Dental Health Blog West Fargo - Dentist In Fargo - Moorhead Dentist

Help For Nervous Fargo Patients With Sedation Dentistry

Posted: April 20, 2018

Millions of Americans avoid seeing the dentist for their annual cleaning and checkup, because of dental anxiety. At Designer Smiles in Fargo, we encourage regular checkups and consider them essential. For our anxious patients, we offer sedation dentistry to get them through the visit.

Of course, we numb your jaw for any procedure that might be painful, like filling a cavity. But some patients need more than that. One commonly used form of sedation is nitrous oxide, or laughing gas. This has been a staple of dentistry for more than one hundred years. A mask is placed over your nose, and you inhale. Within minutes you’ll be relaxed, and the procedure can go forward.

For some, that isn’t enough. In that case we have IV sedation, sometimes called conscious sedation. It is more powerful than nitrous oxide, but it will not put you to sleep. It does, however, make you less aware of what is going on around you. As the name indicates, IV sedation is administered intravenously.

Don’t avoid the dentist because of dental anxiety. The price you pay may be too high. Instead, ask us about sedation dentistry at Designer Smiles in Fargo. Our services include general and cosmetic dentistry.

Contact Designer Smiles:

701-566-5063

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3525 25th St S
Fargo, North Dakota
58104

Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, General Dentistry, Sedation Dentistry

Silver Screen Smiles: Cosmetic Dentistry in Fargo

Posted: April 13, 2018

With constant media coverage of celebrities, many people are inspired to have a smile like the stars. Cosmetic dentistry from Designer Smiles in Fargo makes that possible for just about anyone.

There is more than one way to get a dazzling smile. There are plenty of over-the-counter whitening strips, gels, and toothpastes to choose from. They can be effective, but they cannot compare to the professional-grade teeth whitening options that Designer Smiles can provide.

For missing teeth, dental implants have come into their own. What was once a state of the art procedure is now considered mainstream dentistry. A titanium post is surgically attached to the jawbone, with the tooth restoration placed on top of it.

Dental implants prevent jawbone recession and the shifting of adjacent teeth. Just as important, they look and function like natural teeth.

Porcelain veneers are increasingly popular. Veneers are thin, medical-grade ceramic that cover the front of the teeth. Custom-made for each patient, they are useful for anyone with broken or chipped teeth, stained teeth, or gaps that they would like to hide. In addition, they can be used for small orthodontic alignments.

Designer Smiles, in Fargo, provides these and other cosmetic dentistry services. Please visit our smile gallery to see what we can do for you. We also practice general dentistry. Please give us a call to schedule an appointment or consultation.

Contact Designer Smiles:

701-566-5063

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3525 25th St S
Fargo, North Dakota
58104

Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Implants, General Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers, Teeth Whitening

Tooth Enamel! Dental Health in Fargo

Posted: April 6, 2018

Tooth enamel is one of the strongest substances in the body, but it is non-renewable. Therefore, it’s essential to the dental health of our Fargo patients to take good care of their teeth. Proper oral hygiene is the first step in protecting its enamel.

The first thing to mention is that most common device, the ordinary toothbrush. Even though every drug store carries hard bristle brushes, we recommend that you use a soft bristle brush. Use it after every meal to gently clean away food particles. It is ideal to brush immediately after eating, but brushing within 60 minutes of a meal has benefits. The quicker you remove food from your teeth, the better it is for your enamel.

When it comes to toothbrushes, the bristles are what’s important. Don’t think too much about the handle: just choose one that feels good in your hand.

Flossing regularly is also important for your dental health. Whether the food is on tooth surfaces or hidden in between, it is not doing your enamel any good.

Dennis Hetland recommends a checkup and extensive cleaning every six months. Our expert hygienists remove tartar, a substance that attracts plaque to the surface of the teeth and can weaken tooth structures. Regular checkups prevent issues and save you money on costly restorations down the road.

Remember: don’t use your teeth for opening packages! Keep scissors and bottle openers handy. At Designer Smiles, we see damaged teeth and dental work as a result of patients using their teeth as tools. Biting down on something too hard, like ice or hard candy can also impair enamel.

Teeth grinding is also a common dental issue. Grinding can not only wear away enamel, but also pave ways for cavities. If you grind your teeth while you are sleeping, ask us about a nightguard. Your enamel will thank you.

