General Dentistry in Chicago, IL

For most patients, a dental exam and cleaning every six months strikes the right balance, often enough to catch problems early without over-treating.

Some people need to come in more frequently. Those with gum disease or certain other conditions may be scheduled every three to four months to keep things under control. Dr. Raffi will recommend the interval that fits your oral health rather than applying a one-size-fits-all rule.

A comprehensive exam is far more than a quick look. At each visit we typically cover:

• Digital X-rays to reveal problems hidden between and inside teeth
• A tooth-by-tooth check of every tooth and the surrounding gums
• An oral cancer screening
• An assessment of how your bite fits together

We also take time to talk through any symptoms or concerns you have noticed, so nothing slips through the cracks between visits.

Yes. X-rays show what the naked eye simply cannot, including cavities forming between teeth, bone loss from gum disease, infections at the root of a tooth, and wisdom teeth still developing beneath the surface.

Modern digital X-rays use very little radiation and produce images almost instantly, which makes them both a safe and a genuinely important diagnostic tool. Skipping them would mean missing problems while they are still small and easy to treat.

A regular cleaning, called a prophylaxis, removes plaque and tartar from above the gum line. It is part of routine preventive care for a healthy mouth.

A deep cleaning, or scaling and root planing, reaches below the gum line to treat active gum disease, which makes it a therapeutic procedure rather than a routine one. Dr. Raffi will recommend whichever you need based on the health of your gums.

It is never too late to take charge of your dental health, and you will not be judged for the time that has passed. We see patients all the time who have not been in for many years.

At our Chicago and Bourbonnais, IL offices, we start by gently assessing where things stand, then build a comfortable, manageable plan to get you back on track at a pace that works for you. Every healthy smile starts with a single visit.

Most dental insurance plans cover preventive care, such as exams, cleanings, and X-rays, at or near 100%, and restorative procedures like fillings and crowns at roughly 50 to 80%, depending on your policy.

We work with most insurance providers and file your claims for you at our Chicago and Bourbonnais, IL offices. For anything your plan does not cover, our financing options help keep care affordable.

Call our office right away. We offer emergency dental care for severe toothaches, knocked-out teeth, broken restorations, and other urgent situations, and the sooner we hear from you, the more we can often do to save a tooth.

Some situations call for a hospital rather than a dental office. If you are dealing with uncontrolled bleeding, facial swelling that affects your breathing, or a serious traumatic injury, go straight to the nearest emergency room.

Yes, we welcome patients of every age. In fact, a child's first dental visit should happen by age one or whenever that very first tooth appears, whichever comes sooner.

Starting early helps children grow comfortable with the dentist and gives us a chance to guide healthy habits from the very beginning. Our Exams & Cleanings page has more on our child-friendly approach.