Lakeville Dental provides family dentistry for families in Lakeville, Minnesota. Call 952-469-3300 or contact us to learn more or to schedule an appointment.
What is Family Dentistry?
Family dentistry refers to a dental practice that accepts patients of all ages. From children to adults, everyone in the family can go to the same dental practice to receive care. A complete range of services is available, some of which are geared specifically toward children. Our dentists and staff have the necessary training and experience to work with all ages.
Benefits of Family Dentistry
There are many benefits to going to a family dental practice:
- Family atmosphere. A family dental practice provides a family-oriented environment where everyone feels comfortable.
- Save time. You can make routine dental appointments for the whole family on the same date to avoid multiple trips to different dental offices.
- Save money. You won’t waste gas making trips to the dentist on different days for different members of the family in different locations.
- Stay with one dental practice for life. When you take your children to a pediatric dentist, they will eventually need to transition to a dentist that is more appropriate for adults. But a family dental practice can see your child from their first appointment throughout their lifetime. Their entire dental history can be on file in one practice.
- File insurance once. You can file your family’s insurance once at the dentist without having to provide the same information to multiple practices.
Services Offered
We provide the following family dentistry services:
- Dental cleanings. Professional teeth cleanings remove plaque, tartar and calculus left behind after brushing and flossing.
- Oral exams. A comprehensive oral exam includes a thorough evaluation of the teeth and soft tissues of the mouth.
- X-Rays. Digital X-Rays provide insight into the places in the mouth that are impossible to see with the naked eye.
- Dental sealants. A tooth that is at risk for decay may be sealed with resin material.
- Fluoride treatment. Fluoride is a mineral that fortifies tooth enamel. Fluoride treatments are often applied to children’s teeth as well as adults.
- Custom oral appliances. We provide a variety of custom oral appliances including mouthguards for teeth grinding, sports, and sleep apnea.
- Scaling and root planing. Scaling is the process of removing hardened plaque from the teeth that can cause gum disease. Root planing involves smoothing the surface of the tooth roots to prevent plaque from getting between the roots and gums. This combination of procedures can treat and prevent gum disease.
- Root canal treatment. A root canal treats or prevents a tooth infection by removing the pulp from inside the tooth and replacing it with composite material.
- Extractions. We provide tooth extraction for damaged teeth and orthodontic purposes.
- Pediatric dentistry. We are a family dental practice, which means our general dentistry services are also available to children. We provide a full range of dental services for children to give them the best possible start to a lifetime of dental health.
Why Choose Lakeville Dental?
A visit to Lakeville Dental is more like a relaxing day at the spa than a dental appointment. We provide massage chairs, pillows, plush blankets, leg wedges, televisions over every chair and other comforts. Dental anxiety is very real for many patients, and we do everything in our power to help you feel calm and relaxed. Children are often fearful of the dentist, but we establish a positive relationship with children from an early age. Lakeville Dental treats your family like family.
Frequently Asked Questions About Family Dentistry
At what age should my child have their first dental appointment?
The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that children see a dentist by their first birthday or within 6 months of the eruption of their first tooth. This allows the dentist to check their dental and oral health and to introduce them to the experience of going to the dentist.
Are X-Rays safe for children?
We use digital X-Rays that require significantly less radiation than traditional film X-Rays, making them even safer for children and adults than ever before.
Can dental sealants prevent the need for fillings?
In some cases a dental sealant applied at the right time can prevent the need for a cavity filling. But once a cavity forms, it will most likely need a traditional filling to preserve the tooth.
Is it worth it to fill a cavity in a baby tooth?
Even though a baby tooth will eventually fall out, a cavity should still be filled. An untreated cavity can cause pain and infection. It is also a placeholder for the permanent tooth that will replace it. Extracting the tooth before the permanent tooth is ready to come in can cause the other teeth to shift out of place.
To learn more about our family dentistry services, call 952-469-3300 or contact us today to schedule an appointment.