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Always There Dental Care
Category: Health and Medical Dentists Dentists [Edit]
2758 N Racine Ave(between Diversey Pky & Lincoln Ave)
Chicago, IL 60614
Neighborhoods: Lincoln Park, DePaul
(773) 348-0565
- Nearest Transit:
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Diversey (Brown Line, Purple Line)
Wellington (Brown Line, Purple Line)
- By Appointment Only:
- Yes
About This Business:
From the moment you walk into ORA Studios it is obvious that this is not your typical dental office. The atmosphere is modern, tranquil, and inviting,… read more »
31 reviews for Always There Dental Care
31 reviews in English
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Review from Julie S.
Chicago, IL
3/26/2012
My dentist friend recommended ATDC and I went to them to fix some work I had done by a different dentist. Dr. Stiffle is so wonderful and keeps you well-informed during the entire process so you know exactly what is wrong with your teeth and why/how he's fixing it. I love him! I also called them on emergency one night because I thought I had a huge problem after my wisdom tooth removal (which I had done by an oral surgeon) and Dr. Wojno called me within minutes and talked with me about what was going on. He was very sweet, he calmed me down, and explained everything thoroughly even though I was disturbing his evening at home. I am so appreciative of the quality of care they provide. And although I've only been seeing them for a few months now, I do plan to see them for a long time into the future.
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Review from Jessica M.
Chicago, IL
5/19/2011
This place is great!
I had a terrible experience with another Chicago dentist before seeing Dr. Scott, which made the thought of any dental work pretty stressful and tear-inducing. Dr. Scott & his team are AWESOME. They do excellent work and I trust them 100%. They don't even make fun of you if you cry in their waiting room!
The billing is done differently here than most places-- so it costs a bit more up front, but your insurance should reimburse most of it later on.
My opinion: I know that the work is done correctly, by a Dr. and staff who are genuinely concerned with exceeding your expectations. Totally worth it! -
Review from Shaun T.
Downers Grove, IL
6/7/2007
Jeff Wojno is probably the best dentist I've ever had.
Back when I lived in the Quad Cities, I was referred by a coworker to a dentist who came from a family of doctors. She had a good manner, and did the usual stuff, but aside from my cleaning, which her assistants did, she offered no insights to a few problems I've been having.
When I went to Always There, I was assailed by two receptionists who didn't bat an eyelash when I accidentally gave them the wrong insurance card. She remembered seeing a coworker a few days before me, and noticed my insurance card was different.
Then I was seen by a few assistants, a hygenist, and Jeff himself. I probably met seven people that day, and that wasn't nearly the whole staff.
Jeff told me why I have sensitive teeth, and it all comes down to my weird bite, meaning I should probably get braces before the problem spreads. Previous dentist? Nothing, and she was supposedly highly acclaimed.
But none of this comes cheap. Their payment system is prepay based, meaning you'll get refund checks from your dental insurance, and their prices are a little higher than most, so your insurance may have a lower "allowed cost" than you might expect, and then they'll use a fraction of that figure to cut your refund. Hey, Always There has to pay for all that amazing staff somehow, right?
All in all, I'm highly glad I went there, and so long as I live in Chicago, this will be my dentist. -
Review from Jolie R.
Chicago, IL
5/1/2007
Jeff is super! Always explains everything in step-by-step and what he expects as the results from any procedure. I give him and all the hygienists that have worked with him a big thumb's up. I always leave feeling that the work they've done is complete. I had a front tooth capped and he sent it back once because it wasn't perfect - commendable!
The only thing I don't like about this office is the fact they're not in ANY dental network, which ends up costing me more in the long run (ie; crowns covered at 50% instead of 70%).....and the fact that I have to pay the entire cost up front and wait for my dental plan to reimburse me. Because of that, I have to put off dental care that is required and save up for it months in advance for the big stuff. I've broken a tooth and had to pay over $1100 at the emergency appointment. -
Review from Psycha D.
Chicago, IL
9/18/2006
This place is really great. Have sent about 4 friends to them and everyone has been extremely satisfied. Have been going for years.
