Art Of The Smile
By Elaine Doremus
By Elaine Doremus
At the Barrington office of Dr. James Gavrilos, DDS, PC, the adage of a picture being worth a thousand words has never been more apt. As one of the premier cosmetic dentists in Illinois, he is often called on to do whole mouth dental restorations—a life-changing procedure that is enhanced by state-of-the-art technology.
Rather than tell the patient what they need and what is possible, he shows them with high-tech intra-oral cameras. Then, he shares before and after photographs (from his vast library of successful patient cases) of mouths he has restored.
“In many cases, the patients that seek us out are not happy with the cosmetic dentistry performed by another dentist,” explains Dr. Gavrilos, one of only 16 dentists in Illinois (and the only dentist in the greater Barrington area) that has earned the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry’s (AACD) coveted accreditation. “Through the years, many people have visited several different dentists, which results in a lot of different types of restoration in their mouths—some of which can be old and fractured and leaking bacteria. I evaluate what can be done to make things whole again.”
This rigorous attention to detail and the ability to provide an impressive range of dental services is in part a result of his AACD accreditation, an accomplishment that is much more than just another line on his resume. “It took me eight years to obtain my accreditation in 2014, and I welcomed the challenge,” says Dr. Gavrilos. “I wanted to be able to walk my talk and differentiate myself from my colleagues.”
The accreditation process requires written and oral exams, hundreds of hours of chair and laboratory time, and submission of numerous examples of actual cosmetic dental work demonstrating the technical skill and artistry required in the most challenging cosmetic dentistry cases—all reviewed by a panel of the top cosmetic dentists in the world.
Walk into his dental practice, and you’ll notice that differentiation even before you meet the friendly and highly approachable Dr. Gavrilos himself. Office Manager and Patient Facilitator Tiffany Yango greets all new patients and works one-on-one with them throughout their first appointment and pre-clinical interview with Dr. Gavrilos.
“Tiffany speaks to all new patients and is the point person who ensures continuity,” explains Dr. Gavrilos. “She is in the room with me during all conversations with patients and during their dental photo sessions. Our patient isn’t handed off again and again to another new face in the office, which is what often happens in most other dental practices.”
Yango also handles all the scheduling once an agreed upon dental plan has been made. “Patients are comfortable knowing that the same person is guiding them through the entire process,” he adds. This process and treatment plan can take on many forms, depending on the patient’s needs.
“It is also important to understand the patient’s hopes and expectations for their smile—what is in their mind’s eye—so that they are comfortable with my staff and me before taking the next step,” he says. “I often end up redoing their whole mouth with a full mouth restoration.”
Dr. Gavrilos’ decision to put a patient facilitator in place is just one example of his ongoing commitment and strategy to elevate his dental practice to a higher level—it operates like a high-touch boutique agency serving Barrington area patients looking for a higher level of care and expertise. In fact, many dentists choose Dr. Gavrilos and his staff (who have a combined 53 years working with him) for their own personal dental needs. The longevity of Dr. Gavrilos’ staff of five contributes to this mission and speaks to the positive workplace culture he has always cultivated.
During the pre-clinical interview, Dr. Gavrilos and Yango seek to understand what brought the patient to their office. “We encourage new patients to share their story with us,” he says. “There is some reason they are not going back to their former dentist, and we want to understand that so that we can fulfill their needs.”
And while cosmetic dentistry comprises a large portion of Dr. Gavrilos’ practice and time, he is dedicated to basic dental health and hygiene and in treating patients with other conditions that can negatively impact their lives and their overall health. In addition to cosmetic dentistry (including porcelain veneers, tooth whitening, bonding, and total mouth reconstruction), Dr. Gavrilos offers general preventative dentistry that includes everything from diagnosing and treating TMJ and sleep apnea conditions to consulting with and referring patients who are candidates for dental implants.
Beyond his own practice, Dr. Gavrilos is passionate about helping those who cannot afford dental services. He volunteers at Willow Creek Community Church Care Center to serve people in need with free, quality dental care. He also participates in AACD’s “Give Back a Smile” program that provides dental services to women who have been victims of domestic violence. In addition, he gives periodic presentations to students at Midwestern Dental School to inspire them to excel in their chosen field.
Dr. Gavrilos and his highly trained, compassionate, and capable team are committed to caring for every patient’s unique needs. He offers complimentary one-hour consultations for prospective new clients.
“The work we do here can be life changing for our patients,” says Dr. Gavrilos. “When we hand them the mirror and they see their new smile for the first time, we commonly see patients unable to control their emotions of joy, whether they are women or men. We help people smile again.”
James T. Gavrilos Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry is located at 129 Park Avenue in Barrington, 847-381-4040, barringtondentist.com.
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