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(30 posts)

Need a Dentist

Started 1 year ago by thansen
Latest reply from luckymom30

thansen
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I'm looking for a good dentist in West Seattle, somewhere that has updated equipment. Please send your recommendations

Posted 1 year ago #
flowerpetal
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Dr Glenn Krieger in the block just north of the Junction post office. Dr Krieger is very current; lectures around the country; and is highly respected in the Seattle dental community.
935-1855

Posted 1 year ago #
celeste17
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Dr. Ron Brun, Smile West Seattle, 3623 SW Alaska street, 206-453-3006. http://www.smilewestseattle.com/

Posted 1 year ago #
pigeonmom
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Not in WS. but I just wanted to give love to my dentist, Dr.Self. I've been going to him for 30 years! ♥

Posted 1 year ago #
GoGo
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Dr. Kari Chellis is excellent, professional, as painless as it can be and one of the nicest most caring people I have ever met.
http://www.smilesecrets.com

Posted 1 year ago #
j
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Love Dr. Chellis! Be forewarned that she is EXPENSIVE!! She charges almost double for dental work. I've got a huge fear of dentists, so that's the only reason why I still go to her.

Posted 1 year ago #
GoGo
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Does she really charge double? I know she is expensive, but I just assumed they all charged around the same.

Posted 1 year ago #
j
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According to my Premera, yes, she is almost double. My husband refuses to go to her, but he understands why I do.

Posted 1 year ago #
GoGo
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Good lord. Ok, now I'm in the market for a new dentist too!

Posted 1 year ago #
hoffanimal
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Dr. George Naden is great. He has been in W. Seattle a long time (his dad started the practice) and his proces are very reasonable. Friendly and competent staff as well.

Posted 1 year ago #
oddreality
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I love Dr. Christine Kirchner...I hope she is not one of those that charges double then I'd have to find a new dentist! How does one find out if their dentist charges a lot?? !! How do you find out how much most dentists charge for a crown or filling??

Posted 1 year ago #
SarahScoot
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I second the recommendation for Dr. Kirchner. Love her and her hygienists. I was just in there this week, in fact. Bad news is Christy (not sure if that's how she spells her name), the office receptionist/scheduler extraordinaire, is leaving for another practice closer to her home. :-( It shouldn't affect the quality of the dentist, of course, but she is just such a friendly person who seemingly remembers all patients.
Admittedly, I'm ignorant about how much this office charges. I've never needed any dental work, and my insurance covers preventative visits in full, so I've never personally had to pay anything for my appointments.

Posted 1 year ago #
Garden_nymph
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Call your dentist's office and have them make a mock bill for you. It is often called a, "predetermination" and many dentist's offices do it, especially for the more expensive services like crowns, full bony extractions, implants, bridges, etc. It includes the ADA procedure code numbers, fees and diagnosis. The only thing it won't have is a date of service. It can also be used to determine if your insurance will cover nitrous oxide and IV sedation.
"Usual and Customary" or "Prevailing Fee" are the terms most insurance companies use to determine how much they will pay a provider. It is the average fee an equally trained provider will charge for the same service in an area, usually by zip code. If you ever feel that your insurance company isn't paying enough, ask when they last adjusted the amounts they use to determine "Usual and Customary" or "Prevailing Fees." They HATE admitting they are using OLD info... If you want to avoid having to pay the amount they denied, call around and document what other dentists in your zip code will charge for the same service and provide it with a letter of appeal to your insurance company. (This works for MDs too.) Keep in mind, new providers, who are just opening a practice, have more of an overhead than established providers. They will often pass this along to their patients. I hope this helps! Best of luck.

Posted 1 year ago #
josie2006
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Dr. Kirchner is great and I've liked all of her staff that I've spoken to as well. Lots of personal attention, skilled hygienists and everything modern and clean.

Posted 1 year ago #
BobLoblaw
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My family goes to Dr. Katherine Christian at West Seattle Dentist. I would recommend her for children or adults.

