February 9th, 2011 admin
Often when considering restoring function when missing some or all teeth, dental implants are the best choice. Traditionally the treatment plan for implants required the implants to be placed at specific angles, usually perpendicular (straight up and down relative to a person’s bite).
It is not unusual for a person to have anatomical problems with ideal locations for the implants. Sinuses in the upper jaw may be large or nerves in the lower jaw are in the precise location that a dentist would want to place an implant. Usually this means extra surgeries are needed to create room or move the obstruction out of the way.
With the All-on-four method, the issues are eliminated. By angling the implants, the problems can be avoided and the dentures or bridges can be placed predictably.
Call Dr Lance Timmerman DMD at 206-241-5533 to learn more!
Posted in Dental Implants | 2 Comments »
January 13th, 2011 admin
The first step in dental implants is deciding what the finished product should look like. If ALL teeth are missing, then an implant supported denture or bridge is considered. If only a single tooth is missing, the complexity goes down, there are fewer choices.
The main determining factor is bone. Dental implants fuse to bone to then be restored, by a process called “osseointegration”. Most dental implants are made from pure titanium, which the body does not recognize as foreign. If it is not foreign, then the body does not reject the material and integrates it with the bone, or fuses. This process takes time, from 3-6 months on average.
If not enough bone exists, whether from thickness or height, then an augmentive surgery may help. Again, this will take time, usually 3-6 months.
So, to know if you are a candidate for dental implants, adequate bone must be determined. Dr Timmerman can help.
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January 13th, 2011 admin
Dr Timmerman recently was humbled to learn that despite his efforts to teach his patients what it takes to have a dental implant, he still was unclear. The next few posts will explore how it is done.
Understand that dental implants are considered the best that dentistry has to offer. They last longer, look more natural and restore function completely. The only drawback is time. It takes time to have the body heal at each stage of treatment.
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September 15th, 2010 admin
Dr Lance Timmerman is often asked “What is best for my tooth? Is it worth saving?” The truth is, “worth” is an opinion, but many times, an extraction IS best.
Speaking merely economically, the fee to retreat (or even to treat for the first time) a root canal can be significant. Hollowing out a tooth for a root canal weakens the tooth, reguiring a build-up and full coverage crown. The result may be fantastic, but how long will it last?
The alternative is to extract and place an implant. This can be done with very little discomfort and last for a very long time. Dental implants are among the longest lasting procedures in dentistry today!
Quite often, a tooth can be extracted, an implant and a temporary crown placed all at the same appointment!
Call Dr Timmerman at 206-241-5533 to learn more!
Posted in Dental Implants | 3 Comments »
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.
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November 23rd, 2009 admin
Dr Timmerman is frequently asked, whether face to face or online, for the cost of dental implants. It is not easy to give a static fee for everyone, so the answer is usually, “I don’t know…!”
It may seem coy to hear, “It depends,” all the time, but it truly does depend. Some factors include”:
- How many teeth are being replaced?
- Where in the mouth will they be?
- Will they stabilize a denture or a crown?
- How long have the teeth been missing?
- Will extractions be done where the implants will be placed?
Fees will vary from city to city as well, so a fee quoted in Seattle likely won’t apply to someone in Manhattan or Des Moines, Iowa.
Some costs to include when figuring fees could include bone grafting (to make sure there is enough “cement holding the fence post in place”), extractions (and what kind? surgical or simple?), implant abutment, implant body and implant crown. Often there is a fee for a surgical guide (to make sure it doesn’t get placed in a sinus or cut a nerve), and a fee for a CT scan.
So, while you COULD call around and ask the cost for an implant in each office, true comparison shopping is difficult. An answer of $1000 for an implant may be offset by a higher fee for other things, at what originally sounded like a great deal may in fact be no savings at all, and perhaps even cost more.
A sort of rule of thumb, the implant body could run $1500-2500, abutment $300-600, implant crown $1200-2300, bone graft $400-600, sinus lift $500-5000, surgical guide $400-800, CT scan $400-1200, extractions $200-800 each.
As you can see, the fee has a lot of variability.
So… How much for dental implants?
“It depends.”
Posted in Dental Implants | 4 Comments »
November 20th, 2009 admin
Personal Health
A Dental Shift: Implants Instead of Bridges
Published: November 16, 2009
If I have one serious regret about my age, it is that my permanent teeth developed before New York, my hometown, got fluoridated water. I first lost a permanent molar to decay in my early 20s, and the resulting bridge has had to be replaced several times in subsequent decades, ultimately as a four-part apparatus.
Now that has to go as well. Because I could not floss and clean properly under the bridge and between the supporting crowns, I developed a severe periodontal infection.
Dr. Michael Zidile, the young periodontist I consulted, took one look at my mouth and said: “This is not how we do restorations nowadays. A bridge is not a permanent solution and makes it too hard for most people to keep their gums and underlying bone healthy. Now we do implants and individual crowns where needed.”
More out of curiosity than distrust — and before I invested thousands of dollars and countless hours on new teeth — I did my own homework and got a second opinion. Dr. Zidile, I learned, is correct. In an overwhelming majority of cases, implants to replace lost teeth are by far the best long-term solution for maintaining a healthy mouth. Also, because they rarely need to be replaced, in the long run they are more economical than bridges.
A Growing Option
Implants for replacing lost teeth have come a long way in the 25 years since I last wrote about them in this column. Better materials, procedures and professional experience result in far fewer problems than occurred in the early years of implants.
