September 23rd, 2009 admin
There are some things in life that finding the lowest cost makes sense. Video equipment in one store is the same as another, so the lowest price is a wise search. But in health care, is that really a good idea? Would a discount brain surgeon be worth the savings (although in the end, if you are a vegetable, do you really care?)?
A fair amount of our cosmetic cases are redoing work from another dentist. There are many fantastic dentists out there that really do a wonderful job with cosmetics, but there seem to be MORE that just “prep and pray” that the end result is nice. And for some people, that is all they want.
If I am redoing work done by others, did the people REALLY save any money? The fee is NOT less when redoing the work, it is often MORE expensive, since there is MORE work needed when fixing a botched case. Sometimes when originally 8-10 veneers is all that was needed, a redo is 8-10 veneers AND a few root canals or implants.
Consumers need to do some homework. Not all dentists are trained equally. Not all have experience in cosmetics. If you would like to know more, call 206-241-5533.
Tags: clear braces, cosmetic dentist, cosmetic dentistry, porcelain caps, porcelain teeth, porcelain veneers, smile makeover
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September 22nd, 2009 admin
Dr Timmerman is proud of his education and his continuing education. One of the programs he has participated in is the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (or LVI for short). This world renowned institute teaches modern materials and techniques the dental schools just don’t cover. Dental schools just cover the basics, so if your dentist has not kept up with 21st century dentistry, you are truly missing out!
From cosmetic smile makeovers to complex reconstructions, from TMJ disorders to sedation dentistry, LVI trains dentists to help people that otherwise are not helped.
If you would like to be treated by LVI trained Dr Lance Timmerman, call 206-241-5533 today!
Tags: cosmetic dentist, extreme makeover, porcelain veneers, seattle dentist, smile design, smile makeover
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September 21st, 2009 admin
One of the greatest challenges Dr Timmerman (and all dentists) have is to restore a single front tooth. Matching the color of one front tooth can be difficult, as the shade on one side of the tooth is often different than the other side. Surface texture, if not done well, can be too smooth, so when the light interacts with the smile (like during a cocktail party or other social gathering) the appearance is less than desireable. Material selection is important as well, since light reacts with different mediums in a variety of ways. Old fashioned crowns are made with a metal substructure that can block light and make a tooth look opaque and lifeless.
Here is an example of a single front tooth restored. Can YOU tell which is fake?
An enhanced smile does not always mean restoring multiple teeth, especially if one is satisfied with how everything looks in the first place! If you would like to know more, call 206-241-5533 today for a free consultation!
Tags: cosmetic dentist, cosmetic dentistry, dental caps, dental crowns, extreme makeover, family dentist, general dentist, porcelain caps, porcelain teeth, porcelain veneers, seattle dentist, smile makeover
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September 21st, 2009 admin
Simply put, bruxism is “grinding your teeth”. It can annoy neighbors, it can break teeth and dental restorations, and it can contribute to TMJ or jaw disorders. It can also make the teeth look very short and unesthetic.
Dr Timmerman helps people deal with bruxism. He has several methods to help, from the simple to the complex. If you grind your teeth, or if you know someone that does and would like to get treatment, call 206-241-5533!
Tags: extreme makeover, Jaw pain, porcelain caps, porcelain teeth, seattle dentist, smile makeover, teeth, TMD, TMJ
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September 17th, 2009 admin
Dr Timmerman is often asked what is involved in a cosmetic smile makeover. Hopefully this presentation will help explain the 4 simple steps!
Tags: cosmetic dentist, cosmetic dentistry, extreme makeover, porcelain caps, porcelain teeth, porcelain veneers, seattle dentist, smile makeover
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September 14th, 2009 Dr. Timmerman
Dr Timmerman has several options for people that desire braces. Invisalign is a fantastic method for many people, yet there are some that desire straight teeth and are not a good fit for Invisalign. Another option is 6 month braces!
These tooth colored brackets are nearly invisible! While not as invisible as Invisalign, they offer many benefits. They may even be faster!
Call 206-241-5533 to see what works best for YOU!
Tags: clear braces, cosmetic dentist, cosmetic dentistry, Invisalign, invisible braces, orthodontics, orthodontist, seattle dentist
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September 11th, 2009 Dr. Timmerman
Dr Timmerman was asked recently about Invisalign. A patient was justifiably anxious to get started and wanted to know how long they needed to wait before treatment actually began.
The Invisalign process is really 3 steps. First is a complete exam and diagnostic records. After the impressions are taken, they are shipped to Invisalign and a computer rendition of the planned case is proposed. The second step is approval of the proposal, the “Clincheck” step. Once approved, Align technologies creates the aligners (the trays) and sends them to the dental office. Usually 3 aligners are distributed at a time, but the entire treatment is fabricated at once.
Normally, 2-4 weeks is required for aligner fabrication. Sometimes the wait is a little longer, but the norm is about a month.
Watch this video and see how they are made!
Call 206-241-5533 to see if Invisalign is for YOU!
Tags: clear braces, cosmetic dentist, Invisalign, invisible braces, orthodontics, orthodontist, seattle
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September 3rd, 2009 Dr. Timmerman
When picking an office to have dental care performed, it is important to be sure you will be satisfied. What better way to help ensure that than by hearing how others have felt? Watch this video and see for yourself.
Satisfied patients share their feelings
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September 2nd, 2009 Dr. Timmerman
While we are very happy to help utilize dental insurance in our office and process the necessary paperwork, there seems to be a common misunderstanding.
Dental insurance is YOUR insurance. Dental insurance does not care.
We do our best to know how your plan works, but as a consumer it is necessary for you to be familiar with your plan. There are thousands of dental plans out there and subgroups as well. Employees in adjacent cubicles can have the same plan but different benefits. It is confusing and we try to help, but it is impossible for us to predict with 100% accuracy what they will cover 100% of the time (we are good and usually ARE correct, but sometimes the insurance companies do what they do…).
As the economy fluctuates, we see some plans reject claims that they covered in the past. The person most qualified to suggest treatment is the doctor that actually LOOKED into a person’s mouth. If an x-ray was all that was needed, dentists wouldn’t need to even look inside of a mouth.
An example was a tooth that had a very large filling and decay all around the filling and cracked enamel. The recommendation was a crown, yet the insurance company refused to pay, saying it was fine. No matter how many photos and x-rays were sent, they just wouldn’t pay.
That doesn’t mean the care given was not appropriate. It simply means the insurance company chose not to pay based on the opinion of their minimum wage desk clerk, or occasionally their contracted dentist that gets paid based on how much money is NOT spent.
The insurance company is designed for nothing more than to make money. They make their money by NOT spending it. They deny claims for their own profits, and the subscribers (patients) suffer as a result.
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