It's officially fall!

As we approach the end of the year, we are writing to share a tip that can help you take full advantage of any dental insurance benefits you may have.

The way your dental insurance benefits work is that you are provided a certain dollar amount of benefits each year. If you do not use those benefits you lose them! (Unused benefits do not carry over to the next year). Many people do not realize this and let hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars worth of benefits go back into the insurance company’s bank account. While treatment is never dictated by insurance, if you have any treatment that remains to be completed, or you have any dental concerns at all, it would be very useful for you to come in before the end of the year.

Our goal with every one of our patients is to help you enjoy great oral health. That means that you look good, you feel good, you have strong teeth and gums, and you enjoy the benefits of a healthy, attractive smile for a lifetime. If you would like to make an appointment, just give us a call and we will find a time that is convenient for you. Just remember that when the clock strikes 12 midnight on December 31st, you will lose any unused dental benefits. We are happy to help you get the full benefits that you are entitled to under your dental benefits policy.

Our goal with every one of our patients is to help you enjoy great oral health. That means that you look good, you feel good, you have strong teeth and gums, and you enjoy the benefits of a healthy, attractive smile for a lifetime. If you would like to make an appointment, just give us a call and we will find a time that is convenient for you. Just remember that when the clock strikes 12 midnight on December 31st, you will lose any unused dental benefits. We are happy to help you get the full benefits that you are entitled to under your dental benefits policy.

Here is the number for you to call to reserve your time: 630-592-8109

Here’s to helping you achieve excellent dental health!

Happy Birthday to Dr. Llanes and Thu!

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Schedule An Appointment Today!

The end of the year will sneak up on you! Between the holidays and cold, hibernating temperatures, we often put things on the back burner. Get ahead of the game and make sure you're caught up with your oral hygiene visits now. Call to schedule a cleaning at 630-592-8109.

October is National Orthodontic Health Month!

Being proactive can reduce treatment time, overall discomfort, and preserve your child's natural teeth.

Orthodontics isn’t just about a straight smile. A lot is happening behind the scenes. A child's mouth is always moving and shifting to accommodate new teeth and preparing for adult teeth to grow in.

Years ago, the school of thought was to wait for a child to have all their adult teeth before they underwent orthodontic treatment. Nowadays, The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that children have their first visit with an orthodontist no later than age seven.

Around age six is when a child usually gets their first permanent molars. This is a very active time for bone growth and oral development.

By age seven, patterns start to emerge, and your child's dentist can begin to see how their jaw is developing in relation to their bite. Having an orthodontic evaluation at this age can give you and your child's dental team a chance to be proactive rather than waiting to correct a problem after it happens.

Many children can wait until they have all or most of their permanent teeth, around age 10 or 11. Their treatment can be timed to regular stages of dental development and physical growth.

However, some conditions are best resolved by early treatment. If signs of crowding, crossbites (when a bottom tooth's edge comes up over the top tooth), or an open bite due to a thumb sucking habit are present, they can be fixed before more permanent teeth erupt, worsening the situation. This might eliminate the need for future orthodontic treatment or shorten treatment time when your child is older. If it's determined that early action is best, it can be dealt with while the teeth are more easily coaxed into a healthy position, giving the jaw and surrounding muscles more time to develop correctly.

Prompt treatment can also reduce the need for tooth extractions, which were once a common way to make room in an older child's small mouth. A palatal expander placed when a child is young can give the jaw more time to move, creating more space sooner than waiting until a child is older. This method allows for a more extended treatment period, causing less discomfort overall and lets your child keep all their teeth.

Parents have even better insight into their child's oral development because they spend more time around their children than their dentist. Looking for signs like losing baby teeth earlier or later than other children, noticing symptoms of difficulty chewing and speaking, or signs of mouth breathing can also be indicators of a bite problem that should be addressed early. If you notice these signs, contact your child's dentist.

By ignoring these signs, your child may develop speech impediments requiring a therapist and unresolved bite issues may also affect your child’s physical development because they can't chew healthy foods easily.

Keep in mind that orthodontic treatment is not just about a beautiful smile. Its primary goal is to make sure your child's bite is healthy so they can grow into strong adolescents and adults. A straight smile is a welcomed benefit.