Welcome
Your first visit to our practice establishes a vital foundation for our relationship with you. During the first visit, we make sure to obtain important background information and give you time to get to know our staff. To understand what to expect from your first visit to our practice, please read through this page.
Our Mission
Our friendly team is dedicated to caring for you and your entire family’s oral health and well-being. We take the time to create a personalized treatment for each patient and we offer a wide range of services. Our entire team is committed to helping you prevent dental problems and achieve a healthy, beautiful, and confident smile.
Patient Confidentiality
Our office takes our patient’s security and safety seriously. To better understand how your health information may be used or disclosed, please read our notice of privacy practices below.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
From the moment you step into our Hoffman Estates dental office, we’ll help you feel comfortable and at ease. We will review your medical and dental histories and will take digital x-rays of your teeth as needed. We will complete a comprehensive evaluation of your teeth, gums and oral soft tissue which includes oral cancer screening. The doctors will review all the information gathered during this visit then together we’ll create a care plan completely personalized to your needs and smile goals. With our team’s expertise, personalized approach, and use of modern, advanced treatments, you can be confident that your dentist appointment will be enjoyable and comfortable.
Children Dental Appointments
By age 3…
The sooner children begin getting regular dental checkups, the healthier their mouths will stay throughout their lives. Early checkups help prevent cavities and tooth decay, which can lead to pain, trouble concentrating and other medical issues.
Tooth decay is the #1 chronic childhood illness, so scheduling your child’s first dental visit early is crucial for preventing cavities. Seeing the dentist early on in life will also help your child get used to the idea of taking care of their teeth and gums.
What you can do as a parent:
You want to make sure your child feels as comfortable and safe as possible. The best way to do this is to remain calm and avoid using any words that may frighten your child. It’s important that you set an example for your child and act relaxed and even excited about going to the dentist. They will pick up on your positive outlook of the dentist and probably react similarly.
You know it’s important to take your children to the dentist, but for some, a child’s dental appointment can be more nerve-wracking for the parent than the child. Although you’ve been to the dentist plenty of times over the years, you may not always be sure how your child will react, which can make you a little nervous about leaving them alone in the dental operatory.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that parents of older children remain in the waiting room when children are brought into the dental operatory. Infants and some young children may benefit from having one of their parents in the operatory with them, but it’s usually in a child’s best interest to be treated without parental interference. Studies have shown that children over the age of 3 often respond better to dental treatment when their parents aren’t in sight.
What to expect at the first visit:
The first appointment will focus more on introducing your child to what the dentist is all about. We will discuss the importance of oral hygiene to your child in hopes of creating good dental habits. If you and the dentist both feel that your child is comfortable and ready, the dentist will do an oral exam and possibly take x-rays.
Many children fear the dentist because of a bad first visit. The first dental visit will have a huge impact on how your child feels about the dentist, so it’s important to be prepared and take the necessary steps to have a successful first appointment. By following the advice above, you’ll be on your way to having a stress-free first dentist appointment with your child. Sometimes we may recommend a few “familiarization” appointments if your child needs more time to be comfortable in the dental treatment environment.
Things to consider:
Cavities (also known as caries or tooth decay) are one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood in the United States. Untreated cavities can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning. Children who have poor oral health often miss more school and receive lower grades than children who don’t.
The good news is that cavities are preventable. Fluoride varnish can prevent about one-third (33%) of cavities in the primary (baby) teeth. Children living in communities with fluoridated tap water have fewer cavities than children whose water is not fluoridated. Similarly, children who brush daily with fluoride toothpaste will have fewer cavities.
Dental sealants or preventive restorations can also prevent cavities for many years. Applying these preventive restorations to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth prevent 80% of cavities.
