Imagine walking into a space with sunlight beaming through the windows. Comfortable chairs are gathered around a fireplace. Vases filled with vibrant flowers liven up the room, while vintage art posters hang on the walls. The front desk greets you cheerfully as you step in. Does the description sound like a new boutique hotel or a high-end condominium building? It's actually the front lobby of a dentist's office. The few clues that indicate where you are when you visit Dental Innovations include a clock featuring a toothbrush and a bright, graphic print reminding patients, in German, to brush every morning and evening (abends und morgens).
There's such a striking difference between the Dental Innovations office and your average medical or dental office that you have to remind yourself that you're actually waiting to see the dentist. And the differences don't end there. Dental Innovation stays true to its own philosophy of what it takes to deliver quality dental care. The expertise of Dr. Thomas Murray and his staff is what you'd expect from a top medical specialist, while the experience there is like visiting a spa. It's all made possible by an amazingly dedicated and cohesive staff that cares about every detail of making a visit to the dentist a positive experience.
To understand the Dental Innovations philosophy of care, consider the name. Dr. Murray searches for the most innovative dental techniques that will bring benefits to his patients. He looks for techniques and advancements that allow for more effective treatments, increased comfort and shortened recovery times. The approach to care at Dental Innovations is a holistic one. During their first visit, patients receive a complete oral exam which entails a comprehensive check for everything from cavities and gum disease to signs of oral cancer. The hygienist also reviews the patient's basic health and nutrition, which may either be the cause of or may indicate dental problems. "There's a definite nutritional aspect to oral hygiene," explains Dr. Murray. "What you put into your body is instrumental to your dental health." One of the key topics that the hygienists review is what the patient typically drinks. Juices, sport drinks and sodas (even diet ones) have high levels of acid and sugar that accelerate tooth decay—especially at the rate and volume that these drinks are consumed today. It's a logical relationship: patients have better dental health when they eat better and they feel better when they have better dental health. At the end of the initial exam, Dr. Murray and the hygienist will go over a treatment plan with the patient, setting priorities for what needs the most attention and care first. For some patients, that means more than the typical visit every six months. "Lots of patients come in to see us more frequently, say every four months," explains Kristy, Dr. Murray's hygienist. "It's important to get things under control as quickly as possible before a minor problem leads to more serious disease." Kristy's vigilance caught a cancerous spot in one of her patients who was only in her 20s at the time. Early detection made all the difference for the patient, who was able to treat the cancer and survive.
 When patients do need more extensive treatments, Dr. Murray takes a minimally invasive approach. "When we're treating a cavity, for example, we try to keep as much of the tooth as possible," says Dr. Murray. "That's because your own enamel is more resistant to recurrent decay than anything else." Dental Innovations is one of the few offices in the area that specializes in inlays and onlays to repair decaying teeth. If the hole in the tooth is too large for a traditional filling, Dr. Murray keeps as much of the original tooth as possible and fills the hole with a custom porcelain onlay, made in a lab to exactly fit your tooth. Not only are these more natural looking than traditional fillings or crowns, they also are more resistant to decay and offer reduced sensitivity to heat and cold. Maintaining your original teeth seems more important when you hear these statistics: In 1960, people aged 65 or older had, on average, seven teeth left. Today, those 65 or older have an average of 18 original teeth. The Baby Boomers, who devote so much to their health and fitness, will have an average of 24 original teeth. When you realize how long your teeth could be with you, it's best to conserve them when you're treating them. It also makes you think about how happy you are with your smile. Dental Innovations specializes in cosmetic dentistry, including bonding, veneers and whitening. Dr. Murray has studied at the Hornbrook Institute in California, the world leader in aesthetic and restorative dentistry techniques.
The staff at Dental Innovations play a huge role in the patient experience. Dr. Murray's holistic philosophy extends to how he treats his staff. "I went into health care so that I could go into business for myself and dictate exactly what I want to do," says Dr. Murray. "I believe that it's extremely important to keep your personal life, as well as your work life, in balance. When someone comes in to work fresh and rested, that shows in every aspect of their work, from how they process an insurance claim to assisting with a complex dental makeover." The Dental Innovations staff runs like a well-oiled machine. Everyone there—Nikee the financial coordinator, Kristy the hygienist and Gemma the dental assistant—all take their jobs extremely seriously, yet are warm in their interactions with patients. "We have a well-formed team here," says Dr. Murray. "Not to mention that we cross-train everyone so that we all understand what the other person is doing."
Nikee answers all insurance questions and files any claims, while managing the office day-to-day. "We really set ourselves apart with such a friendly and comfortable office," says Nikee, who started out as a patient of Dr. Murray's. "Everything here is meticulously taken care of," says Dr. Murray. "I can count on my employees because they all understand that the details matter." Unlike other dental offices, everyone on the team understands the value of having a specialty. "Dr. Murray is trained to do it all, but he prefers to concentrate on what he does all the time," explains Kristy. "That way his skills are as focused as a specialist's would be." When patients need treatment that falls outside his range of specialty, such as a root canal for example, Dr. Murray will recommend a specialist that he knows to be the best in that area.
 As Dr. Murray explores new advances in dental care, he integrates the technologies that will bring the most benefits to patients. Some of these advances help bring patients more comfort, such as the special electric drills from Germany or a comfort syringe that takes some of the pain out of receiving anaesthetic. Other advances like ViziLite help Kristy, Gemma and Dr. Murray provide more precise care. ViziLite is part of the annual exam for oral cancer that all Dental Innovations patients receive. After rinsing with a cleansing solution, patients are examined with a special light that identifies areas of potential concern that would be difficult, if not impossible, to see with the naked eye. "Few dentists use this technology," says Dr. Murray. "But it's extremely effective."
When patients experience dental problems, Dr. Murray and his staff have access to a number of advanced treatments to help them heal. Patients in need of gum therapy may receive treatment with a dental laser, which helps repair the gums so that they can maintain better oral hygiene. The treatment itself sterilizes the gum and promotes better healing than traditional surgical methods. An equally effective treatment for gum problems is ARESTYN, an antibiotic paste that can be applied to the gums to reduce inflammation for two weeks or more following a procedure. For cosmetic improvements, Dental Innovations uses the ZOOM! Professional Whitening System, a simple procedure that produces great results in a two-hour office visit. Since the entire staff places great value on continuing education, there's no doubt that Dental Innovations will continue to offer new and effective treatments to improve its patients' dental health.
Once patients experience the difference at Dental Innovations, they typically don't want to go back to other styles of dental care. "We aim to build long-term relationships with our patients," says Dr. Murray. "That's a critical part of helping someone maintain their dental health." Inspired by the level of care they receive, as well as the comfortable atmosphere, Dental Innovations patients tend to be extremely loyal. It's the touches like being able to bring in and watch a DVD during an extended treatment. When Dr. Murray and his staff win over a new patient, they have achieved their goal—which is to educate their patients and help them take control of their dental health. "The mouth is not static," says Kristy. "Many people don't realize that once it's fixed, you have to keep it under control. Sometimes multiple treatments or cleanings are necessary to keep up the results." When a visit is as pleasant as it is at Dental Innovations, that's reason enough to keep coming back.
Dental Innovations
4554 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
773.784.4554
www.dentalinn.com
Hours
Tuesday 7:30am to 4pm
Wednesday 7:10am to 4pm
Thursday 10am to 7pm
Friday 7:30am to 1pm
Please call for an appointment.
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