Avalon Family Dentistry

Avalon Family Dentistry General Dentist / Cosmetic Dentist serving the greater Seattle-Tacoma area for over 30 years.

As your dentists in Federal Way, Dr. Hannah Doan has been providing excellent dental care for 9 years, and alongside with Dr. Josephine Lee, who has been offering committed and caring family dentistry since 1997. At Avalon Family Dentistry, we believe in high quality, comprehensive dental care for the entire family. Our desire is to help you achieve your dental health goals while utilizing the mos

t advanced technology, coupled with our gentle, skilled technique. We specialize in providing patients with Dental Implants, Crowns and Periodontal Care, in addition to a wide range of other dental services. Visit us today for the beautiful and natural-looking smile you’ve always wanted!

06/20/2026

Dental Insurance S eries — Part 9. 🦷
Here are the questions I want you to ask HR before you choose your dental plan. Write these down. Screenshot this. Bring it to your benefits meeting. 👇
1️⃣ What is the annual maximum for each plan? The higher the better. Compare plans side by side.
2️⃣ Is there a waiting period? For what treatments? Especially important if you already know you need dental work done.
3️⃣ What is the deductible and what does it apply to? Is preventive care exempt? What about family deductibles?

Open enrollment is your one window to make this decision for the entire year. Take it seriously. Ask the hard questions. And choose a plan that actually supports your oral health. 🙌🦷

06/13/2026

Dental Insurance Series — Part 8 🦷
This one might be one of the most important thing I have shared in this entire series.
It is called the missing tooth clause. And nobody tells you about it when you sign up for a plan.
Here is what it means:
⚠️ If you lost a tooth BEFORE your current insurance started — some plans will not cover the cost of replacing it. At all.
⚠️ No implant. No bridge. No denture. Nothing.
⚠️ Because in the eyes of your insurance company — it is a pre-existing condition.
This is not rare. This happens all the time.

On top of this, insurance companies started to apply a new policy on a few plans that if you are loosing a tooth when you are having coverage, but you don’t restore them within 12 months, they will also deny any treatment to replace that tooth later. Wild, right?

So before you sign up for any plan — especially if you have missing teeth — ask these questions:
✅ Does this plan have a missing tooth clause?
✅ Which teeth are excluded?
✅ Is there a waiting period after which the clause no longer applies?
✅ Is there a deadline of replacement to any tooth you may loose while being covered by the plan?
That one question could save you thousands of dollars.
Read the fine print. Ask the hard questions. And never assume your insurance covers something without verifying first. 🙌🦷
Save this and share it with someone who needs to hear it. This is the clause nobody talks about — until it is too late. 👇

06/09/2026

Taking a break from our dental insurance series today to share something that happened in our office recently. ❤️
A husband and wife — loyal patients of ours for years — came in for their cleaning appointments together like they always do.
She had a heart attack a month ago.
He walked in slower than usual. She was leaning on him every step. He matched her pace without a word.
We had to reschedule her appointment — after a cardiac event we need medical clearance before any dental work can be done. Most likely a six month wait.
I asked him if he wanted to continue with his appointment.

He said no. He would wait for her. He didn't want to have his teeth cleaned while his wife could not 🥹

They knew they might have to reschedule. But they came anyway. Not for the cleaning. They came because they wanted to see us. To tell our whole team what happened as friends to friends 🤍
And then she looked up with the biggest smile and said —

'Well. At least I'm on this side of the ground.' 🥰

This is why we do what we do. Not just the dentistry. But the relationships. The amazing people that we get to learn from everyday.
Have you ever had a moment with your dental team that felt like more than just an appointment? We would love to hear it. 👇

06/05/2026

Dental Insurance Series — Part 7 (part 6 continued). 🦷
Not all cleanings are the same. And once you understand this — your dental bills will finally start to make sense.
There are two types of cleanings. And insurance treats them very differently.

🦷 Prophy (Prophylaxis) — for patients with somewhat HEALTHY gums. The word literally means prevention. This is designed to keep your gums healthy and prevent gum disease from ever developing. Usually covered at 100%.

🦷 Periodontal Maintenance — for patients who have ALREADY been diagnosed with perio disease. After their initial deep cleaning treatment, they come in regularly to maintain what is left after the disease has affected their gums and bone. Usually covered at only 60-70%.

Think of it this way:
A prophy is like washing a healthy car to keep it clean. Periodontal maintenance is the ongoing specialized care of a car that has already had significant damage.
Same appointment slot. Completely different procedure. Completely different clinical need.

So when you come in with an out-of-pocket cost for your cleaning, It is not your dentist charging you more for the same thing. It is because your mouth needs a higher level of care. Your gum health determines if you need prophy or perio maintenance.
And please — do not skip periodontal maintenance because of the cost difference. Gum disease is progressive. It gets worse. The cost of treating advanced gum disease is far greater than the difference in your copay today.

Do not let insurance decide the level of care your mouth receives. 🙌🦷
Save this and share it with someone who has ever been confused about their cleaning bill. 👇

06/03/2026

Dental Insurance Series — Part 6. 🦷

'It's covered at 100%.' Four words that still somehow end in a bill. 😬

Here is what that phrase actually means — and what it does not.
When your insurance says 100% covered they mean 100% of what THEY consider to be the appropriate fee for that service using the most basic material.

