banner-for-patients

For Patients

before-first-visit

Forms: Before Your First Visit

To enjoy a more efficient appointment, click on the New Patient Forms button and complete the forms online at your convenience prior to your visit. Filling out the paperwork ahead of time will ensure you include all the necessary information, especially medications and dosages. If you need assistance with these forms, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 630-718-1901, and we’ll be delighted to provide answers or clarification.

New Patient Forms
Existing Patient Login

dental-membership-plans

Dental Membership Plans

No insurance? We can help!

We offer Individual and Family Membership plans to patients who can’t get coverage through employers to help make you and your families’ dental care affordable. For an annual fee, the plan allows two exams, two cleanings, and X-rays, plus discounts on almost all other procedures. Call us for more details.

Financial Options

While our goal is to provide the highest quality of dental services using the latest techniques and technology, we are committed to not letting expenses prevent you from receiving the dental care you desire and deserve. We accept most major dental insurance plans and for your convenience, our office will file all paperwork on your behalf and absorb the filing costs.

To help you budget your care, we accept the following payment options:

  • Dental insurance reimbursement
  • Major credit cards
  • Financing through third-party vendors
  • In-house membership plans

payment-methods
carecredit

FAQ

How can I protect my teeth from damage?

Your tooth’s enamel is the hardest material in your body, yet despite this fact enamel can chip or crack. Here are a few reasons why your teeth do chip or break:

  • Crowding & sub-optimal bite
  • Clenching and grinding teeth
  • Bad habits like chewing ice, cracking nut shells, or hard candies
  • Consuming acidic soft drinks, sports energy drinks, or sugary foods and snacks
  • Smoking marijuana or other illicit drugs that weaken the enamel by changing the pH balance of the mouth
  • Tongue and lip piercings can fracture teeth

implant

Why do I need an implant to replace my missing teeth?

Except for wisdom teeth, all other missing teeth in the mouth must be replaced. If gaps remain unfilled, teeth continue to shift, move, and extrude. These irreversible changes happen over time; however, the smallest alteration of the bite can lead to TMJ pain, fracture, excessive wear of the remaining teeth, gum problems, bone loss, and ultimately tooth loss. Externally, not replacing the missing teeth can lead to facial muscles becoming droopy and causing the patient to look older.

dental-x-rays

Are dental X-rays safe?

Yes. New digital X-ray technology has a significantly lower dose of radiation, and with the lead aprons draped around you, you can be assured that every precaution is taken to make them safe. Besides, you will get more exposure to radiation from regular activities like flying and cell phone usage than routine dental X-rays.

My dentures are not very old, but they don’t fit right anymore.

Tissues and bones shrink (atrophy) over time. Along with weight gain or loss, dentures may not fit as well as they once did. Often times a simple reline may be the solution to get them to fit snugly again. However, if there is too much wear or significant atrophy, it may be time for replacements. Ill-fitting dentures can lead to further bone loss and further challenges with future dentures.

A better option over regular dentures are implant-supported dentures. With the help of a few implants, dentures will have a far superior fit, allowing patients to bite into apples or even corn on the cob. The implant-supported dentures are even smaller, thinner, and shorter.

denture

I’ve heard that my silver-colored fillings contain mercury. Should I have them replaced?

Like any other dental restoration, amalgams will need to be replaced with evidence of leakage, fracture, or recurrent decay.

Why do I need a crown?

Crowns are necessary to save broken or worn-down teeth when a simple filling can’t restore them to full function and strength. The high translucency of all-porcelain crowns makes the tooth look very natural.

replacing-missing-tootg

What is better for replacing a missing tooth, a bridge or an implant?

This is an individual choice, and each scenario has pros and cons. Implants require surgery and take about a year depending on the number and complexity of the case. Implants can easily be flossed just like natural teeth. A bridge looks and feels natural too. However, given that the adjacent teeth next to the missing space are used as anchors to fill in the space, flossing can only be done underneath the bridge and not in between the anchor teeth and the false tooth. A bridge offers immediate gratification, as it can generally be done in about two weeks. A disadvantage of the bridge is that the anchor teeth will have to be worked on to replace the missing tooth. The choice between implants or bridges varies from case to case and person to person. We can help guide you in your decision-making.

pregnant

I’m pregnant. Is it safe for me to go to the dentist?

Congratulations! Yes, it is important to visit the dentist more frequently while pregnant to keep your gums and teeth healthy. Because of hormonal changes, you may experience more bleeding and inflammation. Prior to visiting us, be sure to obtain a clearance letter from your OB/GYN. While you can seek emergency treatment during the entire length of your pregnancy, we encourage you to get elective treatment during the second trimester. More importantly, though, be sure to visit us prior to becoming pregnant to ensure all the necessary work is done ahead of time. This way you don’t have to worry about getting major work done while experiencing morning sickness or the discomfort of having to sit in the chair longer than you need to.

Have additional questions about our office or your care? Give us a call at 630-718-1901!