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General Dentistry Arlington Heights, IL

Arlington Heights, IL dentist Dr. Brent Engelberg offers a full range of general dental services, from routine dental cleanings to dental fillings and periodontal therapy. General dentistry is the foundation of helping patients maintain a healthy smile for a lifetime. Our dental office places extra emphasis on preventing gum disease.

Dr. Engelberg and our experienced dental care staff at AH Smiles consider patient education an important part of our preventive care protocol. We take the time to provide personalized hygiene tips tailored to each patient’s unique oral health needs.

General Dentistry Services At AH Smiles

Dr. Engelberg is dedicated to helping you maintain lasting dental health with advanced techniques, materials, and oral hygiene products. 

Regular checkups at our Arlington Heights office help Dr. Engelberg catch problems early, when treatment is often simpler and more effective. He looks for small changes in your gums, tongue, or overall dental health that could signal something bigger. Because certain health conditions show up in the mouth, catching those signs early can make all the difference.

General Dentistry Services At AH Smiles

Dr. Engelberg is dedicated to helping you maintain lasting dental health with advanced techniques, materials, and oral hygiene products. 

Regular checkups at our Arlington Heights office help Dr. Engelberg catch problems early, when treatment is often simpler and more effective. He looks for small changes in your gums, tongue, or overall dental health that could signal something bigger. Because certain health conditions show up in the mouth, catching those signs early can make all the difference.

Your routine dental visits will include the following:

  • Dental examination
  • Professional cleaning
  • Periodontal screening
  • Oral cancer screening
  • Diagnostic x-rays (as needed)

Dr. Engelberg incorporates advanced digital technology into routine dental care, including digital x-rays and Overjet AI software. This combination of diagnostics allows our team to provide a more in-depth evaluation of your teeth and gums using digital imagery. Dr. Engelberg and our hygiene team can visually present developing concerns, including tooth decay or gum disease.

Dr. Engelberg considers himself a partner in your overall health care. Routine visits enable us to get to know you, understand your concerns, and monitor your dental health.

You should see the dentist at least once every six months to maintain optimal oral health. Outside of this, you should visit your local dental office if any worrying symptoms develop that could indicate a potential problem. There are many reasons to see a dentist, from persistent toothaches to unexplained jaw pain.

Arlington Heights IL dentist exam room of Dr. Engelberg

Reasons to See a Dentist

  • Tooth sensitivity and/or toothaches: When your teeth hurt, it could be because of injury or even a sinus infection. However, other causes of tooth pain or sensitivity may include a dental cavity or an infection. We suggest seeing a dentist for a thorough exam and diagnosis if you notice any discomfort in or around your tooth.
  • Sore jaw: If you notice soreness in your jaw or difficulty opening and closing your mouth, you may need to see the dentist. If ignored, TMJ disorder and bruxism can lead to soreness in the jaw and serious complications. The doctor can examine your jaw to see if you need treatment for either of these issues.
  • Chronic headaches: Along with a sore jaw, persistent headaches can indicate jaw joint strain, such as that caused by TMJ disorder or teeth grinding (bruxism). Dr. Engelberg can diagnose the cause of your discomfort and recommend appropriate treatments if he discovers TMJ issues with bruxism.
  • Missing teeth: Don’t delay treatment, even if you lose a tooth. Over time, tooth loss can lead to misalignment and problems eating and speaking clearly. If you lose multiple teeth, you could even develop an older appearance because of facial collapse.
  • Damaged teeth: If you chip or break a tooth, always schedule a visit to our dental office. A damaged tooth exposes the sensitive inner structure to harmful bacteria, increasing the risk of cavities and infection.
Symptoms of TMJ disorders can cause pain and discomfort. They can vary in severity and lead to other dental conditions.

Patient Review

“This office truly cares about patients. I hate the dentist. So much so I make my husband come to help calm me down. This office is great with patients like me. They truly understand how difficult it can be for patients and will help to make you feel at ease. I will not go anywhere else. This office is no longer close to our new home but I will drive to come here. I have tried may offices that say they understand how I feel. Dr. Engelberg truly cares about his patients and understand how stressful it can be for people like me. I recommend this office to anyone who asks for a recommendation.”

Km H.

Why Preventive Care Matters

Taking care of your smile with preventative care is the foundation of your oral health. You must take proper care of your mouth at home, but also regularly visit the dental office to ensure that everything is being done properly.
At home, brush your teeth at least twice daily and floss your teeth at least once daily. Without this, bacteria and food particles accumulate, forming plaque and tartar. Plaque is a sticky film that becomes difficult to remove, especially when it hardens into tartar. These substances increase your likelihood of getting tooth decay and gum disease.
But you can’t just take care of your oral health at home. Certain areas of your smile are difficult to reach on your own. During your bi-annual dental visits, we use specialized tools to clean these hard-to-reach places properly. If you skip your dental visits, plaque and tartar still build up in these areas. Even if you brush and floss properly, you’re still at a high risk for dental problems.
We don’t only provide cleanings during dental visits. We also perform thorough oral health exams. Issues like oral cancer and gum disease have early warning signs that can be hard to miss. They aren’t painful, so many people brush them off. However, we have extensive training to catch these dental problems early. Diagnostic technology allows us to detect invisible problems that the naked eye cannot.

