Invisalign is a great teeth straightening treatment for adults who want to correct misaligned smiles without the hassle or notice that braces bring. Traditional metal braces can prove uncomfortable and make it difficult for many patients to clean teeth in between wires. Invisalign retainers, on the other hand, simply slide off when you eat, brush, or floss for cleaner teeth and a less painful experience.

To keep your Invisalign retainers looking and feeling clean, though, will require some work on your end. Otherwise, the clear aligners will begin to dull and may appear more noticeable. But more importantly, clean aligners will help keep your teeth healthier as you straighten them.

What can you do to ensure that each set of your Invisalign retainers stay clean and look like new? Start with the 6 simple steps below, and consult with your local Wasilla dentist for additional information.

1. Rinse Daily

Bacteria and plaque can build up along the walls of your Invisalign clear aligners quickly. Whenever you remove aligners to eat and brush, rinse them out with water. You may also want to use clear antibacterial soap, but avoid any colored soap that could stain the retainers.

2. Keep Retainers Safely Away

After taking out aligners, don’t leave them out on a countertop or table. Beyond the possibility of forgetting them when you leave, retainers can pick up more germs and bacteria out in the open than they would safely hidden in their tray container. So pack them away after rinsing them, or be sure to rinse them out again if you do leave them out.

3. Clean Before Breakfast

You know how bad your breath can smell in the morning after waking up, even without wearing Invisalign retainers? The bacteria that causes morning breath can dirty your clear aligners when worn overnight, so when you wake up, give them a quick clean for fresher breath.

4. Brush and Floss After Eating

Keeping up with a good dental health routine will also help ensure that Invisialign retainers stay clear and clean. On top of that, these habits will help prevent tooth decay and cavities from food stuck between your teeth that’s held in place by the retainers.

Start by brushing and flossing after every time you take out the clear aligners to eat. Removing food particles before putting Invisalign retainers back on will help keep that food building up and eating away at your enamel.

5. Soak in Denture Cleaning Solutions or Specific Invisalign Cleaner

One of the best things you can add into your dental health and Invisalign cleaning routine is to leave aligners to soak in a cleaning solution for around 15 minutes. This could be the Invisalign Cleaning Crystals specifically for their retainers, but other denture cleaners or Retainer Brite are other good cleaning solutions to use.

6. Leave Toothpaste Out of It

Toothpaste, however, is not a good cleaning agent for your Invisalign retainers. Teeth-whitening toothpastes especially have been known to discolor aligners and may wear them down from the toothpaste’s corroding chemicals. These materials aren’t abrasive for your teeth, but they won’t be friendly to your clear plastic retainers.

You can also avoid wearing down aligners by brushing them softly. You won’t need to apply too much pressure if you’re following all the above steps to keep aligners clean and free of bacteria or plaque.

Cleaner Aligners and Straighter Teeth

To keep your teeth and Invisalign retainers in good shape, use the cleaning techniques mentioned! Although you only wear each new set of clear aligners for a few weeks, they can have a big impact on your oral hygiene without proper care.

Talk with one of our dentists in Wasilla, AK if you have more questions about Invisalign, braces, or other cosmetic dentistry treatments for straightening teeth. Our experienced staff can help you come up with a personalized treatment plan that helps you achieve the smile you’ve been wanting.  Schedule a consultation appointment at our dental office today!

One of the best advancements for replacing missing teeth are dental implants, or small, titanium shafts that stay securely in place by fusing together with your jaw bone. Tooth crowns, bridges, or dentures are then attached to the implants for a complete and natural-looking smile.

If loose or missing teeth are causing you to feel self-conscious or are making it difficult to eat, looking into options for teeth replacements is the next natural step. But rather than worry about replacements shifting or falling out of place, why not go with a solution that gives the permanent results you want like implants?

Discuss the pros and cons behind dental implants with your dentist to see if they may be the right match for you. In the meantime, we’ve gathered up a few issues dental implants can resolve or help you out with that other teeth replacements can’t. Check them out below before you schedule your next dentist appointment!

Dental Implants Help with Periodontal Gum Disease

What many patients may not realize is that implants can assist you in treating periodontal gum disease. This is the chief cause for tooth loss in adults by damaging gums that support teeth to keep them firmly in place. Pockets form in between gums and teeth where food particles and bacteria often get stuck allowing for severe tooth decay and even bone loss.

