Dental Implants

The dentists at Downtown Dental replace teeth and restore patient smiles with dental implants. Implants are a permanent restorative option for teeth that are missing or have been extracted.  They look and feel like natural teeth, and are the most permanent and efficient means of replacing lost teeth.

An implant is placed over a series of appointments because of the healing time required.  Implants are titanium screws inserted through an incision in the gum. Over a period of 3-6 months, the jaw bone heals around the implant to become a solid, stable base for the new tooth. During this time a patient is fitted with a temporary crown, and a custom crown is created to match their smile perfectly.

After the jaw bone and gums have healed appropriately, the custom crown is placed in a second minor procedure.  The doctor may need to expose the head of the implant by removing some gum tissue, and the crown will be screwed to the top of the implant.  When this is complete the tooth looks like part of the natural smile, and with proper care will last for decades!

To learn more about dental implants and all the services provided by our dentists, visit downtown-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Downtown Dental LLC in Chicago, IL, call 312-782-8862.

Smoking and Sleep Apnea

Smoking will exacerbate any respiratory condition, and it is proven to cause snoring and lead to obstructive sleep apnea.  Patients struggling with sleep apnea should see the doctors at Downtown Dental for evaluation. We can help patients find relief from sleep apnea, but quitting smoking is up to you!  Smoking causes upper airway inflammation, meaning the swelling causes the airway to narrow and disrupts the nasal passage and throat.  This causes snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.  Cigarettes are highly addictive, and some smokers seek treatment for sleep apnea but continue to smoke. Smoking with sleep apnea not only puts more stress on the heart every day, but negates any treatment a sleep apnea patient is undergoing.

Habitual smokers may feel relaxed by one last cigarette for the day, but it actually creates more complications for restful sleep. Smokers can experience nicotine withdrawal overnight, causing more waking up and restlessness.  Quitting smoking cold turkey is very difficult, but even lessening the amount of cigarettes or avoiding smoking at nighttime can help you achieve more restful sleep.  Most smokers cannot quit on their own or on their first attempt, so don’t get discouraged!

If you have questions or concerns regarding sleep disorders, please give us a call. To learn more about sleep apnea and the treatments we offer, visit downtown-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Downtown Dental LLC in Chicago, IL, call 312-782-8862.

Recovering From Oral Surgery

There are several reasons why a patient may need oral surgery but the most common reasons here at Downtown Dental LLC are tooth extraction and/or receiving dental implants. Wisdom teeth are commonly removed because they increase a patient’s risk of infection, while dental implants are an option for patients who are missing teeth. Regardless of why you need an oral surgery procedure, we are here to assist you on your road to recovery.

If the extraction site is bleeding for longer than 24 hours the patient should call our office immediately. Once the patient returns home, he or she should rest, but do not lie flat because doing so could prolong the bleeding. One of our doctors at Downtown Dental LLC will prescribe pain medication, as well as a cleaning solution for the extraction site, so if the patient becomes sore it should be taken as directed.

If you have questions or concerns regarding oral surgery, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.downtown-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Downtown Dental LLC in Chicago, IL, call 312-782-8862. 

Repair Chipped Teeth with Dental Bonding

If you have teeth that are chipped, broken, or stained, then you may benefit from dental bonding services that our doctors at Downtown Dental provide. The term “bonding” itself is used to describe permanently attaching dental materials to your teeth using dental adhesives and a high-intensity curing light. Bonding is among the easiest and least expensive cosmetic procedures. Chances are, if you have a minor cosmetic dentistry issue, dental bonding can fix it right up.

Dental bonding is a tooth-colored composite resin that your dentist mixes together to match the color of your natural tooth. The procedure itself only lasts about 30 minutes and allows you to leave the office with a brand new repaired tooth. Food and beverages such as coffee, tea, and wine can stain the resin, so it’s important to maintain a rigorous oral hygiene routine to keep the bonding white.

If you have questions or concerns regarding dental bonding or cosmetic dentistry, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.downtown-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Downtown Dental LLC in Chicago, IL, call 312-782-8862. 

