Offshore Drilling dentistry coming to Wrangell

Starting last summer Dr. Victor Stime, with over 30 years of experience, began a new venture, bringing mobile dentist services to towns across Southeast Alaska on his boat "Offshore Drilling."

Attending the University of Washington, he has lived and worked in the Pacific Northwest region for many years. He practiced dentistry in

Spokane for 29 years before retiring. He has kept himself busy through his retirement, however, by offering dentist services part time.

Stime said fellow dentist Dr. Fred Bakke, who has visited isolated Alaskan communities by boat for many years, inspired him. This is Stime's second summer boating around Southeast Alaska on "Offshore Drilling," and he has a busy schedule ahead of him.

"We're doing several towns," he said.

The summer began for Stime and his nephew, who is assisting, on August 7 with a stop in Ketchikan. Other towns on their route include Metlakatla, Thorne Bay, Coffman Cove, and Port Protection. They expect to stop in Wrangell on August 19 and 20.

"Weather permitting and mechanically permitting, that's the plan," Stime said.

Stime also added that thanks to the level of technology used by dentists these days, it is relatively easy to fit all the necessary supplies into his 31 foot boat. He said "Offshore Drilling" is a fully modern, mobile dentist office. Despite this, there are some limits to the services they offer to people.

"We can't do crowns," he said. "It can take two weeks for the crowns to get back from the lab, and we aren't around that long. We also don't do bridges or root canals. We offer exams, x-rays, and cleanings. Just your normal, run of the mill dentistry."

After Wrangell, "Offshore Drilling" will be sailing down to Thom's Place and Meyers Chuck before ending the season back in Ketchikan. Once docked in Wrangell, Stime said they will promote on social media that they are in town.

Stime added that they are

Medicaid approved. He also said that they do not bill insurance companies directly, but will give customers packets on how to be reimbursed by their insurance company.