December 29th, 2009 admin
Lately the conversations about dental implants show that there still remains fear of the unknown. “A friend of a friend” had a bad experience or it “didn’t work”. These stories are hard to overcome, since each case is very different.
Success rates for implants in general are in the 98% range. The riskier approaches fall to 92%, which is still better than any baseball player’s batting average. Even when implants don’t work as planned, they can often be redone with great success.
To find out if implants will help YOU, call 206-241-5533 to find out more. Within weeks, YOU can have your smile back!
Posted in Home | 2 Comments »
December 23rd, 2009 admin
When a tooth is lost, bone loss begins. 40-60% of bone volume is lost in the first year of extraction, and 1% per year after that. If the lost bone is not managed, choices in the future are limited.
Dr Timmerman places bone grafts when he extracts teeth. This allows many more choices in the future that would not be possible otherwise. Synthetic or freeze dried bone can be placed and allowed to heal for 3-6 months. At this point an implant can be placed, or if dentures are to be worn the ridge is preserved for stability.
While the investment for this is more than simply extracting the teeth, the savings in future treatment more than makes up for it.
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December 21st, 2009 admin
As “frugal” is the “new black”, questions of fees are common. A recent inquiry was about a dental bridge, which often has costs that are not directly monetary.
An economist will talk of “opportunity costs”. One way to look at this is where a person might enjoy their first pizza, but by the twelfth they don’t really enjoy it. Another is where a person may have saved money, but had they invested, the money would have grown. Or instead of investing they could have paid down debt.
In dentistry, there are other things to consider. For a bridge, there is the cost of treating the adjacent teeth. The cost will vary with how long the span of the bridge is as well, as in the span is larger if you are missing 3 teeth instead of 1. There is also the cost of future care.
The initial cost for a 3 unit bridge will vary, but in OUR area it can range from $2700 to $4500. The price can go up dramatically as teeth are added and there is a limit as to how large the bridge can be. It is not a good idea to have a 10 tooth bridge to replace 4-5 missing teeth, as the stresses and forces generated will cause the bridge to fail much sooner than smaller bridges would.
Another cost to consider is future cost. While a bridge may work, if not properly maintained will need replacement. Longevity ranges from 5 to 20 years (as an average). An implant or implant supported bridge may last 2-3 times as long.
There is much to consider, so feel free to call 206-241-5533 to learn more!
Posted in General Dentistry, Home | 1 Comment »
December 20th, 2009 admin
Dr Timmerman was asked, “If a new crown is not right and the dentist doesn’t have the impressions, what is done?”
If the crown is already permanently placed, it must be cut off and remade. Even if the impression was in the dentist’s hand, it would be useless, as the removal of the crown would alter the shape of the tooth. If the crown was at the try in stage it simply could be sent back for alteration, unless the problem was model. In both cases, a new impression would be needed.
If the crown was not cemented in place and the impression was digital, as in the case of iTero digital impressions by Cadent, then the data is still stored and can be redone.
The real question is, “Why is the crown ‘not right’?”
Posted in Dental Crowns | 1 Comment »
December 17th, 2009 admin
When choosing an implant to replace a missing tooth, quite often the specific brand of implant matters. Nobel Biocare is the leader in dental implants and continues to be innovative in product development. Nobel Biocare has a wide range of dental products as well, from dental implants to porcelain dental crowns.
Dr Timmerman has been using Nobel Biocare materials for over a decade. He trusts the company and only chooses the best for his patients
If you would like to know more, or simply want what is best for you, call 206-241-5533.
Posted in Dental Implants | 1 Comment »
December 11th, 2009 admin
Sometimes “things” happen. That tooth that has been a bother off and on has become more “on” than “off”… and NOW it finally broke. As luck would have it, the weekend is here and your dentist is on vacation…
Quite often when teeth break, simply placing a crown on the tooth will solve the problem. But sometimes that won’t work. Cracks in teeth sometimes can propagate the length of the tooth, like when splitting wood, and the tooth either needs a root canal in addition to the crown or the tooth must come out, resulting in the need for a dental implant or bridge.
Whatever the case is, Dr Timmerman can help. With the latest technology, Dr Timmerman can restore your dental health in a comfortable and caring environment.
Posted in General Dentistry | 1 Comment »
December 7th, 2009 admin
The blame game.
Who do we blame when things don’t go as planned? Does that entitle one to $$? I am not a lawyer, so I am not dispensing legal advice, but perhaps a perspective may help.
Nobody is perfect. Nothing works 100% of the time. Nothing in dentistry lasts forever. Nothing in Dentistry is permanent.
I was asked on another forum, “if dental surgery goes wrong, who is responsible?”
Truthfully, “it depends.” Why is it wrong? Were the porcelain veneers the wrong shade? In some people’s minds, it “went wrong” yet others would say it is just opinion. This usually can be avoided by clear communication DURING the process.
Most of the time, open communication during care avoids “things going wrong.” Often, there are signatures collected along the way permitting the dentist to continue to the next step. When the case is complete, should the patient decide they are not satisfied, they have nobody to blame.
And sometimes things just “happen” with no fault to anyone. Courts of law have established that NOTHING is without risk, and if an event happens (while rare) there is no fault.
Most dentists do their best to make things right, within reason. Refunds are usually pointless, as 99% of the time simply doing the case over satisfies all parties. If a filling doesn’t feel right, let the dentist do it over. If the filling is done 3 times without satisfaction, perhaps something else was the issue. Sometimes a nerve of a tooth should be treated and not JUST a filling.
If dentures are fabricated, it would be considered unreasonable to just demand a refund if satisfaction is not met. Dentures take many visits to do well, and hundreds (sometimes thousands) of dollars in lab work. To say “I am not satisfied and want my money back,” is considered unreasonable by the juries.
If a crown is placed in a person’s mouth that continues to drink acidic drinks or has decreased salivary flow and does not change their hygiene habits, the crown will not last. Is it the dentist’s fault? While statistics say crowns last on average of 5 years, many crowns last much longer. That would imply that many last much less. Who is to blame?
More often than not, there is no blame to be placed. There ARE cases of negligence or poor care, but those cases are rare. Most “failings” in a dental office are simply due to the many variables involved. There is no fault.
As stated earlier, this is a dental office and not a law firm.
Posted in Home | 1 Comment »
December 6th, 2009 admin
Dr Timmerman has noticed that his patients that have trouble communicating due to loss of hearing don’t get the needed dental care as often as they should. With a challenge such as theirs, he can only speculate as to “why”, which is not as important as “how”.
Dr Timmerman offers a service in his office, an interpreter. This expert in American sign language has helped him communicate dental needs to his patients that otherwise would not get care, or would only seek care when the pain was unbearable.
If you, or someone you know, is hearing impaired, contact us at info@DrTimmerman.com and let us help!
Posted in General Dentistry | 1 Comment »
