After reading all the horror stories about various Edgewater-area dentists, I feel duty-bound to tell Yelp-ers that there is hope: a fantastic and skilled dentist with a great sense of humor and a caring and competent staff. He accepts most conventional dental insurance plans. But he's so good that I'm willing to go out-of-pocket.
He's taken care of three generations of my family's teeth, mostly in Edgewater/S. Rogers Park (but will also see you in the Loop if it fits your schedule). I used to literally get sick to my stomach at the thought of going to the dentist, but I look forward to my thrice-yearly visits to Dr. Furmanek and his hygienists. If you have pain or sensitivity issues, he and they will work with you to minimize discomfort to the maximum safe degree possible. He is non-judgmental but still gives guidance, advice and constructive criticism as to home care. His hygienists' cleanings are detailed and thorough, with careful followup examination, flossing and diagnostic probing before and after (the flavored polishes at the end feel like dessert).
And though he is thorough, he will neither "upsell" nor do procedures that he feels are unwarranted, and will explain why (example: when I had some intractable post-drilling pain after filling a cavity close to a nerve, he did repeat X-rays and exam to rule out the need for a root canal or extraction--and gave me a detailed explanation for my discomfort, a prescription to alleviate it, and reassurance that it would be temporary...and it was). Another time, when I inquired about bleaching, he recommended trays rather than instant UV treatment--even though the latter would have been costlier--because my enamel was too soft and teeth & gums too sensitive for UV, especially the followup maintenance sessions.
He is great at preventive and restorative dentistry, but will not hesitate to refer patients out to specialists for more complex procedures such as major extractions, severe gum disease, and orthodontia. (As someone whose childhood dentist in NYC fancied himself a jack-of-all-trades, I suffered through 10 years of painful failed orthodontia that resulted in gum disease--so I am grateful to Dr. Furmanek).
His office is pleasant, with enough exam rooms and current magazines in the comfy waiting area. The sunny exam rooms all have pleasant views of the neighborhood too. The only minuses are the lack of free parking or an elevator, but that doesn't merit deducting any stars. And a special shout-out to his office manager Andrea, who goes the extra mile to make sure all patients' needs are accommodated. read more
