Ronald R Widen, DDS

Words cannot express what a change dr widen did in my life. The attention to detail in my smile has truly made me a different person. I get a ton of compliments every where i go and i know its truly because of dr widens expertise. He is the only dentist i will ever go to. He changed my smile. But really he changed my life!!! And for that i will always love him. Thanks dr widen.

This dentist is phenomenal! I got to the office early to do paperwork. The doctor was there, let me in cause I was stupid early… I did my paperwork and was let in by Nicole the front office person…
I honestly didn’t know what to expect, a dental hygienist? a quick consult? The mad rush we all face going to the dentist to have physical and emotional torture laid upon us patients?
What I got was an experience I have NEVER received before from a dental office… ACTUAL MEDICAL SERVICE With answers!!!
Dr Ronald Widen was referred to me by my periodontist and after my visit, which I felt guilty for taking the doctors time, I was overwhelmed to the point I had to take a minute… this doc is old school where he spends TIME with you the patient… REALLY!!!
From video baselines, to scanning for cracks and potential problems, Dr Widen is practically a one man show… Nicole, the office e manager keeps it moving, or not moving… lol. I didn’t feel rushed, got explanations of issues ive had for as long as I’ve been consciously aware and felt like I needed to go get them sandwiches or Lyric Opera tickets!!! In this era of fast, fast, fast, this practice makes no sense. But as a person who cares for my teeth and wish to keep them for a while, this practice is the only option!!!
If you want to be treated like a human being and served like a king or queen, go here!!! I am referring my family and anyone else who cares to be treated to a DENTAL SPA DAY… I CANT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THIS PRACTICE.
PRICES FOR HIS SERVICES ARE COMPARABLE TO OTHER DENTISTS… YOU JUST GET ACTUAL, REAL LIFE PROFESSIONAL, INDIVIDUALIZED MEDICAL CARE!!! HE DOES THIS SPOT ON!!!
He takes insurance but. like most, if not all DENTISTS, whom the AMA/​ADA seemed to have forgotten concerning billing, you pay up front… money well spent!!!
THANKS DOC AND NICOLE!!!

The stars are for the charges, not the service. Dr. Widen is not in-​network with any insurance companies. You will have to pay upfront and be reimbursed. I came across Dr. Widen looking for a TMJ specialist. His reviews sounded great and my fiancé needed a teeth cleaning since we decided traveling to the suburbs to his childhood dentist was becoming a problem. I set up the appt. and knew he was out-​of-​network, but spoke to my fiances insurance and they said they would reimburse up to 100% of the average going amount in the area. That was fine I thought.
My fiancé returns home after the appt. so happy, and said Dr. Widen was great! Then I see the bill…340.00. Comp oral eval-​new/​est patient 185 and prophylaxis (teeth cleaning). Although I was a little angry, it was my fault for not asking when making the appt. the cost. I spoke to Dr. Widen the next day and he said that it was the normal charge for all of his patients and the cost was high because he does the cleaning himself. I can tell you our past dentist always did the cleanings too. I wasn’t going to argue this because again, I should have asked before scheduling. I waited till the claim was processed today. Insurance paid 160 out of 340. And just to be clear, my fiancé received no xrays either, just a cleaning. Dr. Widen also recommended he received sealants on his back teeth. He was going to make a follow-​up appt. for that. I also asked his insurance and they don’t cover that. That is something that Dr. Widen’s office should have checked on. I also did make a tmj appt. with Dr. Widen that day, which I cancelled after speaking to the insurance company about my finace’s bill. He quoted me 6300 out of pocket for full tmj treatment. I said that was not something I could do. So he said we would start with scans for 350 and go from there. I cancelled this appt. after my fiances billing. Also, dental insurance for the most part does not cover tmj treatment, but medical does. Since, I found that my endodontist has a new scanning machine (Dr. Davenport) and will take care of all preliminary scans using dental insurance for 125. Within 1 hr of making my appt. they had already called me back to break down all of the prices. I had to also call Dr. Widens office back because my fiancé did not have his ID card number on him. He did have the insurance name and his social number which can lead to an easy look up by them. I have been to a few different specialist lately and they all look up everything for me, even if I offer to call myself. This is the first review I have EVER written on Unilocal.I am extremely diligent in researching, following up, etc. to be aware of what is going on. Dr. Widen as a dentist may be great, but just be very aware of the charges. As my fiancé just said «it was not worth 200 dollars to get my teeth cleaned there.»

