I’m afraid of the dentist. Will this hurt? It’s normal to have anxiety about dental procedures, especially if you have a sensitive mouth or haven’t seen a dentist in a while. At Artistic Smiles, we try to be as gentle as possible to achieve the results you want. For operations or extractions, anesthetic pharmaceuticals may be administered. You should check with your primary care physician to make sure you’re healthy enough to undergo a specific procedure or anesthesia.

What kind of procedures do you offer? Which procedures do you recommend to other dental professionals? Dr. Kaiyra Salcido performs most dental procedures, from simple cleanings and extractions to BOTOX injections and Vivos® airway epigenetic therapy. We also offer comprehensive exams, yearly cleanings, restorations, fillings, dentures, partials, bridges, crowns, and simple surgeries. Occasionally, procedures require equipment or specialization beyond Artistic Smile’s resources and we are happy to refer patients to nearby specialists who may further treat the problem. We do not offer teeth whitening at this time.

Do you accept insurance? What kind of discounts do you offer for self-pay? Artistic Smiles is not in contract with any insurances at this time, although we would be happy to file a courtesy claim for you. A courtesy claim is a request for payment that we send to your insurance. If the procedure is covered under your dental plan, your insurance will issue a reimbursement check after the procedure. We also offer membership plans to our patients without traditional insurance. These plans offer many of our maintenance and regular restoration services at a significantly reduced price. We also participate with Care Credit! Please ask our front desk for details.

I suffer from sleep apnea. How can dentistry improve my airway efficiency? Dr. Kaiyra Salcido and her staff use an epigenetic therapy called Vivos® that stimulates stem-cell growth through specially designed oral appliances. Custom appliances and an individualized treatment plans can improve a patient’s airway size and efficiency, effectively treating common sleep disorders such as insomnia and sleep apnea. There are many positive outcomes to successful appliance therapy including a reduction in allergy symptoms, tooth grinding, TMJ pain, snoring, crowded teeth, high blood pressure and many other related issues.

What is BOTOX and what other dermal fillers do you use? Botox is a drug made from a bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Botox injections work by weakening or paralyzing certain muscles or by blocking certain nerves. The effects last about three to twelve months, depending on what you are treating. The most common side effects are light swelling or bruising at the injection site. Botox is most commonly used for cosmetic purposes such as reducing age lines and wrinkles or to alleviate tension in areas that may contribute to facial or cranial pain. We also use Juvederm fillers for further cosmetic enhancement procedures (lip plumping for example).

When do you see patients? Artistic Smiles is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. We are typically closed for lunch from noon to 1 p.m. daily.

Where are you located? Our office is located in beautiful, scenic Silver City, New Mexico, at 3801 Pinos Altos Road. Patients traveling from out of town can access the Grant County Airport nearby.