Tooth implants may be the solution you need for teeth and gums severely affected by gum disease. While our Wasilla dental office will seek first to provide non-surgical gum treatments, decay and bacterial infection may be serious enough that we need to remove the tooth and clean out all infection to save the remaining gums and bone structure.

Once the area is cleaned and the implant put in its place, results have been positive for a large majority of patients. The implant and its tooth crown consist of materials that are not prone to further decay or bacterial infection, and won’t need root canal treatment in the future either, a complication for many patients with extreme gum disease.

They Reduce Bone Loss and Retain Jaw Structure

Because the implant’s titanium shaft is placed directly into the bone where the tooth roots once were, it stimulates the bone to keep it from deteriorating. Preserving the bone is essential for maintaining your current jaw structure and giving the lower half of your face the support it needs. If teeth are removed without anything in their place, gradually that structure and the bone itself will degenerate.

Unlike traditional tooth bridges, implants also won’t damage or weaken any surrounding teeth. The crown, bridge, or dentures placed on top won’t need to rely on teeth nearby to anchor themselves when they will already be firmly attached to the implant.

Replace a Single Tooth, Multiple Teeth, or All Your Teeth

Dental implants are versatile in that they are the best replacements not only for replacing a single missing tooth, but multiple teeth when necessary. They can support implant bridges as well as partial or full dentures. That includes both removable and permanent dentures, giving patients greater flexibility and less adjustment time after the procedure.

If the tooth crown, bridge, or dentures need replacing, the implant can remain right in its place as custom caps are being created. The new replacement can then be placed on the original shaft, and you’re good to go!

Implants Provide You with Natural-Looking and Long-Lasting Results

No matter how many teeth you need to replace, dental implants are long-term investments with great results. Same-day crowns, bridges, or dentures you decide on will be carefully crafted to resemble surrounding teeth in color and shape. You’ll hardly even notice the difference or know that they’re there! Unlike other tooth replacement solutions, implants offer a permanent solution that looks and feels natural.

Contact your local dentists in Wasilla, AK to discuss if dental implants are the best solution for you! We’re here to answer all your questions about the procedure, cost, insurance, and more.

Can’t see our cosmetic dentists during the workweek? Don’t let that keep you from feeling confident with your smile again. We even offer evening and weekend dental hours for patients in Palmer, Wasilla, and surrounding areas in Alaska’s Mat-Su Valley. Schedule an implants consultation with us today!

This Valentine’s Day, give your teeth some lovin’. They deserve it, and so do you! When you treat your teeth right, they treat you right in return with a brighter smile and great-smelling breath.

So be wise when it comes to how you celebrate this holiday, and use the helpful tips below so that you never miss out on the perfect romantic moment.

First Things First: Chocolate Tasting

Chocolate sales spike around Valentine’s Day. We’re not saying to completely eliminate chocolate from your Valentine’s Day festivities, just be careful about which ones you choose to buy. A few types of chocolate will help protect your teeth more than others. Chocolates with chewy and gooey insides, for example, are more likely to cling to your teeth. This will make cleaning teeth more difficult and make them more susceptible to cavities.

When you can, go with solid chocolate. Dark chocolate is another good choice as it has less sugar than its milk chocolate counterpart.

Top Off a Glass of Water

After eating your romantic, Valentine’s Day dinner, finish the meal with a nice glass of water. During that first half hour after eating a meal your mouth’s saliva naturally breaks down acids and plaque from your food. Drinking a glass of water only helps to encourage that natural response to make teeth brighter.

Kiss More

Kissing also helps stimulate more saliva to fight off that plaque and remove particles like sugar and acid that cause cavities. Give your special someone a Valentine’s Day kiss (or two), and help improve your oral health in the process!

Clean Your Tongue

Speaking of kissing, no one wants to kiss someone with bad breath. Taking care of your teeth also means taking care of any bad breath, starting with your tongue. This is where a lot of bacteria hides that causes halitosis.

Cleaning your tongue regularly with your toothbrush or a tongue scraper can do wonders for clearing out that bacteria. Start by pulling your toothbrush or tongue scraper across the length of your tongue from the back to the front everyday.