Posted 1 year ago #
yeah-me
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I love Dr. Raleigh -- just across the street from the post office. Great staff!

Posted 1 year ago #
Rayne
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As a hygienist I would warn against only looking for a practice with updated equipment. I've worked in some top-of-the-line offices with questionable diagnoses and billing practices (the money for the equipment has to come from somewhere). They also really like to push cosmetic procedures.

It's best to research the dentist's education and licensing history. You can look up any healthcare provider's license on the DOH website:
https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/providercredentialsearch/SearchCriteria.aspx
At this site you can check to see if any disiplinary action has ever been taken against your potential dentist/hygienist/assistant.

Good luck!

Posted 1 year ago #
pennidogg
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I must put in a recommendation for Velling Dental on Roxbury. Sons took over from their father. Staff is local to West Seattle and have been with them a long time. Very friendly and caring people. Have taken good care of me and a "scared to death of dentists" husband (took the hygienist 1/2 hour to get him in the chair for the initial cleaning) who need many teeth pulled. Dr. Jerry even called to check on him in the evening.

Posted 1 year ago #
thansen
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Thank you all! I'm one of those people who have bad teeth and hate going to the dentist so I haven't been for a long time and now find myself in bad shape...lesson to all the other dental-phobes out there - go to the dentist even if you hate it!

Posted 1 year ago #
Kayla
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I'll second Dr. Brun.

Posted 1 year ago #
GoGo
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Broke a tooth over the weekend, contacted Dr. Chellis, was quoted almost $2,000 for a crown. Called Dr. Naden (on Hoffanimal's recommendation), went in this morning and he is charging me $1,000. Not sure what would cause the double in price, but Dr. Naden is now my dentist.

Posted 1 year ago #
thansen
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Wow that's crazy, wonder how she keeps clients with those prices. And sorry about your tooth!

I decided to go with Dr. Kirchner since she's close to my house.

Posted 1 year ago #
j
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Gogo - let us know how you liked your experience with Dr. Naden. I'm curious how he will compare to Dr. Chellis in the painless factor.

Posted 1 year ago #
GoGo
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I will do that. Have two appts set up for the crown and from my experience with him yesterday I actually feel quite comfortable about it. He seems very kind and gentle.

Posted 1 year ago #
sarelly
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Dr. Bret Shupack, at Alki Dental. Nice people in that office.

Posted 1 year ago #
GoGo
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Ok, Dr. Naden has completed my crown as of today. He is the nicest, sweetest, most gentle dentist I think I have ever been to. He is also so great about ones ability to pay what is owed. He does not insist on total payment at the time of your visit and if you need to set up a payment plan, it is not a problem. Simply cannot recommend this dentist enough, he is GREAT!!!!

Posted 1 year ago #
luckymom30
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Any information on Dr. Glenn Buchanan he has an office at Westwood Village and also downtown on 5th Ave?

Posted 1 year ago #
me on 28th Ave SW
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My family of four has been going to Dr Buchanan for about two years now. We have had an unusually busy dental phase in that time (old filling replacement for me, cavities for teen son, root canal for husband). We have also had our 6mo cleanings there. We initially switched because my dental insurance was not covering about $40 every time I would go for my preventative care at the dental office we had used since the 80s. While that doesn't sound like much it was $320 out of pocket for our family every year and was getting hard to justify. Dr Buchanan was a preferred provider on my plan and I liked that he was so close to our house (big bonus). I have been pleased with their front desk staff, hygienists, dentists and "emergency" coverage. Their office is new and modern and they have been very easy to work with (coordinating appts with orthodontist appts etc). I would recommend them.

Posted 1 year ago #
cathyw
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Ditto for Dr. Naden. I wouldn't go anywhere else.

Posted 1 year ago #
luckymom30
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Thanks Me on 28th SW! I appreciate it1 Dr. George Buchanan is on our insurance plan (Guardian) and it is a big plu that he is so close to us too. I have an appt scheduled at his downtown office and will use the Westwood Village from time to time for pure convenience. My daughetr and husband also plan on going to him.

Posted 1 year ago #