Measures to Take Before Oral Surgery

Oral surgery procedures can range from tooth extractions to receiving dental implants. Just like there are precautions to take after surgery, you’ll need to prepare yourself for your appointment. Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS of Bayberry Dental Care is here to make you feel as comfortable as possible throughout this entire process.

If you have an illness, such as a cold, flu, or an upset stomach, please notify the office of your appointment. If you take routine oral medications, please notify us of these as well. If you are ready to have a tooth removed, or dental implant surgery, you may not eat or drink anything (including water) eight hours prior to surgery. There is also no smoking up to 12 hours before. Because oral surgery requires heavy anesthesia, a responsible adult will need to accompany you to your appointment to drive you home. When arriving at the office, please be sure to wear loose-fitting clothes, no nail polish, and no makeup. If you are wearing jewelry, it will need to be removed during the procedure.

If you have questions about oral surgery, don’t hesitate to give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.bayberrydentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS in our Tinley Park, IL office, call Bayberry Dental Care at 708-802-8300.

Thank You For Your Testimonials!

At Bayberry Dental Care, our staff appreciates feedback from our patients because it teaches us how to improve as a team. Our staff would not only like to thank Kathleen L. for her review of our services, but also thank her for being an excellent patient. If you recently experienced exceptional service from our office, please let us know!  

“I have been a patient of this group for nearly forty years.  I love the staff and consider them like family. I would highly recommend them for all of your dental needs. What a great group of people who are professional as well as outstanding people. Give them a try!  You won't be disappointed!”

If you would like to leave a testimonial or learn about the services we provide, visit www.bayberrydentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS in our Tinley Park, IL office, call Bayberry Dental Care at 708-802-8300. 

The Importance of Regular Teeth Cleanings

At Bayberry Dental Care we encourage our patients to maintain a great oral health routine at home, but it is still important to come into the office for regular professional cleanings.  However much you brush and floss, some harmful bacteria grow in your mouth that cause gum disease and can only be removed by a dental professional. At a cleaning, our hygienists use professional tools to remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria build-up from your teeth that is too tough to remove on your own.

It is recommended by the Academy of General Dentistry you have a dentist or hygienist perform a dental cleaning every six months.  It’s important to see a professional regularly to locate and monitor areas in the mouth that may need special attention, and a dentist can tell you if you may be neglecting an area or skipping an important step in your regular oral care routine.  During a teeth cleaning, our hygienists thoroughly clean the area above and below the gum line with scaling tools to rid them of plaque and tartar. After the surfaces of the teeth are cleaned, the hygienist flosses between every one of your teeth and may apply fluoride if recommended by the dentist.

If you need your teeth cleaned, don’t wait any longer. Visit www.bayberrydentalcare.com for more information on our practice and services. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS in our Tinley Park, IL office, call Bayberry Dental Care at 708-802-8300. 

Post-Operative Extraction Care

If Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS recently performed a tooth extraction on you, the good news is that the hard part is over. You aren’t out of the woods yet, however, because following post-operation instructions are critical to the healing process. Before you leave the office, you will receive a list of post-operative instructions. In case you decided to toss yours in the trash or leave it out of sight, we are here to remind you what steps to take.

Bleeding, pain and swelling are normal occurrences after oral surgery. Swelling is the body’s natural response to surgery and healing and it can be minimized by utilizing ice packs. If bleeding doesn’t subside, the best way to stop it is by placing two pieces of damp gauze over the extraction site. Most importantly, you’ll need to stick to a soft food diet. It may be hard, but remember that it’s not permanent. While numb, patients should avoid hot food and liquid, but cold foods such as applesauce, pudding, or Jello.  

If you have questions or concerns regarding tooth extraction or post-operative care, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.bayberrydentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS in our Tinley Park, IL office, call Bayberry Dental Care at 708-802-8300.

Tooth Extraction

There are several reasons that one or more teeth may need to be extracted. Common reasons include wisdom teeth that are at risk of infection, dental trauma, or tooth decay that cannot be reversed and extraction becomes the only option. If a tooth is broken or has been damaged, Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS will try to fix it with a filling, a dental crown, or perhaps dental bonding, first. Extraction is usually a last resort, but when it’s necessary, here’s what you can expect.

Permanent teeth were meant to last a lifetime, but unfortunately, accidents happen and wisdom teeth erupt. If wisdom teeth aren’t extracted, they put a patient at risk for infection because they may not grow in properly. Sometimes teeth will be extracted for orthodontic procedures because a crowded mouth may not allow teeth to move in their proper direction. If Dr. Falsey decides that extraction is the right procedure for you, she will discuss the procedure in full detail to guarantee that you are as comfortable as possible.

If you have questions or concerns regarding tooth extraction, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.bayberrydentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS in our Tinley Park, IL office, call Bayberry Dental Care at 708-802-8300.

Proper Flossing Technique

Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS provides the best dental care for patients, and encourages them to continue a great routine of care at home.  Regular flossing is essential to maintaining oral health and you should floss once a day, either before or after brushing. Remember these tips to help you floss effectively:

• A strand of dental floss about 18 inches long allows you to wrap the ends of the floss around a finger on each hand. This gives you excellent control over the portion of floss you are using.


• The proper technique to flossing is sliding the floss between the teeth and rubbing the floss back and forth up until you reach your gums.


• Pushing at your gums too hard with floss can damage your gum line, and isn’t necessary to floss effectively. Think of a small swooping motion as you rub the floss up to one gum, then down and back up towards the other.


• As you move on to the next tooth, adjust the floss to expose an unused portion. Repeat this rubbing motion between each tooth and dispose of the floss once you are finished.

To learn more about flossing, oral hygiene, and all the services we provide at our practice, visit www.bayberrydentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS in our Tinley Park, IL office, call Bayberry Dental Care at 708-802-8300. 

Teeth Whitening

Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS knows her patients always want to present their brightest and whitest smile.  Many ask the doctor and her staff about over the counter products, and have tried them with underwhelming results.  Instead of winging it with retail products, come see us for a consultation and get your own custom whitening system.  During a consultation your dentist will examine the level of staining on your teeth and be able to tell you what kind of results you can expect from the whitening system.

To whiten your teeth at home, you will be fit with custom whitening trays made from molds of your teeth.  For a treatment, apply the whitening gel directly onto the trays and fit them over your teeth.  Your dentist will advise how often you should treat at home and how long each treatment can last.  Following dentist’s instructions, patients have seen this system whiten their smiles 4-8 shades!

To learn more about teeth whitening and all the services we provide, visit www.bayberrydentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS in our Tinley Park, IL office, call Bayberry Dental Care at 708-802-8300.