Family Dentistry in Hackensack

Parents Giving Children Piggybacks Outdoors Between work, school field trips, sports, and possibly taking on the responsibility of caring for elderly loved ones, fitting in everyone’s dental care can be challenging. At Family Dental Associates, our team understands how to help you and your loved ones achieve optimal oral health at every stage of life. Whether it’s time for your child’s first dental visit, or you need restorative care with dental implants, we welcome you to experience personalized family dental care.

Our team is highly skilled in general and cosmetic dentistry, with specialized training in prosthodontics and endodontics. We use advanced technology and years of experience to provide oral health care for all ages, including patients with special needs. Take the first step in achieving ideal oral health for your family. Contact us today!

CALL US: (201) 488-8300 REQUEST APPOINTMENT

What is Family Dentistry?

Family dentistry focuses on the specific oral health needs of each individual according to their stage of life. Children have very different needs than adults, and family dentists deliver comprehensive dental care to everyone. Like general dentistry, family dentistry is concerned with implementing proper oral hygiene, diagnosing and treating dental health issues, and education to maintain the health of your teeth and gums. Family-focused dental treatments often involve:

Dental Cleanings & Examinations
First visits
Digital x-rays
Patient Education
Cavity Control & Prevention

Infants and Children

Close up portrait of beautiful young mother and cute little daughter posing Although baby teeth are not permanent; diligent care is vital to the development of a healthy, beautiful smile as an adult. Children’s teeth are more vulnerable to decay because their enamel is not as strong as adult teeth. We recommend children visit our office as soon as their first tooth erupts, or by their first birthday.

During their visit, our team will take the time to get to know you and your child. We introduce them to the tools and procedures, so they understand there is nothing to fear when visiting for essential dental care. Part of their initial visit may include nutritional counseling to improve dental health. Habit counseling is often provided to help break unhealthy behaviors that could cause problems for their smile in the future.

Teens and Young Adults

Portrait of a happy couple laughing at camera As baby teeth fall out; permanent, adult teeth come in. Routine visits to the dentist can ensure a smooth and healthy transition into adolescent and adult dental care. By monitoring smile development, treating and identifying potential problems before they compromise oral health is significantly more comfortable.

Procedures such as tooth extraction may be necessary to ensure proper dental health. If individual baby teeth never emerged to make room for adult teeth, or if there isn’t enough room in the mouth for wisdom teeth, extraction will help pave the way to a healthy, permanent smile.

Adults

Over time, decay, discoloration, and normal wear and tear can affect dental health, function, and beauty. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for adults to experience some form of gum disease at least once in their lifetime. When you stay diligent with everyday oral hygiene and visit us every six months, we can effectively address many dental issues to preserve your dental and oral health. This can save you a significant amount of time and money on costly treatments later in life.

Seniors

Senior patients experience oral health concerns that teens or younger adults may not. However, that doesn’t mean that seniors can’t enjoy beautiful teeth and a healthy smile. We help seniors achieve strong and healthy smiles by offering the most effective treatments for everyday health concerns, such as gum disease and tooth loss.

Gum Disease: Many adult patients experience gum disease, with the condition often worsening with age. We keep a close eye on the gum health of our senior patients, helping to decrease your chances of tooth extraction or tooth loss due to oral health complications.

Tooth Loss: While many people are keeping more of their natural teeth into their later years, the need for tooth replacement is still prevalent. Our office provides solutions for missing teeth with conventional and implant-supported crowns, bridges, dentures, and partials.

Are Dental Visits Every Six Months Necessary?

Checking your teeth for tooth decay is just one essential step that makes up your dental examination. During your checkup appointment, we will evaluate the current state of your gums, teeth, and restorations. We also perform a head and neck examination. If indications of gum disease are detected, we will schedule more frequent visits to eliminate the infection properly.

How is Gum Disease Treated?

woman getting a professional dental cleaning Treatment for gum disease can vary depending on the level of maintenance your gums require. At Family Dental Associates, we have effective treatments to prevent, reverse, and eliminate gum disease.

Routine hygiene visits can prevent the progress of minor periodontal issues and reverses the early signs of gingivitis.
Scaling and root planing removes plaque and tartar and treats pockets of infection formed beneath the gum line. After bacteria are cleaned away, rough areas of the tooth roots are smoothed out to enable the gums to reattach.
Pocket reduction promotes proper healing in gum tissues, encouraging them to reattach after scaling and root planing. During this procedure, the gum tissue is folded back to remove the disease-causing tartar before securing the tissue back into place.
Topical and oral antibiotics can help you fight infections in the gums and prevent periodontal disease from progressing.

Protect Oral Health Between Dental Visits

In between those examinations, you must work to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy. Young children are particularly impressionable. You can help make dental care at home fun by setting the example and showing them how to brush and floss properly. This not only helps your child become familiar with proper oral hygiene, but it can help eliminate dental fears before they start.

Between your scheduled dental visits:

Brush twice a day
Floss every day, or after every meal
Don’t use teeth as tools
Limit hard, sticky, and sugary foods
Stay away from soda, sports drinks, and unnatural fruit juices

Limit snacking
Implement a nutritious, vitamin-rich diet
Chew sugarless gum to help stimulate saliva flow
Use a mouthguard during sports, workouts, or if you grind or clench your teeth
Don’t skip on dental exams

Family Dental Care You Can Trust

Our Hackensack family dentist is committed to providing patients of all ages with the appropriate dental care for their smiles. With our comprehensive approach to long-term oral health, our team can create treatment plans that produce lasting results without compromising the overall health of your smile. Call today and bring your family in for a visit!