Dental implants are a great way to repair a broken smile. They create a natural look that mimics the appearance of your teeth, and they have added health benefits. They are popular and common among patients of all ages.

The dental crown on an implant is the key component that gives the implant its natural look. A crown is essentially a false tooth, and a good dental crown is a high priority for all dental implant patients.

While the process of getting a complete dental implant takes several appointments, you can be fit for an implant crown and have it installed on the same day.

Implant Crown Options

Once your dental implant has been placed and your mouth has had time to heal, it’s time for your crown. The crown is the final step in the dental implant process.

When you come in for a dental implant crown, you can choose to have a traditional crown or a same-day crown made. Same-day crowns are made in a single appointment using state-of-the-art dental technology like CEREC (Ceramic Reconstruction). They are always made of ceramic, while traditional crowns can be made of porcelain or resin composite.

Because the healing process for dental implants can take several months, many of our patients choose a same-day crown to complete the process. They’d rather not wait an additional week or two when their crown can be completed in just a few hours in our office!

When Does a Crown Need to be Replaced?

Another reason you might come into our office looking for a dental crown is that your pre-existing implant crown needs to be replaced.

Signs that an implant crown should be replaced include:

• A chipped or cracking crown
• Any discomfort around the site of your implant
• Difficulty chewing or talking because of your crown
• A loose or detached crown

Caring For Your Dental Implants

Routine care will keep your implant crown looking good and feeling great. Maintaining your crown is an important way to protect it for years to come.

You should care for your dental implant crown just as you care for your natural teeth. Brush at least twice a day and floss daily. See your dentist with any concerns or questions.

No matter how well you care for your crown, normal wear and tear could require you to replace it after ten to fifteen years. In these cases, same-day crowns make the replacement process fast and easy!

Same-Day Implant Crown Appointments

If you want a new crown for your dental implant, contact us today. At Meridian Dental, we’re proud to offer same-day appointments to all our Wasilla AK patients. Dental implants are a great way to enhance the comfort and appearance of your smile, and you shouldn’t have to wait for a new crown!

We are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours throughout the week and on the weekend to ensure that we can meet the needs of all our patients. Don’t wait to get the dental care you need!

When a dental emergency strikes, you need dental care as quickly as possible. Getting a timely appointment can reduce pain and get you better long term results.

One popular kind of dental restoration is a same-day crown. Crowns are a good option for people who have experienced a dental injury and need immediate care. They can also help patients who are experiencing decay.

What Is a Same-Day Crown?

A crown is a kind of cap that covers a broken or decayed tooth. It helps improve the function and appearance of a damaged tooth and protects that tooth from future injuries. Crowns are made of durable materials like porcelain and are custom-made to match the appearance of your smile.

Same-day crowns are crowns that are created the day that you come in for your dental appointment. This expedited process is made possible by modern dental technology. Digital tooth impressions and computer software create unique crowns that match your tooth size and shape.

Once the crown is created, it is installed on the same day – thus the name “same-day crown”!

Same-Day Crowns vs. Traditional Crowns

As dental technology and computer software has advanced, dentists have gained the ability to create unique crowns for their patients in just a few hours.

Traditional crowns, on the other hand, require multiple appointments. During an initial consultation appointment your dentist measures your teeth and takes impressions, which they then use to craft a crown. At a follow-up appointment (often several weeks later) they install that crown.

In terms of function, comfort, and appearance, there are only a few differences between same-day crowns and traditional crowns. Same-day crowns tend to be more precise than traditional crowns because they are created with specialized software, while the methods used for traditional crowns leave more room for error.

Same-day crowns are always made of ceramic. Traditional crowns may be made of ceramic, porcelain, composite material, or even metal.

What To Expect

When you come in for a same-day crown appointment at Meridian Dental, we’ll start by examining the tooth you want to put a crown on. We’ll then prepare your tooth for your crown, which may involve removing decay or filing your tooth to reshape it.

