Family Dentistry
in Bethlehem, PA

As the name suggests, family dentistry is the branch of our practice that pertains to taking care of your teeth, whatever your age. At lasting Smiles of Bethlehem, we aim to improve your smile, maintain your oral hygiene, and the cleanliness of your teeth and mouth, regardless of your age and needs. All the dental services from fillings to preventive care, to teeth bonding as well as dentures, are provided under one roof. You don’t need to go all around town seeking proper dental care for your children or you’re elderly .. we do it all here.

Dr. Ajay Patel has extensive training from the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI), a nation’s premier post-graduate training center that attracts dentists from all over the world. He also works with dental technicians who have been trained at LVI, which gives you, the patient, enormous benefits

Your white ceramic restorations such as porcelain veneers, porcelain crowns, and porcelain inlays and onlays will be crafted by skilled hands according to Dr. Ajay’s specifications. They will fit beautifully into your bite – a structural benefit – and into your smile – an aesthetic benefit.

Questions about
Family Dentistry

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

This is probably the question you would ask yourself before going to see a specific dentist, or even switching practitioners. Often, both terms are used interchangeably, and that is because the services provided by general dentists and family dentists are pretty much the same.

The only difference may be the training that both receive. While general dentists train for years before becoming practitioners and providing services such as teeth cleaning, fillings, crowns and bridges, and root canals, they probably have an age restriction when it comes to the patients they treat. You would often find that your dentist would not treat your 5 or 10-year-old child, or cannot take care of your denture as it comes to repairs and maintenance. That is because their training has restricted them to treating a specific category of patients, who face specific problems that they are capable of handling efficiently.

Family dentists are different. In addition to the general dentist training, they have gone above and beyond in their qualifications to be able to treat nearly every problem that occurs at every age. General dentists usually restrict their patients’ age to between 16 to 50 (which is the age of adulthood in their definition, as less than 16 is considered a child, and more than 50 is considered geriatric). However, family dentists do not have that restriction. You can visit a family dentist if you or any member of your family has a problem with their teeth, and they can treat it effectively.

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b. What is the difference between a family dentist and a pediatric or geriatric dentist?

Well, pretty much the same answer as above. While pediatric and geriatric dentists receive ample training to treat their specific age groups, family dentists have the best of both worlds. They are adequately trained to provide excellent services for a 10-year-old child that needs his teeth filled or his fissures sealed, as well for a 60-year-old woman who needs her denture cleaned and repaired.

Of course, a family dentist cannot treat every problem with children or the elderly (that’s what these specialties are for) but he\she can be of great help when it comes to general problems that don’t require an intervention from a specialist.

c. What kinds of services do family dentists provide?

  1. Dental procedures
    Family dentists are trained and equipped to provide nearly every possible treatment option there is in the field. If you have a broken or chipped tooth that needs a root canal, or if your spouse needs her tooth capped after a crack occurred, a family dentist can provide that for you.Similarly, if your child needs to have one of his\her baby teeth removed, or a simple filling or deep fissures sealed, a family dentist could be of service. For the elderly, a family dentist would be of great help if they need their dentures repaired, or if a tooth becomes so loose that it needs to be removed.
  2. Patient education
    This is probably one of the most important jobs of a family dentist. While general dentists or specialized dentists have no time to properly educate you and your family on how to properly clean their teeth and maintain their oral hygiene, it’s in a family dentist’s job description to properly educate you and your children on how to brush properly, what type of brush and floss to use, and the importance of frequent check-ups to discover any minor problems that may be treated easily.
    The same goes for the elderly, where a family dentist could be a great educator when it comes to cleaning and maintaining dentures, and the correct way to take care of old teeth and gums.
  3. Providing a fear-free environment
    Fear of the dentist is a globally recognized phenomenon. In fact, some would say that 60 % of the world’s population is afraid of their dentists. Most of these fears arise due to the traumatic first experience of a child with their dentist. A family dentist is properly trained to avoid that situation. One of a family dentist’s main concerns is providing a care-free, easy and cozy environment for children ( as well as adults) and making their trip to the dentist a pleasant experience, and developing a healthy, friendly relationship with their dentist that may be the difference between proper oral care and perfect teeth and lack thereof.
  4. Detecting early problems and preventive care
    One of the main objectives of a family dentist is preventive care. The biggest problem with teeth is not root canals, or having to extract them .. it is neglect.Almost every painful procedure that you encountered at a dentist’s office could have been avoided if the problem was detected early. For example, a root canal would not have been needed if the cavity and decay were detected early, and only a simple filling would have been needed, and an implant would not have been needed if the attempt to save the tooth with a root canal or a crown has been done before this stage was reached.A family dentist can detect these problems early, not only for you but for your child as well. A great number of problems with childrens’ teeth could be avoided by the use of pits and fissure sealants, and the need for braces would decrease if your family dentist detected a problem with the teeth and jaw development during a routine visit.

