February 2nd, 2010 admin
Many people have seen the marketing efforts of companies that make “No Prep” porcelain veneers, or in many cases minimal prep. These CAN be done very well and look nice, but many clinicians use this material or technique in ways that it was not designed.
When choosing a dentist, be sure to ask for examples of THEIR work and not that of the company. All too often, Dr Timmerman is replacing OTHER dentists attempts at a cosmetic upgrade.
Be sure THIS doesn’t happen to you!
Call 206-241-5533 to see what can be done for YOU!
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, porcelain veneers, smile makeover | No Comments »
February 1st, 2010 admin
For those keeping score, Dr Timmerman is heading back to Belgium this week. After having restored the smile of Mrs Globe Begium 2008, Ms Seka Dobric, Dr Timmerman was asked to share his talents to the people of Belgium. To achieve this, he has been asked to take several exams to show his abilities.
It appears, at least to a certain degree, somewhat political. Although the universities in Ghent and Leuven have endorsed his skills, the government may not.
No matter what the final score ends up, Dr Timmerman has enjoyed the experience of meeting new people and cultures.
Mrs Belgium Globe Seka Dobric After Seattle Cosmetic Dentist Lance Timmerman restored her smile
Posted in Home | 1 Comment »
January 28th, 2010 admin
As the New Orleans Saints prepare for the Super Bowl, their oral appliance usage is getting much deserved press. Dr Timmerman is proud to offer the Makkar PPM to people that want to bring their “A game” everytime, from the golfer to the martial artist, or from the skier to the bowler.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/how-does-a-performance-mouthpiece-improve-my-game/article1447242/
THE QUESTION
How does a performance mouthpiece improve my game?
THE ANSWER
One guy who would not have benefited from a mouthpiece is Michael Jordan.
“When he went up for a dunk, he’d stick his tongue out,” says Anil Makkar, the Truro, N.S., dentist whose Makkar Pure Power Mouthpiece has become a must-have accessory for professional athletes in a variety of sports.
Sticking your tongue out, it turns out, lowers your jaw and brings it forward into a relaxed position. Most of us, in contrast, clench our teeth with effort – and that’s why we’d benefit from a mouthpiece that keeps the jaw and facial muscles relaxed, Dr. Makkar says.
Star athletes ranging from Shaquille O’Neal to Terrell Owens have publicly testified to the performance-boosting powers of Dr. Makkar’s $2,000 mouthpiece (entry-level models cost $600). Meanwhile, Baltimore-based Under Armour launches its own mouthpiece in Canada this week, boasting a client list that already includes several dozen Winter Olympians and almost 100 NHL players, including Alexander Ovechkin. Before you invest, though, it’s worth looking into the research behind the bold claims – because not all “scientific proof” is created equal.
The idea that the position of your jaw can affect the rest of your body stretches back at least to ancient Greek athletes and Roman warriors biting down on leather straps; wounded U.S. Civil War soldiers “bit the bullet” to deal with pain. These days, top sprinters strive to relax their face – as you can see from their jiggling cheeks in slow-motion replays.
Nobody really knows why this should work. Clenched teeth may stimulate excessive production of the stress hormone cortisol, or a misaligned temperomandibular joint – the connection between the lower jaw and the skull – may constrict airways or interfere with nerve signals travelling from the brain to the rest of the body. And there are other theories. Whatever the mechanism, Dr. Makkar reports immediate improvements in posture, flexibility, balance and strength, and notes that its users report increased endurance and faster recovery. Under Armour makes similar claims, and adds faster reaction time.
On closer examination, however, much of Under Armour’s research is deeply flawed. For example, a series of 2008 studies by Dena Garner at the Citadel, a military college in South Carolina, compares subjects with mouthpieces to subjects with nothing in their mouths, taking no account of the placebo effect.
The results are interpreted rather generously. What’s described as “a definite trend for lower cortisol” turns out to mean that cortisol levels dropped in only 11 of the 21 cyclists in the study – barely more than half. A follow-up study of runners in 2009 also failed to find any statistically significant change in cortisol.
In comparison, the details of a study Dr. Makkar commissioned at Rutgers University suggest the mouthpiece could make a difference. Shawn Arent, a professor in the department of exercise science, tested 22 collegiate and professional athletes in a double-blinded study, all from contact sports where mouthpieces are already used to protect teeth. Each subject was fitted for a standard mouthguard and for one optimized with Dr. Makkar’s hour-long proprietary technique, and neither the athletes nor the researchers knew which one they were wearing.
The researchers observed small but statistically significant improvements in vertical jump, in peak power produced in a 30-second cycling test, and in the average and peak powers produced during a sequence of 10-second bursts of cycling. The only test that didn’t produce a significant change was the number of body-weight bench presses.