Lastly, remember: drink plenty water. Try to make it your beverage of choice! Coffee, sports drinks, soda, wine, and tea all contain a lot of acids and/or sugar. Cut back, or at least use a straw. These easily-avoided drinks cause a lot of tooth decay.

At Designer Smiles, we are concerned about the dental health of all our Fargo-area patients. We provide cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening, and general dentistry. For more more information or to set up an appointment, call our office today.

Contact Designer Smiles:

701-566-5063

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3525 25th St S
Fargo, North Dakota
58104

Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Health, General Dentistry, Teeth Whitening

Are You Flossing Out Of Fear? Dental Health in Fargo

Posted: March 23, 2018

Most Fargo men and women know that flossing is an important part of dental health. The value of this simple exercise has been shown time and time again. But does fear have to play a role in anyone’s commitment to flossing?

Flossing offers a chance to remove the food particles your toothbrush may miss. But, being afraid of the cavity bugs may not compel Fargo folks to floss regularly. The fear of gum disease or cavities may work for a week or so after a cleaning. But it probably won’t be enough to instill a lasting habit.

At Designer Smiles in Fargo, we encourage our dental patients to look at flossing as an opportunity to start fresh – just as showering starts you off fresh each day. Flossing is a positive opportunity to remind yourself to smile and feel happy as you approach your day. It could be a time to think about the foods you are putting into your mouth, and consider what improvements could be made to your diet.

It doesn’t have to be about fear! At Designer Smiles, we offer many ways to enhance your smile and maintain your dental health. Make an appointment today. Our services include porcelain veneers and teeth whitening. We also provide sedation dentistry.

Contact Designer Smiles:

701-566-5063

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3525 25th St S
Fargo, North Dakota
58104

Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Health, General Dentistry, Gum Disease

Fact And Fiction: Teeth Whitening in Fargo

Posted: March 9, 2018

You look in the mirror and can’t help noticing: your teeth aren’t as white as they used to be. What to do? Try that new toothpaste your heard about? Or would be better off with professional teeth whitening at Designer Smiles in Fargo?

Some dentists guarantee fantastic results for any patient that desires a whiter smile. At Designer Smiles we offer our patients three options, including a do-it-yourself, take-home bleaching kit. It starts with an impression we’ll take of your teeth, in order to create fitted trays. The rest is up to you, and it’s easy: the kit includes a strong bleaching gel that produces great results.

There are also whitening toothpastes and rinses you can pick up at the drugstore. They’re safe and effective, although not as effective as our take-home bleaching kit or in-office procedure.

We also offer our patients professional strength teeth whitening strips, and Zoom! whitening. Zoom! whitening is a fast, in-office procedure that offers excellent results.

One thing to remember: if you have any crowns in the front of your mouth, or gums that have receded, conventional tooth-whitening may not be successful. In that case, porcelain veneers may be a better solution for you. There are several brands available.

Schedule a consultation with Designer Smiles in Fargo, and we can see what your best teeth whitening option is. We also practice general dentistry, and offer other procedures.

Contact Designer Smiles:

701-566-5063

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3525 25th St S
Fargo, North Dakota
58104

Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, General Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers, Teeth Whitening

It’s A Great Time To Have Ugly Teeth!

Posted: February 23, 2018

Huh? Yep, it’s true. It’s a great time to have ugly teeth because revolutionary cosmetic dentistry provides several procedures to turn unsightly to unbelievably beautiful.

Teeth whitening can benefit almost every adult. Years of staining can be magically erased in a day at your Fargo dentist’s office or over a few months with a reasonably-priced at-home kit. This popular treatment gives you a lot of bang for your cosmetic dental buck.

If your teeth are slightly crooked or have small chips or cracks, minimally-invasive porcelain veneers could be the answer. A veneer is a translucent, wafer-thin cover that is permanently attached to the front of a tooth. Many people get dental veneers on the upper front teeth for a fabulous smile renewal. Call Designer Smiles at 701-566-5063 to learn more about terrific veneers.

Have your gums receded and thereby exposed the metal base of an old dental crown? Soft tissue grafts and/or crown replacement can fix this common problem. Call Designer Smiles at 701-566-5063 to schedule a gum-contouring consultation.

A missing tooth detracts from your smile, even if your other teeth look great. Many Fargo people have benefited from dental implants. A dental implant consists of a titanium post surgically inserted into the jaw bone to replace the root of the missing tooth. The post integrates with the bone to provide a stable foundation for the natural-looking crown. Dental implants can also anchor full or partial dentures and significantly improve life for denture wearers.

