Frequently Asked Questions
Smiles by Design, the home of Chicago’s best dentistry, would like to welcome you. Our practice, located in the heart of beautiful downtown Chicago, has been serving the people of this great city for more than two decades!
We employ a staff of friendly, compassionate, knowledgeable professionals who take pride in their service to the community, and are always striving to improve the patient experience at Smiles by Design.
If you have more questions or would like to learn more our service options please contact our office at 312-263-2323 or send a message using this form.
We have listed 10 of the most frequently asked questions we hear from patients below to give you an idea of what modern dentistry is like at Smiles by Design, and to help the public educate themselves on the pedestrian questions surrounding dentistry. Take a moment to get some answers with the Smiles by Design FAQ!
Smiles by Design offers the finest preventative, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry solutions available in the greater Chicago area. Our compassionate, professional staff is here to ensure that you receive the highest quality care in our comfortable downtown location. Contact Smiles by Design today to learn more about the miracles of modern dentistry, or to schedule an appointment with one of our talented doctors. Your teeth will thank you!
To schedule an appointment with one of our dentists, or to simply find out more information, contact Smiles By Design at (312) 263-2323, Send us a message or come by our office and see us today!
Got Questions? We Have Answers
We are located in the heart of downtown Chicago at 203 N LaSalle St, #230, Mezzanine Level.
Public Transportation
CTA Trains: We are located one block from both the Clark St. “L” stations (Blue, Purple, Brown, Orange, Pink).
CTA Buses: We are accessible from the following CTA bus routes: 134, 135, 136, 156 on La Salle St.
Indoor parking is available in our building (203 N LaSalle St – Entrances on Clark St. and Lake St.) and we provide a discount coupon for $15 parking rate. Additional parking can be found at:
200 West Randolph (Randolph & Wells)
215 West Lake St. (Lake St., between Wells & Franklin))
181 N. Clark St. (Clark St. & Lake St.)
Street/Metered
Monday through Thursday 8:00am to 6:00pm
Friday through Sunday – Closed
We accept all standard indemnity insurance programs. However we do not belong to any Participating Provider Organizations (PPO). In most cases, those plans will pay their calculated percentage amount, or reimburse you according to their plan. Please feel free to contact our office if you have questions regarding your insurance plan, and one of our benefit specialists can assist you.
At Smiles by Design, we understand that sometimes life can make seeing a dentist regularly difficult. Whether it is not having enough hours in your day, or even fear or embarrassment keeping you away, we are here to help you get back on the right track to perfect oral health. It is never too late to start!
At Smiles by Design, we believe in a compassionate, gentle approach to dentistry. We understand that dental anxiety is a real factor in the lives of many people, so we have designed our treatments with technologies and techniques that minimize patient discomfort while maximizing results and patient experience.
Research has now clearly shown a connection between gum disease and diabetes. People with diabetes tend to be more susceptible to gum disease, and gum disease, an infection, can cause blood sugar levels to spike; making diabetes harder to control. See your Smiles by Design dentist regularly and keep them up to date with medications and any other symptoms you experience (dry mouth or bleeding gums).
First, radiation could potentially harm a patient, so dentists are always extremely careful when using it to get an x-ray. With modern safety systems in place, the actual amount of radiation a patient receives during an x-ray is negligible. It is actually far more dangerous to run the risk of an undiagnosed, untreated problem growing in your mouth than it is to get an x-ray. Smiles by Design offers digital x-rays which, on top of being much more user-friendly, require 80% less radiation than conventional x-rays.
If a patient avoids things like tobacco and red wine, which cause staining, tooth whitening should last anywhere from six months to two years. There have been studies that produced results up to 10 years, but, as with any treatment, results will vary, and any success achieved in testing is not guaranteed to be duplicated.
The first thing you should do is avoid foods with high acidity. That means things like soda and tea, oranges and grapefruits should be off the menu. Sensitivity toothpastes that contain strontium chloride or potassium nitrate do a very good job of reducing sensitivity in most people. If these measures are not effective, talk to your Smiles by Design dentist about treatment options we offer. Choices range from simple home-care products to compounds applied directly to the roots of your teeth in office that will reduce, if not outright eliminate, your sensitivity.
Manual toothbrushes, when used correctly and for the appropriate time, can perform just as well as electric models. Unfortunately, most people do not spend the required amount of time brushing, so the results they get are less than optimal. Using an electric brush does the same work in far less time, so it may be a good way for you, or your children, to give your teeth the attention they need. Ask your Smiles by Design dentist about what models may be right for you!