“My sense is that it’s real and it could be important, for some sports more than others,” says Dr. Arent, who has submitted the results to the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. “But seriously, I was surprised by the effect.”
So do these results apply to all “performance mouthpieces,” or just to the Makkar PPM? We simply don’t know, because none of the competitors have invested in proper research. Dr. Makkar, meanwhile, is arranging a further study at Ohio State University of performance on a standard test of balance, flexibility and range-of-motion.
Whether recreational athletes will be willing to pay for a potential power boost of a few per cent – the range suggested by Dr. Arent’s study – remains to be seen. But those who do would be smart to stick with devices that are backed by high-quality research.
Alex Hutchinson blogs about research on exercise and athletic performance at www.SweatScience.com.
Posted in Athletic Performance | 1 Comment »
January 27th, 2010 admin
Over 45% of adults have breathing sleep disorders. Snoring MAY be an indication the you have sleep apnea, which is a life threatening disorder. While there are medical devices to help, CPAP being the most used, there ARE oral appliances that can help.
If you snore, or someone you know snores, call Dr Timmerman at 206-241-5533 to see what can be done.
Posted in Sleep Apnea | 2 Comments »
January 20th, 2010 admin
It may seem odd that your dentist offers Botox, until you really think about it. There are many advantages to consider:
- Dentists give dozens of injections every day, so using needles is nothing new
- Dentists entire careers are focused on head and neck anatomy so their understanding of where to put the material is as good as anyone
- Dentists don’t delegate this (you won’t have a staff member administer). Many other practitioners have their staff place Botox, so you aren’t getting the benefit of the Dr doing the procedure.
- Often the Botox can be done at the end of a cleaning appointment, so convenience is maximized.
- Dentists use “laughing gas” and can use it for those that are scared of the needle.
While the therapeutic use is the main reason for the administration, there often is a side benefit. Using Botox for TMJ pain has helped many people and an unintended benefit is realized. Eliminate the pain, look younger.
What more could you want?
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, TMJ | 1 Comment »
January 14th, 2010 admin
Sometimes there is no way around it. A tooth needs to be pulled (or extracted). Sometimes the efforts can be aggressive, but the goal is “atraumatic tooth removal”, meaning minimal to zero collateral damage.
The key is using the right tools. Dr Timmerman uses a tool called Physics Forceps to get the tooth out quickly and with less post operative discomfort.
If you need a tooth pulled, call 206-241-5533!
Posted in General Dentistry | 1 Comment »
January 14th, 2010 admin
While some companies have done a great job branding “invisible braces” there is a disconnect from what is desired and what can be achieved. Traditional wires can do a much better job and in less time, but have historically been unattractive.
Until now.
While not completely invisible, tooth colored brackets and wires can do what clear trays cannot, and are aesthetic. Like these photos here, the difference is minor.
Which one has the brackets?
If you would like straight teeth, call 206-241-5533 to learn more!
Posted in Invisible Braces | 1 Comment »
January 11th, 2010 admin
As people age, it becomes very common to have receding gums. In the past, we described a person that was “long in the tooth” as being old because the gums shrink back and make the teeth appear longer. While it is natural or common, it is not a good thing.
When the gums recede, the bone follows. If the recession continues, there is less and less bone to support teeth and evenutally tooth loss is a result.
Dr Timmerman can help! Call 206-241-5533 to learn what options you have.
Posted in Periodontal Care | Comments Off
January 5th, 2010 admin
Teeth whitening is one of the most common cosmetic procedures done today. Unfortunately, it does not last forever. Or does it…?
If custom trays have been fabricated by Dr Timmerman, so we KNOW they fit and do the job, they can last a very long time. Dr Timmerman has agreed to dispense one syringe of whitening gel twice per year at the routine recare appointment indefinitely for free as long as these conditions are met:
- All recare appointments are kept as recommended (3, 4, or 6 month intervals)
- All recare copays are paid in full (if insurance does not cover maintenance cleanings 100%, the balance must be paid prior to dispensing free gel).
What better way to protect your investment? Call 206-241-5533 to learn more!
Posted in Home | Comments Off
January 4th, 2010 admin
There are many products out on the market to get white teeth. Some are done at home, some in the dental office. Zoom! is a product for the dental office. It does a nice job, but does have some challenges.
In Dr Timmerman’s office, this style of whitening is a mid level approach. His other methods are either cheaper (simple take home gels) or more effective (Deep Bleaching®).
To find out what would work best for you, call 206-241-5533! Be sure to ask about current whitening specials!
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry | 4 Comments »