After your tooth is prepped, we’ll take a digital impression with our CEREC scanning system. We’ll use that impression to create a digital 3D model of your crown. Finally, your crown will be shaped out of ceramic with a milling machine.

Once your crown is complete, it will be fit, polished, and cemented onto your natural tooth. The entire process takes only a few hours, and you walk out of our office with a restored smile!

High Quality Care From Meridian

At Meridian Dental, we prioritize our patients’ comfort and satisfaction. That’s why we offer same-day crown appointments and other same-day services. Read more about our same day crowns here. If you have a dental emergency or want a fast solution for tooth decay, give us a call today!

Dental implants are a highly effective way to replace missing teeth. They are permanent and comfortable, and they look just as natural as your original teeth.

Curious about this popular procedure? There are several different kinds of implants, so make sure you know which kind is best for you before making any plans.

The kind of implant you should choose depends on your oral health and the number of teeth that you want to replace. Keep reading below to learn about the three main types of dental implants!

Single Tooth Implant

A single tooth implant is the most popular form of dental implant. This implant is designed to replace a single missing tooth. It’s great for people with otherwise-healthy mouths who aren’t experiencing significant tooth loss or bone loss.

Among single tooth implants, there is some variation in material and size. Titanium and stainless steel are the most popular materials used for implant posts. Implant size depends on the size of a patient’s mouth and the health of their jawbone.

While most single tooth implants are inserted into the jawbone, some are placed above the jawbone. When a patient’s jawbone height can’t accommodate an implant, the post can be placed directly underneath the gum tissue instead.

Dental Bridge

A bridge is a good option for people who are missing more than one tooth. If you have several teeth that need to be replaced but still have most of your natural teeth, you can use a bridge to replace multiple teeth with just two implants.

As with all implants, the implant posts act like anchors for your prosthetic teeth. In the case of a bridge, your new teeth will be mounted on your implant posts.

Dental bridges can also be mounted on your natural teeth. This option is available to you if you’d prefer not to have dental implants.

All-on-4 Implants

All-on-4 implants are a great option for people who are missing many teeth. If you’ve experienced mass tooth loss, you can replace a full arch of teeth with just two implants. That means that it takes just four implants to replace a full mouth of teeth.

All-on-4 implants are made up of implant posts that are just like those you would find in a single tooth implant. They also include prosthetic teeth, which are mounted on the implants. The implants are inserted at specific angles to increase stability and support the prosthetics.

Like single tooth implants, these are a permanent solution for tooth loss. They will last you a lifetime if you take good care of them.

Choose the Right Implants for You

As you can see, there are different implant options available depending on your needs. From single tooth replacements to full-mouth prosthetics, implants have a lot to offer!

If you want to talk more about dental implants, give our office a call. At Meridian Dental, we’re always available to answer your questions. Let us guide you on your journey towards better oral health!

Do you need a crown? If you have a chipped or broken tooth, a crown can help restore the appearance of your smile. If you’re experiencing tooth decay, crowns are a solution when classic fillings aren’t possible.

There are many benefits of crowns. But one of the frustrating parts of getting a crown is the timeline associated with the process. It can require several visits to your dentist’s office and weeks of waiting.

If you’re nervous about the wait time associated with traditional crowns, same day crowns might be right for you. Keep reading below for a breakdown of same day crowns vs. traditional crowns.

What Is A Traditional Crown?

A traditional dental crown is a dental restoration that restores the appearance of a damaged tooth. You can think of it as a cap that fits over the tooth in question. Crowns are usually made of porcelain, resin-based composite, or ceramic.

Getting a crown is a multi-day process. You’ll need to get impressions taken, have your natural tooth shaped and filed, and get your crown installed. This typically requires at least two trips to your dentist.

You also need to factor in the time that it takes to create your custom-fit crown. This could take a few days or a few weeks, depending on your dentist’s backlog.

How Are Same Day Crowns Different?

The main difference between same day crowns vs. traditional crowns is obviously stated in their names: same day crowns are available in just one day.