Oh the dentist. I am not a comfortable dentist-​goer. Even worse, I haven’t had much (okay, any) dental work, including cleanings (I know, I know… I’m flogging myself right now) for about 10 years. So of course, the longer I went without, the worse my anxiety got.
When I finally did bite the bullet, Dr. Widen came with a HIGH recommendation from a co-​worker of mine and her commentary was enough to convince me to go.
I’m really glad I did.
As others have said, I was impressed with Dr. Widen from the get-​go. First, you should know he schedules patients one at a time, so you’ll be the only one in there. He and Nichole will be totally focused on you which, I have to say, is nice. In addition to front-​desk responsibilities (billing, insurance, appointments, etc), Nichole does x-​rays and assists but Dr. Widen does the exams, cleanings… everything. Coming from a practice that had multiple dentists and at least 3 hygienists with weapons blazing at all times, this personal focus not only convinces me that I’m getting good, thorough service but it also keeps my own anxiety at bay. It also convinces me that Dr. Widen knows what he’s talking about when he makes recommendations for treatments. At any dentist, I feel at their mercy; I don’t know what the heck is going on in there. So, when the doctor himself has done the cleaning, has done the exam, and then has the «come to Jesus» moment with me, I feel like I can trust that. And in just a few visits, I do feel like I can trust what he’s telling me.
In terms of knowledge and touch, I’m amazed. This is some of the most pain-​free dentistry I’ve ever had which tells me the technique is impeccable. And then there’s the gadgetry! I’ve never seen a more tricked-​out dentist’s office: he’s got all the fun toys and obviously uses them to his advantage. This works out for you in three ways: 1) it’s fun to see the toys in action (I’ve learned so much about my own teeth just in two visits… I had no clue… but with his cameras and laser-​thingamajigs, you’ll see your mouth in a whole new way… no kidding) 2) it’s FASTER and, I’m convinced MORE EFFECTIVE. The cleaning I had today was, like, 4 simple steps… in comparison to less tech-​y cleanings that take an hour and feel like your teeth have been sand-​blasted and 3) this level of technology translates directly into knowledge. He’s obviously meticulous and wants to make it right, so knowledge is power here guided by his fancy tools.
I should also tell you that he makes porcelain overlays IN OFFICE, WHILE YOU WAIT. Not only convenient but also very cool. I like that this guy’s a teckie… it just convinces me of his «with it» quotient which, as far as I can tell, is high. He also made a follow-​up call after doing this procedure to make sure everything was cool which I highly appreciated (and everything was, in fact, cool).
NOW…all of this goodness does come at a price. I’m actually not going to quibble about the prices of services… based on everything I’ve already said, I decided that it’s completely worth it to go here and so if it’s more, then it’s more. (I don’t have a lot of scratch but I do like my teeth so they’re worth the investment they need). What you do need to prepare yourself for is FULL PAYMENT AT TIME OF SERVICE. Nichole will facilitate claims to insurance, etc, but you gotta pony up on the day of. And those bills may not be small. Once again, needs to be part of your decision… but I know what my decision is and so I whip out that credit card and do what I need to do.
Bottom line: The quality, knowledge, and care are worth it. The cost might be prohibitive but they’re up front about the cost of everything before you’re knee deep into any procedure so consider yourself informed and if concerned just ask them about cost. They’re very friendly.
if you can make it work, I highly recommend.

I am very impressed with Dr. Widen. During my first visit I realized that there are a LOT of mediocre dentists out there. He is a huge cut above the rest.
He inspects teeth like a forensic detective, figuring out the story and explaining it to you as he goes. I’ve seen 5 dentists in Chicago (in 5 years) and he is the first one who could explain why my jaw clicks and the reason why I grind at night.
He did a cavity filling on my back molar. It was painless and not nearly as uncomfortable as I expected. He was very targeted in how he numbed my mouth. Just the right amount: no pain, but I could still bite normally (which is critical for getting the filling adjusted properly) and I could eat a meal right afterward because my cheeks and tongue had sensation.
He makes extensive use of technology when it is helpful and he keeps current with industry best-​practices.

I have been seeing Dr. Widen for a few years. Like many, going to the dentist is not my favorite thing to do… But Dr. Widen is AMAZING! He is super gentle and does solid work. I have had the best cleanings of my life there, great experience with the teeth whitening, his fillings, and I am super impressed with my Invisalign results.
Both he and Nichole are very nice and accommodating. Highly recommend!