Flossing Excuses

Our doctors at Downtown Dental LLC have heard countless excuses as to why patients don’t or won’t floss. “I don’t know how to floss properly, my gums bleed when I floss, and I just don’t have the time,” are common excuses that are often uttered in the dental chair. Floss is the single most important weapon that fights against plaque, controls bad breath, and decreases the chance of developing gum disease. Here’s why you shouldn’t write-off this important part of your oral care regimen. 

Unlike a toothbrush, floss is designed specifically to clean the tight spaces between the teeth. Flossing at least once a day will do more than keep the smile pretty and healthy, it will prevent gum inflammation that can lead to gingivitis. In fact, if you already have gingivitis, flossing this often will reverse the condition. Flossing will also prevent cavities, and help cut down the risk of developing respiratory diseases.

If you have questions or concerns regarding oral care or dental hygiene, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.downtown-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Downtown Dental LLC in Chicago, IL, call 312-782-8862. 

Thank You for Your Positive Testimonials!

Here at Downtown Dental LLC, our staff appreciates feedback from patients because it teaches us how to improve as a team. In this post, we’d like to thank Molly J. and Michelle M. for their positive reviews and for being dedicated patients to our practice.  If you recently experienced exceptional service from our office, please let us know!  

“If you work downtown, you MUST go to Downtown Dental. I can't speak highly enough of this office.”

– MOLLY J.

“I work downtown and it is so convenient to go on my lunch break for a cleaning and exam. The staff is helpful and cordial.”

– MICHELLE M.

If you would like to leave a testimonial or are interested in learning more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.downtown-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Downtown Dental LLC in Chicago, IL, call 312-782-8862. 

ARESTIN for Periodontal Disease

Periodontitis is a condition in which the gum will pull away from the tooth and put a patient at risk for tooth loss. When ARESTIN is incorporated into a routine oral maintenance care and used with scaling and root planing, ARESTIN will fight the infection by going deep into the pockets of the gums. At Downtown Dental LLC, our doctors utilize ARESTIN to reduce pocket depth, so the gums have a better chance at healing.

ARESTIN is indicated as a supplement to scaling and root planing (SRP) procedures for reduction of pocket depth in patients with adult periodontitis. ARESTIN is different from an antibiotic pill because it is placed right where you need it. A pill can’t give you the level of antibiotic concentration in your gums that ARESTIN can because ARESTIN contains microspheres –tiny particles – that are smaller than grains of sand and are not visible to the eye. The microspheres are filled with the antibiotic minocycline hydrochloride. These microspheres release the antibiotic over time, killing bacteria so your gums can heal better than with scaling and root planing alone.

If you have questions or concerns regarding periodontal disease or scaling and root planing, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.downtown-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Downtown Dental LLC in Chicago, IL, call 312-782-8862. 

Scaling and Root Planing

If you have an aggressive form of periodontal disease, this puts the gums at risk for becoming inflamed and sensitive and the teeth at risk for falling out.  Our doctors at Downtown Dental LLC encourage patients to schedule routine dental visits to prevent periodontal disease that harms the oral cavity. When periodontal disease becomes severe, scaling and root planing will be necessary to restore periodontal health.

Root planing and scaling are done when gums have either started to pull away from the teeth or the roots of the teeth have hard mineral deposits (tartar) on them. Dental scaling occurs with manual hand instruments, ultrasonic instruments or both. Our doctor will start the procedure with a thorough examination of your mouth. Next, an ultrasonic scaling device will be used to eliminate the plaque bacteria with sonic vibrations. Because this may cause gum sensitivity, we are happy to discuss sedation options that will make the patient more comfortable.

If you have questions or concerns regarding periodontal disease or scaling and root planing, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.downtown-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Downtown Dental LLC in Chicago, IL, call 312-782-8862. 

Types of Bridges

Chicago’s Downtown Dental offices are home to many dentists who are experienced providers of tooth restorations. One of the oldest and most reliable forms of restoration is the dental bridge, but there have been several improvements in it recently that present patients with more options.

