The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
You can find good dental care at the junction of Illinois 116 and 94 and U.S. 34, just west of Union Schools.
No, really.
Paul Good purchased the lot at the edge of a corn field a year ago and had it commercially zoned.
He opened Good Dental Care at the location in January.
Good is particularly proud of his digital radiography system, a fairly new development in the world of dentistry that replaces traditional dental X-rays.
The system's camera works on the same principal as a photographer's digital camera. An intra-oral imaging plate, about 2-by-2 inches in size, is placed inside the patient's mouth and a picture is taken.
While the imaging plate is small, the print can be enlarged. Once the picture is taken, it takes less than 90 seconds for the system's scanner to develop an image, which comes up immediately on a 17-inch flat screen monitor beside the dental chair.
The image can be colorized or enhanced, as opposed to simply darkening or highlighting an X-ray.
A dental assistant uses the flat screen to view a numbered tooth chart to identify the teeth being examined, with the capability of colorizing areas where fillings, caps or implants are located.
The assistant can also pull up the patient's file on the same screen and make notations, or even schedule the patient's next visit.
"It uses 90 percent less radiation than X-rays," Good said. "It eliminates the cost of film and developer.
"Rather than looking at a strip of film between an inch or two in width, you're looking at a 15-inch-high tooth."
The system costs between $17,000 and $20,000, but considering the cost of film, developer and chemicals in a year's time, the new system nearly pays for itself in the first year, Good said.
With the new system, doctor and patient can observe the problem area, discuss it and consider treatment options.
Hospitals have been using the system for a quarter of a century, but it is a fairly new development in dentistry and is used by only 10 percent of dentists nationwide.
Good, who graduated from the Southern Illinois University Dental School at Alton, practiced previously at the Henderson County Rural Health Center for 18 years before deciding to go into private practice.
He is joined at his practice by staff members Connie Mesecher, Kay Griepentrog, Gina Kane, Barbie Lathrop, and Cathy Good.
Paul and Cathy have three childrenÑdaughter Jennifer Benge, who is hygienist at the practice, son Brian, who has just graduated from Augustana College and is considering attending dental school and daughter Emily who will be a freshman at Union High School this coming school year.
Good Dental Care is open from 8 to 5, Monday through Thursday, and from 8 a.m. to noon on Fridays.
The Goods selected the rural location because many of their patients are from Burlington, IA and Monmouth. The office is situated between the current U.S. 34 and where a new four-lane highway is planned.
Good said the practice does not accept Medicaid, only insurance and private pay accounts.
Good Dental Care may be reached at (309) 627-9200 or toll-free at (866) 362-7285.
An open house is scheduled for this Saturday, July 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the practice.
Dr. Paul Good stands beside
daughter and full-time hygienist Jennifer Benge. They are standing beside
his digital xray computer/monitor which stores all images and pictures in
the computer and are backed up nightly. Dr. Good said, "I have positioned
myself for the future of dentistry" and now ready to welcome the public to
see his "Field of Dreams."
Dr. Paul Good (right) with his lovely staff at his left includes (from left)- Jennifer Benge, Mrs. Kathy Good, Kay Griepentrog, Connie Mesecher and Gina Kane.