Q+A: DUMBO Smiles
Dumbo Smiles is a company of dentists that provides services to the families of New York City. Currently based in DUMBO, these orthodontists work hard to put a smile on everyone's face, and without cavities! The founding doctors of Dumbo Smiles, Ingrid Barillas and Rodolfo Sanchez, sat down with us to talk about their knowledge of dentistry and their experiences in DUMBO.
Tell us a bit about yourselves. How long have you been dentists? What made you get into dentistry?
Dr. Barillas: Both Dr. Sanchez and my self were born into dentistry. Our fathers both were respectively specialists in Prosthodontics and Orthodontics. As are we. I was always very impressed by the remarkable changes dentistry can make in a person's life.
If you think about it, our face is our presentation card. It expresses our moods, intentions, emotions. A smile is an intricate part of these extraordinary expressions. It can provide an individual with the confidence to thrive. Another exciting aspect of our dental specialties is how it intricately uses high technology for diagnosis to allow optimal treatment planning.
What is your Dumbo story?
Dr. Barillas: We moved to DUMBO 15 summers ago. We fell in love with the neighborhood. We raised our two children at PS8, and enjoy the pleasure of having the Brooklyn Bridge Park at our doorstep. Plus, Dumbo is steps away from downtown Manhattan, and has easy transportation access to the rest of NYC. We always knew we wanted to live and work and become a part of this thriving and exciting community.
A smile is an intricate part of these extraordinary expressions. It can provide an individual with the confidence to thrive.
Do you have any advice for local Dumbonians to help keep their teeth sparkling and clean?
Dr. Barillas: My best advice to my fellow Dumbonians to help them keep healthy teeth and oral tissues is to set up a plaque control routine.
This routine should include:
- Reduce the intake of high sugar foods and drinks. Especially avoid sipping soft drinks, power drinks, tea or coffee with high sugar content. The best is to substitute with diet or sugar free alternatives.
- Find an electric toothbrush that you like. There are so many nice options now, like Sonicare and Oral B.
- Remove plaque build up by following the electric toothbrush two minute set ups, and brush every morning and every evening after flossing.
- Make a fluoride rinse part of your routine!
- Last but not least, see your dental professional every year for a dental check up.
You are active community partners for local events. Can you talk about what value you see in engaging with the local community?
Dr. Barillas: Being part of a community means participating in everyday happenings as well as the special occasions and events that help us connect as a neighborhood and community. This is where we can discover how we can strengthen our community by interacting with other members. Connecting and interacting with our fellow Dumbonians helps us give purpose and direction to our involvement and mission.
Connecting and interacting with our fellow Dumbonian residents helps us give purpose and direction to our involvement and mission.
What is your favorite “secret spot” in the neighborhood? Anywhere you like to grab lunch, or your favorite view of the water?
Dr. Barillas: There are so many great spots in DUMBO to enjoy an amazing view of the river and city. Water street, the Carousel, Pier 1, Celestine's, the Library. Anywhere you go just look up and catch the views. We are extraordinarily lucky to have an awesome view from our apartment. I am thankful every day.
We always knew we wanted to live and work and become a part of this thriving and exciting community.