If you have completed orthodontic treatment, straightening your teeth with either traditional braces or clear aligners like Invisalign, we are sure someone has stressed to you the importance of wearing your retainers.  Does it really matter?  We can best answer that question by explaining what happens when you do not wear a retainer. What Do Retainers Do? A retainer’s main[…]

This is a pretty commonly-googled phrase, and for good reason!  Plaque is the source of cavities, gum disease and bad breath.  Plaque on the teeth is bad news.  If you want to have good oral health, it is important to understand how to remove it and what happens when you don’t. What is Plaque? Dental plaque is the soft, white[…]

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has caused many of us to reconsider following through with even the most mundane of tasks or appointments.  Concerns for your health and safety are reasonable when there is still much that is unknown about this virus.  You can rest assured that the team at Designer Smiles shares those concerns and is serious about the health[…]

As we look for our nicest, but comfiest, pants in preparation for the biggest meal of the year, we are also looking at the effects all of our Thanksgiving favorites will have on the teeth.  None of this is intended to scare you into not enjoying the holiday.  We just want you to brush and floss before you pass out[…]

Yes. . . . Oh, were you expecting more than that?  Okay.  We’ll elaborate. What Types of Sedation are Available in Dentistry? Dentists typically offer two to three methods of sedation for patients who are anxious about treatment.  The options may differ depending on the dentist’s training and level of comfort with sedation.  The most common and lightest form of[…]

Well, 2020 has been one for the books.  For many of us, it has been the most unusual year in our lifetimes.  Changes in the way we communicate, the way we work, the way we learn, and the way we gather have taken a front seat, while some other, less noisy but no less important, things have taken a back[…]

Gum recession is a problem.  It affects the cosmetic appearance of your smile, it can make the teeth super sensitive, and it might indicate progressive gum disease.  There are actually several different causes of receding gums.  You may have one or multiple causes of your gum recession.  Understanding the cause is essential to getting the right preventive treatment. This article[…]

Millions of Americans are missing one or more teeth.  Missing even a single tooth affects your ability to chew, and obviously, missing a front tooth creates a cosmetic problem.  At Designer Smiles, we are experts at tooth replacement, and we offer multiple options to meet a variety of needs. While the exact tooth replacement can vary relatively widely, we can[…]

The short answer to this question is yes.  But, as always, we have a much longer, more detailed explanation for you.  If you are the parent of young children with this habit, here is what you need to know. Non-Nutritive Sucking Behaviors Thumb sucking joins pacifier use in a broader category of habits called “non-nutritive sucking behaviors” or NNSB.  Infants[…]

Even if you didn’t watch the Grammy’s on Sunday night, you probably heard the hubbub about Nick Jonas singing with food in his teeth.  Several close-up shots during the Jonas Brothers’ performance showed a nice piece of some leafy green stuck in between two of his upper teeth. Nick played it off well, tweeting “At least you know I eat[…]