Most of us know we should see a dentist twice a year. Fewer of us do it. Time goes by, a cleaning never happens and then it’s 2 years later!
Often the real obstacle is finding a practice that feels right. Perhaps you’re looking for evening hours, patience with youngsters who are on their nerves, or a location that will perform everything from fillings to implants.
When comparing offices, look at hours, services, insurance, and how easy it is to book. On your first visit, note the staff’s conduct toward you.
Joliet has a healthy mix of family practices, larger groups, and smaller offices. Here are seven worth knowing.
1. Streitz Dental Arts
Streitz Dental Arts has been a Joliet fixture for over 65 years. It’s the third generation of family dentists and they’ve been welcoming patients for decades. If you’re weighing a long-standing local practice, Streitz Dental Arts is worth a look.
Four dentists work there: Dr. David Streitz, Dr. Kristine Streitz, Dr. Thomas Piazza, and Dr. Angelika Kluska-Garrett. The Joliet office is on Campbell Street, and there’s a second location in Plainfield.
2. Dental Smiles
Dental Smiles, on West Jefferson Street, is a full-service practice. It is suitable for families who wish to have a single office for routine treatments and larger ones.
It offers oral exams and cleanings, root canals, periodontal treatment, cosmetic, restorative, and implant services.
3. Haven Family Dental
Haven Family Dental, on Caton Farm Road, focuses on family and cosmetic dentistry. It’s for patients on the southwest side of Joliet.
It lists veneers, clear aligners, Invisalign, implants, and emergency care. There is online booking, so that’s a plus if you don’t like calling.
4. Smile Street Dental
- Smile Street Dental, on Hennepin Drive, is a solo practice. It can work in patients’ favor if they want to stick with the same dentist each appointment.
- It is listed for general, family, cosmetic, implant dentistry, sedation, and same-day emergency dentistry.
5. Joliet Family Dental
Joliet Family Dental, on Plainfield Road, is one of the larger practices in town. The listings in the directory represent a large team of providers.
The weekday hours are listed until the early evening, and the Saturday morning hours. That helps if weekdays are tight. Verify hours of operation on the phone.
6. Essington Family Dental Care
Essington Family Dental Care sits on Essington Road, on the city’s southwest side. Directory listings list 7 dentists in practice at the office, a large number for one office.
More members in a team may lead to increased appointment flexibility and coverage in case your regular dentist is unavailable.
7. Todays Dental
Todays Dental is a multi-location group that opened a Joliet office after earlier locations in Chicago and Plainfield. It’s not the kind of place to be found in a family business.
These are cosmetic dentistry, restoration, periodontal disease treatment, and Invisalign practice lists. Group practices tend to have standardized systems, which some patients like.
How to Choose for Your Next Checkup
A few questions narrow things down fast:
- Convenience: Will the office be convenient for you for traveling and time?
- Insurance: Check with them before booking insurance.
- Services: Make sure the office has the services that your family may need in the future.
- Comfort: Ask about options for worry-stricken patients or children.
- Communication: A good dentist is able to communicate without pressure.
Conclusion
Joliet has solid choices. Dental Smiles and Haven Family Dental cover a wide service range, Smile Street Dental offers the one-dentist experience, and Joliet Family Dental and Essington Family Dental Care offer larger teams. Todays Dental provides a group-practice experience.
Streitz Dental Arts is unique because of its long history in the area, four dentists and having a second office in Plainfield. For families who value continuity, that’s a strong starting point.
You can either do this one or the other, but whatever you do, make the appointment for the checkup. It’s well cheaper to visit twice a year than wait till it hurts.
