The producers tried to get several celebrities to play the creepy orthodontist, including Anthony Hopkins and Clint Eastwood, but to no avail. Finally, Anthony Perkins agreed, but passed away before it ever happened. Hank Azaria wound up playing the role.
The idea for this episode came from Mike Reiss, who thought it would be funny if the plant went on strike. The writers of the episode, Jay Kogen and Wallace Wolodarsky, would later add the dental plan aspect of the plot.
The original panelist on Smartline was supposed to be O.J. Simpson, but he turned it down, much to the relief of the writers when Simpson was later tried for murder.
Homer's line "uh... Yeah" after being asked if he found the bathroom is one of Jay Kogen's favorite Simpsons jokes.
When Lisa gets her first set of braces in the episode her line "hand me the mirror" and the reveal is an homage to the reveal of the Joker in Batman (1989).