Critical to their success, however, is proper selection of both patients and practitioners — and, after the implant, a commitment to good oral hygiene. Dental implants must be treated like natural teeth: kept clean and free of plaque through proper brushing, flossing and periodic professional cleanings.
“Bridges are not the standard of care anymore,” Dr. Lawrence J. Kessler, a periodontist and associate professor of surgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine, told me in an interview. “For most people who lose teeth, implants are the treatment of choice.”
Implants do not decay, and adjacent healthy teeth do not require crowns to support them. And because it is easy to clean and floss between implants, the gum tissue and underlying bone are more likely to remain healthy.
With a bridge, if one of the supporting crowned teeth breaks or develops decay or nerve damage, the bridge and its three or more crowns must be removed and replaced.
Implants can replace individual lost teeth or many teeth in a row. For those who have lost most of their teeth, implants can be used to anchor a full or partial denture. About half a million implants are placed each year in this country.
On average, the total cost of an implant to replace a single tooth is $3,500 to $4,000 (more if other procedures are required), or about one-third more than the cost of a bridge. But while bridges have an average life span of 10 years, an implant can last a lifetime.
Many insurance companies now cover implants, but most people do not have dental insurance and must pay out of pocket. If cost is an issue, consider treatment at a dental college, where implants may be available at reduced rates as part of the teaching process.
Not a Quick Procedure
The basic technique involves surgically inserting a titanium screw — the implant — into the supporting bone, which can be done under local anesthesia in less than an hour, and attaching a small fake tooth called an abutment, followed by a crown. The resulting tooth looks and feels like a natural one.
The procedure is a lengthy one. Unlike a bridge, which can be completed in two weeks, implants usually take about eight weeks for the screw to become firmly attached to bone before the final crown can be placed. “A patient’s health, not age, determines suitability for an implant,” Dr. Kessler said. “I just did implants for a 93-year-old who needed them to fit a partial denture. I put two implants in a man when he was 85 and five more when he was 88, with no problems either time.
“If cases are chosen well, implants are very successful — 96 to 97 percent successful. And they rarely fail down the road.”
A most important element is having enough bone in the jaw to support the implant, although in some cases bone cells removed during drilling for the implant or taken from elsewhere in the mouth can be used to fill in gaps.
“If someone has diabetes or is a smoker,” Dr. Kessler said, “the chances of success are reduced because a poorer blood supply diminishes the fusion of bone cells to the implant.”
Also important is healthy gum tissue, free of periodontal disease. Before I could undergo an implant procedure, I had to have periodontal treatment to get rid of the plaque, tartar and infection on the tooth roots and gum tissue around my bridge and supporting crowns.
In some cases when a tooth must be pulled, an implant can be placed right after the extraction, with the advantage of limiting bone loss in the area. When bone is not being stimulated, it tends to break down. I consider myself lucky that although I’ve had this troublesome bridge for many decades, my underlying bone has remained healthy enough to support an implant.
Choosing a Doctor
Just as any physician can legally perform surgery, any dentist can legally do implants. Be sure to choose someone thoroughly trained in the technique. Taking a weekend course in implantology is rarely adequate. There are risks involved in placing implants, including damage to a nerve or sinus cavity, which are magnified when the practitioner lacks adequate training.
Implants were once done mainly by oral and maxillofacial surgeons, most of whom operated independently of dentists. Now at least as many implants are placed by periodontists who are schooled in the technique and who coordinate their work closely with the patient’s dentist. Ideally, the periodontist should be board-certified.
Just as you might ask for referrals for a prospective nanny or house cleaner, consider asking to speak with other patients of the practitioner before deciding to proceed with an implant. Though every case is different, at the least you can determine how well you are likely to be cared for.
Posted in Dental Implants | 3 Comments »
November 16th, 2009 admin
Dr Timmerman is proud of his education and the services he offers. He continues to learn and add treatments in his office. He recently was notified that he has attained Fellowship status in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI). It is a great honor and has taken years and many implant cases.
Dental Implants have changed people’s lives. Replacing missing teeth is both cosmetic and functional and can have psychological benefits as well. Dentures can be securely fit so that they don’t move, allowing normal function once again.
If you desire dental implants and want a dentist that has advanced training and a fellowship level of merit, call 206-241-5533 today!
Posted in Dental Implants | 1 Comment »
November 13th, 2009 admin
There are many implant systems out there. There are advantages and disadvantages to all of them, but one system that Dr Timmerman loves to use is Camlog. This system is easy for the patient and easy for the dentist (restoratively). Implants are a great way to replace missing teeth, whether to replace a single tooth, a bridge for more than one tooth, or to stablize a denture or two.
Are YOU missing teeth? Would you like to replace that tooth without affecting the adjacent teeth? Come talk with Dr Timmerman and see what would work for YOU…!
206-241-5533
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October 12th, 2009 admin
Dr Timmerman strives to make the dental visit as comfortable as possible. Modern technology has made it so that even numbing the teeth can be a non-issue, since computerization has taken control. The key to truly pain free injections is The Wand®!
Dr Timmerman has a special pharmacy fabricate a gel that makes the initial injection pain free. The Wand® then takes over. The computer with the Wand® controls the rate of fluid introduced, so it is slower than the human hand can offer.
If the “freezing” of the teeth is done correctly, dental care is easy and almost pleasant. If you feel that your dental care is not as comfortable as you would like, call 206-241-5533!
Call Dr Timmerman today!
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Implants, General Dentistry | No Comments »
