Meet Dr. Craig Clayton
A Holistic & Biomimetic Dentist in Meridian, ID Focused on
Root-Cause Healing
"Every mouth tells a story about how the body is functioning. My goal is to listen, understand, and help each patient thrive."
Nice to Meet You
Dr. Craig Clayton is the founder of Restoration Dentistry in Meridian, Idaho, where he practices a holistic, root-cause approach to oral health. He helps patients move beyond symptom-based dentistry by preserving natural tooth structure, addressing airway health, and supporting the body’s design through research-backed, holistic care.
Through his work in-office and his educational presence online, Dr. Clayton helps patients understand the deeper “why” behind cavities, breathing issues, and chronic dental problems, creating treatment plans that are both biologically respectful and deeply patient-centered.
Dr. Clayton’s approach to dentistry has always been guided by one question: Is this truly what’s best for the patient?
He didn’t set out to practice “holistic” dentistry, but the more he worked in traditional dentistry, the more he felt something was missing.
After graduating from dental school during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Clayton quickly realized that a model built on speed, drilling, and quick fixes didn’t align with how he believed healthcare should be practiced. He loved working with his hands. He loved helping people. But the system itself felt wrong.
Everything changed when he discovered biomimetic dentistry, an approach that honors the body’s natural design, preserves more of the natural tooth, and creates stronger, longer-lasting restorations. It lit a fire in him. Not long after, he took a leap of faith, building Restoration Dentistry from the ground up while still working full-time, and diving deeper into functional, whole-body dentistry.
That’s when everything clicked. Oral health isn’t separate from overall health; it’s foundational to it.
If you’ve ever felt like dentistry was rushed, aggressive, or disconnected from your overall well-being… you’re in the right place.
What Dr. Clayton Is Passionate About
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Biomimetic Dentistry
Dr. Clayton practices biomimetic dentistry, a conservative, science-based approach that mimics the natural structure of teeth. This means:
- Preserving more of your natural tooth structure
- Using advanced bonding techniques
- Creating restorations that are stronger, healthier, and built to last
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Airway Health & Tongue Tie Releases
Dr. Clayton has become deeply passionate about airway health and its connection to oral development, sleep, breathing, and long-term wellness. He views airway issues as a root cause behind many oral and systemic health issues and now offers myobrace treatments and tongue tie releases as part of a comprehensive, functional approach to care.
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Root-Cause Oral Wellness
Rather than simply “fixing teeth,” Dr. Clayton looks at how nutrition, overall health, and lifestyle impact oral health. His goal is not just fewer cavities or healthy gums, it’s lasting whole body wellness.
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Anxiety-Safe, Respectful Care
Believe it or not, Dr. Clayton is a nervous dental patient himself. That experience shaped the way he practices dentistry today. Every detail of Restoration Dentistry, from the pace of appointments to the way he designed the building, to the way treatment is explained, is all designed to help patients feel calm, respected, and empowered in their care.
Clinical Experience
Advanced Education
Specialized Services
More Than a Practice: A Purpose
Today, Restoration Dentistry has been serving patients for over three years and has grown into a community that extends far beyond the walls of the office, reaching hundreds of thousands online who are seeking a better way to care for their oral health.
The work is demanding. The days are long. But Dr. Clayton is deeply proud of what he and his wife, Eliza, have built together. While Dr. Clayton leads the clinical vision of the practice, Eliza co-owns Restoration Dentistry and guides the marketing, education, and community outreach that have helped their mission reach families around the world.
Together, they have created more than a dental office. They’ve built a practice rooted in integrity, compassion, and a genuine desire to change the way dentistry is done—one patient, one family, and one conversation at a time.
Outside the Office
When he’s not caring for patients, Dr. Clayton can be found outdoors with his family, his wife Eliza, and his two sons, Henry and Oliver. Playing in the river in the summer, skiing in the winter, and spending as much time as possible biking, hiking, camping, and exploring Idaho’s wide-open spaces. He’s an avid mountain biker, bikepacker, and motorcycle rider, and firmly believes that miles are best counted in the hundreds.
