Dentistry Information

Preventive dentistry is our goal with every patient. It involves the daily care, good nutrition, and periodic check-ups and cleanings that maintain good dental health, once achieved. Preventive dentistry may not be where we start with every patient, but it’s where we like to finish.

Restorative dentistry is basic repair of the mouth. We replace broken or leaking fillings and build crowns and bridges. Where necessary, gum disease is treated, or root canal therapy recommended. The prevailing belief behind restorative dentistry is a simple one: you can keep all your teeth all your life.

We provide any and all of these services, depending on your health needs to both tribal members and non-natives.

At your first appointment

When you come in, we’ll ask you to fill out a patient questionnaire and medical history. These forms are important—they help determine the course of your treatment. We have to know about allergies, sensitivity to anesthetics, long-term medications—your whole health picture.

Then we’ll need an hour or so to examine your teeth, gums, jaw alignment, and soft tissues. We’ll take digital x-rays to find areas of infection that need treatment, and if necessary, hard cast models will be made to examine your bite. The exam includes blood pressure check and oral cancer analysis—again, to assess your total health.

Tribal benefits (for Tribal members and their descendants only)

The Stillaguamish Tribe will pay for all “basic preventative” dental services for tribal members and their descendants who have no other source of funding. This covers cleaning, basic tooth extraction, and basic fillings. Stillaguamish Family Dentistry will attempt to bill personal insurance, Indian Health Service (when available), and any other funding source possible. Any remaining bill or balance resulting from services provided as “basic preventative services” will be paid by the Tribe. Services identified as outside of “basic preventative services” will involve some cost to the patient. The Tribe will pick up a portion of your total services, but this benefit will be treated much like IHS and will be used as a “payment of last resort”. If you have insurance, we will bill your insurance carrier first, then the Tribe will pick up 20% of the remaining balance and you will have up to 18 months, interest free, to pay the remaining balance.

Insurance

We take all dental insurance carriers. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call us at (360) 403-8761.