Frequently Asked Questions
At Park Ridge Smile Center, we’re proud to offer exceptional dental care to patients of all ages. Whether you’re looking for cosmetic, dental crowns, or any other dental treatment, we go above and beyond to give each patient a pleasant and comfortable experience with excellent results. Here we answer some frequently asked questions. Please do not hesitate to call us at (847)825-2277 for all your dental health queries!
Absolutely. We always welcome new patients either for a comprehensive exam and cleaning or for an emergency.Please let us know if you were referred by one of our existing patients so we know who to thank. As a new patient, your first appointment will include a comprehensive exam, X-rays and if warranted a cleaning at that time. You will then meet with our office manager who will answer all your questions, as well as go over your treatment plan, pricing options and will help you schedule future
appointments.
We always welcome you to come in for a chat or with any questions you may have at
any time 🙂
For your first scheduled appointment, we always like to start off with discussing your chief concerns. Our goal is to make you feel comfortable enough to share any and all of your concerns regarding your oral health. So please feel free to talk to our office manager or the dental clinical staff about what brings you into our office.
In most cases we will typically start the appointment with a comprehensive examination, which includes a complete set of x-rays, an examination of your gum health and teeth, and an extraoral/intraoral hard and soft tissue exam to screen for oral conditions.
Please make sure you bring the following at your first visit:
- Dental x-rays from the last six months taken by your previous dental office. We will take x-rays if you do not have any.
- Your medical and dental history form, including any medications you are currently taking.
- Your dental insurance card (if applicable)
We believe it is best to start out with a good foundation of first examining your existing oral health and then planning for an appropriate course of treatment so we do not overlook any potential problems. However, in some cases when a patient has been maintaining a schedule or routine cleanings and is not at risk for any immediate problems, we may perform a prophylactic cleaning if time permits. Please discuss your options with our friendly front office staff at the time of scheduling your appointment.
Yes. We encourage pregnant women to come in for a complete oral exam and a good cleaning to maintain optimal oral health. This is extremely important especially during pregnancy. In some cases we may request a release form from your doctor indicating that you can visit a dental office. Although we do not recommend having routine screening x-rays taken while you are pregnant, if we think you are at risk for decay or an infection arising from a tooth, we will recommend having x-rays taken following all the appropriate precautionary measures.
Absolutely. We encourage our patients to bring their children to the dentist at an early age so they get introduced to the process and become accustomed to having an oral exam/cleaning early on. If necessary we will refer your child to a pediatric dentist or orthodontist for specialized care. But we do believe it is important for children to overcome any fears and build a good relationship with their dentist for a strong foundation in maintaining their oral health. All patients under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian during an office visit.
- Swelling and bruising on one or both sides of the jaw.
- Numbness (paresthesia) around the corner of the mouth or tongue.
- Tightness of the muscles (trismus) may cause difficulty in opening the mouth.
- Slight ear ache or sore throat.
- If intravenous anesthesia medication is given, the skin may become discolored at the site of injection may be discolored.
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to call us or schedule an appointment with Park Ridge Smile Center. Visit us at 303 N Northwest Highway, Park Ridge, IL, or call us at (847)825-2277.
Open Hours
Monday-Friday: 9am – 5pm
Saturday: 9am – 2pm