Don’t Brush…Right Away

One of the best ways to improve breath and dental health is daily brushing and flossing. This dislodges those food particles and other bacteria that may be harming your teeth. We recommend brushing at least twice a day, but also recommend waiting to brush after you’ve eaten acidic foods.

Remember how your body naturally breaks down and fights bacteria in those 30 minutes after a meal? You don’t want to brush before those 30 minutes are up, especially when you’ve had a glass of wine with your Valentine’s date or another acidic beverage or food. Brush too soon and you’ll only wear down the enamel of your teeth even more, making it easier for cavities to form and teeth to discolor.

Take Care of Your Teeth

Just like with any relationship, taking care of your teeth takes time. It also takes consistent commitment like daily brushing and flossing, and meeting with your dentist every year for a dental cleaning and exam. But when you put in the effort, you’ll love the results.

Here’s to no bad breath and great-looking teeth this Valentine’s Day and all year long. For more oral health tips, visit Meridian Dental in Wasilla, AK. Talk with our dentists about the struggles you face as you try to improve dental health and maintain a beautiful smile. Our cosmetic and family dentists will help you achieve a brighter smile you can feel confident in with solutions like Invisalign, teeth whitening, same-day crowns and other advanced treatments. Call us today!

Breaking a tooth or chipping it when eating something hard can be unnerving. After all, teeth are meant to be strong and last a lifetime, right? But sometimes accidents happen. In other cases, sometimes a wayward cavity can lead to extreme tooth decay that weakens structure.

The good news here is that breaking, cracking, or chipping a tooth doesn’t always lead to removing the tooth. You have a number of options available to you. The first step is to meet with your dentist as soon as possible so that the damage doesn’t lead to further complications. The procedure or treatments they suggest will depend on the degree and severity of the fracture.

For patients in Palmer, Wasilla, and surrounding Alaska locations, visit restorative dentists at Meridian Dental. We even offer evening and Saturday dentist hours to get you in sooner! Our dental office also provides emergency services when broken teeth needs to be treated immediately. For current patients needing an emergency dentist, reach us at (907) 312-5604.

Small Tooth Crack

Biting down hard or eating the wrong kind of food can cause small cracks, especially if the tooth is already vulnerable from decay. Many small cracks can be repaired by filling them with a composite resin, or coated with a sealant if the cracks are minor and on the tooth’s surface.

Other cracks may need a little extra protection to keep the fracture from extending deeper. Sometimes a dental crown may be placed on top of the tooth, safeguarding and strengthening it. At Meridian Dental, we can provide patients with same-day crowns, or custom tooth crowns that are molded and sculpted right in our office during a single appointment. This can protect a sensitive tooth sooner to help prevent additional complications and so less damaged is incurred.

Slightly Chipped Tooth

Chipped teeth are more easily noticeable on a patient’s front teeth. But because chips usually only alter the tooth’s top layer without reaching more sensitive layers of your teeth, they may be harder to detect, especially on back teeth.

Our dentists can easily smooth down the area where small chips are found and reconstruct the tooth with a composite filling. Since most chips don’t affect the structural integrity of your tooth, a dental crown probably won’t be necessary.

Large Break in Tooth

Major fractures could be a different story. If the area is bleeding, apply gauze and pressure to stop the bleeding before meeting with your dentist. A part of the tooth may have completely fallen off or may be hanging on to the root and remaining tooth.

The danger with large breaks is when they reach the tooth’s roots. Generally, you should recognize when this happens by feeling a sharp pain or sensitivity in the area. A root canal may be necessary if the tooth has become infected. Again, a tooth crown may help these fragile teeth from breaking even more and needing to be replaced.

Restorative Dentistry for Tooth Breaks, Chips, and Cracks

With all the technology available to our dentists today, we can fix broken, chipped, and cracked teeth sooner with advanced solutions that resemble natural teeth. Composite fillings and tooth crowns are almost indiscernible next to your other teeth because the matching is so precise! Because same-day crowns are custom for each individual, they won’t feel awkward or bulky in your mouth either.

If you have a broken, chipped, or cracked tooth, schedule an appointment with our dentists today! Each of these damages can be restored without much difficulty so that you can continue to smile confidently. Meet with our Wasilla dentists to learn more.

