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!
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!
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.
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:
What better way to protect your investment? Call 206-241-5533 to learn more!
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!
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!
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.
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!
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’?”
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.