This fast turnaround time is made possible by digital scanners and computer systems that can process data and manufacture a custom crown in mere minutes.

Which Option Should I Choose?

The crown you choose depends on your individual needs. If you suffered an injury that chipped or cracked a tooth, you might be in a rush to fix your tooth. If time is of the essence, a same day crown is probably the best choice for you.

If you want to save money on your crown, a traditional crown might be a better option. You pay a higher price for the convenience of a same day crown.

Because there are limited materials available for same-day manufacturing, traditional crowns may end up being stronger or longer-lasting than same day crowns. This is due to the high-quality materials that are used to craft traditional crowns.

Crowns in Your Area

There are pros and cons to all types of dental crowns, and only you can settle the same day crowns vs. traditional crowns debate for yourself. Consider your own needs and choose what’s best for you – no one option is better than the other!

At Meridian Dental, we’re happy to talk to you about your options. Whether you’re interested in same day crowns or want to consider a different approach, you’ll find nothing but support in our Wasilla office.

We want to empower our patients to take control of their oral health, and we’ll give you all the information you need to make an informed decision. Call us today!

Same Day Crowns

When a dental emergency strikes, you need immediate care. And with modern technology, procedures that previously stretched out over multiple appointments can now be completed in a single trip to your dentist.

Same day crowns are one such wonder of modern dentistry. Our Meridian Dental office is equipped with the Sirona Cerec Primescan and Cerec Primemill, two cutting-edge machines that make crowns more accessible than ever before.

Curious to learn more? Keep reading for a brief overview of this smile-saving procedure and the technology that makes it possible.

Why Should I Get A Same Day Crown?

A crown is a kind of dental restoration that stands in for a tooth’s natural enamel. Crowns are necessary when a tooth is damaged or decayed beyond repair. They help restore the natural appearance of your smile and also protect your existing, damaged tooth from further harm.

Same day crowns are crowns that are completed in a single appointment. They’re a good option for people who are experiencing significant discomfort or have an extremely noticeable damaged tooth. They’re also worth considering if you have an important event coming up and you need your smile to be in tip-top shape.

Sedation is also helpful during long or complicated procedures. These might cause fatigue or anxiety as they go on; sedation allows them to pass without incident and keeps you, as the patient, in a state of calm. At Meridian Dental, we also suggest sedation to patients who have very sensitive teeth or a sensitive gag reflex.

Same Day Crowns vs. Traditional Crowns

As mentioned above, the main difference between same day crowns and traditional crowns is the turnaround time.

Traditional crowns take several appointments to complete. In between appointments, the patient wears a generic temporary crown. This can be as long as two weeks after the first appointment.

Same day crowns shorten this process using in-house dental scanning technology. First, 3D digital impressions are taken of your tooth. Then, our systems process the information and create a digital mockup of a crown that will fit you perfectly. Our in-office milling machine then shapes a physical version of your crown out of ceramic.

Our Technology: Sirona Cerec primescan and Cerec Primemill

Thanks to our 3D scanning technology, uncomfortable putty molds are a thing of the past and crown wait times have been done away with completely. Our systems allow us to create a customized crown in minutes instead of days.

We use a 3D scanner called the Sirona Cerec Primescan to create our digital molds. Then, we sculpt crowns out of ceramic using a milling machine called the Cerec Primemill. Both machines are state-of-the-art and create some of the highest-quality same day crowns on the market.

With this technology we can still offer traditional services like color matching. Plus, we can treat our patients to new options like mirror imaging, which allows us to copy the shape of a mirroring tooth for an ultra-symmetrical look.

Your Local Crown Professionals

If you’re on the fence about same day crowns, let our team at Meridian Dental help you decide. With our years of experience and industry-leading technology, we can deliver the dental experience you’re hoping for. Let us show you the difference that the Sirona Cerec Primescan and Cerec Primemill make!

Contact us today to find out more about our same day crowns. Dr. Gurr, Dr. Pieper, and our whole team are ready to help you get the smile of your dreams.

