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Thursday: 7:00am - 5:00pm
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SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Dentistry
Licenses
United States: Wisconsin
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
701 Answers
182 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Qualify?: I suspect you are asking when would your insurance company be willing to pay for your denture. If that's the case, it depends on a few variables ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Not right away: Avoid disturbing the area of the extraction for 24 hours then clean it very gently for the first couple of days. After that, your electric toothbrush ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
7-10 days: Different tests have different sensitivities but nicotine in saliva falls in this range.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
ANUG: ..Which stands for acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis is another type as well as a disease that used to be known as juvenile periodontosis that i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Awhile: It won't be steady but 2 to 2 1/2 years is the time frame for baby teeth then it all starts over at 6 years for the permanent ones.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Infection is poss.: This kind of issue needs to be seen by a clinician to be properly assessed. It could be anything from a tooth infection to a backed up major salivary ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Cinnemon: Flavored toothpaste can sometimes create this effect also. If you recently switched to this flavor of toothpaste, that may be the culprit.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Likely unrelated: Peeling gums is probably tissue sloughing. The surface layer of skin may slough like this if a harsh irritant comes into skin contact (e.g. Hydrogen p... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
No: There is no real treatment that will cure a herpes infection. Medications exist that will shorten an outbreak or reduce the severity of symptoms. Whil... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Yes: If the dental pulp is dead, it is quite possible to do this. If the pulp is still vital, local anesthetic will be necessary so it depends on the statu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Clean: Brush and clean inter-dentally with floss or another aid. Keep sugar consumption to a minimum and get regular dental exams. That said, there is a tend... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Subtle: I'd say public health relates to macro health concerns about larger populations and community health is more related to the micro concerns of a specif... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
About how long does it take to get invisalign aligners or clincheck after the impressions are taken?
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Not long: Usually just a couple of weeks.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Observation: If it is just saliva, the best solution is letting the affected person cough it out. As long as they can talk or breathe, just keep an eye on them. If... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Take him in for exam: He may be having his first exposure to a virus. If so, the biggest concern is keeping him hydrated. It is a pretty miserable experience but it is self... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Rinse: With water and call an eye care professional if any symptoms persist.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Yes: Because bell's palsy can be triggered by events like dental extraction you need to be medically and dentally evaluated by an experienced oral surgeon ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old male asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Infection: It sounds like you have a post-op infection. Go back to the treating dentist and have it evaluated. You may require irrigation to keep the area clean ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old male asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Possibly probiotics: Sounds like you've addressed the common issues of fungal overgrowth and tongue hygiene. A promising but not well understood area in dentistry is probi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Strips: I like these because they keep the active bleaching ingredients in contact with your teeth compared with gels that tend to spill over to make more sof... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
No: Infants should not be given honey because their young immune systems aren't fully protective against the bacterium that can cause botulism. A sock wit... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Also...: Taste buds are located around the small structures on the upper surface of the tongue, soft palate, upper esophagus and epiglottis, which are called ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old male asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Also: I agree with the above advice and would just add that imaging isn't always definitive in managing pain. Tissues can be inflamed and quite painful with... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
TMD: If it feels like your ear, it's likely an inflamed jaw joint which is immediately in front of your ear. Stress or an altered bite could contribute to ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Yes: This isn't common but it certainly is possible. If you are referring to tmd symptoms after third molar extractions, sadly that is quite common and it ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Likely infection: The topical pain killers in dry socket dressings are designed to provide quick acting and sometimes short term relief while the underlying infection s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed Jan 10, 2022
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
No: You may have an infection spreading down in a fascial plane so the safest plan would be to note any elevated temps and get back to the treating dentis... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 59-year-old male asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Curettage: ..Or deep cleaning is often used. If the periodontal status of the tooth or teeth is hopeless, extraction may be indicated. Antibiotics are sometimes ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Sinusitis: Which means inflammation of the sinus membranes. Mostly caused by viruses, occasionally by bacteria, it should be evaluated by your primary health car... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 57-year-old female asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Sinusitis: All your symptoms could be evidence of a sinus infection. If the tooth pain seems to involve multiple teeth, head to a pcp as it' may not really be de... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old female asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