While it’s common for teenagers to get metal braces, for adults it’s another story. Yet many adults who never had orthodontic treatments when they were younger, or whose teeth have moved out of alignment, may still want a way to straighten teeth without the stigma or hassle of traditional braces.

Luckily, in today’s world with its modern dental advancements, straightening teeth isn’t limited to just traditional metal braces. At Meridian Dental, we offer three of those highly effective treatments that aren’t as noticeable as the metal braces you’re familiar with. Learn more about them below, and get in touch with our dental office in Wasilla, AK to speak with one of our cosmetic dentists!

1. Invisalign

Straighten teeth faster and with less hassle with Invisalign! Convenient Invisalign retainers or aligners rest on your teeth, gradually shifting teeth to correct any misalignment. As the name suggests, these sets of aligners are nearly invisible, especially to people unaware that you’re straightening your teeth.

About every two weeks or so, our dentists will give you a new set of Invisalign retainers, created out of custom molds from your teeth, to move them that much closer into place. In cases when a patient only has minimal malocclusion, Invisalign can be a great treatment to make those small adjustments quickly. Afterwards, we’ll help you keep teeth in place with one last set of Invisalign retainers you’ll receive at the end of the process.

2. ClearCorrect

Similar in nature to Invisalign, ClearCorrect aligners are made out of clear plastic, making them hardly noticeable! Both Invisalign and ClearCorrect aligners can, and should, be taken out when you eat and brush your teeth. This helps to maintain good oral health during treatment, as opposed to metal braces where plaque may build up around brackets and wires.

Flossing around metal braces can also be difficult, sometimes increasing symptoms and complications for patients who have gingivitis, or inflamed gums. The convenience of wearing removable, ClearCorrect teeth aligners can make them a great solution for these individuals as they make it easier to floss and keep gums healthy.

For many patients wanting to straighten crooked teeth using clear aligners, ClearCorrect can be more affordable than Invisalign. Sometimes it is even covered by insurance! Meet with our Invisalign and ClearCorrect providers to discuss pricing and insurance coverage.

3. Clear Braces

For patients with severe misalignment, sometimes braces are the necessary treatment to achieve a completely (and permanently) straight smile. Clear braces, less noticeable than other traditional braces, can provide that sort of treatment without drawing too much attention to your teeth. Often clear braces can align teeth quicker than clear aligners, especially in those cases when malocclusion is extreme.

Your Perfect Smile, Minus the Braces!

Everyone deserves to feel confident with their smile. If you’ve been covering up your teeth, but don’t want irritating braces to get in your way, you have several options available to you that can correct any flaws or misalignment! Meet with our cosmetic dentists in Wasilla, AK to discuss which orthodontic treatments like Invisalign, ClearCorrect, or clear braces will be best for you.

Schedule a consultation appointment at Meridian Dental today to start smiling without feeling self-conscious!

Clear teeth aligners, like those from Invisalign and ClearCorrect, in many ways are a great alternative treatment to orthodontia you may be familiar with, like wire braces. Individuals receive new custom, nearly invisible aligners every two weeks or so that gradually push teeth closer and closer into alignment.

Many adults find that Invisalign and ClearCorrect are a convenient and cost-effective treatment for aligning teeth without the hassles that come with braces. That being said, clear aligners aren’t the best treatment for everyone looking to straighten their smile.

Consider asking yourself the questions below and speak with our local Wasilla dentists to determine if Invisalign or ClearCorrect aligners are the right teeth alignment treatment for you.

Do You Suffer From Extreme Malocclusion?

Invisalign and ClearCorrect treatments are designed for individuals with minor crookedness or imperfections in their smile. A small gap between teeth or a couple of teeth that have shifted can be brought into alignment within a few months.

However, in cases where an individual has extremely crooked or misaligned teeth, our dentist may recommend traditional wire braces. A patient with a large overbite or overly crowded teeth, for example, may not experience the same great results with clear aligners as a patient with just a few teeth out of place.

Schedule a consultation appointment with our dentists in Wasilla, AK (also serving patients in Palmer and the entire Mat-Su Valley). By looking at how severe your malocclusion is, they will be able to recommend the best treatment going forward that’s specific to your dental needs.

Have You Had Braces or Clear Teeth Aligners Previously?

