Dear Patient:

We hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety.

Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice and you may have seen this during your visits to our office. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable. We want to tell you about the infection control procedures we follow in our practice to keep patients and staff safe.

Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up-to-date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued.

You may see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect our patients and staff. For example:

Our office will communicate with you beforehand to ask some screening questions. You'll be asked those same questions again when you are in the office.
- We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use when you enter the office. You will also find some in the reception area and other places in the office for you to use as needed.
- You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, children’s toys and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.
- Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.
We will do our best to allow greater time between patients to reduce waiting times for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the reception area at any one time.

We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice. To make an appointment, please call our office at (509) 485-8620 or visit our website at www.drweigand.com

Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors and friends.

Sincerely,
Richard D. Weigand, DDS

If You Have Never Considered Having Your Mercury Fillings Removed, Here Are Some Reasons Why You Should

Posted By: Dr. Richard Weigand | Published On: Oct 6, 2022 | Mercury Free Dentistry

Do you have a metal amalgam filling that you would like to have removed in Spokane, Washington? Dr. Richard D. Weigand provides safe mercury filling removal to patients who visit his practice. Maybe you have not considered this in the past but are ready to learn more about composite resin fillings and why they may be better.

Safe Mercury Filling Removal in Spokane WA Area

What is an Amalgam Filling?

Amalgam fillings are composed of multiple types of metals (including mercury) and are either gold or silver in color. For over a century, they were the standard in fillings. Recently, they have been used on a much more limited basis as composite tooth-colored fillings have become the standard. Amalgam fillings consist of nearly 50 percent mercury, a liquid metal that has been proven to cause long-term health issues. The other half of an amalgam filling consists of silver, copper, and tin.

Are Amalgam Fillings Safe?

This is a hotly debated topic. It is known that mercury can prove detrimental to people. Have you ever heard of somebody who regularly eats canned tuna getting mercury poisoning? This is just one example of how mercury can be ingested. While there is no debate on whether mercury can be harmful, there is a debate on whether the amount of mercury in an amalgam filling is harmful to dental patients. There are those for whom mercury, at any level, has been shown to cause health difficulties. Others say that the amount of mercury in an amalgam filling is so minuscule that it will not lead to any health complications.

Before & After Results

Darla - Porcelain Crowns

Mark - Porcelain Crowns

Full Mouth Rehabilitation Before After Treatment Images, Before Image, Case-1, Richard D. Weigand, DDS

Full Mouth Rehabilitation Before After Treatment Images, After Image, Case-1, Richard D. Weigand, DDS

Frank - Full Mouth Rehabilitation

View More Results

Why You Should Remove Your Amalgam Fillings

No matter which side of the mercury argument you stand on, there are other reasons to have your amalgam fillings removed. One reason is that they contract and expand when exposed to hot and cold temperatures. Over time, this can cause further damage to your tooth. Another reason you should consider removing your amalgam filling is that they are not bonded to the tooth. This means you are likely to lose the filling at some point. Composite resin fillings are bonded to the tooth, creating a firm hold. Finally, amalgam fillings are unattractive and noticeable compared to tooth-colored composite resin fillings.

Call Our Office for More Information

New Patients : (509) 485-8620 | Existing Patients : (509) 747-5812
Schedule an Appointment

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Richard D. Weigand, please call (509) 485-8620 today.