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
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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.
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November 24th, 2009 admin
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November 14th, 2009 admin
Be sure to see our main sites at:
www.BestSeattleDentist.com and
www.DrTimmerman.com
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October 26th, 2009 admin
In the past, fillings came in one color. Metal. These fillings were not pretty and contained mercury, but with no other choice the alternative was worse (doing nothing and letting the disease get worse).
Now, composite resin fillings are a better alternative. Bonding to the tooth, they add strength as well as look natural. The material is more biocompatible than mercury amalgams, leading to a more healthy situation.
If you would like to upgrade your metal fillings, call 206-241-5533!
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October 6th, 2009 admin
A local TV station is running a popularity contest, which means we need your votes! Please click on this link and vote for Dr Timmerman!
http://best.king5.com/dr-lance-timmerman/biz/115416
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