Many patients who had previous orthodontic treatment years ago for misaligned teeth choose to get clear teeth aligners later on for realigning teeth that have shifted out of place.

Previous treatment usually indicates that teeth aren’t terribly misaligned now. This makes these individuals some of the perfect candidates for Invisalign retainers or ClearCorrect teeth aligners because malocclusion is not too extreme.

Are You Concerned about Others Noticing Aligners?

Having braces as a teenager isn’t all that glamorous, but most teenagers aren’t in it alone. For adults, however, even if they would like straighter teeth, most would agree that they don’t want braces to affect the way they look. Many feel embarrassed and attempt to hide their braces when out with friends.

Another benefit of ClearCorrect and Invisalign aligners are how unnoticeable they are! Most people won’t be able to tell that you’re wearing retainers or aligners at all. You get the straight smile you’ve been wanting without needing to cover it up during treatment.

How Quickly Do You Want to Align Your Teeth?

The length of treatment is dependent on that degree of malocclusion you experience. If you suffer from a large over or underbite, or another severe form of misalignment, treatment with clear aligners will take much longer.

On the other hand, perhaps your smile only has a few crowded, crooked, or gapped teeth. Then Invisalign and ClearCorrect clear aligners will help correct those smaller imperfections in less time than other orthodontic treatments. Sometimes treatment only takes a few months to complete!

Will You Wear Your Invisalign or ClearCorrect Aligners Diligently?

The final question to consider is how willing and motivated you will be to wear aligners consistently. With braces, a patient doesn’t have the choice to simply slip braces off and on as they please. But with clear retainers or aligners, it’s a different story.

Our Wasilla dentists will ask that you remove clear aligners when you eat and brush your teeth. This is a convenience that persuades many individuals to choose Invisalign or ClearCorrect treatment in the first place. You won’t need to avoid certain sticky or hard foods during treatment. You’ll also keep teeth cleaner and free from plaque buildup that commonly forms around metal braces.

But the catch is that for treatment to work effectively, you need to wear aligners around 20-22 hours a day. If you fail to wear aligners for a majority of the day and while you sleep, it will take longer to achieve the great results this treatment can offer.

Invisalign and ClearCorrect take self-discipline and dedication on the patient’s end to work well. But when they do, you’ll love the end result!

Learn More About ClearCorrect and Invisalign in Wasilla!

The best first step to take if you are considering Invisalign or ClearCorrect aligners is to meet with a provider near you. For individuals in Palmer, Wasilla, and all of Alaska’s Mat-Su Valley, visit Meridian Dental! We are proud to provide these convenient clear aligners to patients with less extreme malocclusion who want a straighter smile.

Contact us to book a consultation appointment with one of our cosmetic dentists today!

Kissing someone under the mistletoe or at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s? Got a family member coming over for the holidays that’s a close-talker? Don’t be worrying about bad breath in social settings or the perfect moment! Keep your breath smelling great all the time by following these simple suggestions from your local Wasilla dentist.

1. Chew Sugar-Free Gum

As plaque builds up on your teeth from sugar and other food particles, your breath will begin to smell worse. Keep some sugar-free gum on hand to break up particles and to stimulate more saliva, which can also help ward off bad breath. It’s important, though, that the gum doesn’t contain sugar, otherwise you’ll be right back at square one.

Gums with spices or herbs that naturally fight off halitosis, or bad breath, are another good idea. Whether you like cinnamon, mint, or another flavor, just make sure that it’s sugar-free!

2. Drink More Water

Just like chewing gum helps to encourage more saliva, so will drinking water. Having a dry mouth can cause bacteria to grow more rapidly, which will in turn makes your breath smell unpleasant. If your mouth is still feeling dry after drinking a healthy amount of water daily, talk with our dentists about what the problem may be and helpful solutions.

3. Switch Out Your Mouthwash

Some mouthwashes give your breath a fresh, minty aftertaste, but they don’t get down to the root of the problem: killing that bacteria. Find a mouthwash that is labeled as antiseptic, or meet with one of our dentists to find the perfect mouthwash for your needs. Your halitosis may be the result of an even deeper problem that a dentist can identify.

For example, if periodontal gum disease is causing your bad breath, our dentists may recommend a mouthwash that’s designed to help with inflamed gums and plaque buildup. Or a fluoride-based mouthwash may be the better fit if you’re having trouble preventing cavities and halitosis-causing tooth decay.

