Services · Palos Hills, IL

General Dentistry

General dentistry is the foundation of a healthy smile — regular checkups, cleanings, and early detection of problems before they turn into something bigger and more expensive to fix.

At Worth Palos Dentistry, a general dentistry visit typically includes a full exam, professional cleaning, and digital X-rays when needed, so small issues like early decay or worn fillings get caught while they're still simple to treat.

We work with patients of all ages, from kids getting their first cleanings to adults who haven't seen a dentist in a while. There's no judgment for a gap between visits — we'll get you caught up and back on a regular schedule.

A typical visit also includes an oral cancer screening and a conversation about anything you're noticing at home, whether that's sensitivity, a sore spot, or just a general checkup you've been meaning to schedule.

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Questions First?

Call us at (708) 974-1319 or see our FAQ.

When to Come In

Twice a year is the usual rhythm for an adult with healthy teeth and gums, and for most people that's genuinely enough. What matters more than the interval is not skipping it — the problems general dentistry is designed to catch are the ones that give no warning until they're expensive.

Outside of that schedule, call us sooner if you notice any of the following:

A tooth that has become sensitive to hot, cold, or sweet things, and stays sensitive after the trigger is gone
Pain when you bite down on one particular tooth
Gums that bleed when you brush or floss, or that look red and puffy
A chipped, cracked, or loose tooth, or a filling or crown that has come out
A sore, lump, or patch of discoloured tissue in your mouth that hasn't healed in two weeks
Persistent bad breath or a bad taste that brushing doesn't fix

None of these are emergencies on their own, but all of them are easier and cheaper to treat early than late.

What a Visit Involves

A routine appointment runs about an hour. A hygienist scales away the hardened plaque that brushing can't shift, polishes, and checks the health of your gums by measuring the pockets around each tooth — that measurement is how gum disease is caught before you'd ever notice it yourself.

The dentist then examines each tooth, your bite, and the soft tissue of your mouth, including a screening for oral cancer. X-rays are taken when there's a reason for them — to see between teeth, check a root, or follow something we're watching — not automatically at every visit.

If we find something, you'll hear what it is, what happens if you leave it, what treating it involves, and roughly what it costs, before anything is scheduled. Nothing gets added to a treatment plan without that conversation.

What We Handle Here

Most of what a general practice sees, we treat in this office: fillings, crowns and bridges, root canals, extractions, gum treatment, and implant restoration. Having it under one roof means you aren't chasing referrals for routine work, and we already know your history when something new comes up.

Where a case genuinely calls for a specialist — a complex surgical extraction, an orthodontic case outside what we do, a child who'd be better served by a pediatric dentist — we'll tell you plainly and help you get there. We'd rather send you to the right person than take on something at the edge of our scope.

Cost, Insurance, and Getting Started

We work with most major dental plans — Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Delta Dental, Dental Network of America, Guardian, Humana, Lincoln Financial Group, MetLife, Principal Financial Group, and United Healthcare — and we file the claim for you. We do not accept Medicare, Medicaid, or HMO plans. CareCredit is available if you'd rather spread the cost of a larger treatment plan across monthly payments.

New patients are welcome, and if it's been years since your last visit, that's a common reason people call rather than an awkward one. Call (708) 974-1319 or send us a message and we'll find you a time.

Common Questions

General Dentistry — Questions Patients Ask

How often should I see a dentist?

Most adults do well with a checkup and cleaning every six months. If you have gum disease, a history of frequent cavities, or a medical condition that affects your mouth, we may recommend coming in every three or four months instead. We'll tell you what makes sense for you rather than applying the same interval to everyone.

What happens at a routine checkup?

A hygienist cleans your teeth and removes tartar that brushing can't reach, and the dentist examines your teeth, gums, bite, and soft tissue. X-rays are taken when they're needed to see between or below the teeth, not automatically at every visit. You'll leave knowing what, if anything, needs attention and what it will involve.

Do you treat children?

Yes — we see patients of all ages, and family appointments are common here. If a child needs treatment that's better handled by a pediatric specialist, we'll say so and help you get there rather than attempting it.

What if I haven't been to a dentist in years?

That's a common reason people call, and it isn't something we lecture about. We start with an exam and a conversation about what you want to fix first, then build a plan you can work through in stages if that's easier. Call (708) 974-1319 and we'll get you scheduled.

Still have a question? Call (708) 974-1319 or send us a message.