Regence Dentist
March 7, 2018
Dr Lance Timmerman DMD is a Regence Dentist, a dentist for your entire family. With today’s changing climate, it is important to get the most “bang for your buck” and easy to manage your dental benefits. When seeing a dentist IN network with your insurance, coordinating and managing your benefits can’t be any easier. When Dr Timmerman was OUT of network, things were very complicated. Now that Dr Timmerman has been recruited to the network, everything is much more streamlined.
When choosing a Regence Dentist (sometimes referred to as “Regence Blue Shield”), you don’t have to shop around looking for the best price. Since it won’t cost any more or less when seeing a network provider, you can find a dentist that offers the treatment you seek, or at the location that is convenient. Dr Timmerman is among the most experienced and trained dentists in the NATION, with a Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry, a Diplomate with the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, and a fellowship in the International Congress of Oral Implantology. Less than 2% of the dentists nationwide have this level of training and experience, so he is often asked to lecture and teach OTHER dentists.
Dr Timmerman’s office is very convenient to get to. Tucked behind the Family Fun Center in Tukwila, near the Southcenter Mall (Westfield Shopping Center), Dr Timmerman practically shares a parking lot with Starfire Sports Complex (home of the Seattle Sounders). Right off exit #1 from I-405, you can arrive very quickly from all over the Seattle metropolitan area. Patients come from all over the world to see Dr Timmerman, so you are fortunate that he is so close to you!
Managing costs of dental care can be confusing. Let us help you manage your Regence dental benefits or coordinate our many financing options.
What is Cracked Tooth Syndrome?
March 11, 2016
Cracked tooth syndrome is a common reason for expensive dentistry. The pain from an affected tooth can be almost unbearable, and if treated early can avoid root canal therapy. What exactly IS it?
Despite tooth structure being the hardest substance in the human body, teeth flex microscopically. The flex is so small that we cannot feel it. However, if a part of the tooth is removed, it can flex MORE. Even if the missing tooth structure is replaced with a filling, the flex still increases.
Over time, the flex can lead to cracks. Like Nancy Reagan said, say no to crack. Small cracks become big cracks, and big cracks lead to fractures. In some cases cracks and fractures involve the nerve of the tooth, which can kill it. Normally the pain in earlier stages will lead to treatment before the nerve is involved, but sometimes the first sign of a problem is the fractured and dead tooth.
To treat a tooth with Cracked Tooth Syndrome, the cracked part must be removed. If small, an onlay can be placed that covers a single cusp, but the most comon treatment is a full crown. More than just removing the cracked part, the crown directs the chewing forces inward, so any micro-cracks left behind are less likely to propagate.
A more advanced issue is an indication for root canal therapy, but in a small percentage of cases the crack/fracture is so significant that the tooth is hopeless and must be removed. A dental implant is normally the best solution, and a dental bridge a close second..
We all want to be sure we don’t “cry wolf” when a tooth hurts. Many people try to ignore pain and assume it will just go away or get better. This usually doesn’t work and ends up costing more to fix the longer one waits.
Cost of a Dental Bridge
August 17, 2015
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!