The guide offers ten questions any person should ask before selecting a dentist, AnchorageHealthySmiles.com reports

Anchorage, AK -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/09/2015 -- According to the Alaska Oral Health Plan, 62 percent of Alaskan children in the third grade suffered from one or more dental caries, as observed during the 2010/2011 dental assessments. Higher rates were observed in children falling in ethnic or racial minority groups, and this is a trend that has been seen in the past. Oral health remains of great importance to people of all ages and Healthy Smiles Dental wishes to ensure every Alaskan has access to quality dental care. To help achieve this goal, the dentist in anchorage has published a guide to choosing a dentist.

"The guide provides ten questions any person should ask before choosing a dentist. Certain aspects need to be assessed when making this selection, such as the office hours, the location of the office and emergency care. Individuals are more likely to follow guidelines for oral health care when visiting a dentist is easy. As parents are the ones responsible for ensuring their child visits a dental practice, these factors are of great importance," Dr. Terry J. Preece, founder of Healthy Dental Smiles, announces.

Children with special needs tend to be at risk for dental issues and/or a lack of dental care, according to the Alaska Oral Health Plan. When choosing a dentist for a child with special needs, extra care must be taken, to ensure the right professional is selected. He or she needs to work with the parents and/or child and determine if any medications are being taken that may interfere with oral health. In addition, many children with special needs require extra help when it comes to daily hygiene tasks. A dentist needs to take this into consideration when developing a treatment plan, along with any sedation needs the child may have.

"Our dentist anchorage treats each person as an individual and works to find treatment solutions that support the patient's goals in terms of their oral health, financial situation and appearance. The goal is to build a relationship with the child, one based on mutual trust and respect. Comfort and security are top priorities when working with these and all patients we serve," Dr. Preece continues.

Children love to play. In fact, play is the work of toddlers and preschoolers, and the love of fun doesn't stop here. Parents need to be prepared to deal with oral injuries and find a dentist equipped to handle any situation that develops with a patient's oral health.

"These are only a few of the many things people need to look for when choosing a dentist. Our guide provides you with ten questions you should always ask. Request a copy today, so you can find a dental practitioner who meets your needs in every way," Dr. Preece states.

About Healthy Smiles Dental
Dr. Terry J. Preece established Healthy Smiles Dental to help patients in Alaska obtain the oral health care they need. Upon graduating from the University of Washington School of Dentistry, Dr. Preece established a practice in Utah, where he worked for 28 years. Following a move to Alaska in 2008, he worked at a community health center, treating patients of all ages. In 2010, his family moved to Anchorage, where he started working at the Anchorage Healthy Smile Center. This center is now known as Healthy Smiles Dental.

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Organizers expect that 500 patients per day will receive free, much-needed dental care at the Carlson Center, Healthy Smiles Dental reports

Anchorage, AK -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/11/2015 -- Healthy Smiles Dental, the most trusted dental clinic in Anchorage, announced that head dentist Dr. Terry J. Preece and staff members will head to the Carlson Center in Fairbanks to take part in this year's Alaska Mission of Mercy event. Event organizers there hope to provide much-needed dental services to up to 1,000 people over the course of two days, focusing particularly on those patients with the most pressing needs. Last year's inaugural Alaska Mission of Mercy was a resounding success, with hundreds of patients collectively receiving over $1 million worth of dental care, and Healthy Smiles Dental is proud to participate in this year's event.

"Although we are normally open every weekday, we'll be closed on August 6 and 7 for a very good reason," Healthy Smiles Dental founder Dr. Terry J. Preece said, "We look forward to helping out at the Alaska Mission of Mercy in Fairbanks this weekend and will see our valued Anchorage patients once again on Monday. We're honored to be able to give something back through volunteering at this wonderful event."

For decades, philanthropically inclined dentists and other medical professionals have sought to lend help in developing countries through the manning of temporary clinics where locals could receive free care. Even given the success of such initiatives over much of the world, it was not until relatively recently that this model was applied to the United States with a special event in Virginia that the organizers dubbed a "Mission of Mercy."

Since the impressive success of that first gathering of volunteers and needy patients, more than 70 other Missions of Mercy have been held in 26 different states around the country. Last year, organizers hosted the first Alaska Mission of Mercy dental clinic, lining up 1,332 volunteers who provided more than $1 million in care to over 1,500 patients at the Dena'ina Center in Anchorage. Alaska Mission of Mercy organizers predict that this year's event will be even more successful, supplying even more care, in relative terms, to the residents of Fairbanks, a city of about one-third the population of Anchorage.

As a highly trusted, community-focused dentist in anchorage for years now, Dr. Terry J. Preece is happy to be able to bring the services of Healthy Smiles Dental to this year's Alaska Mission of Mercy in Fairbanks. Preece has a history of helping under-served patients, having spent years practicing at a community health clinic on Wrangell, an Alaskan island with around 2,000 residents.

Since then, Preece has become the general and cosmetic dentist anchorage residents trust and recommend more than any other. At Healthy Smiles Dental, formerly the Anchorage Healthy Smiles Center, Preece and staff members work closely with each patient to provide the most suitable dental care and cosmetic treatments. Those interested in learning more about Healthy Smiles Dental can do so at the clinic's website and can follow the clinic on Facebook for updates concerning this year's Alaska Mission of Mercy in Fairbanks and other news.

About Healthy Smiles Dental
With a full range of top-quality general and cosmetic dentistry services and a commitment to personal, focused, care, Healthy Smiles Dental is led by Dr. Terry J. Preece, the most trusted dentist in Anchorage.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm