At Gledhill Dental our passion is in creating beautiful, healthy, natural smiles. Prevention through education is a primary focus of ours. We believe the more you know about how your oral health impacts and effects your overall health, the more confident you are in making decisions about your oral health treatment. How do we do this? With a three fold approach.
First we ensure that when you visit our office, you have a unique and memorable experience. Whether you take advantage of a free paraffin hand wax, neck pillow and warm blanket, or cable service to watch a game or television program while you are in the dental chair, we guarantee our entire team will make every effort to ensure your visits with us are as relaxing and comfortable as possible
Secondly, our Hygiene and Restorative teams place a high value on preventative care, therefore our office focuses on educating our patients about their existing oral health and proposed treatment options through the use of educational videos and digital cameras; like the saying goes 'a picture is worth a thousand words'.
Thirdly, by using state of the art technology our team can work more efficiently, making your visit to our office not only more enjoyable, but less time consuming; allowing you to return to the demands of your day with as little interruption as possible.
Dr. Petersen has worked as a dentist for 27 years and has worked at the practice since 1999. He grew up in Duvall, WA. He attended Tolt High School and University of Washington as both an undergraduate and a graduate student in its School of Dentistry. He worked through college and dental school as a roofer. From 1988 through 1999, Dr. Petersen was a part time clinical instructor at UW's Dental School.
Dr. Petersen is a caring and reliable friend and provider. He most enjoys creating smiles that his patients love and want to show off, especially if they have been embarrassed by their smile, or have kept it hidden for years.
Sheena grew up in Benton City, Washington where she graduated from Kiona Benton City High School. It was during high school that she participated in the Dental Assistant course offered through Tri-Tech Skills Center and earned college credits. Following graduation, Sheena continued her dental education at Columbia Basin Community College, where she earned both an AA and AAS in Dental Hygiene; graduating in 2011. Sheena has always enjoyed the dental field, and values the many relationships she has made over the years; both with colleagues and patients.
A native of Prosser Washington, Mariah has been with Gledhill Dental for a little over a year. Mariah thoroughly enjoys getting to know the patients; especially those who have been with the practice for years; and working with her amazing co-workers.
She understands how scary and stressful the dental office can be to some people; so, she strives to keep her patients as comfortable as possible. When she isnt focused on her patients, Krystel strives to continue her education to become a RDH (Registered Dental Hygienist).
Kat has lived in the Tri-Cities for much of her life. She has been a Dental Assistant for 18 years, 13 of which have been as a member of the Gledhill Dental team. Kat has loved building great relationships with many of her patients over the years; hearing their stories and sharing in their lives.
In her spare time, Kat enjoys spending time with her 11-year-old daughter Kylee (who is her world), and three siblings; hanging out with family and friends over a Seahawks game on Sunday afternoons is a favorite past-time. When she isnt watching her Hawks Kat enjoys playing the fiddle (shes been playing for over 30 years) and singing.
Born and raised in Delaware, Ellen settled into Washington 23 years ago, after extensive traveling throughout the country. She joined Chapados Family Dentistry in 2002 and is thrilled to continue her employment with Dr. Gledhill and the Gledhill Dentistry team.
Ellen has had the privilege to work in several capacities over the years including client scheduling, financial coordination, and insurance and claims processing; all of which have resulted in many special relationships with our patients.
She is the proud mother of a grown daughter and has two cats. In her spare time, she enjoys knitting, crafting, baking and spending time with John, her husband of 35 years, at their beach house on the Oregon Coast.
Ciera has been a member of the Gledhill Dental hygiene team since early 2016. Born and raised in the Tri-Cities, Ciera graduated from Columbia Basin College with an A.A.S. in Dental Hygiene. She started in Dentistry during her Junior Year of high school as an Assistant and loved it! Ciera is passionate about educating others on the significance of the oral systemic link and how they can better their overall health by taking excellent care of their mouths.
From a very young age Christina knew that she wanted to be a hygienist. Her interest has been in working in general dentistry because shes always wanted to help people and create beautiful and healthy smiles.