Diet and Oral Health

In addition to dedicated oral healthcare, your diet plays a big part in ensuring you have a healthy smile. Certain nutrients are essential to keeping the mouth healthy, while others you should avoid in your smile’s best interest.

Diet and Oral Health

In addition to dedicated oral healthcare, your diet plays a big part in ensuring you have a healthy smile. Certain nutrients are essential to keeping the mouth healthy, while others you should avoid in your smile’s best interest.

Good Foods for Your Smile
Calcium and Vitamin D are the most important nutrients for healthy teeth. They keep your tooth enamel strong and help to remineralize it over time. Enamel protects the rest of your tooth structure against bacteria and tooth decay. Dairy products like milk and cheese provide calcium, and many products can be fortified with Vitamin D. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium better.
Vitamin C is essential for healthy gums. It helps your body produce collagen, the protein that keeps soft tissues like your gums strong and resilient. Gum disease is the biggest threat to gum tissue, and Vitamin C reduces inflammation and helps your body fight off infections. Citrus fruits, strawberries, and broccoli are good sources of Vitamin C. Gum tissue helps keep your teeth in place.
Fresh, fibrous fruits and vegetables almost act like natural toothbrushes. They help get between your teeth and dislodge food fragments. They also require much chewing, increasing saliva production in your mouth. The more saliva you produce, the better. Saliva washes food particles and bacteria away from your smile while also neutralizing the acids in your mouth that bacteria produce as byproducts.
Treat Jaw Popping in Arlington Heights, IL

Things to Avoid for Oral Health

Sugar is one of the most harmful things to your smile. It’s the favorite food of harmful bacteria in your mouth. When they consume it, they release an acidic byproduct that eats through the tooth enamel, creating cavities. Sweet foods aren’t the only culprits, either. Starches also break down into sugars when you eat them, meaning things like chips and crackers can cause problems, too.

Acid is the other big problem for your teeth. It increases the rate at which your tooth enamel wears down, making your teeth more vulnerable to decay. Sour candies and sodas combine sugar and acid, making them some of the most harmful things for your smile. Normally, brushing your teeth after eating is good, but this isn’t the case with acidic foods. If you don’t wait at least 30 minutes, brushing your teeth can actually increase the damage to your teeth.
When you eat these things, rinse your mouth by drinking water afterward. This helps remove food particles and neutralize acids. Take into account the timing of your meals and snacks. If you’re snacking throughout the day, you constantly expose your teeth to sugars and acids.
Dental patient before and after dentistry

Common Questions About Dental Checkups

Have you recently scheduled a dental checkup? Many underestimate how important routine checkups and dental cleanings are. While you may take good care of your smile at home, you still need these preventive visits to promote good oral health and avoid the onset of serious issues. If you’re ready for a checkup, schedule one today.
How often should my teeth be examined?
We agree with the American Dental Association. You should have your smile examined every six months. No matter how old you are or how well you brush and floss, you should let our team examine your teeth, gums, and jaw twice a year.
Yes. Otherwise, indicators of serious oral health problems can remain unnoticed until the issues have progressed to a later stage. Issues like cavities, gingivitis, gum disease, TMJ disorder, and bruxism threaten your oral health and cause uncomfortable symptoms.
Dr. Brent Engelberg is a dentist in Arlington Heights ILThe dentist checks for changes in your oral health. These can include redness or soreness in your gums, signs of tooth decay, or damage to the teeth that may result from bruxism (teeth grinding). The doctor then discusses possible treatment options to address the issue immediately.
Yes. We may perform a cleaning, which removes all plaque and tartar buildup from your teeth, in the same visit. A cleaning promotes brighter smiles and fresher breath and helps reduce the risk of gum disease.
Both types are adept at cleaning your mouth if you use them properly. Some patients may be better suited to the electric toothbrush than others. Electric toothbrushes often have timers to remind children and teens how long they need to brush. People with movement disorders and other conditions may find it hard to clean their teeth properly with manual toothbrushes. Electric toothbrushes give them more range of motion.
Poor oral hygiene typically causes bad breath. Plaque and tartar buildup on teeth comprises bacteria and old food debris. The longer it stays and builds up on your teeth, the worse your breath becomes. If we help you with oral health and you still have bad breath, we contact other doctors. Stomach conditions and other problems can also cause bad breath.

Schedule a Comprehensive Dental Exam Today

Looking for a new dentist in Arlington Heights, Illinois? We welcome new patients from all of Chicago. We work with patients who have been away from the dentist due to anxiety and fear, helping them to restore a healthy, functional smile. AH Smiles serves many local communities, including Long Grove, IL, Deerfield, IL, Northbrook, IL, Buffalo Grove, IL, and surrounding communities near you. We accept most dental insurance and offer financing to help patients budget their dental care.

Call our office at (847) 230-9703 or request a dental appointment online today.
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