Choosing a dentist in Lansing is a big decision for your family’s health. Having questions is a natural part of choosing a dentist, and we welcome yours.
Here are some of the most common questions patients ask about our dental services when they call or come by the office. If you have questions that are not addressed on this list, just give us a call. Our team is standing by to help.
At Pallotto Dental Care, we accept most dental insurance plans, and we’re in-network with Delta Dental. Our friendly and knowledgeable team members are always available to talk with you about your dental insurance benefits. We want to make sure you understand your insurance coverage so you can maximize your benefits.
As of July 28, 2021 Pallotto Dental Care will no longer be in-network providers with GRID+ insurance. We are still happy to provide your dental care as out-of-network providers. If you have any questions, please ask to speak with one of our business team members.
If you don’t have dental insurance benefits, we also offer an in-office membership savings plan. For one low annual fee, you’ll receive significant savings on most dental procedures. Diagnostic procedures such as routine examinations and x-rays are even included in your membership fee.
When you choose our dental membership plan, you will not have to worry about the hassle of dealing with deductibles, waiting periods, or annual maximums like you do with traditional dental insurance.
If you’re interested in paying for your dental treatment over time with monthly payments, your dentist in Lansing also works with companies like CareCredit and Lending Club that can help you finance more extensive treatment plans. CareCredit even offers interest-free payment plans. Please contact our dental office for more information about CareCredit or Lending Club and how you can apply.
We never want cost to be a factor in our patients receiving the high-quality dental care we believe they deserve. Please contact our financial team to discuss your payment options and receive answers to any questions you might have about your treatment plan.
Our talented team of dentists welcomes patients of all ages, including children. We also have a team of in-house specialists, which means you’ll never need a referral for any aspect of your dental care.
Patients also enjoy a wide range of appointment times since our office has morning, evening and weekend availability.
Our patients enjoy the benefit of advanced technology at Smiles For Miles. Our dentists are committed to making your experience at our Lansing dental office comfortable, efficient, and stress-free. Utilizing the latest dental equipment helps them do this.
Whether it’s time for your next dental cleaning and checkup, or you have some teeth that need repair, our team is here to help. We focus on prevention with teeth cleanings and checkups because it helps our patients protect both their smiles and their budgets.
If you do have a tooth in need of repair, we offer high-quality dental restorations like tooth crowns, fillings, bridges, dental implants, and veneers.
Contact our dental office today to learn more about how we can help you and to schedule your next appointment.
Dental Crowns & Bridges
At Pallotto Dental Care, we want you to have a beautiful smile and healthy teeth. This is why we recommend dental crowns and bridges in Lansing, IL—a practical and affordable solution to tooth damage and loss.
If you have missing or damaged teeth, it can influence your self-esteem, change the way you eat, and even put your healthy teeth in jeopardy.
When a tooth is damaged or weak, it is vulnerable to breakage and infection.
When You Have A Missing Tooth
When teeth are missing, your diet is limited to foods that are easy to chew. Additionally, missing teeth cause existing teeth to shift. This leads to erosion as your bite changes. Erosion puts you at risk for cavities and dental infections.
When You Have Damaged Teeth
If you have a damaged tooth due to trauma or a failed root canal, our top Lansing, IL dentist recommends a dental crown to restore your tooth and keep it strong. A dental crown fits over a damaged or weak tooth, and it is colored and shaped to blend in with your teeth.
If you have missing teeth, a bridge and crown solution is a great way to restore appearance and function. A dental bridge means a natural-looking replacement tooth is suspended between two dental crowns. These crowns fit over adjacent teeth and the replacement tooth fills the space where your tooth is missing.
Dental Implants
People often worry that dental implants may be painful, but they are not. Dental implants are a permanent tooth-replacement option many patients appreciate for their stability, enhanced function, and reliability.
Though patients may experience a natural soreness after the procedure, dental implants are not painful or uncomfortable.
You Deserve A Comfortable, Pain-Free Smile
Your comfort and safety are of the utmost importance to our team at Pallotto Dental Care. Before every treatment, including dental implant procedures, we make sure you are completely relaxed and comfortable.
Using local anesthesia, we carefully numb the nerves where we will place the dental implant. This ensures that you do not experience any pain during the procedure. It’s common for patients to feel slight pressure at times, but this typically does not cause any discomfort.
