Chippewa Center for Dental Excellence

Dr. Kristine Bechard, a leading dentist at the center, brings decades of dental experience and a compassionate approach to her patient care.

Her journey in dentistry took flight at the University of Minnesota Dental School, where she graduated in 1992. In the years that followed, Dr. Bechard made her return home to the Chippewa Valley — where her parents were raised — to continue serving her community’s dental needs.

Now, in her 34th year of dentistry — and working with the Chippewa Center for Dental Excellence since 2017 — relationships with patients and the local community remain a primary example of fulfillment in her career.

“(At the Chippewa Center for Dental Excellence), we try to have a more ‘small town atmosphere’ — everybody knows each other and a lot of (our) office staff are from the area,” Dr. Bechard said. “We really try to get to know all of the patients and their personal lives.”

Dr. Bechard — with the support of other dental professionals in the Chippewa Valley — can lend a hand to almost any service provided at the Chippewa Center for Dental Excellence. “Making smiles better” remains the most important across all of the office’s services, from preventative and restorative dentistry to cosmetic and surgical procedures.

In her practice, Dr. Bechard specializes in a variety of restorative services, including veneer installations, implant restorations, dentures, crown placements, and other cosmetic services. At the Chippewa Center for Dental Excellence, she and her team rely on the latest technology and advanced research to ensure an effective experience from start to finish.

Continued education in the field of dentistry has become a core value of Dr. Bechard and the office at large. She and her hygienists have found success in connecting with patients through visual learning models. This can include before-and-after comparisons, and by teaching oral hygiene best practices.

With age ranges from youth to adulthood, Dr. Bechard opens the door to build long-lasting connections with each of her patients to find the best path forward to meet their desired dental goals.

“We try to have patients set goals and we’ll look for improvements in certain areas (of their teeth) at their next appointment,” Dr. Bechard said. “We really try to see where the patients are coming from, understand their needs and maybe anxiety with dentistry in general.”

Dr. Bechard’s approach ensures patients leave with a clear understanding of how to actively participate in their own dental care in between routine visits to the Chippewa Center of Dental Excellence.

“We are always on the cutting edge of anything new coming along (in dentistry),” Dr. Bechard said. “Dentistry is constantly changing, and I just hope — until I retire — to continually offer the best that there is for the patients we have.”

“We really try to see where the patients are coming from, understand their needs and maybe anxiety with dentistry in general.”

Most importantly, Dr. Bechard and the team at the Chippewa Center for Dental Excellence understand the financial details and aim to make the most of your dental insurance benefits.

Prior to scheduling a first visit, she and her hygienists break down the patients’ treatment plan and determine what approaches are necessary to ensure successful care. The office’s website notes, “Financial concerns should not stop you from getting the dental care you need.”

For individuals without dental insurance — or patients who may require financial assistance to cover additional treatment costs — the Chippewa Center of Dental Excellence accepts CareCredit payment plans, with affordability and accessibility in mind.

At the end of the day, Dr. Bechard and her team see continued growth in their own dental potential — and those of their patients — every day. With leading experts in her field by her side, she said there is no better passion than in efficient treatment solutions made available to patients.

For more information, or to schedule an initial visit with Dr. Bechard at the Chippewa Center for Dental Excellence, visit chippewadentalcenter.com or call (715) 723-7175.