A bridge is a series of artificial crowns that can be used to restore multiple teeth. The type of bridge most familiar to patients is one with a pontic crown suspended between two crowns that were cemented over reshaped natural teeth. This type of restoration allowed patients to retain the natural roots of the reshaped teeth, but it was developed at a time when dentists assumed all teeth would eventually need to be replaced. Modern dentists are more reluctant to reshape or extract natural teeth when they are healthy, making this kind of bridge less desirable for people without widespread decay.

In recent times, dentists have developed removable partial dentures with gaps to fit around healthy teeth. Removable bridges are easy to keep clean, but they need to be reshaped if the natural tooth shifts position, and they may still require nearby teeth to be slightly reshaped so the denture can clasp onto them. If the patient has sufficient jaw tissue, it is also possible for us to use implants to directly secure a dental bridge or partial denture to the patient’s jaw bone.

Downtown Dental LLC operates its Loop office at 25 E Washington St, Suite 1921, Chicago, Illinois, 60602. Call 312-782-8862. The River North office is at 676 N Michigan Ave, Suite #3500, Chicago, IL, 60611. Call 312-274-3333. Visit Downtown Dental online.

 

Types of Teeth

The Downtown Dental offices in Chicago want our patients to feel included and confident in their oral health decisions. Different types of teeth serve distinct functions and encounter specific problems, so patients should be aware of the terms dentists use to describe them.

Typically, children grow twenty teeth and adults grow thirty-two, which are evenly distributed between the jaws. Most adults have had a few teeth removed. The four flat teeth in the front of each jaw are called incisors. They are the first teeth to emerge in children and are the most important for forming speech. To the sides of the incisors are a single pair of cuspids, which are also called canines or eyeteeth. They are sharp and used for piercing. Due to their location at the transition from the front of the jaw to its sides, these teeth are especially important for jaw stability.

The teeth on the sides of the mouth are wide and used for chewing. They are made up of raised cusps with indentations in between. Per jaw, adults have two pairs of premolars, which have a single root. Behind them are three pairs of molars, including the wisdom teeth, which are furthest in back. Lower molars have two roots, while upper molars have three.

Downtown Dental LLC operates its Loop office at 25 E Washington St, Suite 1921, Chicago, Illinois, 60602. Call 312-782-8862. The River North office is at 676 N Michigan Ave, Suite #3500, Chicago, IL, 60611. Call 312-274-3333. Visit Downtown Dental online.

 

Mouth Guards

If you play contact sports, such as baseball, basketball, and hockey, our doctors at Downtown Dental LLC hope that you’re wearing a mouth guard. Imagine what it would be like if you suddenly lost one or two of your front teeth. Your smile, speech, and chewing abilities would all be affected. Mouth guards, also called mouth protectors, help cushion a blow to the face, minimizing the risk of broken teeth and injuries to your lips, tongue, face, or jaw. We provide patients with custom-made mouth guards to best suit their needs.

For the highest level of comfort and protection, you should visit Downtown Dental LLC for a custom mouth guard fitting. A custom mouth guard is created specifically for the optimal protection of your mouth and your mouth only. The thinness of the custom mouth guard also allows for easy breathing and easy communication, which is important when you’re calling shots on the field or the court.

If you have questions or concerns about mouthguards, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.downtown-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Downtown Dental LLC in Chicago, IL, call 312-782-8862. 

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Parents may not realize, but giving an infant a sugary drink at nap or nighttime is harmful because, during sleep, the flow of saliva decreases, allowing the sugary liquids to linger on the child’s teeth for an extended period of time. This can lead to baby bottle tooth decay and our doctors at Downtown Dental LLC would like you to know the dangers of this condition.

Baby teeth are placeholders for permanent teeth, so it is important to keep their gums healthy from birth. If teeth are infected or lost too early due to baby bottle tooth decay, your child may develop poor eating habits, speech problems, crooked teeth, and perhaps damaged adult teeth. Baby bottle tooth decay is caused by the frequent and long-term exposure of a child’s teeth to liquids containing sugars. This is why it’s important to clean your infant’s gums with a warm washcloth after each feeding.

If you have questions or concerns about pediatric dentistry, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.downtown-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Downtown Dental LLC in Chicago, IL, call 312-782-8862. 