Look closer at the type of mouthwash you’re using. If it’s a cosmetic mouthwash that only masks bad breath for a moment, then make the switch to another mouthwash that actually helps fight the problem rather than just covering it up.

4. Invest in a Tongue Scraper

A tongue scraper is one of those inexpensive items that makes a world of a difference. Many toothbrushes and dental flossers even come with a built-in tongue scraper now! Run it along your tongue regularly to clear out any bacteria hiding in small grooves.

5. Stop Smoking

Admittedly, this is a not an easy way to prevent bad breath. We understand that for individuals who have smoked or chewed tobacco for years, stopping is no easy feat. That being said, quitting can have drastic effects for your oral hygiene almost immediately.

Smoking and tobacco are notorious for causing bad breath. In many cases, long-term use leads to gum disease, which again can be a factor for halitosis. Not to mention how much smoking can stain teeth. Improve your overall dental health by making this meaningful change. (Want to whiten your smile too? Let us help. Come to Meridian Dental, serving Wasilla and Palmer, AK with professional teeth whitening trays and treatment.)

6. Get Back to the Basics

We can’t emphasize how important it is to maintain good oral health. This is the key for any individual looking to ward off bad breath. Start by establishing habits like brushing twice a day and flossing every night. Visit our dentists every 6 months to clean your teeth and provide a dental examination. This way, if certain issues like a decayed tooth or gum disease are making it harder to keep breath smelling fresh, we can resolve the problem sooner.

If you struggle with bad breath, request an appointment today to visit our Wasilla dental office. Our friendly dentists will work with you to come up with the best solution to combat the underlying causes behind your halitosis.

How we love the holidays! The time with loved ones, the magic of the season, and the perfect ending to another great year. But with all the festivities you have planned, don’t let your dental health slip through the cracks.

Here to help you out are 5 easy ways to keep your teeth healthy and looking great during Christmas and the holiday season. For more tips on improving your oral health, visit our family dentists in Wasilla, AK at Meridian Dental!

1. Decrease Your Sugar Intake

Many of our favorite Christmas traditions involve sweets that could harm our dental health when taken in excess. Gingerbread houses, cookies for Santa, and Christmas toffees are among some of the sugary culprits we love to eat at this time of year.

Maybe this year, give your traditions a twist, like healthier oatmeal cookies with a sugar substitute or a cheese platter instead of candies to nibble on. If you do want to indulge in your favorite sweets, try eating these just once a day instead of throughout the whole day.

2. Avoid Sticky and Hard Foods

Christmas caramels are another Christmas treat we love! But sticky foods like caramels not only build up plaque and decay by sticking to your teeth but also can pull out tooth fillings.

If you’ve recently had a filling placed, or have small cracks in your teeth and other vulnerable spots where sticky food can get stuck, try to avoid such foods for a little while.

Be careful as well with hard foods, like candy canes. Biting down directly on hard foods can crack your filling, a tooth crown, or another part of your tooth. If you do have teeth that get cracked or chipped over the holidays, our Wasilla cosmetic dentists offer restorative dental services such as tooth bonding or same-day crowns to get your teeth looking great again. Request our next available appointment, or in case of emergency, contact us at (907) 376-9200.

3. Use Correct Tools for Opening Items (NOT Your Teeth!)

Too many teeth chip, crack, or break when an individual tries to use their teeth to open something they aren’t meant to open. Whether that’s to rip wrapping paper off a present, open a bottle, or crack open a nut, using your teeth instead of scissors, a bottle opener, or a festive nutcracker can cause some serious damage that often requires costly repairs.

Again, if your teeth do chip or break during Christmas, give our dental office a call so that we can mitigate damage quickly!

4. Watch What You Drink

More often than not, when you attend or host a holiday party some of the staple items will be bottles of soda and wine. However, both drinks can break down tooth enamel and even stain teeth over time. If soda is your preferred beverage, consider drinking it through a straw to help avoid it coming in contact with your teeth. More of a wine person? Go for a white wine that won’t stain your teeth as much as red wine will.

Feeling self-conscious about discolored or stained teeth? Meridian Dental can help there, too! Schedule a consultation appointment with our cosmetic dentists to learn about our professional teeth whitening treatments, with far better results than over-the-counter whitening strips or kits.