Have you ever been afraid of visiting the dentist for a necessary procedure? If fear and anxiety get the better of you when you walk into your dentist’s office, you might be a good candidate for intravenous sedation, or IV sedation.

What is sedation? To put it simply, it’s a way to make your experience at the dentist more comfortable and less anxiety-inducing. There are different types of sedation and levels of sedation, and sedation levels can be adjusted to fit your specific needs.

What is Sedation?

IV sedation, short for intravenous sedation, is a way that sedatives can be delivered to a patient. The IV is attached to a vein in the back of the hand or inside of the elbow using a small needle, and sedatives are administered in order to provide the patient with a more calming experience.

Sedation should not be confused with general anesthesia, during which the patient becomes completely unconscious.

Benefits of Intravenous Sedation

IV sedation is a good option for people with dental phobia. People can develop a fear of the dentist after traumatic experiences, but dentist-related fears can also come from hearing about bad experiences second-hand or seeing negative portrayals of dentists in the media.

If you have a fear of the dentist for any reason, IV sedation might be right for you. It allows you to relax and experience your appointment without tension or fear.

Sedation is also helpful during long or complicated procedures. These might cause fatigue or anxiety as they go on; sedation allows them to pass without incident and keeps you, as the patient, in a state of calm. At Meridian Dental, we also suggest sedation to patients who have very sensitive teeth or a sensitive gag reflex.

Types of Sedation and Sedation Levels

Because IV sedation offers higher levels of sedation than oral sedation techniques, it’s a good option for patients who find oral sedation to be inadequate. On the other hand, IV sedation levels are less than those of general anesthesia and allow the patient to maintain consciousness throughout a procedure.

The kind of sedation most commonly used in dental offices is called “conscious sedation.” The patient stays conscious and awake but is in a state of decreased awareness and reduced anxiety. In this state, any discomfort, pain, and anxiety associated with their procedure are significantly diminished.

The most common dental sedative is called midazolam and is known for acting fast and wearing off quickly post-procedure. After most types of sedation, you will remember little or none of your procedure.

Intravenous Sedation at Meridian Dental

At Meridian Dental, we pride ourselves in delivering gentle and compassionate care. We work to meet patients where they’re at, and we understand that not everyone is comfortable in our office, no matter how gentle our approach.

Don’t let your next dental appointment cause you anxiety and fear. If you’re feeling nervous about coming in for a procedure, ask us about IV sedation, types of sedation, and the different levels of sedation we offer.

Contact us today to find out how intravenous sedation can improve your dental experience! Whether you want to ask our team, “What is sedation?” or schedule your next appointment, we’re here for you.

Finding an affordable dentist with no insurance shouldn’t be as frustrating as it often is. But many individuals find it difficult to get the dental care they need such as dental cleanings, yearly exams, and dental implants from a provider that accepts no insurance.

What’s the solution? Patients without insurance can still receive the dental care they need from a cash pay dentist, or dentists with in-house savings plans that let you pay in cash and at a reasonable discount.

Keep reading to learn more about where to find affordable dentists with these cash payment plans near you in Wasilla, AK! Or contact the staff at Meridian Dental for additional information.

Cash In-House Savings Options to Maintain Dental Health

Rather than having to find and pay for a dental insurance plan, some families and individuals choose instead to take advantage of dental savings options offered by their family dentist. These plans save patients money while still providing the comprehensive services needed for good oral health.

For example, Meridian Dental in Wasilla, AK provides patients of all ages with in-house dental savings options. These plans include a reasonable cash price for dental cleanings and exams twice a year, a set of x-rays to check for cavities, decay, or other problems, and a 15% discount on any other treatments (except orthodontics).

These services which normally can cost at upwards of $600 only cost patients $250-375, depending on the patient’s age and dental health needs. (See more plan specifics here!)

