Oral examination: We’ll then thoroughly examine your teeth, gums, and mouth. This includes checking for signs of decay, gum disease, and other oral health issues. We may also assess your jaw alignment and look for signs of wear or problems with your bite.
4. X-rays: Depending on your dental history and the initial visual examination, we may take X-rays to get a deeper insight into your dental health, particularly to identify issues that are not visible to the naked eye, such as impacted teeth, jawbone damage or decay between teeth.
5. Cleaning: Our dental hygienists will perform a professional cleaning to remove plaque and tartar buildup, polish teeth, and floss. This helps maintain oral hygiene and gives us a cleaner environment in which to identify potential issues.
6. Treatment planning: We’ll discuss any necessary dental treatments with you based on your examination and X-rays. These could range from fillings for cavities to more complex procedures like root canals or orthodontics. We’ll also advise you on preventive measures to maintain or improve your oral health.
7. Questions and guidance: You can ask questions and discuss any concerns you might have. We may also provide guidance on brushing techniques, dietary suggestions, and other lifestyle choices that affect dental health.

This appointment aims to assess and treat immediate dental issues and develop a continuing care plan to help maintain dental health. For anyone looking for a new dental office in Bonita Springs, ensuring that this first visit is thorough and informative is key to establishing a good patient-dentist relationship.

Can dental problems affect my overall health?

Dental problems can significantly affect your overall health, making it crucial to maintain good oral hygiene and regular check-ups. Here are some ways in which dental issues can impact general health:

1. Heart disease: Research suggests a link between oral conditions like gum disease and heart disease. Periodontal disease‘s inflammation may increase the risk of heart disease and worsen existing heart conditions. Bacteria from your mouth can also enter the bloodstream, potentially forming arterial plaque.
2. Diabetes: Gum disease is often more severe and progresses more rapidly in people with diabetes, and it can also make diabetes harder to control. Inflammation in the gums can interfere with the body’s ability to utilize insulin, making proper dental care crucial for diabetic patients.
3. Respiratory infections: Bacteria in the mouth from infected teeth and swollen gums can travel into the lungs and even through the bloodstream, leading to respiratory infections, pneumonia, acute bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
4. Pregnancy complications: Gum disease has been linked to pregnancy complications such as premature birth and low birth weight. The theory is that oral bacteria release toxins, which reach the placenta through the mother’s bloodstream and interfere with the development and health of the unborn child.
5. Dementia: Poor oral health may also be a contributing factor in the development of dementia. The bacteria from gingivitis may enter the brain through either nerve channels in the head or through the bloodstream, possibly leading to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

Regular dental visits and proper oral care are essential to your overall healthcare strategy. If you’re selecting a new dental practice in Bonita Springs, your team at Pelican Landing Dental understands the broader health implications of dental care, and we emphasize preventive advice and treatments that contribute to your long-term well-being.

What does a dental cleaning involve?

A dental cleaning, often performed during a routine visit to your Bonita Springs family dentist, is crucial to maintaining oral health. Here’s what typically happens during this procedure:

1. Examination: Before cleaning begins, one of our dental hygienists will examine your mouth. This preliminary check-up will look for signs of inflamed gums, tooth decay, and other potential issues. Sometimes, the examination might include dental X-rays if needed.
2. Removing plaque and tartar: Using a scaler, your hygienist will carefully remove plaque and tartar around your gum line and between your teeth. Plaque is a sticky, soft film containing bacteria that hardens into tartar if not removed. Tartar can only be professionally removed due to its hardened state.
3. Toothpaste cleaning: After removing the tartar, your hygienist will use a high-powered electric brush and gritty professional-quality toothpaste to gently clean each tooth. This step helps remove any residue from the scaling process and polishes the teeth, contributing to a smoother tooth surface that is more resistant to plaque accumulation.
4. Expert flossing: Whether you floss regularly at home or not, nothing beats an expert flossing session at our office. Our dental hygienists can get deep between your teeth and locate any potential trouble spots where you might bleed at the gums.
5. Rinsing: Next, you’ll rinse your mouth to remove any debris. The rinse usually contains liquid fluoride to aid in cleansing.
6. Fluoride treatment: The final step is a fluoride treatment. This treatment protects your teeth against cavities for several months. The fluoride may be delivered as gel, foam, or varnish, and it’s usually left on your teeth for a minute or more.

Regular dental cleanings are essential for keeping your teeth and gums healthy and preventing more serious health issues. They also allow your dentist at Pelican Landing Dental to identify early signs of problems and act before they become major.

Whether you’re looking for a practice that can grow with your family, or a Bonita Springs general dentist who can treat specific needs for your fully developed teeth, Pelican Landing Dental is here for you every step of the way to a brighter, healthier smile.