As a dentist, I work almost exclusively with patients from lower- to middle-income backgrounds. I encounter many people who are either in tremendous pain with a dental emergency, have never had a good experience with a dentist, or both. In speaking with these patients over the years, I’ve learned that a disproportionate number have avoided dental care because they had an experience with someone who didn’t take the time to truly understand what they were feeling. That made me realize that the first step to alleviating patient pain doesn't begin with dentistry but by recognizing and acknowledging their needs and discomfort.
Dr. Tuan Cao, DDS, is a general dentist with advanced experience in braces, extractions including wisdom teeth, crowns, and bridges, as well as deep cleanings and root canals. Passionate about serving his lower- to middle-income patient base and the local Vietnamese community, Dr. Cao is committed to ensuring his patients are healthy and pain-free for life by providing gentle but thorough dental care and devoting time to education and communication during each visit. A graduate of the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry, he holds an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from Louisiana State University.
“I’m committed to providing the highest quality of materials available to my patients for the best possible outcomes—that means paying close attention to what works best and which materials exhibit the longest life span. I also keep up-to-date by reading peer-reviewed content to see which brands my dental community trusts most while speaking regularly with colleagues about what they feel has worked best for their patients.”
Dr. Cao is passionate about working with those from lower to middle-income backgrounds as he's recognized that all too often, these communities have never had a chance to have a good experience with a dentist—something he works hard to rectify.
“Working with these patients regularly requires that I provide them with a good dental education, which I enjoy. They’ve often never heard of certain procedures because in the past they’ve been rushed or didn’t feel comfortable enough to have a conversation with their dentist. I want to change that by slowing down our time together and ensuring they know I’m here to listen and answer all their questions.”
Dr. Cao is committed to helping patients overcome dental trauma and views working with these patients as one of the most rewarding aspects of his work as a dentist.
“I’ve found that dental trauma usually happens early in life because a certain procedure was forced upon someone. When a patient with this history arrives in my office, it's usually because they can’t put it off any longer. From there it’s about taking things slowly, listening to their story, being gentle, and communicating each step of what I’m about to do beforehand. I'm also certified to provide local anesthetic when necessary, which can go a long way towards ensuring a positive experience.”
Dr. Cao is dedicated to serving a diverse Chicago community and ensuring every patient feels comfortable in his care.
“Many of my patients are new to the country or looking for a dentist who understands their background and unique needs. Being able understand them or communicate in their language helps them feel secure. Some patients even travel two or three hours to see me. It’s a wonderful feeling to know I’m making a meaningful difference in their lives and having a positive impact on my community.”
Dr. Cao’s areas of expertise include root canals and extractions. He pays special attention to these cases to avoid further complications and goes to great lengths to ensure the tooth is properly treated.
“It’s important to disinfect all the roots properly and address any infection in the bone to ensure proper healing. In cases of severe infection, I typically break up the treatment into two appointments: one to thoroughly clean and disinfect the area, and a second follow-up to place the permanent materials. This approach helps protect the tooth long-term and ensures the best possible outcome.”
Dr. Cao is adamant about saving every tooth that he can. With patients at all different stages of periodontitis coming to see him for deep cleanings, he makes it a point to tell them what to expect next.
“What we want is to prevent bone loss and losing teeth. Saving every tooth that I can is the ideal goal, and, while ultimately it is the patient’s decision whether or not to move ahead with a treatment plan, I feel I must give them as much information as possible so they can make an informed decision.”
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