Frequently Asked Dental Questions in Elmhurst IL

It’s necessary to visit the dentist for an exam and cleaning at least every six months. This is to ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy at this visit, we check for any decay, gum problems, TMJ issues, infections and oral cancer. During the cleaning, we remove any plaque, stain and tartar, which has accumulated since your last cleaning. This plaque and tartar contain millions of bacteria which cause decay and gum disease and it is important to have it removed regularly. Some patients accumulate tartar more readily and may need to have more frequent dental cleanings.

The three most common dental problems are, a cleaning, a filling and a crown. A teeth cleaning is beneficial for the overall health of your mouth. We thoroughly remove the plaque and tartar from your teeth that retain the bacteria which causes dental disease. The second most common procedure is a filling. We do tooth colored fillings that are strong and bond mechanically and chemically to the tooth structure. The price for a filling ranges depending on the size, location and number of surfaces involved. The third most common procedure is a crown. Sometimes stress, cracks and fractures can weaken teeth to the point that a tooth requires more than just a filling. A crown covers and protects a weakened or damaged tooth, making it strong again.

Yes. You can generally get into our office same day for a dental emergency. We set aside time during our day to accommodate patient’s dental emergencies. Call our office at (630) 834-0648. Our experienced staff will help you arrange a convenient time.

Unfortunately symptoms for dental problems, like cavities and gum disease, rarely are present until the problem is advanced. Small, moderate, and even larger areas of decay can stay asymptomatic and undetected by the patient. These are usually found on routine exams. If they are left untreated, they can lead to root canals, crowns, and even loss of tooth. Gum disease is largely known as a hidden disease and rarely has any symptoms even when it is advanced. It is rarely painful and slowly destroys the underlying bone that holds your teeth in place. At your cleaning visit, we check the health of your gums and fine-tune any oral hygiene techniques to prevent gum disease.

Maintaining good oral hygiene at home requires two things: the proper technique and the correct frequency. Minimally a patient should brush twice a day, brush for two minutes each time and change the toothbrush every 2 to 3 months. Most patients do not do all three things. Flossing is also a minimal requirement and should be done at least once a day, both of these habits are technique sensitive, and we review the techniques at your cleaning visit.

There are different types of dental fillings, and they all have pros and cons. The most common filling in most dental offices is composite resin. It is tooth colored, strong, resists compression from chewing and bonds to the tooth structure. The next most common filling is a glass ionomer which is a tooth colored filling and has similar properties to composite resin. Years ago dentists would place amalgam/mercury fillings which expanded and contracted and led to cracked teeth. Fortunately the fillings that we do today do not have those detrimental features. These two types of fillings, composite resin and glass ionomer are the best same day fillings and are the standard of care in dentistry.

If there is a dental emergency, such as a broken tooth or severe toothache, please call our office. We have convenient day, evening and weekend hours available. If you reach the dental office after working hours, the Dr emergency cell number is on the voicemail. 

Most dental procedures like treating decay or gum, disease have little to no risk. There are some risks associated with treating dental infections as the body heals differently with each person Dr. Fornatto monitors patients regularly after a procedure is done to make sure healing is uneventful. There is no charge for most of these follow up visits.

Dental anxiety and apprehension are difficult to overcome. Dr. Fornatto had Dental anxiety that stemmed from a bad experience he had as a child. These bad experiences stay in our memory bank and get re-stimulated when we are in a dental office. Symptoms include nervousness, sweating and even nausea. These memories can re surface just by being in the waiting room. Overcoming this is achieved by gaining trust and having pain-free dental visits. The more pain-free visits a patient has the more likely the dental anxiety will dissipate. Dr Fornatto’s gentle approach has allowed numerous patients to overcome their dental anxiety.

Like all things, fluoride is good in moderation. The fluoride that is added to the municipal water supply is at a low and safe level. If a patient wants to be fluoride free Dr. Fornatto can make suggestions for toothpaste and other products that do not have any fluoride.

There are several ways to replace a missing tooth and a dental implant is usually the best option. There are other treatments to replace teeth, namely, a cemented bridge and a removable denture. The benefits of an implant is that it prevents the inevitable and continuous bone loss that occurs after an extraction, and the teeth on either side of the implants are not affected and left untouched. 

Generally, we defer to the pregnant patient’s obstetrician for the ok for any dental care.  We do not do x-rays or procedures that can wait until after the patient delivers her baby. Having regular exams and cleanings is very important during pregnancy as the pregnancy hormones can affect the gums detrimentally.

You can whiten your teeth safely by using a product that is non-abrasive and non-damaging to the teeth. If a patient is whitening, he or she should check with their dentist to see if the product they are using is safe. Avoid social media as the products showcased tend to be gimmicks that over sell the benefits.

Halitosis, or bad breath can have multiple causes, but generally it stems from the mouth. A dental exam is necessary to evaluate if the source is tooth, gum, tonsillar, or other. Most of these sources can be treated and eliminate the malodor. 

Listen to your Dentist’s advice on how long to wait between dental visits. Some patients have conditions that require shorter spans between visits than others. Unfortunately there is no simple answer to this question.

An orthodontist is someone who has decided to limit his practice to just doing orthodontia. This is the straightening of the teeth. A Dentist is someone who does orthodontia in addition to other aspects of dentistry like fillings, crowns, implants, cleanings, etc.

The best thing you can do is avoid searching online for natural remedies as the Internet is full of gimmicks that appear legitimate. Your Dentist can answer the question depending on your particular situation. A toothache or gum pain should be diagnosed immediately as it may be related to an underlying condition in your mouth.

The actual procedure of the root canal does not hurt as you will be more than sufficiently numb by Dr. Fornatto when he is performing your root canal. After the anesthesia wears off, 98% of our patients experienced little to no discomfort. Unfortunately, root canals have a bad reputation, which was mostly from how they were done years ago.

There are many options for pain relief, depending on your dental condition and medical history. Dr. Fornatto typically recommends non-narcotic pain medications like Advil, generic ibuprofen, Aleve or Tylenol for pain relief.

We offer nitrous oxide which relaxes patients who may have apprehension about the dental procedure. Dr. Fornatto will review your medical history to see if this is an option.

Effective daily brushing and flossing will not guarantee you’ll never have a cavity, but it will certainly lessen the chance and frequency when it does occur. Decay is caused by bacteria that is inherent in everyone’s mouth. It is this bacteria that produces acid, that destroys teeth and results in a cavity. By brushing and flossing you are removing this bacteria off the teeth surfaces, but overtime it slowly migrates back. Some areas such as naturally occurring pits and fissures in your teeth and cracks that have formed from stress, are unable to be completely cleaned of this bacteria. The acid from the bacteria slowly breaks down the two structure overtime resulting in a cavity.

During your first dental visit, a complete set of x-rays will be taken and a thorough exam will be done of your whole mouth, including your teeth gums and TMJ. Dr. Fornatto will tell you about the health of your mouth and explain any conditions present in your mouth. He will also discuss any necessary treatment, the time needed and any cost. Generally a dental cleaning is also performed at this visit and oral hygiene instructions are reviewed.

Not only is dental care safe for children, but it is necessary. A dental exam is beneficial as we can instruct the proper way to clean your child’s teeth, preventing unnecessary future problems. Dr. Fornatto will discuss with you the proper tools and techniques to ensure your child grows up having a little to no dental problems.

Generally, we recommend a first Dental visit at three years of age unless the parent sees a dark spot or there is trauma to the mouth. At that first visit, we make the visit Fun and non-threatening by counting the teeth, which is like examining the mouth and giving a ride in the chair.