Think your dentist is doing a good job? Go here and get a second opinion you might be very surprised. I was !! OMG
It has really cool decor and state of the art technology besides really good dentistry. You pay for it, but it's totally worth it. Going there feels like you are an important concern to them. Refreshing.
Top to bottom GREAT. -
Review from Ruby B.
Chicago, IL
2/16/2011
Let me start off by saying that I have been to many dentist places in my life and never have I been into one like this dentist place before. I am picky about who handles my dental hygiene and am so impressed at the quality of service and the genuine friendly caring staff here. The staff always make me feel like a star every time i step into Always There Dental Care. You are immediately set at ease and feel welcomed as soon as you call to book your appointment, Karol the receptionist is very friendly and professional and always finds an appointment to fit my busy schedule.
Dr. Jeff is a great example of someone who is dedicated and committed to providing EXCEPTIONAL service. After every dental work he has done for me (cavity fillings and such) he always makes sure that everything is perfect ! I am currently doing invisalign which I definitely recommend to EVERYONE who feels insecure about their teeth, I promise you that it will boost your confidence in yourself and you will be smiling way more. I thought at first i was too old to get braces, but braces are so 20th century anyway. i encourage you to try invisalign, works amazingly and it doesn't hurt plus you cant even see them on which was the seller for me. You really cant! My friends didn't even know I was wearing them until they saw me take them off and were so surprised to find out that I had been wearing them for over a month!
Overall this Dentist place is the place to go for dental work and cleanings. You WILL NOT be disappointed so stop looking for other places and come here =) -
Review from trina b.
Chicago, IL
3/3/2008
Always There Dental Care should be called Always There, We Really Care! Ok, so that was lame but what I am trying to say is right and true. They are the friendliest bunch of people I have ever come across and it really helped me relax. It was like Disney World happy and friendly. And of course they are top notch dentists and hygienists and receptionists etc. too but I will get to that in a minute.
Let me just say, I was terrified about going to the Dentist. Please don't judge me but it had been over three years since I had gone. I didn't have insurance and was scared to death. But I finally plucked up the courage and decided it was time to go. We asked around and my husband's friend has nothing but wonderful things to say about this place. I saw that the reviews were good here too, but to be completely honest, I wasn't sure I could base who I chose on the reviews from strangers alone. My teeth, in my mind, were going to need a lot of work and I needed to know that someone we know went there and someone's teeth that we have seen.
My husband and I went for appointments together, yeah it sounds cheesy but it was good moral support and why not kill two birds with one stone? We were welcomed and joked with and we were immediately at ease. It was like no other dentist's office I had ever experienced. They were so sweet, for instance, for my X rays, every time she would put those weird metal things in my mouth she would gush about how great I was doing, and she would give me a count down to how many more and it made it much easier to do.
The hygienists were great and I really wish I could remember their names. But no worries because every single one was attentive and were excellent at explaining what was happening while it was going on and before that they prepped me what was going to happen as well.
They would even come in and tell me how my husband was doing and vice versa. Then we joked that it was a race to the finish, and let's just say I won in the long run because my teeth are a bit better. But technically.... I guess he finished first. :0)
On to the Dentist. We both had Dr. Jeff and we were wowed with his abilities. He was also very friendly and he really took the time to explain everything to me and he really did mean it when he asked if I had any questions. And he answered every one and didn't make me feel silly for asking them. Seriously, out all of the years I've gone to the Dentist, and my husband agrees, he spent the longest with us. Most Dentists seem to just glance at your teeth and then they are on their way. Not Dr. Jeff. He did a very complete check of my mouth and really listened to everything I said. He was the best. You will be hard pressed to find a better Dentist!
I had to go back because I had lost a filling from my old stinky Dentist and I need two more and that was it. I schedule a time to get it fixed, they got me in super fast, I never had to wait that long before I get a room. Dr. Jeff and company fixed my teeth in a timely manner and it was all painless in every sense. I could not be happier with our choice to go to Always There Dental Care.
