Family Dentistry

Family dentistry is a tradition at Harris Dental. From preventative care to teeth whitening to porcelain veneers to dental implants and more, our award winning family dentists can take care of the dental needs during all the stages of your family’s life.

About Your Smile
Have you ever thought about this? We’re always modifying things in our world. We change our clothes depending on the occasion, and we’re continually updating our appearance and our possessions. We buy new cars. We remodel our homes. We update our furniture. Why not consider upgrading your smile? After all, it’s something you take with you everywhere you go. Great family dentists like Drs. Joe, Brian, Eric and Scott Harris create gorgeous smiles that last a lifetime. Feeling confident when you smile – everywhere you go – feels fantastic.

The Stages of Family Dentistry

AGE 1-20
Setting the Stage for a Lifetime of Sound Oral Health
Early preventative dental care and education is one of the best ways to help young children and teens develop a great relationship with their family dentists and learn valuable basics about tooth care.

Must do: 
Regular checkups should begin before a child’s third birthday.

Dentists are the first ones to see the signs of bulimia, and often make a big impact on young people who are developing the habit of consuming soda pop and considering tongue piercing.  For these important reasons and numerous others, it’s a must to schedule regular checkups with your family dentist.

Should do:
Find an alert and capable family dentist who can prevent extensive orthodontics by the early use of space retainers that maintain critical open space from early tooth loss.

Become an informed patient and seek out a dentist who will apply liquid plastic sealants to chewing surfaces. These sealants can help prevent decay, especially in hard-to-reach places that children tend to neglect.

Could do:
Today, young people are becoming increasingly aware of their appearance. For this reason, consider cosmetic teeth whitening which is now an affordable means to boost the self esteem of socially conscious teens.

Order a custom mouth guard for your young athlete. Studies show that 60% of sports-related injuries to the teeth, lips and gums can be avoided by wearing an athletic mouth guard. 

AGE 21-40
It’s great to be this age
This is the time when many people are the most socially active and their primary focus is on career advancement. Busy is what they are, so it’s tempting to skip or delay regular dental checkups because nothing hurts. But too often what they don’t see and don’t do causes the most trouble down the road.

Must do:
It’s a must to have regular checkups to detect the early signs of gum disease, cracks in teeth, infections, cavities and potential problems with fillings. Many of these problems can be reversed if caught early.

Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer with the worst five-year survival rate of all major cancers. Regular dental visits make it possible for early cancer detection and treatment.

Should do:
You may have silver-mercury amalgam fillings that were put in place when you were a teen. Not only are they unsightly and can damage tooth structure, some people have concerns about other health disadvantages they present. Work with your dentist to systematically replace them with greatly improved, durable white-composite fillings.

Could do:
A healthy gorgeous smile compliments your career and social life. Surveys show that 92% of North Americans agree that an attractive smile is a crucial social asset, and 74% believe that an unattractive smile hurts a person’s chances of career success. For this reason, consider today’s teeth whitening treatments, combined with one of many porcelain veneer options that can create a personal smile makeover.

AGE 41-65
The best part of life is beginning
Science is continuing to prove the crucial role that proper dental care plays in your overall health and appearance. So, eat right, exercise, enjoy yourself along the way and flash that gorgeous smile more often!

Must do:
It’s estimated that up to 3/4 of adults over age 35 have some degree of gum disease. Family dentists can help here, too. Work with your dentist to be sure you don’t.

Sixty-three percent of "boomers" with an oral health problem considered to be an indication of a more serious problem, are unaware of the connection. Don’t skip your regular checkups.

Should do:
You may have silver-mercury amalgam fillings that were put in place when you were younger. Not only are they unsightly and can damage tooth structure, some people have concerns about other health disadvantages they present. Work with your dentist to systematically replace them with greatly improved, durable white-composite fillings.

Could do:
Nothing makes you look AND feel younger than a beautiful smile. It’s a fact – today’s teeth whitening treatments, combined with one of the options of porcelain veneers, can create a personal smile makeover that is truly a "fountain of youth."

AGE 65+
There are no age limits on a fantastic smile
For the most part, losing teeth during the golden years has nothing to do with aging and everything to do with gum disease. More than ever before, it’s possible for a golden years smile to be a gorgeous one!

Must do:
As people age, their gums recede which oftentimes exposes tooth roots to decay. In addition, the typical senior has dental work that is decades old and at risk of leaking or failing. This is one of the biggest reasons older people should never postpone their regular visits to their dentist so that repairs and updates may be performed the moment problems arise.

Should do:
Today, consider what many aging people are choosing to do to improve their aging smiles. Dental implants can now beautify smiles by replacing missing teeth, and they look, feel and function just like natural teeth. A recent study indicates that nearly 90% of dental implant patients who previously wore dentures say they have more confidence and that the procedure would be worth repeating.

Could do:
Cosmetic porcelain veneers and teeth whitening are other options to beautify aging smiles and viable options you might consider to do for yourself. These procedures are not only affordable, but are relatively uncomplicated, too. In addition, with modern-day dental techniques, there’s very little discomfort associated with keeping your own teeth – all the more reason to sport an incredible smile for the rest of your life.