Quick answers to the questions we hear most often. For complex cases, the most reliable next step is a brief consultation — every case is reviewed personally by Dr. Schelkopf.
Most veneer cases are completed in two visits to Chicago, separated by approximately three weeks. The first is the design and preparation appointment; the second is the bonding visit. Out-of-town patients fly home in their temporaries between visits.
Watch · Dr. SchelkopfMost reconstructions are completed in a series of visits over a month or a couple of months, depending on healing times and the procedures included — diagnosis and records, removing old fillings or crowns, shaping of the teeth, surgical procedures or implant placements, temporaries, then final delivery. For out-of-state patients, visits are coordinated around your travel cadence. The exact timeline and appointment sequencing is determined by the complexity of the case and is reviewed with you before treatment begins.
Watch · Dr. SchelkopfBecause the diagnosis dictates everything that follows. Reconstructive success comes from careful evaluation and planning from the beginning. Details like habits, hygiene, health history, diet, your bite, anatomy, and aesthetics will all influence the selection of the best treatment plan for you. From the beginning, items like prosthesis design, surgical plans, occlusal scheme (bite design), and material selection should all be finalized before any work is even started. A specialist’s training is built around getting the diagnosis right so the execution can be straightforward.
Watch · Dr. SchelkopfYes — many reconstructions are exactly that: a thoughtful combination of restorations matched to the condition of each tooth. Because Dr. Schelkopf is trained in both surgical and prosthetic specialty disciplines, the entire case is designed and delivered by a single clinician. Our specific workflow and lab process allows for the same materials to be selected, independent of whether it is an implant crown, a crown, a vonlay, or a veneer. Combined with our extremely talented master ceramist, this is what allows for all of our results to match.
Watch · Dr. SchelkopfWith proper design, materials, and care, porcelain veneers typically last well over a decade — many last twenty years or more. The single most important factor is the precision of the original work and the long-term care of the surrounding gum and bone.
Watch · Dr. SchelkopfThat is the entire goal. The Stuart aesthetic is soft, vital, and personal — restorations crafted to look like the natural smile the patient always wanted. Bulky, opaque, "Hollywood" veneers are not what we do.
Watch · Dr. SchelkopfFour to six implants per arch supporting a complete set of fixed teeth, often delivered the same day as surgery. The final reconstruction is delivered approximately six months later. For most patients with failing dentitions, it is the most life-changing single treatment in modern dentistry.
Watch · Dr. SchelkopfWe do not participate as an in-network provider with any insurance plan — this allows us to design treatment around the patient and not around insurance coding. Many patients have benefits that reimburse a portion of their treatment, and our team can help you submit for reimbursement.
Yes — we work with reputable third-party financing partners. The team will review options during your consultation.
Book a consultation. For most patients, the first step is a brief virtual conversation so that Dr. Schelkopf can understand your goals and recommend next steps before you travel.
Reach out — every consultation request is reviewed personally.