During the healing process, you may experience some soreness, which is to be expected. However, your dentist can offer suggestions for managing it, such as medications or a cold compress.
Contact Us About Permanent Tooth-Replacements
Are you in need of dental implant treatment? If so, please contact our dental office today. Dr. Josephine Pallotto is a dental implant expert who can help you restore your smile’s function and appearance.
Did you recently receive a dental implant from our Lansing, IL dental office? Are you wondering about how to care for your new implant? Good news — cleaning and caring for your dental implant is just like caring for any of your other teeth!
When we talk about taking care of a dental implant, we are really referring to the only visible part of the implant: the crown. The porcelain crowns used in implants resemble the look and feel of our natural teeth, so it only makes sense that we would care for them in a similar manner.
Dental implants are strong and durable, and while they are not subject to decay like the enamel of our natural teeth, they can be damaged or broken. Artificial dental implant crowns should be treated with care.
Daily Hygiene Routine
Each day, brush and floss around your implant just as you would with your other teeth. Clean the area along the gum line by brushing thoroughly, preferably with a soft toothbrush. Use dental tape or a wide floss to gently remove any food or debris around the area, and finish with a mouthwash or antimicrobial mouth rinse. There are a wide variety of dental hygiene products such as toothbrushes and floss specifically designed for use with dental implants.
If you begin to experience problems or inflammation with your dental implant and you live in northwestern Indiana or the southern suburbs of Chicago, our skilled dentists can recommend specific treatments. Call our office today to learn more!
If you have missing teeth, you have likely heard of standard tooth-replacement options like dentures or bridges. However, these types of restorations can slip or wear down over time. Unlike dentures or bridgework, dental implants are a more permanent solution.
How Dental Implants Work
The dentist places the implant post into the jawbone. Because the jawbone naturally grows around the implant post, it may take months to integrate completely.
In the meantime, the dentist provides a temporary tooth replacement, so you can eat and speak comfortably.
When the jaw and gums have completely healed, the dentist attaches the final prosthetic tooth to the post, thus completing your smile.
The Benefits Of Dental Implants
Many people with tooth loss appreciate the benefits of dental implants.
Dental implants:
- Restore chewing ability
- Reenergize one’s appearance
- Support facial muscles
- Prevent bone loss
- Promotes good oral health
- Stabilizes one’s bite
Dental Implants
With dental implants, you never have to worry about a prosthetic slipping or shifting in the mouth. Your new and improved smile will look, feel, and function just like natural teeth.
Not only do patients feel more confident with a complete set of beautiful teeth, but their oral health often improves as well.
Contact our dental office today to learn more about dental implants or to schedule your consultation with Dr. Josephine Pallotto.
Our team believes in making dental care convenient, but we want our patients to receive the best dental care in Lansing, IL above all else. In many cases, the dentists at Smiles For Miles can perform most dental treatments including root canal therapy, extractions, implant placement, and even invisible braces.
As an added benefit, we also have an oral surgeon, an endodontist (root canal specialist), and a board-certified prosthodontist in our office on a regular basis. A prosthodontist is a dentist who specializes in complex and full mouth cases. Being a board-certified prosthodontist is an honor that identifies the most elite dentists in the field. Our prosthodontist specializes in full mouth rehabilitation and implant dentistry.
Our Care Philosophy
These partners in dentistry make it possible for patients to have most treatment here in our Lansing, IL dental office without the need to travel across town to a specialist’s office. If the occasion ever arises, however, that we cannot complete treatment in our office or we believe our patient will feel more comfortable with a specialist, we will recommend a trusted partner – someone we would trust with our own family members.
We will always make a recommendation that we believe will give you the very best experience and outcome.
Contact our office to schedule your appointment with one of our Lansing, IL dentists today!
Dentures
This is a common problem when creating dentures because dentures rely on mouth anatomy to stay in place. The upper palate creates suction, holding the top denture in place. This means that it is often easier to create a good fit for upper dentures than for bottom dentures, which rely on the bony ridge to remain in place.
With tooth loss, the bony ridge and jawbone may begin to deteriorate in a process called resorption. As the bone deteriorates, it can cause dentures to loosen and even make it impossible to achieve a good fit. Pastes and gels are not a good long-term solution for denture wearers.