Dr. Widen is kind, funny, and easy to chat with. He is up to date with technology and makes visiting the dentist a pleasure.

Good cosmetic service, but very poor personal, customer service. I agreed to pay the balance of an invoice one week after service, and indicated the specific date. Six weeks later, and unbeknownst to me, the funds were removed from my account. No warning, no message, nothing! When I was upset about this, the receptionist and dentist blamed me for not having my current address. I was told by the dentist that I got to hang onto the money for six weeks – as if it was in an interest-​bearing account. Really?! The receptionist argued with me, then hung up the phone on me. I called back to talk to the dentist, and she said he was with a patient. Later, I spoke with him, and he said he was out. The attitude was clear: they don’t need to retain the patients/​clients that they have, and possess no experience in communication, problem-​solving or ethics. After being a long-​time patient and spending approximately $ 15,000 on dental work over the years, I obviously don’t mean much to the business, and neither will you. I am stunned. Very cheap behavior.

Dr. Widen and his staff are AH-​mazing! I’ve been to several dentists in the past and am sooooo happy to have found Dr. Widen. He doesn’t overbook like every other dentist I’ve ever been to so you don’t have to designate a 3-​hour block for a thirty minute appointment. He’s super thorough, to-​the-​point, and informative. He even makes having your teeth drilled seem like a walk in the park. Major kudos for that.

I’m a person that has always had an extreme fear of dentist. When I was a very young child I was taken to the University of Illinois College of dentistry and that’s when I was traumatized. I think over half of my teeth were filled. It started when I was four years old! So, I researched and researched, so I could find a dentist that I could trust and one that could do everything I needed and I needed a lot.
Personally, I feel that you can never, ever pay too much for dental work. I’ve learned in life you get exactly what you pay for. Dr. Widens entire team are professional and the office is very clean and comfortable. They have a few parking spaces and you can usually get one, because Dr. Widen only sees one patient at a time, or there is street parking.
I have been to dentists that run from patient to patient (room to room) and i end up waiting 15 – 20 minutes for him to return. Once, when at another dentist, the Novocaine wore off and he had to inject me all over, That was awful! Dr. Widen concentrates on you and only you! He’s the only dentist in his office and he has rooms set up for different procedures.
I had extensive dental work done with Dr. Widen. I have implants, a bridge, gum grafting and caps. I still have my teeth cleaned by Dr. Widen and would never even consider going to any other dentist. Recently, I had an appointment, because I had a tooth that he tried to save, that had to be extracted. During the visit he checked my teeth and found that I had snapped off the post of one of my crowns. Had I gone somewhere else they probably would not have checked. He’s awesome!
All dental work is costly, but Dr. Widens office is worth it. When you get your teeth cleaned and checked he does a thorough job and you get a goody bag that has some really nice stuff in it, like Fluoridex tooth paste which is only available by prescription.
Dr Widen and his staff are very professional and friendly. When I was having my dental work done he’d call me in the evening to check on me. No other dentist has ever been that attentive. He has a website that has pictures of his work, including mine. I’m number seven. Check it out and check out Dr. Widen. It’s not a cut rate dentist office, but you pay for what you get and you’ll get the very best if you see Dr. Widen. By the way, he’s a third generation dentist. It’s in his DNA. Plus, he helped me overcome my fear of dentist. I guess you could say he has an excellent chair side manner. He’s just so cool!
If you’re in need of cosmetic or general dental work, call Nichole and schedule an appointment. You’ll thank me later.

Dr. Widen is a God-​send when it comes to dentistry… please see my other review of Perfect Smile Dental Spa for Dr. De Mars and you will certainly see why.
First and foremost, yes, Dr. Widen is expensive and you must pay up-​front for your procedures. Nichole the dental receptionist will be certain to submit your claim to your PPO provider for you, but please be reminded that you will most likely not get reimbursed for the full appointment amount. Dr. Widen is considered ‘Out-​of-​Network’ when it comes to most insurance providers.
I admittedly strayed from his care in search of a lower-​cost option with the same rewards, and I was only met with pain and suffering. Dr. Widen is a complete professional and every time I walk into his office (while I know that it will certainly cost me) I know that the care he provides is going to be top-​notch and if there were any problems, I know that he would take responsibility for his work, regardless of the outcome.
His entire staff is very friendly and professional and I highly recommend his services. Some times perfection does come at a price, it just depends on what you are willing to pay for less pain and hassle!