Post Family Dental
FAQ
Our staff at Post Family Dental is always willing to answer any questions you have about dental care at our Chicago dental office.
Here you will find information on what to expect during your first appointment along with suggestions on dental care between visits.
I want to make an appointment with your office. What should I do?
If you have specific questions related to your dental insurance or if you want an estimated cost for the visit we’d be happy to try and answer them on the spot or get back to you quickly with an answer!
Please let us know if you’re having a dental problem/emergency or are just looking for a cleaning and checkup so we can schedule you appropriately.
I have an appointment. Do I need to do anything before then?
By now you should have gotten an email from our office with specific details about your appointment, how to get up to our office and instructions on how to complete your pre-visit dental forms through our website.
It’s very important you fill out those forms well before your appointment. We try to track down your old dental records and x-rays and verify insurance coverage. This is to your benefit and can be extremely time-consuming so please try to make it easier on us!
Do I need to arrive early to my appointment?
It’s always nice for us if you’re a few minutes early but not necessary if you’ve already completed your pre-visit forms. Navigating the labyrinth of highrises in Chicago can be a bit tricky so please give yourself plenty of time. This is especially true if you’re using the parking garage in the Illinois Center adjacent to our building. We’ve been parking in that garage and commuting here for years so if you’re lost please call us and we can walk you through it. A friendly reminder that we validate parking in that garage for up to two hours!
We pride ourselves on running on time. Your appointment is reserved for you so if you’re running late you’re cutting into your reserved time. In my experience, there’s nothing as frustrating as having your doctor be late for your appointment and we try very hard to not let one patient’s appointment delay the start of the next patient’s.
What should I expect when I arrive at my appointment?
Walk into our lobby where you will be greeted by our friendly staff. We will provide you with new patient paperwork that includes a health questionnaire, a request for your insurance information, and contact information.
We will also provide you with information to familiarize you with our office and how we handle things like patient privacy.
What happens at the initial dental exam?
We will demonstrate how to properly care for your teeth and make additional suggestions as needed.
Time permitting, and if you need only a routine cleaning, our dental hygienist will clean your teeth then Dr. Shawn Post or Dr. Brian Post will complete your examination and make recommendations for proposed dental treatments.
Can I cancel or reschedule my appointment?
If you schedule an appointment and something comes up, please call and cancel 24 hours in advance so that we can accommodate other patient requests.
Will the dental exam hurt?
We work to ensure our patients feel comfortable, and that includes minimizing their pain as much as possible.
If you are undergoing a dental procedure, Dr. Shawn Post and Dr. Brian Post will meet with you to discuss your pain tolerance and create a plan for pain management.
Working together, we will treat your dental health problems in a way that minimizes pain and enables you to get back to your life faster.
Why do we take x-rays? Are they safe?
Dental x-rays are an extremely valuable tool for diagnosing disease we otherwise could not see. Tooth decay, infections, oral cancers and bone loss are often only visible via dental x-rays. Our ability to find and treat these conditions early reduces the invasiveness and cost to you.
Dental x-rays are safe when taken appropriately. We are all constantly exposed to background radiation from the sun and technology. The annual 4 bite wing, “check up”, x-rays we take are the equivalent to less than 1 days dosage of background radiation. To put things better into perspective, a 4 hour plane ride is the equivalent of 8 dental x rays.
What do I need to bring to my appointment?
Please bring a payment method for any out-of-pocket expenses you may have incurred for your appointment. If you have new insurance, bring your card or screenshot of your new information.
If you wear a nightguard, removable retainers or clear aligners please bring them.
How long will the appointment take?
Unless you’re told otherwise, routine dental cleaning and exam appointments are scheduled for 60 minutes. Appointments with the dentist for treatment or an emergency could be longer. If you need to be out by a certain time please let us know in advance.
How should I take care of my teeth between visits?
