Complete DentistryDeerfield, IL

Dr. Brent Engelberg is a Deerfield, IL area dentist that believes his patients deserve the very best dental care. At every visit, he gives his patients 100% of his attention. Our hygienists stay up to date with the latest techniques and dental information to keep your smile in the best health as possible. Dr. Engelberg stresses the importance of preventative dental care.

This includes dedicated at-home oral care and visiting Arlington Heights Smiles twice a year. This is the best way to avoid dental problems such as gum disease. Your visits to Dr. Engelberg, a Deerfield, IL area dentist, will include a thorough exam to identify any underlying issues that could cause major dental health issues.

If problems do exist, it’s imperative to catch them early. If issues such as gum disease, tooth decay, or even oral cancer are left untreated, they can cause serious damage to your overall health. We believe that routine visits with dental cleanings are essential to maintaining optimal health. Dr. Engelberg also offers restorative and cosmetic dentistry in Deerfield, IL.

Advanced Dental Technology At AH Smiles for the Best Experience

Advancements in dental technology have offered better solutions, such as same day dental crowns, to treating your oral health. Dedicated to providing the highest quality of dentistry using the latest techniques, Dr. Engelberg has incorporated leading dental technology into his practice for the benefit of patients. Our dental technology leads to more accurate diagnosis, a comfortable dental experience, fewer side effects, less pain during procedures such as dental implants and more natural-looking results. The dental technology we utilize in our Deerfield, IL dentist office are:

  • CEREC Same Day Dentistry
  • DIAGNOdent
  • Digital X-Ray
  • BioJVA™
  • The Wand® & STA® & CompuDent®
  • DentalVibe
  • Soft Tissue Laser

The Germs in your Mouth

Cavities are explained in different ways to teach children and adults how to avoid them. Many people simplify the story by saying that you can avoid tooth decay if you avoid sugar and brush your teeth. However, there is more to rotting teeth than just eating too much sugar and skipping out on your preventive dental care.

The whole process begins with germs – Streptococcus mutans, to be exact. This particular germ’s journey towards creating tooth decay is not something you may hope for, but interesting nonetheless.

What are Sugar Germs?

Doctors commonly find Streptococcus mutans in the human mouth. Although you weren’t born with the germ as a part of your dental anatomy. S. mutans are able to grow best in temperatures between 18 and 40 degrees Celsius. This makes your mouth, boasting a temperature of around 37 degrees Celsius, the perfect home for these crafty bacteria. Streptococcus mutans have something in common with your body because they break down sugar in order to create energy to live their lives.

The by-product sugar consumed by germs is acid. A deluge of lactic acid washing over your smile regularly will demineralize tooth enamel, which serves as the protective outer layer of your smile. When S. mutans are left alone, they will eventually work their way into infecting your dentin. They eat away until a hole forms in the tooth structure, called a cavity or dental caries.

Battling Tooth Decay at AH Smiles

The importance of biannual checkups may seem clearer to you now that you realize there is a constant battle going on inside your mouth. You can’t always prevent small cavities with basic oral hygiene. This is why visiting your dentist every six months is so essential.

These regular examinations allow your dentist to catch the tiniest cavities and fill them fast. This means germs won’t have a chance to infiltrate your dental pulp and infect your roots. The best way to cut a germ’s travel plans short is to provide the one-two punch of daily oral hygiene and biannual dental checkups.