Cheryls dental experience is limited to handling the benefits side of the dental business. She jokes with patients regularly, That they wouldnt want her to look in their mouths. She does better working with their dental benefit plans. Cheryl spends as much time as possible boating on the Columbia River, weather permitting. She also enjoys a game of tennis whenever possible.
Bobbi is a graduate from Central Washington University with a bachelors degree in Food Science and Dietetics. She obtained an additional degree from Columbia Basin College in Dental Hygiene. She also maintains a national certification as a group fitness instructor. When not in the office, she continues her quest to improve the lives of young girls in our community as a volunteer for the Girls on the run program and teaches a variety of fitness classes in pursuit to empower women to be their personal best.
Annie is a CDA (Certified Dental Assistant) and has been with the dental practice for 25 years. Annie has found great joy growing with the practice and patients since her transition from Dental Assistant to Treatment and Financial Coordinator. Annie is married to her high school sweetheart Todd; together they have one grown child, Megan. In her spare-time Annie enjoys spending time with family, friends and her two dogs, Rufus, and Riley
The team at Gledhill Dental believe in the importance of preventative care. We focus on keeping patients in good oral health so that they can live a full, healthy, and enjoyable life that is free from oral pain. This starts by educating our patients on what they can do to stay healthy at home. In our family dentist office we recommend that patients eat a healthy diet that consists of green leafy vegetables, lean protein, nuts, dairy products, and crunchy fruits and veggies. Eating these foods along with drinking water can help to keep teeth healthy and make them stronger. By simultaneously reducing sugar intake, patients can also reduce their risk of cavities.
It is also important to brush and floss throughout the day. Instead of waiting for bedtime to brush teeth, carry a small toothbrush and use it after meals and snacks. This makes it possible to remove sugar and bacteria from the teeth and gums before it has the opportunity to turn into acid that can attack the teeth. This preventative step can greatly reduce a persons' risk of getting a cavity or gum disease. We understand the importance of taking these steps at home and will spend the time necessary to educate and inform patients so that they can stay healthy overall. Education, after all, is essential for living a long and healthy life.
Understanding the importance of these regular dental exams, the staff at Gledhill Dental work to make each patient extremely comfortable. This includes being welcoming and kind while performing dental treatments in a way that is painless and relaxing. Patients visit our dentist office because they trust us to do just that take care of their teeth and gums, gently. The majority of our patients are local and come from the greater Kennewick area, we also see patients that are looking for gentle dental care.
Seniors, on the other hand, often struggle with gum disease and oral infections. As people age, their teeth can become weaker and infected more easily. Bone loss is incredibly common with seniors and by conducting regular dental exams, the team at Gledhill Dental can help seniors to have strong teeth and reduce the risk of them falling out. Since over seventy percent of U.S. adults suffer from tooth loss, preventative care is important.
A. Primary, or 'baby,' teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to come in.
A. First, rinse the irritated area with warm salt water and place a cold compress on the face if it is swollen. Give the child acetaminophen for any pain, rather than placing aspirin on the teeth or gums. Finally, see a dentist as soon as possible.
A. Sealants work by filling in the crevasses on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. This shuts out food particles that could get caught in the teeth, causing cavities. The application is fast and comfortable and can effectively protect teeth for many years.
A. Have your family dentist evaluate the fluoride level of your child's primary source of drinking water. If your child is not getting enough fluoride internally through water (especially if the fluoride level is deficient or if your child drinks bottled water without fluoride), then we may prescribe fluoride supplements.
A. Soft plastic mouthguards can be used to protect teeth, lips, cheeks and gums from sport related injuries. A custom-fitted mouthguard will protect your teeth from injuries and even provide protection from severe injuries to the head.
A. There is very little risk in dental X-rays. Family dentists are especially careful to limit the amount of radiation to which you and your family are exposed. Lead aprons and high-speed film are used to ensure safety and minimize the amount of radiation. Digital x-rays provide an even greater level of protection by using up to 90 percent less radiation.
