Call us: (253) 939-2424

NEW PATIENTS:

WHAT TO EXPECT ON YOUR FIRST VISIT:

At your Initial Examination Appointment, Dr. Hess, Hygienists and Assistants will work together to gather information regarding your health and dental needs.

It is unlikely that you will have your teeth “cleaned” during your first visit.

Please, expect to have x-rays, possibly some photographs of your teeth taken, periodontal probing and an examination with the doctor. From the data obtained, the hygienist and doctor will determine what kind of hygiene visit is needed, whether it be a prophylaxis (traditional cleaning) or more involved gum therapy such as “scaling and root planning”. Sometimes, an additional records appointment is necessary if a patient has more involved dental needs.

Please help us by having your paperwork completed prior to your first visit or by arriving 30 minutes early to fill out the necessary paperwork.

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Dental Information

Dr. Hess serves as Affiliate Faculty in Restorative Dentistry at the University of Washington. He has been involved in research and lecturing on dental implants. Dr. Hess is also the Director of the Tucker Cast Gold Institute at the University of Washington.

RESOURCES.

Great information is available from the American Dental Association (ADA) & Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

If you would like to do an internet self-search on dental topics, please read this article first.

Great Link:  AGD’s patient education website: www.knowyourteeth.com

RESEARCH

Dr. Hess has been involved with research on dental implants with prosthodontists Drs. Chandur Wadhwani and Alfonso Pinyero, periodontist Dr. Thomas Faber and dental radiologist Dr. Curtis Chen. Their paper A descriptive study of the radiographic density of implant cements appears in The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry May 2010 issue.