If you don't have a Dentist or you are looking for a change, please consider ATDC! I promise you will not be disappointed! Yes it's a little expensive, but what type of medical treatment isn't? And I rather pay a little more to get the best and feel relaxed and confident and even happy to be at the Dentist. Now how many people can say that? I bet everyone who goes to ATDC can! I know I said I was unsure picking a Dentist based on a review where I couldn't see their teeth, so if you want a picture of my teeth, feel free to ask and I will send you one! :0)
Bottom Line:
Best Dentist, best staff. Nice clean office and extremely friendly. And they mean it, it's not fake in the least.
I couldn't be happier and I've got a great healthy smile to prove it. -
Review from Deborah E.
Chicago, IL
11/6/2008
I went to Dr. Stiffel for quite a few years. He is a great dentist. He is high energy and very friendly. My beef was not with him. I kept getting billed for a bill I didn't owe and his billing people said they would fix it and they didn't. For months I got bills saying "30 days past due, 60 days..." etc.
As I am highly anal about my bills, It just plain pissed me off because I didn't owe them anything and was worried that collections would soon be after me for no reason. It finally got corrected AFTER I got Dr. Stiffel involved, but it pissed me off so much, I went to another dentist.
But I recommend him - he is a good dentist. -
Review from Linsey C.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 3/24/2009
I was just back to get my 3 fillings. Dr. Scott was out of the office that day so I had Dr. Ling who was amazing. She was super friendly, as was the hygienist. I was in and out in no time and virtually pain free!
The receptionist was super friendly as well.
I actually had to make another appointment for Dr. Scott to correct my bite since I was too numb to fix it after the fillings. They worked around my schedule and had me come in at 7:30 am which worked perfectly for me, but was actually before regular business hours! They continue to go above and beyond and it is truly appreciated!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/25/2009
I called to make an appointment because I chipped my tooth and they were more than accommodating… Read more »
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Review from wesley k.
Chicago, IL
1/24/2012
LVGirl H may I suggest what you really seem to need is a good, patient and understanding psychiatrist? You are absolutely out of your mind. Scott and Jeff are both state of the art, fabulous dentists: this is an amazingly professional, expertly run, comprehensive, preventative care dentistry office. I say this having had extensive work done -including 5 major oral surgeries -with implants due to bone loss. These guys literally, put me back together, they are quite simply, THE BEST.
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Review from Jessica G.
Chicago, IL
2/18/2008
I've been going to Always There Dental Care since I moved to Chicago a few years ago, and have NO complaints.
Dr. Jeff and Dr. Scott are both great - friendly, cheerful, fun, and pleasant to be around. I like that they go above and beyond where other dentists might just show you the door - telling me interesting things about why my double-rooted tooth is "really cool", etc.
Their office has really cool decor, and the most comfortable dentist chairs ever - sometimes I almost doze off, they make me so relaxed! -
Review from Andy C.
Chicago, IL
10/23/2010
This place is amazing.....not sure how they are able to make going to the dentist enjoyable...but they pull it off seamlessly. I've been going for about 10 years and they have yet to let me down!
The office ambience is very serene... XRT playing low in the background, all the dentists and hygenists are happy to be there. Dr. Scott is the best... they should open up a bar in the back.. I would hang out there... the only complaint is that they are not in any major insurance networks... which what dentist is at this point.... .. but I'll pay for this.. it's worth it! -
Review from Sarah M.
Irvine, CA
11/9/2007
I'd like to lead with a story, if that's okay. I've been living in California for over a year and had last visited ATDC in June 2006. One weekend in October 2007, I was in Chicago for a wedding, and one of my crowns popped off Friday night at about 7pm. I called the hotline, and Dr. Jeff called me back. Although he was also attending a wedding that weekend, he met me in the office at 8:30 Saturday morning to reset my crown. I hadn't talked to them in over a year and yet, he was willing to go out of his way on his day off to help me. This is the kind of service you can expect from the best dental care office in all of Chicagoland.
There aren't enough nice things for me to say about Always There Dental Care. I've been seeing the two good doctors (I am sure Doctor 3 is great as well, I just haven't met her yet) for about 10 years now. Even after an insurance change forced me to try to find a new dentist, my bad experiences with the other doctors I saw made me realize that ATDC is worth the out of network charges.