Solution To Loose-Fitting Dentures
At Pallotto Dental Care, we offer a solution that combines the affordability of dentures with the stability of dental implants. By placing several (usually four) dental implants on the upper or lower arch, dentures can “lock-in”. This makes it possible for patients to eat a wider variety of foods, laugh confidently, and enjoy greater comfort and stability.
Implant-retained dentures give patients a new lease on life and allow patients to worry less about embarrassing situations that may occur with ill-fitting dentures.
Contact Smiles For Miles to learn about dentures that look and feel great.
Emergency Dentistry
Our top Lansing, IL emergency dentist makes time to treat emergencies in our dental office. We always do everything we can to get you in quickly. The goals of our emergency dentistry are to ease your pain and save your teeth.
Common dental emergencies include any one of the following:
- Toothache
- Tooth loss
- Loose tooth
- Swelling
- Bleeding
- Broken restoration or appliance
- Fever
If your tooth is knocked out completely, clean it with water, avoid touching the root, and try to keep it moist until your emergency visit. In some cases, we can save the tooth!
If you’ve experienced a trauma, however, we want you to seek emergency services in your local ER. You can contact us from there.
Preventing dental emergencies begins with regular exams and cleanings. Having your teeth cleaned at least twice per year lowers your dental emergency risk by helping to prevent infections.
If you grind or clench your teeth while sleeping, ask our dentist about custom nightguards. Grinding and clenching can lead to sudden tooth breakage and dental infections.
Also, wear the proper face gear when playing sports!
Don’t Suffer Through A Dental Emergency
If you’re experiencing the symptoms of a dental emergency and need emergency dentistry help in Lansing, IL, contact our office immediately. We do not want you to be in pain or risk tooth loss.
Invisalign® - Invisible Braces
Invisalign is a trending orthodontic treatment that many of our Lansing patients love; the nearly invisible and removable clear aligners make teeth straightening a straightforward, simple and relatively fast process.
Most patients are eager to know how quick the Invisalign process is.
How Long InvisalignⓇ Takes At Our Lansing Office
The honest answer is that it depends on a variety of factors. Mild orthodontic cases can be as quick as six months. The typical wait time to fully change your smile, however, is anywhere from 12 to 18 months.
Complex cases can take even longer, especially if teeth are crowded. There are cases where traditional braces might be better suited to straighten severely overcrowded teeth, but in most cases, Lansing, IL dentists have found that invisalign works effectively.
At Pallotto Dental Care, the only constant we can guarantee is that no two smiles are alike. Even similar cases can have factors to take into account that might change their treatment plan.
Factors your orthodontist may need to take to mind include:
- How great your teeth will need to shift to align perfectly
- How far teeth may need to move
- The pace of movement is different for each patient
- How complicated your case may be
- How long the patient wears the aligners (it is required to wear 22 hours per day)
Since your smile may have special considerations, unique factors, or oral health issues that need addressing, it’s challenging to predict without considering all points.
Are You Ready To Improve Your Smile?
If you are interested in straightening your teeth, our cosmetic dentists can go over all your options and help you choose which one fits best for your needs.
During your initial appointment with us, your dentist will go over your current oral health, your smile goals, budget, lifestyle, and more to help design your perfect smile.
Clear aligners have become very popular in recent years, and many different versions are available. If you’re thinking about improving your smile with clear aligners in Lansing, IL, you might have already heard of Invisalign. MTM Clear Aligners, while a lesser-known type of clear aligner, offer similar benefits to Invisalign at a more affordable cost.
Deciding Between The Two
Here’s how the two systems compare:
- Both MTM Clear Aligners and Invisalign are clear, removable trays that are almost invisible. You can remove the trays to eat and brush your teeth, so you don’t have to worry about hidden food particles in metal brackets.
- Clear aligner systems offer a faster treatment time because teeth shift together rather than individually. Typical treatment time varies between 12 and 18 months, whereas traditional braces usually take 18 to 30 months.
- Both types of aligners correct problems like overcrowding, gapped teeth, and protruding teeth without bulky, uncomfortable braces.
- MTM Clear Aligners come with a customized treatment plan and regular follow-up appointments to ensure your progress is going smoothly.
- All clear aligners are made of BPA-free plastic, which fit comfortably over your teeth.
- Only people who have all their permanent teeth are eligible for clear aligners.