In short, a family dentist can do everything a general dentist, a pediatric dentist, and a geriatric dentist can do, you don’t need to see different doctors for different family members.

Get In Touch With Us

(610) 861-0777
info@lastingsmilespa.com

Book An Appointment

Book a visit to Lasting Smiles, simply fill out the form below and we will contact you back regarding the intervention you require.

    Patient Reviews
    in Bethlehem, PA

    Christine C Coopersmith

    High quality, Always professional and smiling
    Again highly professional, friendly and nice he makes me feel like family.

    Scott Kaas

    I very highly recommend Lasting Smiles! Everyone there is so friendly, professional and really knows their job whether it is with insurance, routine cleaning, or any kind of dental work. My appointments are always on time and that is very rare these days.

    Charissa West

    There is a reason this is one of the few top rated dentists in our area. I had to switch because of my insurance, so I read reviews for all the dentists in our area that participate with my insurance. There were only two that had a near perfect rating. The staff are so welcoming and friendly. The exam and the cleaning were the most thorough I’ve ever had. The office was neat and clean with warm and comfortable decor. The two ladies at the front desk were so nice and welcoming and Linda was the friendliest and best hygienist I’ve had in my 38 years of going to various dentists around the country.

    Lauren M.

    Excellent Visit with Dr. Sulzbach and with Linda for my hygiene appointment. Very professional and friendly office. Definitely would recommend this office for your dental needs. They make things easier especially when the dental office is not your favorite place. Thank you to Dr. Sulzbach and staff for the expert care throughout the years and keeping me smiling.

    Frank Yost

    Very pleased with the staffs professionalism during my visit. Highly recommend this dental office.

    Jennifer R.

    During my recent appointment with Dr. Sulzbach I was greeting by the smiling and friendly women at the reception desk. I was seen on time for my appointment and was treated with professional care. The dental assistant was concerned with my comfort and Dr. Sulzbach explained his procedures as he repaired my tooth. Overall it was a very good experience.

    Dorothy M.

    Was a good experience…staff is always friendly.

    Sandy Gichiengo

    The staff is very professional and friendly. They know I have anxiety when it goes to going to the dentist. The make the whole experience pleasurable.

    Sharon Black

    Dr. Sulzbach and his staff do excellent work and provide a professional and comfortable environment. I highly recommend them for your dental needs.

    Mary K.

    Great office. Great cleaning Linda the best and doc is always acccomadating.

    Alicia C.

    Such a friendly environment! I’ve never liked going to the dentist until I started going here a few years ago – everyone is so welcoming and pleasant I actually look forward to seeing them! I’ve recommended them to several friends and family members and will continue to do so.

    Megan L.

    Friendly staff, everyone makes you feel comfortable. Best dentist I’ve ever been to, Dr. Sulzbach is great!

    Address
    2299 Brodhead Rd,
    Suite K Bethlehem, PA 18020
    (610) 861-0777
    info@lastingsmilespa.com
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