Every office worker, every hygienist, every dental assistant, and of course the doctors are talented, friendly, caring, fun, and warm. I am awful in the dentist chair - even though I am very comfortable with both Scott and Jeff - and they always seem to do what they need to to help me relax. They are the best at giving novocaine shots - somehow they do it just right so it really doesn't hurt. And I am a huge wimp. They are awesome! Go see them!
By the way, the post script to my story is that Dr. Jeff and I were going to the same wedding that weekend. I sent my friend to ATDC 2 years ago and he ended up marrying the office manager :) -
Review from Lori S.
Chicago, IL
8/16/2011
I still hate going to the dentist, but they make it highly tolerable. I must say I have a bit of a crush on Dr Geoff as well. :-)
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Review from Amy S.
Chicago, IL
6/18/2008
I love my teeth. I really do. I care about them so much that I must go to the dentist to have them cleaned every 6 months. I also make sure to floss and use mouthwash every day. I had braces, I still wear my retainer, I professionally whitened them, with periodic touch ups. So you can understand my dismay when I started my job and I didn't get dental insurance (gasp!). I also was in a new town and didn't have a dentist. So I was looking through my mail and came across coupons for a dentist in my area...well that was a BIG mistake. It was kind of a sketchy place.
So obviously I needed to find a good dentist and my boss's son referred me to ATDC and I haven't turned back.
They are a little pricey when you don't have insurance, but I will pay the money to keep my teeth pretty. The only bad thing is that I've had to have 3 fillings since I've moved here and I only had one before in my entire life...but that's not Dr. Jeff's fault....must be something in the water...or the alcohol.
Definitely a friendly homey atmosphere. Great decor. And the chairs are very comfortable. I always tend to go there in the morning and I tend to dose off a bit. -
Review from Scott H.
Chicago, IL
5/4/2010
I switched to Always There close to a decade ago, after being less than satisfied with my previous dentist. I couldn't be happier with the switch. Here's why:
1) This office runs like a charm. You almost always get right in and right out, on time or ahead of time. In the truly rare event they're running behind, they communicate clearly about the delay, and they make every effort to mitigate your wait or reschedule.
2) Dr. Jeff and Dr. Scott are two of the nicest, most positive guys I've ever met. Kind. Happy. Smart. Approachable. And they've surrounded themselves with hygienists and support staff who share their attitude and commitment to quality.
3) In the event of an emergency or serious dental problem, these guys go out of their way to see you immediately, including on the weekend. Once, when one of my sons had a dental emergency, Dr. Jeff arranged for his wife (a pediatric dentist) to meet us at her office on a Saturday. I can't tell you how huge this kind of service is when you need it.
I've routinely recommended Always There to family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues, and everyone who goes there seems to thank me for the referral. A top-notch dental office, for sure. -
Review from Adam R.
Chicago, IL
7/19/2011
I've been a customer for 10 years, and I've never once had a bad experience. The place feels more like a lounge than a dental practice, and the fact that there's an autographed picture of Spinal Tap in the hall says it all. As a matter of fact, these guys have thousands of dollars worth of original art and autographed music memorabilia spread throughout the place - very cool.
The staff is friendly and attentive, and Dr. Jeff is as good as it gets. He takes the time to EXPLAIN WHY they're doing what they're doing, and that, more than anything, is why he's my dentist for as long as we're living in Chicago. Now that I think about it, If we moved, I'd fly in just to keep from having to change.
This is the best-run dental practice I've ever seen. If it's possible to have fun while getting dental work, this is the place where it would happen. Go here - they'll exceed your expectations. -
Review from tiva t.
Chicago, IL
6/7/2011
Dr. Jeff is the best dentist I've ever been to. He is knowledgeable, friendly, and skilled at his work. Each time I see him, he explains in simple detail what is happening and why. I trust him completely.
Now having said all that, this guy is overbooked! On a daily basis. He is constantly running around, seeing 3-4 patients at a time. I'm not sure if this is how every dentist gets scheduled, but I often feel like he's in a rush. I've never felt short-changed, but I do feel that he and the office are very busy.
All in all, though, I would recommend ATDC. -
Review from Celeen R.
Chicago, IL
11/8/2011
I had a very unpleasant experience with this practice, and would like to share, just in case it is useful to other users.
