General & Family Dentistry

General Dentistry

Helping our patients maintain a healthy mouth and smile is the main goal of general dentistry. We prefer to provide more minor, preventive care than to see patients suffer with more intensive treatments from a problem that was not managed in time. We want to ensure that your oral health is in its optimal state and positively contributing to the health of your entire body. We are here to brighten your smile and pave the way for a brighter life.

• Cleanings And Exams
• Extractions
• Fillings
• Oral Cancer Screenings
• Preventative Dentistry
• Porcelain Crowns
• Bridges
• Dental Implants
• Gum Disease Treatment
• Restorative Dentistry
• Dental Hygiene

Cleanings And Exams

Having a dental practice perform a checkup and regular cleaning gives a preventive approach to dental care. These general dentistry treatments help prevent problems with your teeth, gums and jaw bones, or they catch and manage problems before they worsen. During your visit, our doctors will take a picture of the current standing of your dental health and what would be needed to keep your oral hygiene in its best state.

Extractions

An extraction is performed to remove a tooth, whether because of disease, crowding, or damage. When extractions are required, the area around the tooth will be numbed and your dentist will remove the tooth. A small amount of bleeding is normal, as your mouth will replace the removed tooth root by forming a blood clot in the area.

Fillings

Composite fillings act as a dentistry solution for problems such as tooth decay or cracks. A composite filling is a tooth-colored plastic and glass mixture used to restore decayed teeth. This procedure is also utilized for cosmetic improvements of the smile by fixing any discoloration or reshaping any disfigured teeth.

Oral Cancer Screenings

Nobody wants to hear that they may have oral cancer. Although it can be fatal, it is easier to treat the earlier it is caught. For this reason, we are proud to assist our patients with an oral cancer screening. We want to help our patients survive this often fatal disease.

Oral cancer will typically show up as white or red patches or lesions inside of your mouth. You may even notice the lesions on your tongue or on the floor of your mouth. Many people experience a hard time swallowing, bleeding in the mouth, or even swelling in your face or neck.

Request an Appointment

Preventative Dentistry

It is important to brush your teeth at least twice daily to help remove plaque and food particles that get stuck to your teeth. It is recommended that you brush your teeth for two minutes (or longer), though most people rush through this time. You need to make sure that you reach every side of each tooth, including the inside and outside. To help keep your breath fresh, you should also brush your tongue. Then, you can begin flossing.

Porcelain Crowns

Getting porcelain crowns is the best way to have a very natural looking smile. They are used when simply filling in a tooth is not an option. There are times when they decay is so bad that we just have to use a porcelain crown. We also use them with severely damaged teeth or teeth that have already had multiple fillings. Porcelain crowns are attached right to your teeth so that they can function, even when you bite something really hard! There are several types of porcelain crowns so it is important to discuss which type is best for you with your dentist.

Bridges

When your teeth are missing, it greatly affects your smile. At the same time, the missing tooth has the potential to negatively affect your oral hygiene because of unprotected gum exposure. Dental bridges are one of many options aimed at improving the appearance and function of your teeth by replacing the missing tooth or teeth. During your exam, we will discuss whether or not dental bridges are right for you.

Dental Implants

When you have missing teeth, an alternative solution to dentures is dental implants. While dentures are removable, dental implants provide permanent new teeth to restore your mouth’s function and appearance. Dental implants tend to offer a successful and lasting solution to the loss of some or all of your teeth.

Gum Disease Treatment

Having poor dental health can negatively affect your entire body. Risks such as heart disease and diabetes are linked to poor oral hygiene. If you suspect you have gum disease, you should call the professionals at Chicago Bright Smiles immediately.

Gum disease is very common. In fact, forty-seven percent of American adults have some form of periodontitis. In adults over sixty-five, the prevalence rate is over seventy percent. In the early stages, the treatment involves non-surgical procedures, however if you have more advanced stages, surgery may be required.

Restorative Dentistry

It is our goal here at Chicago Bright Smiles to give all of our patients smiles that they are proud to have. To help our patients, we are proud to offer many different types of dental restorations depending on their specific needs. We are here to help patients who suffer from broken and missing teeth.

Our most common procedure is a filling. We can fill in any decay, plus we also fill in any teeth that are broken so that they continue to look natural. With missing teeth, we have more options. Bridges can be used to bridge the gap between your teeth. These bridges get cemented in, usually to your other teeth.

We can also get you dentures. There are two types, partial and full, depending on how many teeth you are actually missing. More and more dentists are starting to recommend implants because, with the right care, they should last you for the rest of your life. Implants are placed in your jawbone and act just like your natural tooth roots. Once the implants heal, crowns are placed, giving you replacement teeth which look and feel natural.

If you have a smile that you are not proud of, don’t hesitate to contact us today at (312) 944-0658. We would love to discuss your options, getting you closer to a better smile.