5. Maintain Good Oral Hygiene!

Normal routines may slacken during the holidays when you can stay up late watching your favorite Christmas movies or enjoying time with family and friends. But don’t forget to continue those good practices for maintaining dental health.

Brushing twice a day, flossing, and visiting the dentist for bi-annual teeth cleanings don’t take a break during this or any time of the year. If you haven’t had your second (or your first!) dental cleaning and exam this year, contact our dental office in Wasilla, AK to book our next available opening! Then keep up the good habits that fight off decay and keep your smile looking bright all year long. From all of us at Meridian Dental, we would like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas!

A whiter smile can make you feel more confident almost instantly. But some over-the-counter whitening treatments, including teeth whitening strips, mouthwashes, and toothpastes, won’t give you the same results as professional teeth whitening will. Dentists, such as those at Meridian Dental, offer in-house teeth whitening services so that patients can get long-lasting and great-looking results they won’t be able to stop smiling about.

Still unsure about professional teeth whitening? Consider these few things that over-the-counter teeth whitening products won’t be able to accomplish like professional teeth whitening can. For more information, visit your local Wasilla dental office, Meridian Dental, serving patients in Alaska’s Mat-Su Valley.

• Effective Results for Straight and Misaligned Smiles

Teeth-whitening strips are a popular alternative to professional teeth bleaching treatments. However, since the strips are meant to rest flat along teeth, patients with misaligned teeth won’t get the same results as patients with straight teeth. These individuals with crooked teeth may have less than optimal results if the strip can’t rest evenly on all teeth and in between tooth crevices.

• Personalized Teeth Bleaching Treatment

With professional teeth whitening, dentists can can get in those tight spaces and uniformly whiten even misaligned teeth. Your dentist will also discuss with you the shade to which you would like to bleach your teeth and evaluate how much staining there is to treat. Each treatment is personalized to the patient for improved results.

If you have tooth crowns or composite fillings, they may not bleach with over-the-counter or professional teeth whitening products. In these cases, seeking a professional treatment is usually the best course of action to match remaining teeth to the same shade as crowns, fillings, bridges, and more. Or these restorative dental products can be replaced in lighter shades to match newly bleached teeth.

• Even Coating

These personalized solutions help ensure that all your teeth match the lighter shade you’re wanting. This even coating applies not only to your front teeth but to all teeth, unlike some whitening strips that only reach the first few teeth. If teeth aren’t whitening as they should, dentists can adjust treatment so that you get a nice even bleaching and an all-around, fantastic smile.

Also, because the solution used is much more concentrated than over-the-counter products, you get that even coating faster than you would with other treatments. Our in-house whitening program gives you improved results within just 30 minutes!.

• Removes Stains On and Below Exterior Surface

Many stains are noticeable on the tooth’s enamel, but other stains lie deeper on parts of the tooth closer to its roots. Consulting with a cosmetic dentist can help uncover which type of staining you have and how to solve it. Several over-the-counter treatments just treat for staining on the exterior surface of the tooth. If those treatments don’t seem to be working, it may be a sign that staining also exists in other layers.

• Great Results Without Wearing Down Enamel

Sometimes, even after boxes and boxes of teeth whitening strips, you may not see the results you would like. Continued application of these products will wear down tooth enamel, making teeth more sensitive to extremes and more susceptible to decay, cracking, and infection.

Depending on how sensitive your teeth already are, dentists can adjust the strength of the teeth bleaching solution so that it doesn’t leave your teeth feeling quite as sensitive.

Should I Get My Teeth Whitened Professionally?

If you’ve ever considered whitening your teeth, there’s no time like the present to begin! You deserve a smile you’re proud to show off for an affordable cost and withedramatically superior results. Not only is treatment personalized to you and your desired goals, but those cosmetic goals can be reached sooner, last longer, and exhibit an apparent higher quality.

For patients in Wasilla and Palmer, AK and other surrounding areas, learn more about professional teeth whitening available at Meridian Dental. Contact our dental office today to schedule a consultation appointment and see if our program is  right for you. Let us help you reach the goals you have for your smile.