I visited this office two years ago in order to get physically qualified for a job offer I had received to work in the Antarctic. I had just graduated college a year before the appointment, I was uninsured, and had been in and out temporary employment since graduation, so cost was a big concern for me. I had just been to a medical clinic for one portion of the physical exams necessary, and they had given me a 40% discount for paying in cash directly after the appointment, so I thought I'd ask these guys if they offered anything similar. They informed me that they did not, which is fine by me.
Overall, the staff was courteous. I recall a few scheduling problems. During prophylaxis, they were a bit rough.
The dentist gave me a very moving, and honestly a bit terrifying, speech about the importance of dental hygiene before telling me about the various procedures he recommended.
He did recommend a deep cleaning, which was expected; the pricing for all the treatments he did on me was decent, considering the modern equipment they offered.
My big problems were two-fold.
(1) After I asked if they had any kind of discount, and expressed my concern about money, the doctor had the gall to tell me, without knowing my situation, that they would be happy to "let me wait to pay, so I could call my parents to ask for money". This distressed me.
(2) More importantly, the doctor held on to the form he needed to sign for my physical qualification, and told me that in order to qualify for the standards set by my employer, it would be necessary for me to get three preventative fillings. At the time, I was all about it. I have since been told I needed two root canals by another american dentist. The dentist I saw in the Antarctic was australian, and was horrified to hear that these two dentists had recommended such procedures. I asked a few others, and did some research, and have surmised that in general, preventative oral care consists of cleaning, and that's it. Drilling holes in your teeth is always bad for them, and should only be done if there are already holes in your teeth. Rot canals are a last ditch procedure designed as a last attempt to save a tooth before it needs to be completely removed. I was told that you only need a root canal if you're in extreme pain. The fillings with Always There set me back more than $800.
After some time had passed, aside from still being bitter about the stress having to drop over $1000 on dental care had caused me (I understand; that's MY problem), my feeling was that the doctor was manipulative, and I felt taken advantage of. I have developed a distrust of American dentists. Every non-American Dentist I've seen since being thrown out into the world (all two of them) as an independent adult has been wonderful. Every American dentist I've seen since reaching adulthood (again, all two of them) has suggested expensive procedures that I never needed, and couldn't afford.
I don't entirely blame these guys for looking out for their bottom line, but I'll never go back.
Perusing there website now, it's clear to me that this dentristy aims themselves at a classier (and wealthier) clientele than myself, that seems like it'd be incredible if I need major cosmetic surgery, or if I had an emergency. I should have looked for another dentist as soon as I heard the cost, one that caters to a different demographic of customers. -
Review from David M.
Chicago, IL
4/10/2011
Fundamentally, everyone there is pretty awesome. Dr. Scott is an absolute pro, although you tend to get handed off to the assistant. I recently had a couple of fillings fixed up, and I felt like I spent a lot of time waiting for Dr. Scott to come back and check the work of the assistant. This isn't a bad thing, it just extends the time, and his assistant was great.
One thing I love is that they're excellent at telling you what's going on while they're doing it. For me, there's nothing worse that that losing-track-of-time feeling while something's going on, but who knows what, and for how long. I like to know when the light at the end of the tunnel shows up.
I love my hygienest (Gina), even the stern brushing lectures.
Overall they really give the impression that they care and remember you (I know it has to all be in the computer, but it's still nice).
As you can tell, there's a but coming, and it's the billing practices. I totally get why you pay up front, and then they let you deal with your insurance company (although they do submit the claims for you), but it's a real pain, when you're getting more than a cleaning. Having to come up with $1000+ at a chunk can be challenging.
Someone else mentioned this, but it is true and you need to be prepared for it - the amount Always There charges will often (but not always) exceed the "Usual and Customary" for your insurance, at least it does for me, especially for fillings.
Sometimes reviews don't have real-world examples, so let me offer one.
Unless it's for a front (non molar) tooth, my insurance will only pay for a silver (amalgam) filling. They refer to this as having two equal services that will "restore" the tooth, and paying for the less expensive one.
As someone mentioned, I think Always There doesn't offer amalgam fillings (not that I'd choose that ...), so you're going to get a resin composite.
