Henricksen Family Dental

12/28/2025

2 minutes of brushing? Humbling. Absolutely humbling.

But here's why it matters:
✅ It gives your toothpaste time to protect your teeth.
✅ It ensures you clean every surface—front, back, and chewing.
✅ It helps remove plaque before it turns into tartar.

⏱ Brushing less than 2 minutes? You might be missing key areas—and your gums and enamel deserve better.

🪥 Set a timer, play a favorite song clip, or try an electric toothbrush with a built-in 2-minute guide!

12/27/2025

Why We Don’t Default to Crowns 🦷

Dental crowns (often called “caps”) come at a cost to your natural tooth.

To place a crown, dentists typically remove up to 75% of the original tooth structure, shaping it into a “stump” to hold the crown in place. Once that tooth is reduced, there’s no going back.

🦷 Crowns also rely on a seal where the crown meets your natural tooth.
As that seal weakens over time, bacteria and decay slip underneath, often hidden from view until the damage is severe. When decay returns under a crown, treatment options become increasingly limited.

💡 That’s why we believe:
Your natural tooth structure is always the best option and preserving as much of it as possible gives your tooth the best chance to last a lifetime.

Crowns absolutely have their place, but they should no longer be the default when more conservative options may be available.

📞 Have a tooth you’re concerned about? Let’s talk about your options.

12/25/2025

😁 ClearCorrect: More Than Just Straight Teeth

ClearCorrect isn’t just cosmetic. Aligners can help reduce uneven wear, improve bite function, and make daily oral hygiene easier.

Crowded or misaligned teeth are harder to clean and can cause uneven wear, leading to damage over time 🦷

Treatment begins with a ClearCorrect records appointment, including photos and an iTero scan that creates a 3D model of your mouth. This helps determine aligner count and attachment placement. Every plan is case by case.

Clear aligners are removable, making brushing and flossing easier than with traditional braces. While not invisible, they blend in more naturally than brackets and wires ✨

Aligners must be worn about 22 hours per day, with water only while trays are in. Trays are typically changed every 2 weeks, with regular check-ins to monitor progress.

📞The best way to know if ClearCorrect is right is with an exam and records appointment.

12/24/2025

If you’re missing teeth, your health may be missing out. Having a full set of healthy teeth is important. Read more on today’s blog!

Henricksen Family Dental provides quality dental care, teeth whitening, and orthodontics to patients in Chehalis, WA. Call today to schedule your appointment with Dr. Dan Henricksen!

12/22/2025

🪥 Myth vs Fact

❌ MYTH: Brushing harder means cleaner teeth
✅ FACT: Gentle brushing keeps teeth and gums healthy

Brushing harder doesn’t clean better.
It just wears enamel down and irritates gums.

That’s why we often recommend electric soft bristle toothbrushes. They help control pressure so you’re not scrubbing without realizing it.

A few quick tips we share with patients:
• Brush at a 45° angle
• Gently brush about 2 mm onto the gums
• Relax your lips and chin when brushing the front teeth 😌
• Brush for 2 minutes (sing a song if that helps 🎶)

Healthy smiles come from technique, not force 💙🦷

12/21/2025

🎄✨ Wishing You a Safe & Happy Holiday Season ✨🎄

From all of us here at the office, we want to wish our amazing patients a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season.

May your days be filled with laughter, warmth, good food, and plenty of reasons to smile. Thank you for trusting us with your care this year. We are truly grateful for each and every one of you 💙

Enjoy the holidays, travel safely, and we look forward to seeing you in the new year!

— Henricksen Family Dental 🦷✨💗

12/21/2025

Winter is here and we couldn't be happier at Henricksen Family Dental! What are you looking forward to most this season?

12/18/2025

💙 Meet the Assistant: Alysia

If you’ve ever felt instantly comfortable in our office, there’s a good chance Alysia had something to do with it.

She’s our lead dental assistant and has been the heartbeat of our practice for 5 years. Her laugh brings joy to every corner of the office, and her presence makes it feel like home.

✨ She goes above and beyond.
For her patients.
For her coworkers.
And for her family.

Outside the office, you’ll find her cheering loudly from the front row of her daughters’ sporting events, creating magic in the kitchen (baking or cooking, she does it all), and making memories with her husband and two teenage girls. As a family, they love traveling to Disney and camping together.

In more ways than one, she holds the back half of our office together, and we truly couldn’t do what we do without her.

💙 We appreciate you more than words can say, Alysia.

💬 Help us celebrate her!
Comment your favorite memory with Alysia or drop a 💙 in the comments to show her some love and let her know just how appreciated she is.

12/17/2025

Sealants “seal” off teeth from decay, but who needs them? Read our blog to find out!

Henricksen Family Dental provides quality dental care, teeth whitening, and orthodontics to patients in Chehalis, WA. Call today to schedule your appointment with Dr. Dan Henricksen!

12/15/2025

Introducing Myth Mondays! 🦷✨ Each week, we debunk common dental myths and share the facts you need to know. Kicking off with a big one:

🩸 MYTH vs FACT: Bleeding Gums

❌ MYTH: Bleeding gums are normal and healthy.
✅ FACT: Healthy gums do not bleed.

If your gums bleed when you brush or floss, it’s often a sign of gingivitis. That’s inflammation caused by plaque buildup, not “extra cleaning power.”

🪥 The good news?
Early gum disease is reversible with proper brushing, daily flossing, and regular dental cleanings.

💡 Think of bleeding gums as your body waving a tiny red flag, not giving you a gold star.

Your gums should be pink, firm, and pain-free, not bleeding.
If you’re noticing blood, let’s talk. Your smile deserves healthy support 💙

Tag a friend who should see this and stay tuned for more dental truths! 🙌

12/10/2025

When you have a dental emergency, going to the ER may seem like a good idea. Think again! Today's blog covers the many reasons why coming to our office instead will relieve your pain and save you money!

Henricksen Family Dental provides quality dental care, teeth whitening, and orthodontics to patients in Chehalis, WA. Call today to schedule your appointment with Dr. Dan Henricksen!

12/09/2025

Please note that, due current weather conditions, our office will be opening at 9:00am today.