Why We Offer Cash Payment Plans: Preventative Dental Care Matters

Signing on for yearly dental payment plans such as these can keep your teeth in good condition. The whole reason why Meridian Dental offers these and other cash pay dentist options is so that you have easier access to preventative dental care.

Patients who receive dental cleanings and exams biannually are less likely to incur serious dental health issues. Preventative dental care helps prevent against inflamed gums and periodontal disease, cavities, tooth decay, tooth staining, infections that require a root canal or tooth extraction, and other complications.

Rather than having to pay for expensive treatments for these issues later down the road, we want to provide our patients with affordable dental care now so that they can enjoy a healthier and brighter smile.

The bottom line is that your dental health matters. It affects more of your overall health than you think, so don’t let it fall by the wayside because you have no insurance plan. Go to a cash pay dentist near you and protect your teeth and gums now before problems escalate.

No Insurance Dental Care in Wasilla, AK

If you’re not wanting to sign up for a yearly dental savings plan, our Wasilla dental office also offers upfront cash payments for dental cleanings and other dental work. What really matters to us is that each patient receives the care necessary to keep their teeth healthy and looking great.

Not being insured should not deter you from getting that high-quality dental care. Contact our office to learn more about all our dental savings options, including the aforementioned in-house savings plan and cash pay dentists as well as convenient CareCredit financing.

Let’s keep your teeth healthy with affordable dental care for the whole family! Schedule an appointment at Meridian Dental today to begin.

If you’ve considered getting a tooth crown to replace a missing tooth or to protect one that’s weak or broken, why not get a same-day crown? These dental crowns are similar to traditional crowns in function, but don’t require sending a mold to a dental laboratory. Instead, dentists with this technology create the same-day crown right in their dental office!

But is it worth it to look into same-day crowns? It very well may be if you’re interested in the following three reasons:

1. Less Time

The biggest drawback to the traditional tooth crown procedure is the large amount of time it takes to complete. First, the patient will visit their dentist to have the existing tooth milled down so that the crown can fit snugly on top of it. In the case that a crown will replace a missing tooth, a dental implant will need to be placed in advance or bordering achor teeth milled down to secure a tooth bridge in place.

During this same appointment, your advanced family or cosmetic dentist will create a mold for the crown that resembles the shape of other teeth. You will receive a temporary tooth crown while the mold is sent to a dental lab where technicians will shape your permanent crown from the mold.

But that can take sometimes two to three weeks after your initial appointment. While the temporary crown should still protect your tooth, it won’t feel or look as natural as the permanent crown will.

Beyond that, however, you’ll also need to take more time off work or out of your busy schedule to meet with the dentist again for him or her to place this permanent crown. If the tooth crown doesn’t feel right, it may need to be sent back to the lab for additional adjustments before you come back for a third appointment.

Or, you could get same-day crowns. As the name implies, you can receive these crowns the very same day that you come in for that first appointment. Within one to two hours, you can have your crown molded, milled, and placed on your tooth or implant. And you’re done!

2. Same Great Quality

But will same-day crowns have a similar high quality as traditional tooth crowns? Yes!

The in-office milling technology used to create same-day crowns creates durable finished products that are long-lasting and stain-resistant. They may not be hand cut in a lab, but they still are carefully made to resemble other teeth. This technology is also capable of color-matching your tooth crown with surrounding teeth so that it fits in naturally with your smile.

In other words, you get the same excellent quality from same-day crowns as you would a traditional crown in exponentially less time.

3. Similar Cost

One of the most frequent questions patients ask us is regarding the cost of same-day crowns. With its advanced and convenient technology, many individuals assume that the tooth crown cost will skyrocket beyond their budget.

However, generally the cost of a same-day crown isn’t too much different than the cost of a traditional crown. In fact, the cost for both procedures is often more affordable for replacing teeth than dental implants or tooth bridges.

Get Tooth Crowns in a Single Appointment!

So if you’re looking to get a high-quality tooth crown at a much greater convenience and a similar cost, then talk with dentists at Meridian Dental about same-day crowns. We’re proud to use this advanced technology in our Wasilla, AK dental office to provide patients with the treatments they need in less time.