Always There charge (1 surface): $229
Insurance Usual and Customary: $190
Now you're thinking - that's not bad, except that for a molar, the reimbursement is for an amalgam filling.
Amount Paid: $140 - minus the usual co-insurance, etc.
Add this up for a couple of teeth, plus a cleaning, and you're getting into real up-front cash and you're not going to get all that back from your insurance company (it's a good use for an FSA/HSA, if you have one).
To be absolutely clear, Always There is quite up-front about this on your first visit, although I admit to a little sticker shock at the real world implications.
All in all, certainly one of the best dentists offices I've ever been to. They are professional, and helpful, and yes, somewhat pricey. Whether that's worth it to you is hard for me to say, but so far it has been for me. -
Review from Camille S.
Chicago, IL
9/22/2011
When they say "always there" they mean it! We are regulars at AWDC, and I feel strange saying how much we LOVE our dentist in general - but last week my daughter chipped her tooth while away at school and came home Sunday in a panic. When we saw her, we were panicked too! No worries, called the AWDC emergency line and Dr. Jeff called back asap. We were set with an ER appt on Monday morning. They all couldn't have been nicer and more understanding - I have been in the office many times so I can see that this is how they treat each of their patients - as if you were the only one. The repair was seamless and professional. They ROCK at AWDC (literally - with the cool tunes - and figuratively).
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Review from Mindy V.
Charlotte, NC
6/17/2009
my husband said he had a great experience here so I called last month to get an appointment. Nobody ever answered the phone. At "ALWAYS THERE dental care". I tried twice.... At least I got a good laugh out of it. I ended up at Ora dental studio. They are amazing!! Totally great experience.
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Review from Michaela N.
Chicago, IL
6/17/2010
This office is amazing! My husband has been a patient of Dr. Jeff's for almost five years, and I've been his patient for the past two. We love everything about this office. Dr Jeff is the best! He is incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, approachable, and (for those who fear all things dental) very GENTLE. I'm one of those terrible patients who hates to floss and consequently have had several cavities filled by Dr. J. I even developed some jaw pain last year, and he was able to rearrange his schedule to get me in for a same day appointment on very short notice. He even found a way to squeeze me in for an emergency root canal that same day (a day you could tell was already a very busy one for him). To top things off, he even called to check up on me that evening. That's great patient care! While none of these procedures were "enjoyable," Dr. Jeff went out of his way to make things as quick and comfortable as possible. I really felt very little pain even after my root canal. He does good work!
Our other favorite thing about Dr. Jeff is his incredible patience and commitment to his patients. My husband is a chronic grinder and as a result needs some significant dental work done to the tune of approximately $20,000. Dr. Jeff has met with us numerous times over the past 5 years and provided MANY, MANY, MANY free consultations. He's stayed late on more than one occasion and even offered to go out to dinner/lunch with us to discuss it further. We've been saving up over the years, and it always seems like every time we get close, something comes up to prevent us from beginning the process. Dr. Jeff has been more than understanding and patient with us during this process. He understands that, as a young couple, this is a significant investment. We have never once felt pressured or even looked down upon for dragging this out so incredibly long. We've seen several other dentists for second opinions. No one has explained things as well, spent as much time with us, or given us as reasonable and honest a quote as Dr. Jeff. Dr. J even built up a temporary model on my husband's teeth at our last visit so that we could see what the finished product would look like. Amazing service, in spite of all we've put him through. Everyone agrees my husband needs the work, but Dr. Jeff is the only dentist we would ever trust to get it done right!
On top of that, Dr. Jeff has an extremely well run and efficient office. I really respect this. Being an optometrist myself, I know just how hard this is to accomplish. He has an incredibly warm and friendly staff that you can tell is passionate about the field and truly enjoys working as part of his team. I can't say enough positive things about this office! They are the absolute best! -
Review from Debbie H.
Chicago, IL
8/4/2009
I have been going to "Always There" for years and I have absolutely no complaints. Dr. Jeff is awesome and the support staff is great. I can honestly say I look forward to going to my appt.'s - how many people can say that about their dentist?
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Review from J H.