If your teeth have acute alignment problems, we encourage you to consider braces. Fargo dental patients of all ages are undergoing orthodontic treatment to straighten their teeth and transform their smile. The newest braces are faster, less noticeable, and more comfortable than ever before.

Other cosmetic dental procedures available at Designer Smiles in Fargo are inlays/onlays, dental crowns, and white fillings. If you have an ugly smile, the Designer Smiles team of extraordinary dental professionals is enthusiastic about making it stunning. Call 701-566-5063 today!

Contact Designer Smiles:

701-566-5063

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3525 25th St S
Fargo, North Dakota
58104

Tagged with: cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, dental veneers, teeth whitening
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry

A Facial Or Filling?

Posted: February 16, 2018

At Designer Smiles, we know that we can’t completely fool you. When you receive treatment at our comfortable cosmetic dentistry practice, you won’t actually believe you are at a plush Fargo spa relaxing with cucumbers over your eyes.

Just because we can’t recreate an identical Fargo spa experience, that doesn’t stop us from trying.

We have a phenomenal dental comfort menu for our Fargo cosmetic dentistry patients.

Oral Conscious Sedation Dentistry: Choose your level of sedation for confident relaxation
Topical analgesic
A variety of media choices
Soft bite blocks to rest your jaw during treatment
Personalized attention from our high tech Designer Smiles team
Ergonomic reclining chairs for maximum back and neck comfort
Rigorous, vital infection control protocols for peace of mind

Are you in need of tooth restorations, teeth whitening, TMJ solutions, or just a thorough dental cleaning in Fargo?

Enjoy a luxurious dental spa experience at Designer Smiles without paying extra. We are devoted to gentle dentistry. Call 701-566-5063 to schedule a consultation.

All Things Smiles

Contact Designer Smiles:

701-566-5063

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3525 25th St S
Fargo, North Dakota
58104

Tagged with: cosmetic dentistry, sedation dentistry, teeth whitening
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry

Tooth Whitening: In-Office Or At Home?

Posted: February 9, 2018

If you are planning to whiten your teeth, the essential first step is to opt for a whitening method. It may seem like there are a multitude of options, but it’s important to remember that they all employ a peroxide-based whitening solution. The difference lies in the strength of the teeth bleaching solution and method of delivery. In-office whitening procedures generally use a solution with a relatively higher concentration of peroxide. In other words, it is stronger.

Let’s look at the pros and cons of DIY and in-office teeth whitening.

At-Home Teeth Whitening Advantages
Generally less expensive
Doesn’t require a trip to your Fargo dentist
May cause less tooth sensitive and pain
At-Home Teeth Whitening Disadvantages
Takes longer to achieve desired level of lightening
Whitening appliances don’t protect gum tissue
Solution must be applied many times over a period of weeks

In-Office Professional Zoom Whitening Advantages
Pros
Same day results
Administered by a dental professional
Gum tissue is protected
In-Office Professional Teeth Whitening Disadvantages
More expensive

Did you know that in order to maintain the brightness achieved from an in-office teeth whitening treatment, a patient must follow up with at-home touch-ups? Therefore, a combination of in-office and DIY methods is often the most effective solution.

A note about non-professional teeth bleaching kiosks:
A few years ago during the height of the tooth-whitening craze, teeth whitening kiosks starting popping up in Fargo area malls. Though some have closed their doors, a few remain in business. urges patients to avoid these establishments. There is little regulatory oversight and customers have no guarantee of the safety of their services or the qualifications of their employees. As always, it is vital to only trust your smile to dental professionals.

Designer Smiles advises patients to meet with our Fargo dentist before starting any tooth bleaching regimen. An oral examination will help your dentist know if tooth whitening will deliver the results you are seeking. This is especially important when you have tetracycline stains or multiple restorations.

Contact Designer Smiles:

701-566-5063

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3525 25th St S
Fargo, North Dakota
58104

Tagged with: Fargo dentist, teeth bleaching, Zoom whitening
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry

What Does A Beautiful Smile Say About You?

Posted: February 2, 2018

It’s not just about looks. According to a recent study by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), a healthy and attractive smile makes you appear more intelligent, successful, friendly and interesting. (See http://www.aacd.com for complete survey results.)