Your dentist may recommend a different material. Not to charge you more. But because the condition of YOUR tooth requires it. The location of the cavity, the size, your overall oral health — these things matter clinically. Your dentist is looking at your mouth. Your insurance is looking at a policy.
Those two things are not always going to match.

Understanding this one thing can completely change how you approach your dental insurance policy. Always feel free to ask your dental team to walk you through what is covered and what is not for your specific treatment. We don’t know what you don’t know, so we always welcome questions. You deserve to be informed. 🙌🦷
Save this and share it with someone who has ever been confused by a dental bill.

A florist and a dentist walk into a partnershipOne makes your day beautiful, the other makes your smile beautiful. 🌷🦷Exc...
05/31/2026

A florist and a dentist walk into a partnership
One makes your day beautiful, the other makes your smile beautiful. 🌷🦷

Exciting news, Avalon Fam! We've teamed up with Lisa for something special. She did the flowers for my own wedding, and several of our team members have trusted her for their special events too. We've seen her work up close and she is simply the best. 🌸

So here's the deal — our patients get an exclusive discount when booking Lisa for any wedding or event. Just use code AVALON10 when you reach out to her and you will be great taken care of.

Beautiful flowers AND a beautiful smile — Federal Way & Tacoma, we've got you covered. 💐🦷

Check out her profile here: https://www.enchantedflorist.info/

05/24/2026

Dental Insurance Series — Part 5. 🦷
This one is going to reframe the way you think about dental insurance forever.
Dental insurance was never designed to cover everything.
I know that might sting a little. But hear me out. 🤍
Unlike health insurance — which protects you from catastrophic medical costs — dental insurance was originally designed as a supplement. A small help. Something to encourage regular visits and catch small problems before they become big expensive ones.
That is why annual maximums are low. That is why waiting periods exist. That is why there are so many exclusions.
It was never meant to be a full coverage safety net. And once you understand that — everything starts to make more sense.
So here is what to do about it:
✅ Use your preventive benefits every single year — cleanings, exams, X-rays are usually covered at 100%. Do not waste them.
✅ Plan major treatment strategically — split it across two calendar years to use two annual maximums
✅ Ask your dental office about payment plans, membership plans, or financing options
✅ Never let your insurance make your dental health decisions — your mouth deserves care based on what it needs. Not what insurance is willing to pay.

Insurance is a tool. A helpful one when you understand it. But it is not the ceiling of the care you deserve. 🙌🦷
Save this. This is the mindset shift that changes everything. 👇

05/20/2026

Dental Insurance Series — Part 4. 🦷
Let's talk about deductibles — because this word confuses a lot of people and it shouldn't.
A deductible is the amount YOU pay out of pocket before your insurance starts covering your treatment.
Here is what you need to know:

✅ Dental deductibles are usually low — $50 to $150 for an individual
✅ Preventive care like cleanings and exams is usually exempt — no deductible needed
⚠️ Your deductible resets every January 1st — just like your annual maximum
⚠️ Family plans have individual AND family deductible limits — know both numbers
⚠️ Lower premium = often higher deductible — always look at the full picture

Dental insurance is all about understanding the full picture — not just the monthly cost.
Save this and share it with someone shopping for a new plan. 👇🦷

05/16/2026

Dental Insurance Series — Part 3. 🦷
You just got new dental insurance. You are ready to finally take care of that tooth. You book your appointment, sit in the chair —
And then you find out your insurance won't cover your treatment yet.
This is called a waiting period. And it catches so many people off guard.

Here is how it typically breaks down:
✅ Preventive care (cleanings, exams) — usually covered immediately
⏳ Basic care (fillings) — 3 to 6 month wait
⏳ Major care (crowns, root canals, dentures) — 6 to 12 months or longer

So if you know you need major work done soon — this needs to be one of the first things you check before choosing a plan.
Ask specifically: what are the waiting periods for the treatment I need? Look for plans with shorter or no waiting periods. They exist. You just have to know to look for them.
Because the last thing you need is to sign up for a plan in January and find out you cannot use it for the treatment you need until July. 😬
Save this. Share it. And never let a waiting period catch you off guard again. 🙌🦷

05/13/2026

Dental Insurance Series — Part 2. 🦷
In-network vs. out-of-network. Sounds simple. It's really not.
And before I get into it — if staying in-network is what makes dental care affordable for you and your family, that is a completely valid and smart decision. Working within your budget is always the right call. 🤍
But here is what I want you to know:
✅ In-network = your dentist has a contract with your insurance, lower out of pocket for you
✅ Out-of-network = no contract, your insurance may still cover part of the cost but at a lower rate
⚠️ Not all in-network practices offer the same quality of care
⚠️ Not all out-of-network care is as expensive as you think
Insurance should absolutely be a factor when choosing your dentist. But it should never be the ONLY factor.
You deserve a provider you trust. A place where you feel heard, comfortable, and genuinely cared for.
Save this and share it with someone who is shopping for a new dental plan. 👇🦷

Address

728 South 320th Street, Federal Way
Federal Way, WA
98003

Opening Hours

Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 1pm

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