Frequently Asked Questions

We are at 2861 83rd St., Darien, IL 60561. We see patients from Darien, Burr Ridge, Willowbrook, Downers Grove, Woodridge, Westmont and the surrounding communities. Call (630) 427-1800 for directions or to book a visit.

Monday 9 am to 4 pm, Tuesday 10 am to 6 pm, Thursday 10 am to 6 pm, Friday 10 am to 6 pm, and Saturday 9 am to 2 pm. We are closed on Wednesday and Sunday. Saturday appointments fill up quickly, so it is worth calling ahead.

Yes. We always welcome new patients, and because there are two general dentists in the practice appointments are usually easier to get than at a single-dentist office. Call (630) 427-1800 or request an appointment online.

No. It is one of the most common situations we see and it is not interesting to us as a moral matter, only as a clinical starting point. You will get a straightforward assessment of where things stand and a plan we can work through at whatever pace suits you.

Tell us when you book. It means we allow a longer appointment and often a quieter time of day. Your first visit does not have to include any treatment; for many people it is a conversation and an examination and nothing more. We explain each step before we do it and we stop when you raise your hand. You are also welcome to our complimentary comfort menu: massaging dental chairs, Netflix movies or shows, heated aroma therapy neck pillows, scented towels, cool eye masks, bottled water and Wi-Fi. Please note we do not offer sedation dentistry.

No, we do not offer nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation. What we offer anxious patients is time, clear explanation, the ability to stop at any point, and our comfort menu. If you need sedation for treatment, tell us and we will discuss referral options with you rather than leaving you without an answer.

Yes. We are a family dental practice where everyone is welcome and treated just like family, and we offer dental cleanings for the entire family. Many of our families book their appointments back to back so the whole household is seen in one trip.

Our providers accept most major dental insurance plans and participate with a variety of PPO networks, including Delta Dental, Aetna, Guardian, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, MetLife, UnitedHealthcare and Ameritas. We are also in network with public aid programs for ages 0 to 17 including Blue Cross Community Health Plans (BCCHP), Aetna Better Health of Illinois and Meridian. Because participation can vary by employer, plan and network, call us and we will verify your specific benefits.

Yes. Once your reservation is scheduled our team will provide you with a complimentary verification of benefits, so we can answer any questions about your coverage on the day of your appointment rather than after it.

We offer a $99 special for uninsured patients that includes an exam and X-rays. For larger treatment we accept Cherry financing, which lets you spread the cost over time. Ask us and we will lay out the options before you commit to anything.

It depends entirely on what is involved, and you will get the figures before treatment starts rather than after. We will not begin work you have not agreed to. If a plan is more than you want to take on at once, we can sequence it so the most urgent things happen first.

Call (630) 427-1800 and say you are in pain: we keep room for urgent problems. In the event of an emergency during non-office hours please leave a message and someone will contact you. If you have facial swelling, a fever, or difficulty swallowing or opening your mouth, say so immediately, as those need same-day attention.

Every six months suits most people. If you have a history of gum disease, smoke, or have had periodontal treatment, we may recommend every three or four months, not to sell you visits, but because tartar rebuilds faster in those mouths.

No. You can call us directly at (630) 427-1800 or request an appointment through the website. Because Dr. Ammar's clinical scope includes restorative, endodontic, surgical, orthodontic and implant-based care, most treatment can also be completed here rather than being referred out.

Yes. Your records belong to you, and we are happy to request them, including recent X-rays, so you are not re-exposed unnecessarily. Bring the name of your previous practice and roughly when you last visited.

No. We are a digital impression practice and use an iTero Element intraoral scanner, so there is no goop and nothing to gag on. A small wand builds a 3D model of your teeth on a screen beside you, and you can breathe, swallow and pause normally throughout.

Digital dental X-rays use a very small dose, considerably less than the film systems they replaced, and a small fraction of the background radiation you receive naturally in a year. We use a lead apron and thyroid collar, and we only take images when they will actually inform a decision. Tell us if you are or might be pregnant.

The procedure itself should not be. The tooth is fully numbed and most people describe it as similar to a long filling: pressure and noise rather than pain. The pain people associate with root canals is the infection that sent them in, and this is the treatment that removes it.

Typically five to fifteen years, depending on the size of the filling, where it sits, your bite and your home care. Fillings on the chewing surfaces of back teeth take the most force and tend to wear first. We check your existing fillings at every visit.

No. Whitening bleaches natural tooth structure, and porcelain and composite are inert. The gel has nothing to act on. If you have a crown or a filling on a front tooth, whitening the teeth around it will make it stand out, so the order in which you do things matters. We will talk that through before you start.

Commonly ten to fifteen years and often longer. They hold their colour better than bonding. What shortens their life is grinding, biting hard objects, and decay in the tooth behind them. Note that veneers require removing some enamel, so they are a permanent commitment.

Yes. The crown itself cannot decay, but the natural tooth underneath still can, particularly at the margin where the crown meets the tooth at the gumline. That is exactly why flossing around a crown matters as much as around any other tooth.

Bleeding is almost always inflammation from bacteria along the gumline, not a sign you are flossing too hard. Healthy gums do not bleed. It usually means gingivitis, which is reversible with a professional cleaning and consistent home care. If it persists afterward, we look at whether it has progressed further.

It suits most mild to moderate cases: crowding, gaps, teeth that have shifted, and many bite corrections. Severe crowding and large bite changes are more reliably treated with fixed braces, and we offer both. We can also run the iTero Outcome Simulator from your scan and show you a projection of the result before you commit.

Common signs are waking with a sore jaw or a dull headache, teeth that look flattened or shortened at the edges, increased sensitivity, and a partner who mentions the noise. It is also something we can often see before you notice it, because the wear pattern is distinctive.

Usually a bridge, an implant, or a partial denture. An implant replaces the root as well as the tooth and does not involve altering the neighbouring teeth; a bridge is faster and needs no surgery but uses the teeth either side as supports. Leaving the gap has consequences of its own — teeth drift into it and the bone shrinks — so it is worth discussing even if you decide to wait.