Halitosis Causes and Treatment

Millions of bacteria live in the mouth, particularly on the back of the tongue. In many people, they are the primary causes of bad breath, also known as halitosis. The mouth’s warm, moist conditions are ideal for the growth of these bacteria. In between professional cleanings from Downtown Dental LLC, you can treat bad breath by brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and using a tongue scraper to eliminate odor-causing bacteria on the tongue.

Bad breath can be an embarrassing problem and can be caused by a variety of things. Diet, medication, poor oral hygiene, and diseases or conditions such as diabetes, GERD, lactose intolerance and gum disease are just a few. Bad breath odors vary, depending on the source or the underlying cause. The treatment of bad breath depends on its cause. If you suspect you have bad breath, review your oral hygiene habits.

If you have questions or concerns about halitosis, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.downtown-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Downtown Dental LLC in Chicago, IL, call 312-782-8862. 

Apicoectomy

The doctors of Downtown Dental perform many root canals to save and repair teeth that are badly damaged or infected.  During a root canal a dentist removes any inflamed or infected tissue, and thoroughly cleans the root canal system. In about 90% of cases, the tooth heals and doesn’t require further treatment. When an infection won’t go away or the canals become re-infected after root canal treatment, our doctors can perform an apicoectomy.

An apicoectomy is also called a root-end resection and is performed to remove damaged tissue and seal a tooth’s root from any further infections.  The procedure involves a small incision in the gums, followed by removal of any infected tissue and finally the end of the root tip itself.  A root-end filling is placed there to act as a seal, preventing reinfection. The gum is sutured, and most patients only feel slight discomfort or swelling during healing.  If you have a tooth infection lingering after a root canal gone wrong, please contact us to discuss your treatment options.

To learn more about the apicoectomy procedure and all the services we offer, visit downtown-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Downtown Dental LLC in Chicago, IL, call 312-782-8862.

Pediatric Dentistry

Downtown Dental is proud to serve professionals and their families, and we want them to know it’s just as important for their children to have regular dental visits.  A child’s first dental visit should be scheduled when the first baby tooth appears, or around the child’s first birthday.  Baby teeth eventually come out, but their growth and development is important for overall oral health for the child and the development of their adult teeth.

Baby teeth should be brushed and cared for like adult teeth, and it’s important to monitor their growth and development.  Missing any tooth for too long can change the development of surrounding teeth and compromise the structure of the jaw bone, but regular checkups can keep a child’s tooth development right on track.  Our dentists are skilled and experienced in administering dental care to children.  If your child has seems nervous about seeing a dentist for the first time, we recommend going through a brushing routine with them at home, and talking about the dental visit before you arrive.  Once we get your child’s oral health off to a great start, we offer a full range of services for child patients including dental cleanings, fluoride treatments and sealants.

To learn more about pediatric dental care and all the services provided at our practice, visit downtown-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Downtown Dental LLC in Chicago, IL, call 312-782-8862.

Thank You for Your Continuous Reviews!

Here at Downtown Dental LLC, our staff appreciates feedback from patients because it teaches us how to improve as a team. Though this patient decided to remain anonymous, we’d still like to thank them for this positive review and for being a dedicated patient.  If you recently experienced exceptional service from our office, please let us know!  

"Just had the best dental care I've ever experienced in my 30+ years. Knowledgeable, quick, painless, efficient, friendly, clean, exceptionally modern - all with a great view. I absolutely love this place and the people that work here. Truly a top-notch dental office with a focus on customer satisfaction. Fantastic. (How often do you hear someone say their dental experience was fantastic?!) Highly recommended! Go get your cleaning today!"

If you would like to leave a testimonial or are interested in learning more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.downtown-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Downtown Dental LLC in Chicago, IL, call 312-782-8862. 

Causes of Gap Teeth

Of all the cosmetic issues people have with their teeth, a gap-toothed grin is one of the most common. Regardless of whether it’s causing a patient to whistle unintentionally or just looks awkward, we at Downtown Dental in Chicago can help fix it, but it will help if we know what’s causing it.

