Connect with Four States Dental on Facebook!

At Four States Dental, we strongly value the relationships we have developed with our patients in Pineville, Neosho, Joplin, Bentonville, Fayetteville, Bella Vista, Rogers and surrounding communities. Even if you only see us for your appointment on a regular basis, did you know that you can now connect with Dr. Kunkel and Dr. Matousek-Ronck on our official Facebook page?

We invite you to “like” us at Facebook.com/FourStatesDental. There, we share office news, announcements and updates, so we encourage you to check it out! By Liking our page, you will receive updates from our office automatically in your news feed!

See you on Facebook and have a great rest of the weekend,

- The Four States Dental staff

Three foods that can help you avoid gum disease

Gum disease, known also as periodontal disease, is far more common than you may think. Each year, new studies begin to link the effect gum disease can have on the heart, and our staff at Four States Dental Care have been helping spread the word! One of the simplest steps to achieving healthier gums can be your diet. We recently found a great article from EatingWell that outlined several options for healthier gums. Included among the suggestions were:

*Raisins
*Green Tea
*Whole Grains (barley, brown rice; buckwheat; oatmeal, popcorn, whole-wheat bread, pasta or crackers)

In addition to these foods being gum-friendly, they happen to be healthy foods in general, and are a great option to begin integrating into your diet more this fall.

Have a great weekend!

Is your child ready for kindergarten?

With the hot and sultry Dog Days of Summer slowly winding down, it's time for you and your child to start thinking about school. August is Get Ready for Kindergarten month for the two million kids who will be entering kindergarten come September.

So, how do you prepare? Our staff at Four States Dental Care suggest getting involved in storytime by reading your child books about kindergarten, such as The Night Before Kindergarten or First Day Jitters.

Parenting Magazine also suggests that moms and dads take their child for a walk by their or perhaps taking him or her inside for a quick tour to get them familiarized with the concept of kindergarten. Take a walk around the classroom or peek in the windows and talk about what will be going on once school starts. Also, think about adjusting your child's sleep schedule gradually to the school’s schedule.

At home, make learning fun for your child by teach him or her the names of colors, or shapes and taking them on interesting trips around Neosho or Pineville—to the library or grocery store, or to a museum or park—and talk with him or her about what he or she sees.

Finally, make sure your little one visits Dr. Kunkel or Dr. Matousek-Ronck before the first day of school. No one wants for your child to leave school in the middle of the day because of a toothache! Give us a call to schedule an appointment!

We hope both you and your child have a happy and stress-free Get Ready for Kindergarten Month!

Thanks to Invisalign® at Four States Dental Care, mom and dad can have a perfect smile, too!

Hey parents! Focusing on your kids' teeth and oral health so much that you're neglecting your own? If you've thought about having your own set of perfectly-aligned teeth, we've got the clear solution for you. Dr. Kunkel and Dr. Matousek-Ronck are specially trained to offer an adult-friendly option for straightening teeth called Invisalign.

Invisalign, which consists of a set of clear aligners that are molded to fit your teeth, are to be worn all day and night, except for meals, brushing, and flossing. You can even easily slip them out to make eating and cleaning a snap! Because they're clear, your teeth will be steadily straightening – and the best part is, no one will know it but you!

Our staff at Four States Dental Care invite you to give us a call at 417-658-4387 to set up a free consultation at our convenient Neosho or Pineville locations, so you can discuss the specifics of your treatment with one of our Invisalign-certified doctors.

Four States Dental, helping calm children's fears and anxieties about visiting the dentist

At Four States Dental Care, we know that many children have a fear of visiting the dentist. After all, it's natural! On Friday, we came across a nice article from WebMD on helping kids overcome fears of the dentist..

Drs. Kunkel and Matousek-Ronck excel at making children feel comfortable when visiting our Pineville and Neosho offices. In fact, most of our young patients look forward to their next visit!

Has your child visited Four States Dental in the last six months? If not, it’s time to schedule an appointment by calling 417-658-4387 or 417-658-4817! We look forward to seeing you and hope you're having a fantastic summer so far!