Going to the family dentist is something ingrained in most of our childhood memories. We remember the taste of the toothpaste, the whir of the drill when we had a cavity, and how the dentist always let us pick out a toothbrush to take home with us. Going to see a general dentist was an important part of maintaining health in childhood. But going to see a general dentist doesn’t lose its importance once we reach adulthood. The family dentist can treat more than just families, and having a great and confident smile is important in many different facets of your life.
For example, many adults – over 70%, in fact – believe in the importance of a good smile. A poor and unattractive smile, they believe can actually lower their chances of professional success. And nearly 100% of surveyed adults (a whopping 99.7%) believe healthy smiles are important for a healthy social life. Sadly, however, not enough people are satisfied by the condition and appearance of their teeth. Almost half, in fact, believe that the quality of their discolored teeth is one of the major causes of their overall unhappiness.
There are more reasons, of course, to see a general dentist than the appearance of one’s teeth. Aside from cosmetic dentistry, dental services provide maintenance and repair and can treat a variety of gum and teeth diseases. After all, almost half the adult population (47%) suffers from some type and degree of periodontal disease. On top of that, one in five American adults has at least one untreated cavity. And up to 15 million have needed a crown or bridge replacement at some point in their life.
And dental disease and decay starts young. By the time most American children reach kindergarten (only four or five years old), almost half (40%) has had at least one cavity. And just like in adults, not all cavities are diagnosed promptly. Almost 20% of American children from ages five to nineteen have dealt with an untreated cavity. A general dentist can help to educate patients on proper oral hygiene from a young age, with the hopes of instilling positive habits that carry over into adult lives and reduce the amount of oral disease and tooth decay, as well as raise adult confidence in their teeth, social life, and professional appearance.