Filling cavities is one of many services that a family dentist provides. Cavities are holes in teeth that occur due to tooth decay. However, if the decay is caught early, it may be possible to reverse it before a cavity forms. Understanding how and why tooth decay happens may make it easier to learn how
Stained teeth can present a whole host of problems, however, with the help of a family dentist, there are a few ways that they can be prevented. Additionally, understanding the causes of tooth staining can help individuals better prevent them from developing in the future.Family dentists are great resources to utilize when looking for ways
A kid friendly dentist assists with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of oral health concerns in children. They offer a range of procedures and tailor every treatment plan according to each childs specific needs. This review highlights six common procedures kid-friendly dentists offer.The most notable dental procedures that kid-friendly dentists provide include taking dental X-rays,
While it is always a good idea to have an emergency dentist on call, individuals can avoid a dental emergency and all the pain, cost and hassle that comes with one by taking preventative measures. In many cases, this simply entails adopting healthy lifestyle habits.Dental emergencies, which range from toothache to fractured teeth to abscesses,
Appearance is not the only benefit of wearing Invisalign for straighter teeth, since straighter teeth can also benefit one's oral health. In fact crooked teeth can trap food between them and lead to infection or bite issues. At Gledhill Dental, we offer Invisalign as a treatment for patients interested in discreetly straightening their teeth.
Invisalign is a series of clear aligner trays that cover the teeth, similar to a retainer or mouth guard, but are much more discreet. At least every two weeks or so, the patient will switch to the next set in the series of Invisalign trays. With the custom aligners for each patient, Invisalign will gradually push the teeth into the right position without causing significant amounts of pain.
After creating the trays, we will then meet with the patient to ensure that they fit and that the patient understands all of the steps in the straightening process. It is important that the patient understand a few key factors about wearing Invisalign on a regular basis.
While the patient can remove Invisalign trays when necessary, the patient will want to keep them in as much as possible. The longer the patient does not wear the trays for, the longer the entire process will take. Patients need to remove the aligner trays when eating and to brush the teeth.
Patients can also remove the aligner trays to play in a sports game, give a presentation, go on a date, or while taking a photo. It is important to at least rinse the mouth after eating to keep food from getting caught in the teeth.
The patient will be able to continue through each aligner tray and follow a schedule with no surprises. By following the schedule, the patient's teeth will continue to move into the proper position without pain.
While wearing Invisalign, patients will not have to brush and floss between brackets with difficulty. In fact, the patient will be able to brush and floss as normal by just removing the aligner trays. However, it is crucial that the patient brush after each meal to keep food from sticking between the teeth.
Food that is stuck in the teeth can also damage the aligners. It is important that patients do not wear the aligners while drinking soda or other beverages while wearing Invisalign aligners. We recommend that patients only keep the aligners in when drinking water.
We customize the Invisalign aligners to fit the patient's teeth and then use programming technology to digitally map out the projected rate of movement for the patient. We will then build the rest of the clear aligners in the series. Each new set of aligners will be a bit closer to the correct position for straight teeth.
With a customized straightening treatment, patients do not need to worry about the aligners falling out or being loose. Since there is no one-size-fits-all treatment, we make sure that the trays are the right fit for each patient.
Invisalign aligner trays are nearly invisible to the point that few people will notice them unless the individual mentions wearing them. Patients will not have to feel embarrassed by wearing traditional metal braces or a mess of wires in their mouth on a regular basis. Invisalign allows for the patient to receive the straight smile they desire without the maintenance of going through braces treatment.
For those seeking a straighter smile, Invisalign is a popular and effective choice for dental patients of various ages. Using clear aligner trays, this system provides a more discreet treatment option, often with less discomfort and in less time than traditional braces. Straightening crooked teeth can result in a host of helpful benefits:Improved appearanceFewer headachesReduced
For patients in need of orthodontic care for a variety of issues, such as tooth gaps, crooked teeth or misaligned bites, both Invisalign and traditional braces are potential treatment options. While many people seek a straight answer to which one of these alternatives is ideal, there are several factors that determine which route is better
For most people, the most exciting day is when they take off the last Invisalign tray to mark the end of the teeth straightening treatment. However, it can be disheartening to see that stains or discoloration occurred during treatment. Although this can happen with any orthodontic treatment, there are simple and effective ways to prevent