The ZOOM system is now $512.25 and the Take-Home is now $354.00. 

The ZOOM system is our "Cadillac" version of the in-office professional whitening systems.  You will have dramatically whiter teeth in 2 hours.  We offer ZOOM in 2 appointments for even better results!  The package also includes a home "follow up" kit. 

The Take-Home system is for those who would like to whiten in the comfort of their home and around their schedule.  Our lab fabricates your trays and Dr. Knapp prescribes your whitening solution. 

 Makes an excellent gift for the holidays!

Over the past few years I have struggled with concerns about Washington Dental Service.  Since your employer has purchased a WDS plan, I want to share with you some of the ethical dilemmas I have been experiencing.  I suspect some of these will come as a surprise to you because WDS does not tell its customers how it operates.  As a participating dentist, I am required to abide by very specific restrictions they impose on both you and me.  Those restrictions have a direct impact on not only the services I can offer you but on the way you and I interact about your health and your dentistry.

During my dental career, the basic principles of dental care that I was taught in dental school and also learned from hundreds of hours of continuing dental education have formed the foundation of my dental practice.  These principles also form the foundation of what is required to become licensed to practice dentistry in our state and represent the minimal standard of care throughout the United States and Canada.   The WDS guidelines would have me abandon some of these principles for no reason other than to reduce costs they incur and to sell more policies.  Let me underscore that the guidelines to which I refer do nothing to protect you or increase the quality of care you receive in either my practice or any other WDS practice.

For the past 2 years WDS has frozen participating dentists fees and just recently WDS has sent a letter to all participating dentists informing us they have unilaterally changed our contract with them with a 15-22% decrease in our allowed fees.  Keeping this in mind, I think you should know some more facts about WDS.  WDS is not a insurance company.  They are legally defined as a dental benefits company.  This loophole has allowed them to stockpile a surplus fund of over 145 million dollars.  During those past 2 years of ‘frozen fees’ their profits have soared, they gave themselves a 1.7 million dollar raise in 2010.   They are not accountable to the insurance commissioner, their clients or anyone.  The implications from WDS’s action is clear, WDS is positioning themselves to direct you to seek care from discounted dental clinics who must ethically cut corners to stay in business.  WDS is interested in market share not dental care.   Because of the conflict between my commitment to you and your care and the cost-cutting schemes of WDS, I can no longer lend my name to the program.  For these reasons, I have chosen to discontinue my contractual relationship with WDS effective 08/01/2011.

Why have I not done this before?  Two reasons.  First, these restrictions have come about gradually, and it has only been in the last few months that the full implications of their strategy have become apparent.  Second, quite frankly, I have been concerned that you would not be willing to pay the few dollars extra that will be necessary to stay in my practice when I am no longer a WDS provider.  I have always been extremely sensitive to the financial concerns of each of my patients.  I understand how difficult it is to manage any cost increase, and I have wanted to avoid that.  I am hoping, however, that you feel so well served by our practice and this honest communication that the subsequent change in procedure will not cause you to shift to another WDS participating dentist.  There are implications for you, and I believe they are minimal.

• ·         Under your WDS policy, you may continue to come to my practice; you will not be required to change to another dentist.
• ·         We will continue to submit your claims as we have done in the past, as we have always offered this service to all of our patients.
• ·         You will be free to select that treatment that best fits your wants and values without anyone limiting your selections.
• ·         You will receive reimbursement from WDS for the treatment you select, although the percentage of the fee you receive in reimbursement may be somewhat lower.  How much lower is dependent on the policy that your employer purchased.   You will always know the fee well in advance and we will support you in planning how your treatment will be scheduled so that it remains affordable for you.

 I hope we’ve been able to help you see how hard we have struggled with these questions.  We value you as a patient and sincerely hope that you will continue to choose our office for your dental care.  You can continue to have every confidence that the choices about your dental health will be yours alone and that your care will not be compromised for any reason.

You may have questions for us, and we invite your call.  Any of my team members or I would be pleased to discuss this with you.  If you call for me during work hours and I’m not available, I will call you at home that evening.  Although we have wanted to speak with everyone personally, we chose to also send this letter so that you could reflect on these thoughts and about the date we selected.  I look forward to continuing to serve you and your family for many years.    

Sincerely,

Rory A. Knapp D.D.S.

We had a silent auction for the local Boys and Girls Club.  We raised $1202.00!  Thank you for your generosity for a great cause. 

Thank you to everyone who was able to be a part of something so special to us. 

To another 20 years, we couldn't have made it without our wonderful patients!

How exciting....we are finally breaking ground for our new office!  Baker Construction from Spokane is our contractor.  They are working fast & furious to get our ground ready for concrete before our weather gets too cold!  When you are on Pioneer Way near Nelson Rd., look over by Chief Moses Middle School and you will see the heavy equipment working away.  Keep checking the website for updates. 

                                                                                          We hope to be moving in next spring 2010!