Dr. Thomas Bitner graduated from Marquette Dental school and after one year as a Dental Intern in the V.A. He then attended the University of Iowa, where he studied for two years and received his Masters Degree in Pediatric Dentistry. As a Pediatric Dentist, Dr. Bitner has had advanced training in dental surgery, interceptive orthodontics, and the psychology and behavior management of children.

Dr. Bitner taught for several years at Marquette University and is the former Director of the Graduate Pediatric Dentistry program. He has had four articles on original research published and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry has recognized Dr. Bitner by giving him awards for his research. With hospital privileges at Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital (OMH), Dr. Bitner treats patients that need care in a hospital setting.

Dr. John Bitner grew up in Wisconsin and is married with four children. He received his Bachelor of Science from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in 2001. From there he went to Howard University College of Dentistry in Washington DC, where he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery in 2007.

Dr. John also taught at Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) dental hygiene program from 20092017. He has instructed hygiene students on the clinic floor since 2009. With hospital privileges at Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital (OMH) and Mooreland Surgery Center, Dr. Bitner can treat patients that need care in a hospital setting.

We are sensitive to the fact that everyones financial situation is unique, therefore we have worked hard to provide a variety of payment options to enable you to receive the dental care you need to maintain a healthy smile.

When you arrive in our office, our first concern is you and your oral health. Please understand we neither work for the insurance companies, nor do we wish to. For this reason, we do not diagnose, treat or establish fees according to any insurance allowances or tables. Our treatment fees are based on care, skill and judgment of the professionals delivering the services, and by the cost of operating a dental office dedicated to excellence. We make every effort possible to give you an estimate for treatment needed prior to restorative work. Please understand that any insurance estimates given are estimates only and that we can never guarantee estimated coverage. Unless prior arrangements are made, your estimated portion is due at the time of service.

We accept all insurance plans however, we are not in network with all insurance plans. Please contact your insurance provider to see if we are in you network. Should you have a dispute with your insurance we will provide you with the information to support the necessity of treatment, which may assist in recovering your benefit. Keep in mind that insurance policies have annual maximums and benefit limitations and it is always a good idea to educate yourself about your policys benefits and limitations as it is an agreement between yourself and the insurance company. You are responsible for any balance left unpaid by your insurance. Payment is due at the time services are rendered.

Pediatric dentists are the pediatricians of dentistry. A pediatric dentist has two to three years specialty training following dental school and limits his/her practice to treating children only. Pediatric dentists are primary and specialty oral care providers for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health needs. More ataapd.org.

During the 1st dental visit we like to see parent and child together. Generally, during subsequent visits we will see your child alone. This allows us to establish a direct and close rapport with your child, thereby gaining confidence quickly. If you do come back with your child on subsequent visits you are asked to be the silent partner.

Silver fillings, also called amalgam fillings, have been researched and used for more than 150 years. Despite claims that amalgam fillings can cause mercury poisoning and/or developmental problems, to date, there is no scientific proof to these claims. The ADA, as well as the FDA, still support the use of amalgam. They are durable, highly resistant to wear and are less expensive than white fillings. A disadvantage of the silver fillings is the dentist may need to remove more tooth structure to accommodate the silver material. Another disadvantage is the fact that the silver fillings are not tooth-colored so they are easy to see especially in the front of the mouth.

White fillings, also called composite fillings, have been researched and used for approximately 40 years. They also are ADA and FDA supported. Less tooth structure needs to be removed which results in a smaller filling. The esthetics are much better than those of silver fillings. The disadvantage of white fillings are that they take a little longer to place than silver fillings; they are highly technique sensitive and tend not to last as long as the silver fillings. The optimal placement of white fillings is the front teeth. White fillings may be placed in the back teeth but tend to not last as long.

The most important thing to do is to remain calm. Then find the tooth. If the tooth is an adult tooth it should be held by the crown rather than the root, and rinsed in cold water. Do NOT scrub the tooth clean. Try to replace it in the socket. If that is not possible, put the tooth in a glass of milk. Call us immediately at 262-567-9116.

You should brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Brush in the morning after breakfast and at night before you go to bed. You also need to floss twice a day, in the morning and in the night.

Fluoride protects our teeth from decay in two way systematically and topically. Systematic fluorides are those that are ingested, they become integrated with the tooth during development. Fluorides taken regularly are built-up throughout the tooth and provides longer lasting protection than those applied to the teeth. Systematic fluoride is found in fluoridated water and fluoride supplements, such as tablets, drops, or lozenges.

Topical fluoride provides protection to the teeth that have already erupted. It provides protection to the surfaces of the teeth. Topical fluoride includes toothpaste, mouthwashes, and professionally applied foams, gels, and varnishes. More ataapd.org.

No, taken as directed fluoride is not dangerous. Just like any medication or vitamin, too much fluoride can be dangerous. The ADA has limited the amount of fluoride in any one tube of toothpaste. A child could not ingest enough fluoride from one tube of toothpaste to cause serious problems. More ataapd.org.

The pH levels in soda can damage your teeth. There are different pH levels in different sodas. If you are going to drink soda it is important to brush your teeth as soon as you can after you finished. This will help prevent damage that could occur.

Every child is different, but on the average, children should start getting their first adult teeth, their first molars, around age 67. They will continue to have teeth erupting at different stages until around age 21 when all 32 of their permanent adult teeth should have erupted.

Ideally we should see your child after they get their first tooth. The first visit should be between 12-18 months. This will give you and your child an opportunity to meet the dentist and allow your child to become more at ease around the doctors. You will learn how to take care of your babys teeth and help to prevent early dental problems.

It is very important to try to maintain your childs baby teeth until they fall out naturally for several reasons. Your childs teeth help them to maintain a healthy diet by allowing them to chew their food. They also play a key role in speech development. Keeping the baby teeth healthy and in place also help to maintain space in your childs jaw to ensure there is enough room for their adult permanent teeth to come in.

Color change in teeth is usually associated with trauma to the tooth. The nerve in the tooth is most likely dead and needs to be removed. In a primary tooth (baby tooth) this consists of a pulpotomy followed usually by a crown. In a permanent tooth, root canal therapy is required. Again, after the root canal, a crown is usually placed.

Sealants work by filling in the crevasses on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. This shuts out food particles that could get caught in the teeth, causing cavities. The application is fast and comfortable and can effectively protect teeth for many years.

We are currently in the DELTA DENTAL CIGNA, GUARDIAN, UNITED CONCORDIA and WEA dental insurance networks. If you have different dental insurance, you can still be seen by our office, and we will still send the insurance a dental claim, but you may have a higher co-pay or other out-of-pocket expenses. We will not know what your portion will be until after we receive the authorization. We send our dental claims electronically every day.

If you do not have dental insurance we can still see your children. You can pay the day of treatment for any procedures. For extensive dental work, we can work out a payment plan. For those with no dental insurance who pay the day of the service, there is a 10% discount.

We do accept Badger Care/Forward Health/United Healthcare insurance for children under the age of eight. If your child has had their 8th birthday we will only see them if they have other primary dental insurance. If your child has a special needs, we will continue to see them if they have Badger Care Insurance, regardless of age.