The Whole Tooth Dental Podcast

Black triangles between teeth are not pretty and can be annoying if food is stuck on a routine basis.  Can that be fixed? Dr Lance Timmerman DMD explains...

Every dental office is different.  The equipment, the skill set, the decorations.... and most importantly, the very first visit.  What is the first visit with Dr Lance Timmerman DMD in Tukwila, WA like?  Is it thorough?  Is it quick?  Is it combined with a cleaning?

Sometimes it appears that the crooked teeth are on the lower arch only and the upper teeth are fine.  Can braces be put on the lower teeth only?  Dr Lance Timmerman explains.

It is not unusual to have Invisalign trays (aligners) get lost, or sometimes crack/break.  What to do? When is the best time to move on to the next aligner?  What about the immediately past aligner? Dr Lance Timmerman DMD explains.

Many people call asking for a fee for a dental implant, but this leads to confusion.  It normally comes down to understanding the PARTS to a dental implant, as there is a fee for each.  What ARE the parts to a dental implant?  Dr Lance Timmerman explains.

Every smile is unique, including items that people want corrected.  One common issue is a gummy smile.  But not all gummy smiles are the same, and so the correct treatment will vary from case to case.  Dr Lance Timmerman explains.

Teeth, after having root canal therapy treatment, should be crowned.  Teeth are prone to fracture, but also will become darker.  Even with a crown, the gums can appear dark, so is it possible to bleach the tooth internally? Dr Lance Timmerman explains.

Are some pastes better than others?  Especially when brushing dental restorations?  Dr Lance Timmerman explains.

After being presented with a sequential treatment plan, it is not unusual for patients to want to do things "their way".  While patients have every right to do what they want when they want it, it may not be in their best interests to do so.  

Many procedures build upon previous steps, and doing things out of sequence, while "possible", may lead to doing treatment over again.  Dr Timmerman explains.

Implants are very versitile and can support a variety of restorations.  From single crowns, to bridges or dentures, implants are fantastic.  What if a restoration needs to be changed?  How do dentists get the screws out?  Dr Lance Timmerman explains.

Sometimes (usually) Invisalign cases need a mid course correction or mid treatment refinement.  It happens even MORE frequently if patients don't wear the trays or aligners as instructed.  Dr Lance Timmerman explains.....

There are many "flavors" of implants.  Can they all be used in the same way?  Dr Lance Timmerman explains.

In an effort to improve a smile, factors such as ease of treatment, cost, and durability come into play.  Are simple solutions, like Easy Veneers or Lifelike Veneers, as good as custom porcelain veneers?  Dr Lance Timmerman explains.

If there are spaces between teeth, is the only solution orthodontics (braces)?  Dr Lance Timmerman explains.

Porcelain veneers should look like teeth.  REAL teeth.  But sometimes they stain.  How can this be fixed?  Dr Lance Timmerman explains

Receding gums can be due to many reasons, so the first step is assessing the cause.  Once that is addressed, fixing the result can be started, and usually a small and simple surgical procedure can be done.  Dr Lance Timmerman explains.

Can a person sleep during their treatment?  Won't the sound keep you awake?  Dr Lance Timmerman explains

Dentures require bone to stay put and not fall out when eating or speaking, but what happens when the tissues shrink?  What if people can't even see upper teeth when you smile?  Dr Lance Timmerman explains.

Early in orthodontic treatment, it is not unusual to have brackets break.  Sometimes it is dietary, sometimes it is mechanical, but it is almost always temporary.  Dr Lance Timmerman explains.

Some patients are picky, some barely care.  If a crown is made that the patient doesn't like the look, who pays to remake it? Dr Lance Timmerman explains.