Our evening and after hours dentists make getting your tooth crown even more convenient by offering later office hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays if you can’t make it in to us during the regular workweek. Or schedule a weekend dentist appointment with us on Saturdays to restore your smile and protect damaged teeth from breaking even further!

Contact us to set up a free consultation appointment and let’s discuss in greater depth why same-day crowns may be your best option for replacing or protecting teeth.

We all love a little sugar, but our teeth could use a little break from high amounts of sugar if we’re going to maintain good dental health. When sugar particles stay on teeth for long periods of time, they encourage plaque and bacteria growth that eat away at enamel and lead to tooth decay. The less sugar you eat, the less risk you put your teeth in and the better your smile will look.

This word of caution isn’t just for adults, but for children too! Although kids’ teeth will fall out, serious cavities and tooth decay in their baby teeth could affect permanent adult teeth that come in. Plus, starting healthy habits now can encourage better oral health in the future.

So whether you’re 4 or 44 years old, it’s always a good practice to limit the sugar you eat each day to help prevent tooth decay. To help you out, our dental office in Wasilla, AK has gathered up a few ways you can decrease your daily and weekly sugar intake to improve your family’s dental health.

More Water!

Those sugary sports drinks, juices, and sodas sound pretty tempting after a workout or when you go out to eat. But choosing a glass of water instead is something your teeth will thank you for. Drinking water after a meal will help break down sugar in your food along with plaque that may cling to your teeth.

Got Milk?

Milk is another good drink substitute for dinnertime. It contains a high source of calcium which helps enamel around your teeth grow stronger and be more resistant to decay from sugary substances.

We Love Cereal, But…

Cereal can be a great breakfast to start your day with, that is, if it isn’t high in sugar. Check the sugar content in the cereals you buy and try to find ones with lower amounts of sugar. That sugar could be hiding in high fructose corn syrup and other common ingredients in cereal. When you can, switch your morning cereal with a non-fat, low-sugar yogurt or toast with an avocado or cottage cheese spread.

Naturally Sweet

Some breakfasts, desserts, and other foods just taste so much better with a little sugar sprinkled on top. But a little extra sugar every day can add up fast and wear down teeth. When you crave something sweet to complement your meal, consider switching out artificial sweeteners or sprinkled sugar with natural sugars in fruit. Those natural sugars have great nutritional value while added sugars in processed foods only give you more calories and more opportunities for cavities to creep in.

Cook it Fresh

Many prepared or frozen meals are packed with more added sugar than you may realize. While sometimes our busy schedules don’t give us much time for cooking, making dinner from scratch a few times every week can be a great way to decrease your family’s sugar intake. It may be more work to prepare a full meal without as many processed foods, but when it comes to your oral health, it will be a worthy sacrifice.

Snacks to Hold You Over

It’s so easy to grab a quick cookie or candy as a snack between meals. Again, making the switch to healthier snacks is going to take some sacrifice. But those little snacks high in sugar eaten here and there make a big difference to your overall dental health. If you don’t have the time to cut up some fruit or vegetables for a snack, canned fruit can be another alternative. Just check that the fruit is canned in water rather than in a sugary syrup.

Less Sugar, Less Decay: Why It Even Matters

Maintaining your dental health and reducing your sugar intake will not only affect your teeth, but your entire well-being. Studies show us that eating more than the recommended daily sugar intake can be a risk factor for conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and heart-related problems on top of tooth decay.

Make the decision today to substitute healthier options into your daily diet! Your teeth will look better and feel better with such a change and experience fewer cavities and decay. Be sure to continue with regular brushing and flossing habits as well to remove plaque buildup from the other foods you choose to eat!

For more suggestions on improving your family’s dental health, contact our Wasilla, AK dentists at Meridian Dental. Come in for teeth cleanings for the whole family, another crucial ingredient to maintaining oral health! Our dental office is even open on Saturdays and Wednesday and Thursday evenings so that nothing gets in your way of a healthy smile.