The Invisalign series of invisible aligners is ideal for cosmetic orthodontic work. If the teeth are somewhat jumbled but there are no major rearrangements or reshaping of the maxillary bone to be done, our Invisalign providers can bring teeth together, closing the gap. If there’s hardly any misalignment at all, veneers could be used to fill in the space.

However, if the gap accompanied an overbite that formed in response to patient behavior, the behavior must be stopped for treatment to work. Some people push their tongues against their teeth when they swallow. This problem requires attention from an ear, nose, and throat specialist. Other people suck their thumbs, which could be a psychological issue. Sometimes, a gap between the top front teeth is caused by the labial frenum, which is the vertical strip of tissue that connects the lip to the skull. In these cases, the frenum is surgically reduced in size.

Downtown Dental LLC operates at 25 E Washington St, Suite 1921, Chicago, Illinois, 60602. To schedule an appointment, call 312-782-8862 or visit Downtown-Dental.com and fill out a contact form.

 

Electric Toothbrushes

We’re always happy to see that our patients at Downtown Dental are brushing their teeth well! Sometimes, if people are having difficulty, they may benefit from switching to an electric toothbrush, but there are several important factors to consider when making the choice.

Electric toothbrushes are able to make thousands of times as many brushstrokes per minute as the manual kind. Clinical trials have not yet found them to be more effective than properly-used manual toothbrushes, but lots of people misuse manual toothbrushes. Examples of that would include failing to brush for the full two minutes and by failing to brush on every tooth surface.

Some electric toothbrushes come with apps to encourage patient compliance. These include games for children that reward them for brushing, as well as timers and trackers of which tooth surfaces the patient missed and warnings if the patient is brushing too hard. An electric toothbrush is an expensive initial investment, but for a patient who has difficulty moving their hands or isn’t getting good results with a manual toothbrush, it may be worthwhile.

Downtown Dental LLC operates at 25 E Washington St, Suite 1921, Chicago, Illinois, 60602. To schedule an appointment, call 312-782-8862 or visit Downtown-Dental.com and fill out a contact form.

 

Losing the First Tooth

If your kid is turning into a big kid, losing the first baby tooth is on the horizon.  It’s an exciting sign of growing up, but many kids still feel anxious or uncomfortable dealing with the unfamiliar sensation of a loose tooth.  Downtown Dental wants kids and parents to be prepared and understand why this pain occurs so your child can still have a positive tooth loss experience.

Before a baby tooth is lost, it begins to break free of its nerve endings.  This is the natural process that makes the tooth feel loose and wobbly at the gums, and the area will become swollen and red.  It can be painful, and for kids a great way to soothe tooth pain is applying a cold compress to the outside of the mouth in the affected area.  Children may complain that they find it hard to bite or chew with loose or missing teeth.  It’s still important to keep eating healthy while they grow new teeth so encourage soup, pureed fruits, and cooked vegetables.  A few tales of the tooth fairy can usually ease the pain a little, too!

To learn more about tooth loss and the services we provide at the practice, visit downtown-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Downtown Dental LLC in Chicago, IL, call 312-782-8862.

Lumineers

At Downtown Dental, our staff is always being asked by patients about the latest cosmetic solutions available.  There are several methods for whitening or straightening teeth, but lumineers are the best way to give your smile a complete cosmetic makeover without undergoing a procedure.

Lumineers are thin shells made of high quality porcelain that bond directly to the surface of your teeth and look like your natural smile.  To outfit a patient with a full set of lumineers, we begin with taking an impression.  This impression will be used to ensure a perfect fit for your new smile.  Some patients won’t require preparation of the teeth, but depending on your individual case your dentist may want to contour or shave teeth in select places.  This is only done when your dentist sees an area they determine could be a problem to fit the shells on.   A new set of lumineers is fabricated outside the office, and on a final visit they are bonded directly to the surface of your teeth to wear forever!

If you’re ready to makeover your smile or have questions about lumineers, please give us a call!  To learn about all the services we provide at our practice, visit downtown-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Downtown Dental LLC in Chicago, IL, call 312-782-8862.