Fairview Heights pediatric dentist

Give Yourself the Gift of Beautiful, White Teeth this Holiday Season

December 9th, 2013

The holiday season sparkles with parties, family gatherings, and special events. It’s a time when cameras flash frequently to capture every magic moment. This holiday season, as the camera clicks in your direction, you can feel confident flashing your most dazzling smile because you whitened your teeth at Dr. John Rottschalk Dental Group!

Teeth whitening can help boost your self-confidence, allowing you to smile as brightly as a star atop the Christmas tree. Plus, with many options available for use in our office and at home, your teeth whitening treatment can be fully customized to meet all your smile needs.

The holidays are almost here, so be sure to schedule an appointment at our Fairview Heights, IL office! Dr. Rottschalk, Dr. Acker, and Dr. Froidcoeur, along with our team, can help you decide which type of teeth whitening product will give you a bright, white smile to last long into 2014!

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month

April 2nd, 2012

Visiting our office regularly will not only help keep your teeth and mouth healthy, but will also help keep the rest of your body healthy. The fact is, every hour of every day in the U.S., someone dies of oral cancer, which is the sixth-most common diagnosed form of the disease. The five-year survival rate is only 50 percent, and oral cancer is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved. Since April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, we would like to take this opportunity to remind all of our patients about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene.

We are trained to diagnose, treat, and prevent oral health problems. Please let us now if you have any questions about your oral health during your next appointment. Take care of your teeth!

The Scoop on Dental X-rays

March 26th, 2012

Dental X-rays are an essential and invaluable tool to help assist us in evaluating your oral health. With X-rays, we can see what’s happening beneath the surface of your teeth and gums and identify oral health issues otherwise hidden during a visual exam, including:

  • · small areas of decay between the teeth or below existing restorations (fillings)
  • · infections in the bone
  • · periodontal (gum) disease
  • · abscesses or cysts
  • · developmental abnormalities
  • · types of tumors

If left untreated, these problems can lead to expensive, time-consuming, and painful conditions, so it’s important to find and treat them early.

Dental X-rays are extremely safe, and our team is certified in the proper use of our digital X-ray equipment. The amount of radiation that you are exposed to from dental X-rays is very small compared to your daily exposure from things like atmospheric radiation and naturally-occurring radioactive elements, as well as medical X-rays you may have gotten at your doctor’s office or hospital. In fact our digital system dramatically decreases the already minimal amount of exposure even further.  We try to be as conservative as possible when prescribing x-rays but do need them to see what is going on where our eyes can't see.

My teeth feel fine. Do I still need to see a dentist?

February 27th, 2012

Simply put, yes! Visiting the dentist on a regular basis is essential to keeping your smile in tip-top shape. At our office, we offer a number of preventive services to ensure the health of your mouth and the beauty of your teeth. We’d like to think that your smile is just as important to us as it is to you!
Another good reason to visit us every six months is to check for “hidden” problems you may not even realize you have. Tiny cavities can form in the hard-to-reach areas of your teeth and may only be found through a professional exam. If left untreated, these cavities can get worse, needing more extensive treatment, and costing you even more time and money. During your routine exam, your hygienist will also check to make sure your fillings or other dental restorations are in good shape.
If it has been more than six months since your last visit to our office, please give us a call! We look forward to your next visit!

President’s Day Fun Facts!

February 21st, 2012

Yesterday was Presidents’ Day, a day known for celebrating of both George Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s combined Birthdays. Presidents’ Day was created in 1971, when President Richard Nixon combined the birthdays of two of our most well-known presidents into one single federal holiday. Presidents' Day also marks a hard-earned day off from work and school for a lot of our patients at Dr. John Rottschalk Dental Group.

Here are a few fun facts about our nation’s presidents:

*Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, carried letters, bills and notes in his tall stovepipe hat.

*George Washington is the first president to be featured on a postage stamp.

*Ronald Reagan, our 40th president, broke the so-called "20-year curse," in which every president elected in a year ending in zero died in office.

*Abraham Lincoln was the tallest of the U.S. presidents, measuring 6’ 4” tall.

*Virginia is the birthplace of more United States presidents than any other state, followed by Ohio and Massachusetts.

*Harry S. Truman was the first president to have his Inauguration and speeches televised.

Access your account—anywhere, any day, any time!

January 9th, 2012


Access to your account, 24/7. Sounds simple and convenient, doesn’t it?

Patients at Dr. John Rottschalk Dental Group enjoy access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week—all through our website. You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, all from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

You, too, may sign up for this convenient service on our website by clicking on the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please give us a call if you have any questions about getting started!