Chicago, IL
11/4/2009
I have had a LOT of dental work done here and they are always very friendly and do an amazing job. Dr. Jeff did veneers on my front teeth and I could not be happier with how the turned out. I switched from Lincoln Park Dentistry a while ago because I moved much closer to Always There. The difference is amazing. Dr. Jeff makes time for emergencies (I had a temporary crown pop out and he got me in same day). If you are looking for a dentist in Chicago, this is the place.
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Review from Dylan F.
Chicago, IL
10/27/2009
This is my first real dentist "relationship" and I'm glad I wound with with a good one. The staff is attentive and professional. Dr. Jeff is pleasant, educational and to the point. I'm a doctor who also works in private medical practice, and I know how important (and challenging) it can be to assemble and manage an efficient support staff. They do it exceptionally well here--even remembering (6 months later) that I sometimes work nights and asking me if I'd had a nap! I usually have Angie as my hygienist who is also fantastic.
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Review from LVgirl H.
Chicago, IL
9/14/2008
I came on Yelp today to actually find a Dentist. I used to go to Always There and had way too many problems/issue with thier practice and when I saw them on here, I felt the need to share my very low rating with other Yelpers.
I have not been to the dentist in a while, since Always There kind of scared me away and made me more iffy with finding a good referral. I was originally referred to Dr. Scott from a client of mine. My first visit with them was with him and in an emergency situtation. Dr. Scott is very nice and entertaining. I continued with their practice for about 2/3 years. I spent plenty of money at their office, as I do not have dental insurance. Within that time, they kept swtiching me to the newest dentist, who not only was new to their practice, they also just finished their schooling. I asked a couple time to be with Dr. Scott, to only come to my appointment and already be changed again to the new dentist. This got frustrating but I continued to see them as I needed work done.
Not only with the dentists, but also with the hygentists and booking staff, every appointment there would be some kind of issue... wether it was booking staff not telling me of cancelation policy, giving me major wrong price qoutes, major pain during cleaning (that I've never felt before), uncomfortable cavity surfaces that they filed, or not having the right crown for me on the day I went to have it placed (and put some other person crown in my mouth).
***BUT... THE WORST and last straw was when they dropped some type of chemical (I think some sort of cleaning agent for a crown procedure) on my forehead that created an chemical burn. While getting my crown replaced (this time it was the right one, my own and not some other person's) I suddenly felt something drop on my forehead. Rather than make a big deal and thinking it was only water or something like that, I just genlty wiped my forehead. However, about 10-20 minutes later and near the end of the procedure I felt a burning sensation. I told one of the girls who was working on me (a dentist and assistant) and they said.. "oh... that must be the (whatever it was, not sure of the name)., We sometimes get that on our fingers, you may just be a little red for a bit." Well, after I was out of the chair I was able to look in a mirror, and it was bright red and I still felt a sting to it (of course we rinsed with water). The next day, I noticed it was raw. And it stayed like that for a while until it made a little scab. I am a skin care technician and I knew exactly what it had done...it had created a chemical burn to my skin. At this point I was not happy... and really started to think about all the misshaps that happen with this Dental Practice. 1st of all... there is NO REASON that chemical should have touched any part of my body besides my mouth. If there is a strong chemical that is being used in procedures, they need to make sure that they are not handeling it right above someone's uncovered face, they need to handle it over a medical tray or counter top. 2nd, it is not cool that they didn't even notice dropping the liquid or that my skin was turning bright red. I and they were lucky it didn't drop in my eye, which was close.
So of course after that I was done. I keep giving them chances after not being completely satisfied cause I thought maybe it was just me, until the burn... at that point I knew it wasn't just me. I actually have another client who sees them and also comes home with other scary dental stories.
A lot of the people who work there seem to be nice or very friendly. I feel they try too hard to be all peppy and make you enjoy their company while they work on you, but it doesn't matter how much you try if your work is just not that good. And I never felt welcomed from the desk staff... they were always a bit snobby... very "Lincoln Park Boutiquey" but thought it was about the dentistry so kept trying them out till enough was enough and found that I wasn't even satisfied with their dental work. I have a few uneven/ uncomfortable cavities from them that my tongue gravitates to which annoys me and of course the nice chemical burn to remember....