It depends: If the dad's blood genetic type is ao (which would present as type a), it would be about a 50% possibility for the offspring to be oo (type o) or ao (... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 67-year-old male asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Depends: Depending on the dental anatomy of the opposing tooth and the crown, the best strategy to optimize your occlusion can vary. If I adjust anything other... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Swelling and pain: Assuming you have a bad upper tooth, it will first affect the area immediately adjacent to the offending tooth. Over time, abscesses sometimes expand ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Wait a little bit: If it is a traumatic bruise of some sort it should disappear in a couple of weeks at the most. If it persists beyond that, get it evaluated by a denti... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 61-year-old male asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Not commonly done: These are tiny removable partial dentures that have fallen out of favor primarily because they can be aspirated or swallowed easily if dislodged. Pati... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Not safe: Your risk for getting a dry socket from your extraction is past but it is never safe to smoke.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Blood vessel?: Sometimes a dental injection nicks an underlying blood vessel which causes local bleeding and swelling often with bruising. This almost always resolve... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
763 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Careful chewing: Careful chewing with possible cold compress application and NSAID drugs (like ibuprofen) should bring down the local swelling enough to not re-injure ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old male asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Yes: It could be muscular and associated with strap muscles in your neck or ear related. Get it evaluated and don't be surprised if referrals are made to o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Some risk: Depending on the specifics of your anatomy, risk factors, and symptoms it may be OK to wait a month or it may not. Best to get the opinion of your den... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
It depends..: On the reason the space re-appeared. If there is clearance between your upper and lower front teeth, a Hawley might help but only if the teeth would b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old male asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Should be OK: 7 days is past the risk window for a dry socket. Significant pain and a foul taste are indications of that post-extraction complication. Depending on ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Numerous: ..causes of jaw ache are possible some of dental and many of non-dental origin. You absolutely need to be seen for an evaluation and please don't dela... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
See a dentist: Depending on where you live and your circumstances, find a private dentist, a clinic with dental services, or a dental school asap. If you can see a h... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Bacterial?: If it is, antibiotics may be useful but the vast majority of these are of viral origin. Sometimes it is started by a virus then a bacterial secondary ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Sev. possibilities: If your tooth has enough structure remaining to be restored, it may need a buildup filling possibly with a strengthening post. You may also need a per... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Mucoceles: These sound like benign interruptions of the ducts on minor salivary glands that are common throughout your mouth. Of course your best bet is to get i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old female asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Very possible: You could have a right TMJ capsule that is inflamed causing joint pain and muscle issues with the muscles that open or close your jaw on the other sid... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old female asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Epi most likely: Many dental anesthetics contain epinephrine (adrenaline ) to prolong the effect of the drug. Some people are sensitive to this and if that's the case ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 61-year-old male asked:
Dr. John DeWolfanswered
42 years experience
Often, both: Many people will use a removable denture as an interim solution while they are waiting for healing or osseointegration of an implant. Immediacy vs mor... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
4
Recommendations
506
Thank you notes
Jan 6, 2013
Dr. DeWolf shows a vast knowledge of all areas of dentistry and consistently gives excellent advice and recommendations in a concise, to the point and articulate manner.
Sep 26, 2013
Great answers. Very knowledgeable.
Highly recommend.
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. DeWolf is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Your time on this is much appreciated. It readys me for a conversation with the insurance co. Looking at all options to complicated expensive issues due to a failed (3.0...Read More
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! The comparison of balsa to oak is an excellent one. Will call my ins. rep to verify costs. Once had molar & buccal plate broke. I wanted bone graft. Now empty space.Per...Read More
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Good guess but no sedation. Just one lidocaine shot he said. Only aspirin, and only if needed, for post op care. Sounds like fun but I think the reality is nothing like ...Read More
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
Graduated 1981MD
Awards
graduation award, OKU Dental Honor society
Top Doctor, First Place, Appleton, WI - Winter
2013
Most Influential, First Place, Appleton, WI - Winter
2013
Affiliations
American Dental Association
Academy of General Dentistry
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