Our smile makeover patients who have undergone restorative and cosmetic dentistry at Designer Smiles in Fargo have experienced this phenomenon firsthand. They have expressed that they not only feel great about their looks, they are more confident in professional and social situations. Another benefit: they also feel more appealing to the opposite gender.

I’m Dr. Dennis Hetland of Designer Smiles in Fargo. I enjoy using my years of training and experience to provide premium cosmetic dentistry for my patients in the Fargo and Moorhead area. I am passionate about developing a custom treatment plan for each Fargo dental patient. Some of my Fargo general dentistry patients had lived with misaligned or crooked teeth for years. Others had been self-conscious about missing or stained teeth.

There has never been a better time to upgrade your smile. There are solutions for every kind of dental problem. If you are not familiar with the latest teeth whitening, crown restoration and tooth replacement procedures, it is time to find out. Call 701-566-5063 to schedule a consultation. Come in to our office on 3525 25th St S in Fargo and see photos of our happy Fargo dental makeover patients who are enjoying their beautiful smiles every day!

Give us a call at 701-566-5063 or find us on the Web at: http://www.fargodentalcare.com/

Contact Designer Smiles:

701-566-5063

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3525 25th St S
Fargo, North Dakota
58104

Tagged with: cosmetic dentistry, general dentistry, teeth whitening
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry

Chipped Tooth? No Need To Panic

Posted: January 26, 2018

There are basically two ways to handle a chipped tooth:
1. Panic.
2. See Dr. Dennis Hetland right away and get on with life.

Dr. Dennis Hetland at Designer Smiles can fix a chipped tooth in a jiffy by determining the right solution and expertly preforming the procedure. Decay, missing teeth, braces, even crowns can impact the course of treatment.

Time is often an important factor when it comes to tooth repair so don’t wait, call 701-566-5063 to schedule an appointment. Our address is:
3525 25th St S
Fargo, North Dakota 58104

We’ve been around since 1996 – serving your neighbors in Fargo and improving smiles for Fargo patients.

When Fargo residents need TruDenta headache relief, we’ve successfully managed their treatment. When Fargo patients have needed sedation dentistry, we’ve watched happy, smiling patients leave our office. And when you need cosmetic dentistry, we are encouraged with the opportunity to make a true believer out of you!

We offer dental implants, restorative dentistry, porcelain veneers and general dentistry. Trust Dr. Hetland to deliver exceptional results. No panic. No mistakes. No worries.

Relax.

Contact Designer Smiles:

701-566-5063

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3525 25th St S
Fargo, North Dakota
58104

Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry

I’m a busy mom of 4 so I really appreciate the text reminders about our upcoming appointments.
—WHITNEY
The best dental experience I’ve ever had because I slept through it. Sedation dentistry is the greatest thing ever.
—TODD
I was so blessed to have found you. Thank you for helping me so quickly.
—BRUCE
Dr. Hetland told me my new teeth would help me chew better and help relieve my jaw pain. What I didn’t know was that they would make me feel so much better about myself. I just can’t stop smiling. Thank you!
—ANITA
The Designer Smiles team is amazing. They took great care of my teeth when I didn’t and they did it without making me feel bad about all those years I neglected my teeth. I highly recommend them to EVERYONE!
—MILES
Thank you for taking the time to make just a great smile for an old gal like me. I look and feel 10 years younger!
—GLADYS
I had a great experience with Dr. Hetland and the whole staff at Desinger Smiles! I also had awesome results with the Six Month Smiles. Thank you for being so accommodating and enjoyable at all of my appointments!
—CARLY
Another wonderful experience today with Dr. Hetland and his staff. They truly care about your care and comfort. This was my second crown procedure in the past 3 years. They had great notes from the time before to ensure I did not feel any discomfort. Thanks for everything
—TERRY

Making smiles bright extends beyond the doors of Designer Smiles, especially each March through June when we proudly participate in the Smiles For Life campaign. During this time, 100 percent of the proceeds from teeth whitening procedures go to children’s charities, including right here in the F-M area. This year, we have selected Camp Sioux for Diabetic Children as the local charity of choice.

We make helping children and bright smiles easy—simply contact us to schedule your teeth whitening appointment. You get a brighter, whiter smile, and children get a reason to smile, as well. If you are already happy with your bright smile, simply ask about the other ways you can participate in helping children.