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Riverwoods Smiles: Creates Brighter Smiles and a Healthy Outlook

Jun 25, 2015 ● By Carrie Jackson

Foad Rasekh, DDS, knows that few people look forward to going to the dentist. To change those perceptions, he has made Riverwoods Smiles, in Riverwoods/Deerfield, a family-friendly and environmentally conscious setting where patients feel relaxed and comfortable. He focuses on education, prevention and minimally invasive procedures, which further allows patients to feel confident on their way to a healthy smile.

Similar to a spa, Riverwoods Smiles is a place where patients feel at ease. “Everyone comments that it doesn’t look like a dental office. Everything is brightly colored, and we have soothing music playing,” says Rasekh. He considers himself a family neighborhood dentist and gets a lot of patients by word-of-mouth.

From latex-free gloves to paperless record keeping, the office is environmentally friendly. “We use biocompatible materials to reduce sensitivity and allergic reactions, and mercury- and metal-free restorations to eliminate toxins while improving fit, longevity and aesthetics,” says Rasekh. They also employ state-of-the-art Sirona digital X-rays to reduce radiation by 85 percent and LED lighting in the office to conserve energy.

Rasekh does regular dental work such as cleaning, crowns, fillings, root canals, implants and tooth whitening. He also performs basic oral surgery and fits clear braces from Invisilign and ClearCorrect. “Technology today allows us to do incredible things,” he notes. “Crowns used to be made of metal, but now they’re porcelain. They’re much thinner and stronger, allowing for less impact on the tooth.” Rasekh also attends continuing education training in smile design and cosmetic dentistry, Invisalign, veneers, TMJ/orofacial pain and forensic dentistry.

The doctor stresses that maintaining good oral health is important for overall health. “It’s been proven that people with periodontal disease are at a higher risk of developing heart disease. If your gums are bleeding, bacteria builds up and gets into your bloodstream and can affect your joints, heart and lungs,” he says. There is also a correlation between diabetes and gum disease. “We see in patients with diabetes that when the gums are healthy and there is less bleeding, the better controlled their sugar numbers are, and vice versa,” he notes. It has been shown that people with gum disease are also more likely to develop arthritis because of the prolonged inflammation.  Mary Umans, Dr Foad Rasekh, Rebecca Myhre

In addition to regular brushing and flossing to promote good oral hygiene, Rasekh suggests his patients stay away from sticky foods that can sometimes be found in surprising places. “That salad you have for lunch every day may seem healthy, but the dried cranberries will get stuck in your teeth and can cause cavities,” he explains. He also recommends staying away from soda, which is very acidic and can dissolve or damage the enamel from teeth, cautioning, “The pH of pure water is seven, and pH of battery acid in your car is one. Anything below a pH of six starts eroding your teeth. Most sodas have a pH of two to four, so if you’re sipping on it all day, you are literally bathing your teeth in acid. Stains can be removed, but added sugar can cause cavities.”

Rasekh advises it is vital for kids to start visiting a dentist early. “Children as young as a year old should start seeing a dentist regularly, in large part because the sugars in the juice and other liquids in their bottles really impact their teeth,” he says. It’s also important to get them acclimated to the dental office environment so they are used to it by the time they’re older and may need more procedures.

Rasekh finds dental work very rewarding, declaring, “I’ve always enjoyed the biomechanics of teeth, but a great smile can really increase a person’s self-confidence. It’s more than just about how they look—my patients leave healthier and happier overall.”

 

Riverwoods Smiles is located at 2035 N. Milwaukee Ave., in Riverwoods/Deerfield. For appointments, call 847-947-8622 or visit RiverwoodsSmiles.com

 

Carrie Jackson is an Evanston-based writer and frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings Chicago, and the chair of recruitment for the Chicago Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Connect at CarrieJacksonWrites.com