Convenient Access from White Center
Seahurst Smiles of Burien is about 8 minutes south of the White Center Library by car, at our office at 1800 SW 152nd St #202 in Burien. Anyone looking for a dentist near White Center can see Dr. Vincent Lam for exams, gum care and urgent repairs, and patients without insurance have two clear ways to keep costs down. Our weekday schedule starts at 8:00 AM and wraps up at 4:30 PM.
From the library on SW 107th St, turn onto 16th Ave SW and head south; the same road becomes Ambaum Blvd SW as you enter Burien. Turn west at SW 144th St, follow SW 144th Pl and SW 146th St, then take 18th Ave SW south to SW 152nd St. The trip is about 3.3 miles and takes roughly 8 minutes in light traffic. Riders can also take the RapidRide H Line down Ambaum Blvd SW to Burien Transit Center, about a mile east of the office, using current Metro schedules.
Find us on Google Maps at 1800 SW 152nd St #202, Burien, WA 98166. We also welcome patients from Shorewood, just to the southwest, and from Highland Park to the north.
Dental Care That Works for White Center Households
White Center is an unincorporated community in King County and a census-designated place within North Highline, with Boulevard Park to the east and SR 509 along its eastern edge. Its traditional commercial center sits around SW Roxbury St and 16th Ave SW. The White Center Library on SW 107th St moved into its current building in 2016.
Steve Cox Memorial Park anchors community life, with Mel Olson Stadium, ball fields, basketball and tennis courts and a foot reflexology path. Its 1940 log-cabin community center houses the White Center Teen Program run by King County Parks, and the RapidRide H stops at the park entrance.
Not every household has dental benefits through work, and skipped checkups have a way of turning into emergencies later. Our goal is to make a first visit affordable and the visits after it predictable. A small office helps: you see the same people every time, and the front desk knows your plan before you walk in.
What White Center Residents Should Know About Dental Costs
The least expensive dental problem is the one caught early. A small cavity spotted at a checkup needs a simple filling, while the same tooth left for a year or two may need a crown. Keeping up with cleanings is the most reliable way to stay on the cheaper side of that line.
Gums deserve the same attention. Bleeding when you brush, tender or swollen gums and lingering bad breath are among the early signs of gum disease, and treating them sooner protects both your teeth and your wallet. Advanced gum disease usually means more visits and more cost, so a quick look now is a bargain.
Our technology helps here as well. CariVu spots decay without radiation, intraoral cameras show you exactly what Dr. Lam sees, and digital x-rays use less radiation than older film. You can make treatment decisions with a clear picture in front of you instead of taking anyone's word for it.
Comfort counts when you have been away from the dentist for a while. Nitrous oxide and oral sedation are both available, and small touches such as warm blankets, headrests and a beverage when you arrive make a first visit back feel less like an ordeal. Nobody here will lecture you about how long it has been; the focus is on what to do next and how to get there one step at a time.
Treatment Options from a Dentist Near White Center
Emergency Dentistry
Severe toothaches, swelling from an infection, cracked teeth and knocked-out teeth all call for a phone call right away. Our team will guide you on what to do before you get here.
Preventative Dentistry
Cleanings and exams are covered by the Wellness Plan for members, which makes routine care easy to budget. Regular visits are the best defense against expensive repairs later.
Periodontal Disease Treatment
Deep cleanings, scaling and root planing and laser-assisted therapy bring gum infections under control. White Center patients with ongoing gum disease can pair treatment with the Periodontal Wellness Plan.
Restorative Dentistry
Fillings, crowns, bridges and dentures repair the damage when prevention comes too late. Dr. Lam prioritizes the work so the most urgent tooth is treated first and the rest can follow as your budget allows.
Children are welcome, too. Dr. Lam sees infants, kids and teens, and the Wellness Plan's child membership for patients under 12 covers their cleanings, exam and fluoride for a year, which keeps a White Center family's whole routine under one predictable price.
Meet Your Dentist
Dr. Vincent Lam was drawn to dentistry while volunteering at San Diego dental clinics that served underserved communities during college. He brings that same practical focus to each exam, separating what is urgent from what can safely wait and explaining what each choice costs. Questions about price are welcome at every step, because a plan you can afford is a plan you are far more likely to finish.
Insurance & Financing
Patients without insurance can start with our $99 Exam & X-Ray, an offer for new patients without insurance and in the absence of periodontal disease that includes an oral health exam and all standard x-rays. After that, the Wellness Plan bundles a year of preventive care for $549 per adult or $349 per child under 12. CareCredit low or no-interest financing can spread out larger treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Seahurst Smiles of Burien from White Center, and how do I get there?
The office is about 3.3 miles from the White Center Library, roughly an 8-minute drive. Head south on 16th Ave SW, which turns into Ambaum Blvd SW, then go west on SW 144th St and south on 18th Ave SW. For a dentist near White Center, that's one straight road for most of the trip.
A tooth just got knocked out. What should I do right now?
Pick the tooth up by the chewing end, place it in milk or saline and call our office right away. Press clean gauze gently on the socket to control bleeding, and hold a cold compress on your face if it swells. The sooner Dr. Lam examines a knocked-out tooth, the better the chance of saving it.
Does the Periodontal Wellness Plan help if I already have gum disease?
Yes, it was designed for exactly that situation. The yearly plan includes four periodontal cleanings, laser-assisted as needed, four fluoride applications, a comprehensive exam, the x-rays needed for diagnosis and limited or emergency visits. Members also receive 10% off dentally necessary treatment for 365 days, though it can't be combined with insurance.
How does CariVu find cavities without using x-rays?
CariVu uses light instead of radiation to look through the tooth, so decay shows up as dark areas on the image. Because there is no radiation, it is a gentle way to check for early cavities between teeth, including in children. Finding decay that early often means a smaller filling and a smaller bill.
Will Dr. Lam tell me which treatment is urgent and which can wait?
Yes, after your exam Dr. Lam explains his findings and ranks them by urgency. Intraoral camera images let you see each problem for yourself, so the reasoning is clear. If cost is a concern, our team can spread treatment over several visits and pair it with CareCredit or Wellness Plan savings.
Schedule Your Visit from White Center
Getting started with a dentist near White Center is one phone call away at (206) 222-4109, or you can request an appointment online. Visit our areas we serve page for nearby communities, or our Dentist Burien, WA homepage to learn about the practice.