Having good oral hygiene at home is the most important thing you can do for your teeth. To start, you should be brushing your teeth at least twice per day for at least 2 minutes. Once in the morning to start your day and a second time at night before bed. While, in the right hands, a traditional toothbrush can be just as effective as an electric toothbrush I typically suggest using an electric toothbrush. Most brands have a timer to let you know when you’ve hit two minutes and a sensor that will let you know if you’re brushing too hard.
Importantly, these two minutes are for brushing your teeth! Watch yourself in the mirror and make sure you’re hitting all those hard to reach places. You shouldn’t be picking up laundry and brushing your teeth or taking a shower and brushing your teeth. It’s only two minutes!
You also need to be clean between your teeth and under the gums at least once per day. It doesn’t matter to me if you’re using a long string of dental floss, a floss pick or a water flosser as long as your technique is good. If you’re not sure please ask our awesome hygienists for pointers when you’re in for your dental cleaning!
Though not necessary, mouthwash and at home whitening can also be good additions for your routine between visits.
What type of toothpaste should I be using?
For most adults, the type of toothpaste you use doesn’t matter as much as people think it does. But please use a toothpaste with fluoride. If you have sensitive teeth try using Sensodyne or another brand targeted for treating sensitive teeth. For people who are especially cavity prone we might recommend a high fluoride prescription toothpaste. In my experience, whitening toothpastes and mouthwashes have minimal effect.
Infants to age 3 should be using a smear or grain of rice sized amount of toothpaste. Older than age 3 a pea sized amount of toothpaste should be enough to get the job done.
What type of toothpaste should I be using?
For most adults, the type of toothpaste you use doesn’t matter as much as people think it does. But please use a toothpaste with fluoride. If you have sensitive teeth try using Sensodyne or another brand targeted for treating sensitive teeth. For people who are especially cavity prone we might recommend a high fluoride prescription toothpaste. In my experience, whitening toothpastes and mouthwashes have minimal effect.
Infants to age 3 should be using a smear or grain of rice sized amount of toothpaste. Older than age 3 a pea sized amount of toothpaste should be enough to get the job done.
How often should I see the dentist?
You should see your dental professionals at least twice a year. We may recommend more frequent visits to a person with gum disease or who is more prone to gum disease because of something like braces or wearing invisalign trays. Maintenance, early detection and quick intervention are keys to reducing the severity of disease and cost to you.
If it’s been a while since you’ve seen a dentist, please try not to worry. You’ve already done the hardest part–seeking out a dentist. We see patients with news anchor perfect teeth, people with no teeth and everything in between and are judgment free! We’ll take our time to explain what we’re seeing, answer any questions you have and create a plan to get you disease free and happy with your smile!
Can you accommodate my financial needs?
Post Family Dental provides high-quality dental care to families throughout the Chicago area.
We understand that every dental patient has different financial needs. We will work with you to find a solution that enables you to get the dental care you need, with or without insurance.
We accept a variety of insurance providers and endeavor to accommodate our patients’ requests.
What payment methods are accepted?
We accept cash, check, all major credit cards and, often, CareCredit.
We are also in-network with many PPO dental plans. Please consult the insurance page on our website or reach out directly at (312) 782-7650 to our office to find out what kind of coverage you will have at Post Family Dental.
We understand that every dental patient has different financial needs. We will work with you to find a solution that enables you to get the dental care you need, with or without insurance.
Do you accept dental insurance?
We accept a variety of insurance providers and endeavor to accommodate our patients’ requests.
View our list of accepted dental insurance here. If you don’t see yours listed, please call our office at (312) 782-7650 to see if we are currently working with your insurance provider.
Our pricing structure is designed to ensure that patients are able to receive the high-quality dental care they deserve. If your dental insurance will not cover all of your dental treatments, we will work with you to identify a payment solution.
We are health care professionals first and will work with you to make sure you receive the treatment you need.
View our list of accepted dental insurance here. If you don’t see yours listed,