Do you feel a sharp pain in one or more of your teeth when eating or drinking substances that hot, cold, acidic, or sweet? Or does even breathing in the cold winter air cause your teeth to tingle? If so, you’re not alone. Millions of people experience some type of teeth sensitivity every year. But this is a condition that, with help from a trusted local dentist, can be treated fairly easily, depending on the basic cause for sensitivity.

Patients in Wasilla and Palmer, AK can request an appointment with Meridian Dental to learn more about the source of their tooth sensitivity. In most cases, the problem is the result of one of the following culprits.

But first, understand that your tooth is equipped with features to protect itself from extreme temperatures, tastes, or other stimulants. It contains a protective enamel layer at its crown and neck. Your tooth also has a thin cementum layer and surrounding gums to protect the tooth’s root. When these layers start wearing away, your tooth’s sensitive dentin layer and its roots become exposed to the elements. When this happens, you begin to notice it acutely by those tooth pains we are all too familiar with.

Potential Causes of Sensitive Teeth

So what breaks down those layers or makes the sensitive parts of your tooth vulnerable to the elements?

1. Cracked Teeth

A crack in your tooth can open the way for decay to build up and weaken the entire tooth structure. This may be a large crack formed by years of grinding teeth, a sudden trauma, or a fracture so small you can hardly notice it or get a toothbrush in it to clean them out. But without restorative dentistry, a little fracture can become even more painful in the future.

2. Cavities

Another culprit may be all that Halloween candy coming back to haunt you. Sugar and plaque can build up in and around your teeth, forming cavities. If just a single tooth is experiencing sensitivity, a cavity will often be the reason behind the pain.

3. Receding Gums or Periodontal Gum Disease

Enamel doesn’t coat teeth much lower than your gum line. So when gums begin to recede, whether due to gum disease, plaque buildup, or even excessive brushing, the cementum layer is exposed. Cementum is more sensitive to extremes it comes in contact with and only provides a small amount of protection for the even more sensitive dentin layer.

4. Root Infection

The root of the problem often lies with, well, the roots. Each outer layer of your tooth protects its roots which are the most sensitive part of your teeth. Sometimes, because of a cavity or cracked tooth left alone, an infection may make its way into your tooth. This can be extremely painful and needs quick attention from a dentist to preserve the tooth.

5. Acidic Diet

It may turn out that the acidic foods themselves are the reason behind why those foods and others are hurting your teeth. Whether that’s your daily Dr. Pepper, morning meal of grapefruit juice and scrambled eggs, or those cashews you munch on, these and other foods with high acidity are quick to break down that protective layer of enamel.

Treatment Solutions for Sensitive Teeth

Each case is different, so each sensitive tooth treatment will vary from patient to patient as well. Seeking help from a general dentist or family dentistry practice should be the first steps taken to determine which treatment your teeth require.

Cracked teeth may need a protective cap so that the fracture doesn’t expand down to the roots. This can be done in a single appointment with same-day crowns. If you grind your teeth, your dentist may recommend a mouthguard to prevent more cracks from forming. For small cracks in the grooves of the tooth, a sealant coating may be enough to help keep teeth clean and free of decay.

A cavity, on the other hand, may just need a simple composite filling for the sensitivity to subside after a few days. For receding gums, Meridian Dental offers non-surgical gum treatment that cleans out the area and smooths roots so they can reattach to the gums and hopefully prevent more plaque. Gum grafts or a fluoride resin may need to be applied in other cases.

In cases when a root infection is causing your sensitivity and pain, a root canal usually is the prescribed course of action. A tooth crown may also be sculpted and placed on the tooth to help protect it and prevent additional infections. When consuming foods and drinks with high acidic levels, your dentist may encourage a diet that limits the number of acidic substances you eat or drink among other precautions.

Find Relief for Your Teeth at Our Wasilla Dental Office

If you’re suffering from sensitive teeth, contact our Palmer and Wasilla, AK dentist, Dr. Kris Gurr, DDS. To prevent more complications down the road, come in as soon as you notice symptoms of sensitivity.

Our advanced family dental office in Wasilla serves patients throughout the Mat-Su Valley with regular dental health services, advanced dental procedures, as well as cosmetic dentistry. We’ll identify that main cause for your overly sensitive teeth and determine the best course of action for your particular situation. Come get the relief your teeth need at Meridian Dental!