Brilliant by Design
As a new addition to the Designer of Smiles clinical team, Dr. Eric Bunting brings innovation, talent, and a renewed commitment to delivering exceptional dental care.
When Steven C. Bunting, D.D.S., began his career in dentistry, he never imagined the practice he built, Designer of Smiles, would become a family business. As his son, Eric Bunting, D.M.D., M.S., joins the Huntingdon Valley-based practice, the clinical team will be two generations of the Bunting family.
“I’m eager to start working with my dad and learn the day-to-day of how an experienced dentist navigates cutting-edge materials to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered dentistry,” shares Dr. Eric, a recent graduate of the Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry. “He knows the artistry of listening to the patient to understand what their desires are and then using his artistic eye to deliver the best possible result.”
Dr. Eric is enthusiastic about building on his clinical education through hands-on experience.
“I’m looking forward to combining different techniques, not only ones I learned in my training, but also those I have learned from my dad over the years,” he adds. “My goal is to have all that experience come together so my patients are smiling when they walk out the door.”
Rooted in Expertise
Designer of Smiles has been in its current Huntingdon Valley location for more than 20 years. The practice boasts seven operatories and 3,200 square feet of space—“plenty of space to accommodate all our patients’ needs,” according to Dr. Steven.
“We are, by name, a general practice, but our focus and expertise are in cosmetic and aesthetic dentistry,” he says. “We specialize in tooth reconstruction, smile makeovers—we do quite a bit of that—and implant reconstructions, which is where our true passion is.
“We help guide all our patients to the path that will be best for whatever they’re looking for or whatever they need,” he continues. “Some patients need a small makeover, and others are just in need of a new dentist. We fit a lot of roles that way.”
At Designer of Smiles, the clinical team handles every treatment and procedure—even those that are considered routine—with the utmost care and planning. The vision for this practice is that it is a compassionate and caring place where an exceptional team uses its talents to make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives by improving their health and self-confidence. The practice’s core values are Excellence, Integrity, and Teamwork.
“When you’re doing sophisticated dentistry, you can’t just prep a tooth and put a crown on it,” Dr. Steven shares. “You have to take the occlusion and the health of the surrounding gum tissue into consideration. You’re basically building a house from the ground floor up, so it has to be done properly.”
Thorough evaluation is key to the practice’s success. Each evaluation extends to any lifestyle considerations that could affect a patient’s oral health. Stress, for example, can contribute to bruxism, or the involuntary grinding or clenching of one’s teeth.
“There are precautions that we have to be aware of, from a bite standpoint, knowing that we have to protect an individual tooth that is worn down,” Dr. Steven says. “We talk about wearing night appliances, occlusal guards, and things like that to help protect those teeth. That’s a very important aspect of designing what you’re going to create—the longevity aspect of it.”
Dr. Steven has invested heavily in the best imaging tools to ensure utmost accuracy from the start. Digital scanners, for example, create a digital model of the patient’s dentition, while 3D printers enable the practice to print models as well as restorations.
Another cutting-edge piece of equipment is the Fotona Laser, which has both medical and aesthetic applications. For example, the Fotona SmoothLase® treatment can reduce fine lines and wrinkles while also tightening the skin for a more youthful appearance.
“We’ve had a laser in the past to do soft-tissue procedures to recontour and modify tissue heights or tissue positions, as opposed to cutting with a scalpel,” Dr. Steven says. “The Fotona laser has different wavelengths, and we use that from a cosmetic standpoint to stimulate the collagen within the face and lips.
“My team had always been wanting me to get involved with doing Botox and fillers and things of that nature, which I didn’t really want to do,” he continues. “With this laser, we are able to do wrinkle reductions or eliminations in the face and neck. We can plump the lips in a natural, noninvasive way.”
The Fotona laser can even be used to address issues with the soft palate, opening airways, making breathing easier, and providing relief from snoring.
“That’s a neat and exciting aspect of dentistry that, when I first started my career, I had no idea I’d be getting into,” Dr. Steven adds.
Dynamic Duo
Dr. Steven’s career spans more than 40 years. That strong foundation, combined with the newest techniques and modalities Dr. Eric learned in dental school, sets the stage for a breadth of knowledge and experience to benefit patients.
“With Eric coming in, we’re looking to help pass down the legacy that we’ve created over the past 40 years,” Dr. Steven says. “I’m also excited for him to bring his innovation and digital mindset because that’s where dentistry is headed.”
Of course, Dr. Steven has a father’s reverence when speaking about his son’s determination and talent.
“He has the passion to do anything he puts his mind to,” Dr. Steven says. “Whether it’s playing golf, pickleball, producing music, or cooking—he’s become a phenomenal cook—he approaches everything with dedication and a desire to keep improving. I know he’s going to do the same thing with dentistry as he comes in and gets busier and busier and begins to take over the practice.”
“I’m looking forward to building relationships with dentists in the area and becoming a trusted referral partner,” Dr. Eric says. “My goal is to earn their confidence by consistently providing high-quality care and a great experience for their patients. I value the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues, continue learning from one another, and work together to deliver the best possible outcomes for every patient.”
Designer of Smiles
3443 Huntingdon Pike
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006
(215) 947-4111
Photo by Jody Robinson
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life, August 2026.