As a parent, you want the best for your children. The best schools, the best friends, the best doctors—the list goes on and on. One of the most important things you can do to help your kids enjoy healthy lives is to establish good patterns for their oral health.

Poor dental health and tooth decay can lead to further health complications that may stay with a child for the rest of their life. Yet, many families still don’t emphasize the need to take good care of teeth. In fact, over 40% of kids have experienced tooth decay and cavities by the time they reach kindergarten.

Here are a few ways you as a parent can help prevent tooth decay in your children’s teeth and improve their dental health.

Start Them Early!

From infancy to adolescence and beyond, never stop looking for those teaching moments where you can share why dental health matters. Reinforce brushing habits as early as you can by giving your children their own soft-bristled toothbrush, brushing alongside them, and making it a part of your daily routine.

For babies, give them a small, very soft toothbrush that they can begin putting in their mouth when you brush. Don’t use toothpaste, and be sure to keep them upright so they don’t begin gagging. You’ll also want to wipe down their teeth after each feeding to avoid plaque buildup before they can properly use a toothbrush.

Make Brushing Fun

You be the example and show kids that brushing their teeth can be fun! Brush with them in front of a mirror so that they can try to mimic your movements. Be sure to smile while you brush, and maybe turn brushing into a game, to indicate to your child that brushing teeth doesn’t have to be boring.

If children have a poor first experience brushing their teeth, they will be less likely to continue good brushing and oral health habits later on in life. So speak positively about it, don’t make brushing a punishment, and avoid scolding kids if they haven’t got the right techniques down yet. Work together to make brushing enjoyable.

Give a Little Assistance

Toddlers will especially need your help to brush effectively. Again, make sure that it’s a good experience, not something you’re forcing on them. Have children hold your hand and look in the mirror as you guide their toothbrush back and forth gently, but firmly. You may need to help children as old as 6 or even 8 years old before they have mastered basic brushing techniques.

Less Sugar, More Water

One of the dangers to kids’ teeth is an excess of juice or sugary drinks. These drinks break down enamel quickly, especially if children are not brushing at least twice a day. Instead, have kids drink more water! Choose tap water with fluoride when possible as a substitute to these less healthy drinks that may cause more cavities. Drinking a glass of water after a meal especially can help stimulate saliva glands and wash away bacteria and plaque from that meal.

Try avoiding sticky candy and food as well that may get stuck in between teeth allowing for more plaque buildup. Reward kids with their favorite fruit instead of candy, and buy fresh instead of dry fruit that tends to be stickier. Good nutrition is just one more way you can improve their dental health, but also overall health.

Bottles Before Bed

Many kids like going to bed with a bottle of milk or a drink in their favorite sippy cup. But children’s teeth shouldn’t be exposed to the sugars in formula or breast milk, juice, and other drinks for the entire night. If they are, they may experience baby bottle tooth decay. Give them a drink before bedtime, but clean their teeth before hopping into bed and be sure to keep the bottles out of the bunks or cribs.

Visit the Dentist

Like brushing needs to be a good experience for children to continue the habit, so should a trip to the dentist be a good experience, especially when it’s a child’s first visit. We recommend taking your baby to the dentist before their first birthday when their first tooth appears. After that, visit your family dentist every six months for dental cleanings and exams. Again, if you can be the example of regularly visiting the dentist, then your kids will get into the habit as well.

If children are anxious about dental appointments, be sure to speak positively about your own experiences at the dentist, and communicate openly about what they can expect. Find a family-friendly dentist who will happily answer your child’s questions and alleviate their concerns.

For families with children in Wasilla or Palmer, AK, visit Meridian Dental, conveniently located by several schools in Wasilla! Our family dentists will help your children feel comfortable and at ease from the moment they walk inside our dental office. We offer general and advanced dental services for the entire family! Request your appointment with our compassionate Wasilla dentists today.