Happy Monday!

Beware of those Christmas goodies!

December 14th, 2011

Maintaining a healthy diet over the holiday season can prove a difficult task. After all, who can resist the tasty treats of Christmas? With grandma and everybody else offering you candy, chocolate logs or Christmas pudding, you just can’t say “I’ll pass” each time. But trouble lurks: every time you chow down on that chocolate or candy, the bacteria in your mouth have a feast on the sugar—at your expense.  The sugar turns into acid, and the acid eats away at the enamel on your teeth. Then, you start getting cavities.

Instead, our friends at the American Dental Association recommend nuts or dried fruit, which are a nice alternative to sugars and have a greater nutritional value—and can satisfy your sweet tooth! Both nuts and fruit are a great source of fiber and act as an appetite suppressant. In addition, nuts are a great source of Vitamin E, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B9, nutrients that contribute to a healthy immune system. Nuts are also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked with reducing heart disease and lower blood pressure.

If you must indulge in chocolaty goodness this Christmas or holiday season, remember to brush your teeth after eating sugary treats. Hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions!

-          Drs. John Rottschalk, Philip Acker, Angela Froidcoeur and team

REMINDER: Don’t throw those insurance benefits away!

November 21st, 2011


Happy Monday! Dr. Rottschalk and our staff would once again like to give those patients with flex spend, health savings, or insurance benefits a friendly end of the year reminder that it’s high time to schedule your dental visit so that you may optimize your benefits.

Please call our Fairview Heights dental office at your convenience to make an appointment. If you have used all your insurance benefits or do not have dental insurance at this time, we will create a plan to help you achieve your dental needs. Space is limited and we tend to get busy around holiday season, so don’t wait to give us a call! We want you to have the best dental care and the healthiest teeth while getting the most out of your insurance benefits.

See you soon! Happy Thanksgiving!

Dr. Rottschalk discusses pediatric dental emergencies

November 13th, 2011


When your child needs urgent dental treatment, Dr. Rottschalk and our team at Dr. Rottschalk Dental Group stand ready to help. Here are some helpful answers to some recent patient questions.

Q: What should I do if my child’s baby tooth is knocked out?

A: Contact our Fairview Heights office as soon as possible.

Q: What should I do if my child’s permanent tooth is knocked out?

A: Find the tooth and rinse it gently in milk or saliva. (Do not scrub it or clean it with soap — use just water!) If possible, replace the tooth in the socket and hold it there with clean gauze or a wash cloth. If you can’t put the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with milk, saliva, or water. Get to our office immediately. The faster you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth.

Q: What if a tooth is chipped or fractured?

A: Contact Dr. Rottschalk Dental Group immediately. Quick action can save the tooth, prevent infection and reduce the need for extensive dental treatment. Rinse the mouth with water and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling. If you can find the broken tooth fragment, bring it with you when you visit Dr. Rottschalk.

Q: What about a severe blow to the head or jaw fracture?

A: Go immediately to the emergency room of your local hospital. A blow to the head can be life threatening.

Q: What if my child has a toothache?

A: Call us and visit Dr. Rottschalk Dental Group promptly. To comfort your child, rinse the mouth with water. Apply a cold compress or ice wrapped in a cloth. Do not put heat or aspirin on the sore area.

Q: Can dental injuries be prevented?

A: Of course! First, reduce oral injury in sports by wearing mouth guards. Custom mouth guards provide the best protection. Second, always use a car seat for young children. Require seat belts for everyone else in the car. Third, child-proof your home to prevent falls, electrical injuries, and choking on small objects. Fourth, protect your child from unnecessary toothaches with regular dental visits to Dr. Rottschalk Dental Group.

Contact our Fairview Heights dental office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Rottschalk. He loves what he does and enjoys every day watching our patients grow and smile as they come to visit our office.

Ask Dr. Rottschalk: What, exactly, is a root canal?

September 29th, 2011

At Dr. Rottschalk Dental Group we know one thing no patient likes hearing when visiting our office is “root canal.” But what, exactly, is a root canal, and when might you need one? A root canal is a treatment Dr. Rottschalk and team use to repair and save a tooth that is infected or badly decayed to the point where the nerve is involved. In the past, if a patient had a tooth with a diseased nerve, dentists in most cases would recommend an extraction. Today, however, with a procedure called root canal therapy, available at our office, you may save that tooth—and your beautiful smile—after all!

