FREQUENTLY  ASKED  QUESTIONS

Q: Are over the counter whitening products effective?

A: Only your dentist can get their teeth their whitest.  Consulting your dental professional is always the first step to whitening your teeth safely. Plus, over-the-counter tooth whitening strips, brush-on gels and toothpastes take weeks or months to whiten your teeth just a few shades.

We offer the Zoom2! chairside whitening system, which  gives you a whiter smile in about an hour. Zoom2! is clinically proven to whiten your teeth eight shades in one hour. Only a dentist can get your teeth this white, this fast.

For those patients not suitable for Zoom2!, or whose teeth just need a little brightening, we offer Excel3 Nite –White,  also by  Discus Dental, the makers of  the Zoom2! system.   

Q:  Why should I wear a mouth guard?

 A: Statistics show that the majority of mouth injuries occur when athletes do not wear mouth guards. The most common occurrences happen in unorganized sports activities.

Q:  When should a mouth guard be worn?

A: Anytime you or your child participate in an athletic activity with a risk of a fall, or an injury to the mouth or head by other players or sports equipment, an athletic mouth guard should be worn. This includes football, baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, and skateboarding.  Studies show that many children suffer traumatic injuries when they take part in unsupervised activities on the playground or in the gym.

Q:  Can a dentist or hygienist diagnose if I snore?  

A: Yes, snoring is a rather common problem that can happen to both the young and the old. The dentist or hygienist can identify a snoring problem by asking a few simple questions such as: ‘Have others told you, or are you aware that you snore?  Do you feel refreshed in the morning when you wake up?  After these initial questions, the dentist can examine the throat and ask another series of questions that can help determine if you might suffer from snoring or sleep apnea. For a proper diagnosis, the dentist may recommend undergoing a sleep study or seeing a sleep specialist.

Q: How do I know when it is time to change my toothbrush?

A:  Most toothbrushes now come with color- coded bristles that help you tell when it is time to change your toothbrush. As a general rule, you should change your brush every 3 months.  Also, change your brush after you have been sick, since your tooth brush collects the germs from your illness.

Q: Is it normal for my gums to bleed when I floss or brush?

A: No, your gums should never bleed after flossing or brushing. If your gums are bleeding, that is a sign there is a problem. While bleeding gums can indicate a nutritional deficiency, it is also an early sign of periodontal disease (gum disease). If you do notice bleeding while brushing, you should increase the number of times you brush and floss daily. You should also lower your intake of sugar, as sugar helps plaque to grow. Also consider using an electric toothbrush.

Q: When should my child have his or her first dental visit?

A: By the time your child is 1 year old, they should be evaluated by the dentist to make sure their teeth are coming in properly and there is no baby bottle tooth decay or gum disease. Keeping your child's primary teeth healthy is extremly important to the develpoment of their permanent teeth.

Q: When should my child have his or her first orthodontic consultation?

A: By the time your child is 7 years old, they should be evaluated by the dentist to see if orthodontic treatment could be necessary.

At the age of 7, most of your child’s permanent teeth are in place and there is enough jaw growth for the dentist to evaluate potential problems.  Early orthodontic treatment can make treatment easier later on.

During early treatment, we make sure the width of the upper and lower dental arches are coordinated to increase the space needed by the permanent teeth. This is done to try to avoid the need for extraction of permanent teeth, and to reduce the chances of having impacted permanent teeth.  Early treatment can improve speech problems and correct thumb-sucking.

Q:   I would like to have straight teeth, but now that I am an adult, I do not want to look like a teenager with all that metal in my mouth. Are there other options available?

A: Yes, you can have the smile you always wanted with Invisalign®, the invisible way to straighten teeth.  Invisalign is the revolutionary treatment that allows you to remove your aligners to eat, drink, and brush your teeth. Most adult cases can be treated with Invisalign and most cases are completed in 12 to18 months.  Talk to Dr. Dieska or Dr. Darling to see if Invisalign might be right for you. 

Q: How much does Invisalign® cost?

A: As with other types of orthodontic treatment, the cost of Invisalign® is heavily dependent on the complexity of a patient's case. The cost is generally more expensive than traditional braces.

Q: Does Invisalign® really work?

A: Yes. In both clinical research and in orthodontic and dental practices nationwide, Invisalign® has been proven effective at straightening teeth

Q: Does insurance cover Invisalign ®?

A: Because medical benefits differ significantly from policy to policy, each patient should review their coverage. However, if a patient has orthodontic coverage, Invisalign® should be covered to the same extent as traditional braces.

Q: How long do I have to wear my braces?

A: Treatment time varies depending on the type of condition we are trying to fix. However, you play a big role in your treatment time.  Most patients wear braces between 1 to 3 years. By keeping all your scheduled appointments, and wearing and taking good care of your braces, your teeth will improve ore quickly.

Q:  What dental insurance plan do you accept?

A:  We accept most insurance plans and preferred providers for MetLife, Delta Dental Premier, Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO (Blue Care), Blue Cross/Blue Shield Federal Employee Program (FEP), and Dentemax. We do not accept public aid, Medicare or Medicaid. As a service to our patients, we directly bill your primary insurance company.

Q:  Do you have more than one location?

A: As of May 1st, 2005 we sold our Homewood, IL office after 28 years of practice and we are now exclusively in the Tinley Park office, with expanded hours.   We are so excited about this new journey we have begun!