Dr. Robert Govoni, better known as Dr. Bob, is one half of the Govoni duo here at Brushin’ on Belmont. He and his wife are two of our talented dentists, and we are lucky to work alongside them! We want to give Dr. Govoni a spotlight for all that he does.
Dr. Govoni began his education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology.
Upon graduation, he attended the College of Dentistry at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he received his Doctorate of Dental Surgery. After dental school, he continued on to his residency with two additional years of training in Pediatric Dentistry at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Dr. Bob is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist and a Diplomat of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.
While they were both working initially as associate dentists at Chicago and suburban practices, Dr. Bob and his wife, Dr. Monika Govoni, decided to open an office of their own and combine their dental specialties to create a unique experience for kids, adults and families. The couple currently resides in the Roscoe Village area of Chicago with their three children, Jenna, Alex, and Emilie.
In addition to his work at Brushin’ on Belmont, Dr. Bob has medical staff privileges at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, where he treats patients and contributes to the training of pediatric dental residents.
One of the many aspects of pediatric dentistry that Dr. Bob finds rewarding is working with children with dental anxiety or “fear of the dentist.” In some cases, young children, or those with high dental anxiety, may require treatment other than check-ups and cleanings such as fillings, crowns, or extractions.
What sets Dr. Bob apart from many of his pediatric colleagues is his ability to offer many types of treatment to help with a child’s anxiety. Dr. Bob has special training in providing children with oral conscious sedation in the office. This means that some children may benefit from a light sedative, similar to a Valium, to help cope with the dental procedure. The child is awake and alert, just a bit more relaxed, leading to a much calmer and pleasant experience. This creates a “positive” view of dental care and sets up the child for future dental “success.” Many pediatric dentists in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs refer their patients to Dr. Bob to perform this procedure. In some cases, general anesthesia at Lurie Children’s Hospital may be necessary, but Dr. Bob has found that an overwhelming majority of his patients can avoid general anesthesia due to his success with oral sedation at Brushin’ on Belmont. Specializing in sedation and hospital dentistry for kids allows Dr. Bob to treat any child, regardless of age or anxiety level, in a safe, professional manner.