MTM Clear Aligners in Lansing, IL are a cost-effective and proven way to move your teeth safely and quickly.
Call our office to have one of our team answer any further questions you may have.
Porcelain Veneers
Smiles are a part of the first impression we make when meeting new colleagues and friends (or going on a first date!). It makes sense that patients want to look their best so that they can enjoy greater confidence in all they do. Fortunately, we offer cosmetic dentistry in Lansing, IL!
Not everyone is lucky enough to be born with a naturally beautiful smile. In some cases, patients experience dental conditions or an accident that negatively impacts their appearance.
Cosmetic Dentistry Options
At Pallotto Dental Care, we offer cosmetic dentistry services in Lansing, IL that help our patients achieve smiles that make them feel great about the way they look. Often, patients feel that cosmetic dentistry may be out of their reach because it is perceived as too costly or time-consuming, but cosmetic dentistry comes in many forms! Our dentists are artists when it comes to restoring the beauty and comfort of our patients’ smiles.
Some of the cosmetic dentistry services we offer in our Lansing, IL dental office include:
- Cosmetic dental bonding, which fills in chips and gaps and can often be completed in one appointment
- Professional teeth whitening, which removes years of coffee or tobacco stains
- Tooth-colored restorations such as crowns and fillings, which repair teeth and look natural
- Porcelain veneers, which can change the appearance of a single tooth or multiple teeth
- Invisible braces, which straighten teeth without the use of brackets and wires
Contact us to learn more about the cosmetic dentistry options we offer.
Preventive & General Dentistry
General dentistry encompasses a wide variety of services and procedures with a common goal of preserving your oral health and helping you have a strong, beautiful smile for life. Oral health is integral to our general health. Some oral infections and conditions can affect the body and vice versa.
General Dentistry Treatments At Pallotto Dental Care
Modern dentistry offers a full range of services to ensure healthy dental function and comfort, such as:
- Comprehensive cleanings and exams – to catch early signs of dental disease and keep the teeth and gums healthy
- Oral cancer screenings – to detect oral cancers, tumors, and cysts before they progress
- Crowns and bridges – to replace missing teeth or lost tooth structure
- Cosmetic dentistry – to improve misshapen, discolored, or otherwise imperfect or damaged teeth, includes teeth whitening, bonding, porcelain veneers, smile makeovers
- Dental implants – to permanently replace teeth and improve bone health
- Dental fillings – to restore decayed teeth
- Extractions – to remove unhealthy or infected teeth that can’t be saved with other treatments
- Root canal therapy – to rescue diseased or infected teeth
- Invisalign orthodontics – to correct misaligned bites and crooked teeth
- Dentures – to restore your smile’s function, health, and aesthetics
- Fluoride and sealants – to prevent cavities so you can keep your natural teeth as long as possible
- Athletic mouthguards – to protect the teeth and gums during sports and recreational activities
- Nightguards – to protect the teeth from clenching and grinding
We also offer emergency dental care, so you can depend on us when you need us most.
General Dentistry In Lansing, IL
Our dental team welcomes patients of all ages to our Lansing dental office. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today to schedule your appointment or learn more about how we can help improve your smile.
Professional Teeth Whitening
Unfortunately, many of our favorite foods and drinks can negatively affect the appearance of our smiles. Over time, the things we consume each day begin to take their toll on our teeth — leaving once-white smiles looking dull and discolored.
Do you want a smile that is both whiter and brighter? While you cannot totally control the color of your teeth, you can limit your consumption of notorious tooth-staining choices such as coffee and beets.
Other foods and drinks that are especially known to discolor teeth include:
- Red wine
- Tomatoes and tomato byproducts like pasta sauce
- Berries and cherries
- Soy sauce
- Energy drinks and dark sodas
- Popsicles
- Tea
- Citrus fruits
If several items on this list are dietary staples in your home, there is no need to fear. Rather than eliminating these items from your pantry entirely, you can instead practice good hygiene habits to help keep your pearly whites white.
After eating or drinking something stain-inducing, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water. You can also try chewing mainly with your back teeth or using a straw when drinking dark-colored beverages. Some tooth discoloration over time is normal, but you can reduce the effects of pigmented foods by brushing with a whitening toothpaste and drinking lots of water.
