January 10th, 2010 admin
A common issue today is receding gums. In the past, it was said someone was old when they got “long in the tooth”, meaning receding gums was a sign of aging. As the gums recede, so does the bone and tooth loss can be a result. Exposed root surfaces can be sensitive with no real long term alternative solution available.
Dr Timmerman offers minimally invasive treatment to put the gums BACK! A fairly quick procedure, Dr Timmerman can create thicker tissues or cover up the receeding areas. If you have receding gums, in one area or several, call 206-241-5533 to find out what can be done for YOU!
Tags: dentist 98004, dentist 98038, dentist 98055, dentist 98056, dentist 98058, dentist 98148, dentist 98168, dentist 98178, dentist 98188, family dentist, general dentist, gum recession, implant dentist, periodontal disease, receding gums
Posted in Periodontal Care | No Comments »
March 5th, 2009 Dr. Timmerman
We are finding that in our efforts (the dental profession) to help non dentists understand what we are doing, we have created misunderstandings. The truth is, there is no such thing as a “deep cleaning” in a dental office.
A dental office is either cleaning teeth (polishing them up, removing stains, etc) or providing periodontal therapy. This therapy is often called a “deep cleaning” but that isn’t really what is done. The goal here is to remove what is called the bio-film from below the gum line. The bio film is a collection of plaque and bacteria and can create an inflammatory response from your body. Chronic inflammation can affect your whole body, and periodontal disease destroys bone around the teeth. If left untreated, you will lose teeth. If left untreated, you could die (I know, it sounds like an exaggeration, but just ask Whoopi Goldberg)
The process for periodontal therapy WILL make a person’s teeth clean, and the process IS deeper than a “regular” cleaning, to call it a “deep cleaning” is not truly accurate…
Sometimes we get patients that will request a “regular” cleaning when a “deep cleaning” was recommended. While it would seem logical that you could request that, the laws are clear that the dental health care provider cannot violate standard of care, and a patient is not capable to waive the standard of care. Legal precedent has been set, and if a dentist has diagnosed gum disease, therapy must be performed even if a patient requests otherwise.
It is similar to a physician diagnosing an infection in your lungs. He cannot simply give an aromatherapy candle and ignore the infection. The patient has the right to decline care and leave, but the doctor cannot ignore the infection.
Tags: dental hygiene, periodontal disease, periodontist, seattle dentist, teeth cleaning
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