So- point... if you really care about your dental (and other) health... this is not the practice for you. -
Review from Rachel A.
Chicago, IL
1/6/2009
I'll admit it... I'm a devotee of Dr. Wojno (or "Dr. Jeff" for those who fear pronunciation of silent "j's"). I was an incredibly satisfied patient for 3 years before I relocated to NYC in '04. When I arrived in NYC, my quest for a dentist to fill the shoes of ATDC was an incredibly long and painful one. I seriously had 4 dentists in 4 years, and was miserable with each of them. I was SO frustrated w/NYC dentists, that I actually started commuting to Dr. Jeff and would plan trips to Chicago based upon my dental appointments. Bottom line: I'm a well-educated dental customer, as well as a frequent patient, with a high-maintenance (and expensive) mouth.
Some of the reasons to love Dr. Jeff (I'll narrow it to the top 3, though I could ramble on endlessly):
(1) The office has awesome vintage music posters in the exam rooms (I'm pretty sure there's a Sheena Easton rocks one wall), and the office has XRT pumping over the speakers at all times
(2) Flat-screen TVs in every exam room - granted the only thing I've ever seen on them were pictures of my teeth, but, they are committed to state-of-the-art dental technology (yep, that's right, no more old-school x-rays... they're digital)
(3) He's an utter perfectionist! Good dental work is an obsession for him. His dental work is SO good, that I've had other dentists comment about how good his work is. You know that when you have work done, it's going to be good work and money well-spent. And with dental work, no one wants to have it done twice, so better to have someone do it perfectly right the first time.
Bottom line, whether you've been blessed by the dental gods with perfect teeth, or whether you've been cursed to multiple crowns and root canals such as myself, ATDC can cover your needs. -
Review from Chris L.
Chicago, IL
7/16/2009
their dentistry is as good as the sign. very thorough screening with a bunch of cool technology i'd never seen used in the dentist office before. everyone i met there was friendly and knowledgeable. i can't wait to go back.
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Review from matt d.
Chicago, IL
4/15/2009
I am on Yelp all the time but never felt strongly enough about a place to write my own review until now. Dr. Jeff is awesome....I chipped a couple teeth on a Friday night and I called and left him a message early Saturday morning. He called me back within a half hour and met me at his office in the next 15 minutes. He spent most of the morning fixing the chips (half my front tooth was gone!) and getting temporaries so I could at least be seen in public for the rest of the weekend! I kept going back to them ever since for checkups etc. Dentist places in Chicago can be shady and dirty and this is the complete opposite! Very clean, nice, service is the best i have ever received at a dentist. I would recommend ANYONE to go here, they are the best.
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Review from Gretchen G.
Chicago, IL
8/11/2009
I have been going to "Dr. Jeff" for about five years now, having everything from cleanings to crowns fixed in my poor, cavity-prone mouth. He is kind, calm, gentle, and good at explaining the procedures. The office is clean, modern and very hip (Dr. Jeff is a music fan and there are signed records, instruments and even a smashed NIN keyboard on display; then at Christmas you may be greeted by the pink tinsel tree topped with life sized Barbie mannequin).
This is the only dentist office in Chicago where the staff remembers my name, much less my face and dental history. They are very cheerful and always call to remind me of appointments. There are plenty of skilled hygenists on staff, so you don't have to wait three months for your appointment. And they will schedule you six months out, then send you a reminder card followed by a reminder phone call.
Here's the only downside...this place will cost you. You must pay up front for all procedures, and then insurance will reimburse you, not them. I have a feeling that part of the reason they are so good-natured is that they don't have to haggle with the insurance company...that's up to you. Their standard fees are pretty far above the "reasonable and customary" that insurance will reimburse (which is a crock, anyhow, in Chicago); and they don't do the amalgam fillings that insurance will pay for...so you must pay extra for your pretty white composite fillings (I love mine...no more metal mouth!). You won't have to pay much extra for your cleaning and exam, but if you need crowns or fillings, be prepared to shell out some cash. It's worth it, though; after some major dental frustration, I am happy to be with a practice that does things right the first time, and goes the extra mile for my smile.