Book Professional Teeth Whitening Lansing, IL
If the brilliance of your smile has faded with the years, you may want to consider our professional teeth whitening services. Our Lansing, IL tooth whitening treatments are customized to your smile, allowing you to control the shade and color of your teeth. Ready to reclaim the brightness of your smile? Give us a call today!
One of the most effective ways to achieve whiter teeth, including the elimination of yellow and brown stains, is through professional teeth cleaning in Lansing, IL.
In our dental office, we take an impression of our mouth and use the print to create a custom bleaching tray just for you. Professional teeth whitening in Lansing, IL is superior to store-bought options because it allows for more even bleaching and helps keep gels and bleaching pastes away from your gums.
Whiten Your Teeth At Home
You take your bleaching tray and prescription-strength gel home to whiten your teeth on your own time. A member of our team provides instructions, including how often to whiten and for how long. You can whiten while you catch up on your favorite television show or while reading a good book.
Once you have whitened your teeth with one of our systems, you will want to keep them white. Because you have your tray and gel at home, you can do touch ups whenever you like!
Our Lansing, IL dentist does not recommend over-the-counter whitening systems because the chemicals can be abrasive, harmful to enamel, and cause tooth sensitivity. When whitening your teeth for a big event, it is always better to do so under the supervision of your Lansing, IL dentist.
Schedule Teeth Whitening In Lansing, IL
If you have additional questions, or would like to schedule a teeth whitening appointment, please contact us today!
Teeth whitening gel works through a chemical reaction that targets and eliminates stains on your teeth. The active ingredient, often hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, breaks down when applied to your teeth. This process releases oxygen molecules that penetrate the enamel and dentin, effectively lifting and dissolving stains caused by food, drinks, and smoking.
The application of teeth whitening gel varies depending on whether it’s a professional treatment or an over-the-counter product. Professional treatments usually involve custom-fitted trays that ensure the gel is evenly distributed across your teeth, providing more consistent results. Over-the-counter options may come in strips, pens, or trays, but often with lower peroxide concentrations.
For the best results and safety, consulting a professional dentist in Lansing, IL, is crucial. Our office provides expert treatments tailored to your needs. Visit us or call to schedule an appointment and learn more about our teeth whitening services.
Achieving a brighter smile overnight is possible with specialized whitening products designed for fast results. Overnight whitening strips or trays containing higher peroxide concentrations can effectively work while you sleep. These products allow the active ingredients to penetrate deeply into the enamel, breaking down even the toughest stains.
Beyond strips and trays, overnight whitening solutions also include gels and pens that you apply directly to your teeth before bed. These methods can be particularly effective for addressing specific areas of discoloration. However, the degree of whitening success depends on the initial shade of your teeth and the types of stains present.
While these at-home whitening options can deliver noticeable results, they are most effective and safest when used under the supervision of a professional dentist. In Lansing, IL, our dental office provides expert guidance and advanced whitening treatments tailored to your needs. Visit us or call to explore the best whitening options with our experienced team.
Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy (endodontic therapy) treats infected tooth pulp and restores a tooth’s structure and health with a dental filling or crown. Pallotto Dental Care provides gentle, pain-free root canal therapy to help patients have healthy, lifelong smiles.
Common Signs You Need A Root Canal
Root canal infections can be severe. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with your dentist if you have any of the following symptoms or suspect you have a dental infection:
- Painful chewing and biting
- Swollen gums near the affected tooth
- Swollen cheek or jaw
- Darkening of the tooth
- Bump, pimple, or pus near the affected tooth
Untreated root canal infections can spread to other areas of the body and even cause heart disease, stroke, and tooth loss.
What To Expect During Root Canal Therapy
During root canal therapy, we start by ensuring the patient is comfortable, then administer a local anesthetic to numb the area where we’ll be working. Next, we carefully remove the diseased or inflamed pulp and bacteria from the tooth’s root canal system.
We then carefully clean and disinfect the tooth’s root canal and fill the tooth with gutta-percha, a solid substance to reinforce the tooth structure. Finally, we seal the tooth with a dental filling or crown to protect and strengthen the tooth. Our dentist will give you details on caring for your smile after receiving root canal therapy.
Call Us About Root Canal Therapy In Lansing, IL
Our dental team offers gentle, pain-free root canal therapy in Lansing, IL. Please call us today to schedule an appointment at our dental office.
We look forward to seeing you and helping you with your smile.