Here are some symptoms that indicate a decayed or infected tooth, courtesy of WebMD:

• Severe toothache pain upon chewing, biting or application of pressure
• One tooth consistently more sensitive to hot or cold than other teeth
• Pain that hurts without any stimulus, keeps you awake or wakes you up at night
• A tooth that feels loose
• Discoloration (a darkening) of the tooth
• Pain that persists weeks following a filling or replacement of a filling
• Chronic pain and/or pressure that may extend to the ear, eye or neck

If any of these symptoms apply to you, we recommend you schedule an appointment with Dr. Rottschalk, Dr. Acker or Dr. Froidcoeur.

The best way to avoid a root canal is to practice good oral hygiene at home, and that includes brushing at least twice a day and flossing to reduce plaque and bacteria. For more tips on how to avoid root canal therapy or for general questions about your dental treatment, we invite you to ask Dr. Rottschalk during your next visit at our convenient Fairview Heights dental office! We also invite you to ask us on Facebook!

Dental fun facts!

August 29th, 2011

Happy Monday! Everyone loves fun facts and dental tips. Fun, fun, fun! Dr. Rottschalk and our team at Dr. John Rottschalk Dental Group came across these dental fun facts last week and thought you might enjoy!

• The second most common disease in the United States is cavities. The first is the common cold.
• There are almost 9,000 accidental pockings and piercings with toothpicks per year.
• X-rays may be an effective tool in preventing strokes.
• A child will have 20 baby teeth by the time he or she is 2 years old. Through childhood, kids gradually lose baby teeth and grow 32 permanent teeth, including wisdom teeth.
• According to consumer reports, dentists are among the 5 most trusted professionals in the United States.
• Approximately $2 billion a year is spent on dental products like toothpastes, mouthwashes and dental floss.
• The average American spends about 38 days brushing teeth over his or her lifetime.
• Kids in North America spend half a billion dollars per year on chewing gum.
• Approximately 94 percent of Americans say they brush nightly while only 81 percent say they brush first thing in the morning.
• Grand Rapids, MI was the first American city to fluoridate its water.
• Earliest record of a toothbrush was found in Chinese literature about 1600 AD
• The natural bristles of early toothbrushes were taken from the necks and shoulders of swine, especially pigs living in colder climates like Siberia and China.

Lastly, has it been at least six months since your last checkup? If the answer is yes, we encourage you to give us a call!

Pediatric Dental FAQs with Dr. Rottschalk

August 15th, 2011

A lot of our patients have questions about their child's dental treatment. They span the range of "When should my child see the dentist?" to "How can I help my child avoid cavities?".

So, what we've done is compiled our most frequent questions and answered them one-by-one here on our website. Dr. Rottschalk and our team are committed to excellent dentistry and have years of experience creating beautiful smiles and healthy mouths and aim to provide patient-oriented care with your best interests in mind.

Don't see an answer for your specific question? Give us a call or ask us below or on our Facebook page, and we'll be more than happy to provide the answer!

Is your child afraid of visiting the dentist?

May 23rd, 2011

Drs. Rottschalk, Acker, and Froidcoeur know a lot of children fear going to the dentist, and this morning, we found a great article on how to help your child overcome fears of visiting our office, courtesy of our friends at WebMD.

Serving Fairview Heights and surrounding communities, it is our goal to make your child’s first dental experience a positive one. Whether it’s a simple checkup or restorative care, Dr. Rottschalk and our experienced team provide comprehensive gentle dental care in a comfortable and welcoming environment. In fact, most of our patients look forward to their next visit! Schedule an appointment at our convenient Fairview Heights office by calling (618) 624-3838, and we’ll see you soon! Happy Monday!

"When should my child come in for a visit?"

April 18th, 2011


Thanks for the question! At Dr. Rottschalk Dental Group, we believe a child’s first visit to the dentist should be enjoyable and positive. The more you and your child know about the first visit, the better you will feel. Children are not born with a fear of the dentist, but they can fear the unknown. And that’s precisely why Drs. Rottschalk, Acker, and Froidcoer make a practice of using pleasant, non-frightening, simple words to describe your child’s first dental visit and treatment. We want you to feel at ease from the moment your family arrives at our office.

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), children should visit our Fairview Heights office by their first birthday. It is important that your child’s newly-erupted teeth (erupting at 6-12 months of age) receive proper dental care and benefit from proper oral hygiene habits right from the beginning. For more information on the advantages of pediatric dentistry at Dr. Rottschalk Dental Group, please give us a call today to schedule an appointment.