At Wild About Smiles, a visit between young patients and Dr. Perry Francis will also include an extra bonus: early evaluation for potential orthodontic issues down the road.

Coni Jo Brinkerhoff has been taking her family to Wild About Smiles for most of their lives, traveling over an hour and a half to Sparks from Lovelock to do it. As her six kids, now ranging in age from 17 to 30, all love Dr. Perry Francis, she says that won’t be changing anytime soon

Dr. Francis explains important dental habits for your children, chipped teeth, and making an appointments before the new school year starts.

Tooth decay occurs when bacteria in the mouth comes in contact with sugar from food and drinks, producing acid, causing the pH in our mouth to drop. The acid begins to attack tooth enamel, leading to tooth decay and cavities over time.

We’re finally starting to hear more about how dangerous e-cigarettes are for our overall health. What is not talked about as much is how badly vaping can specifically affect our oral health.

This is the first year that we sponsored our summer contests asking patients to share how many books they had read and how many miles they had hiked. What is the connection to Wild About Smiles? These are both activities that I enjoy, and they both contribute to better overall health.

While you’re making your to-do list, be sure to include your family’s dental visits, in order to take full advantage of your calendar year insurance benefits.

Washoe County (and parts of Churchill) do not have fluoride in our drinking water. This means we need to take different measures to ensure we’re getting the fluoride we need to prevent tooth decay for ourselves and our children.

Along with favorite blankets, teddy bears and nap time, thumb sucking can be one of the most comforting aspects of childhood. When they are infants, thumb-sucking is no cause for worry; but as kids get older, it can become an issue.