Clear Aligners

Your smile is your introduction of yourself to the world. For many people, it’s essential to have more than just healthy and strong teeth, and gums—the size, shape, and alignment of your smile are also important. Enduring a misaligned smile may make you feel self-conscious about the way you look and can have a negative impact on your oral health.

Having convenient options to straighten your teeth is essential to many of our patients, especially busy professionals and those with active social lives. After all, committing to brackets and wires for years of treatment does not appeal to everyone, especially when most people associate metal braces with adolescent growing pains.

At Phinney Ridge Dental, we offer alternative orthodontic treatment options for people wishing to improve their appearance or health. Please give our Doctors and their knowledgeable dental team a call to schedule your orthodontic evaluation appointment. Your journey to a straighter smile starts today!

Teeth Straightening Solutions 

While straightening your teeth may seem like a cosmetic endeavor to enhance your appearance, it actually has a foundational benefit to your very oral health. Seeking proper teeth alignment can protect your health by correcting your bite, eliminating overlapping teeth, crowding, and improving the comfort of your smile.

Even a small misalignment can cause uneven wear and sensitivity or make your teeth more prone to decay. When your teeth do not line up properly, it can create stress and friction each time you bite down to chew or eat. When teeth are stressed, they can fracture and crack. At the very least, enamel erosion can lead to cavities and tooth decay that necessitate frequent visits to the dentist to avoid tooth loss. 

Correcting your bite at any age can mean a healthier, more comfortable smile!

Invisalign Clear Aligners

Invisalign, a popular and innovative way to move teeth, uses clear aligners to gradually and gently shift your teeth into proper alignment. Since Invisalign is removable, it makes caring for your teeth during orthodontics easy. You don’t have to worry about cleaning around bulky or hard-to-reach structures on your teeth. In fact, you can brush and floss your teeth normally without any change to your oral health routine.

Another benefit of Invisalign is that cleaning your clear plastic aligners is as simple as rinsing and gently wiping them with a soft cloth. No brushes, wires, drills, or complicated equipment need to come out at any point during your teeth straightening treatment!

The process for a permanent change in your smile is simple and straightforward. Dr. Micah Bickel begins with treatment planning and determining the desired outcome for your smile. We will take impressions and photographs, along with digital x-rays, and send the information to our Invisalign lab where your aligners will be created.

You will wear each set of clear aligners for approximately two weeks during your treatment before exchanging them for your next set in the series. We will regularly monitor your treatment and make any adjustments necessary. Dr. Bickel and Dr. Bryant will be able to assess if Invisalign is a good match for you. If Invisalign is the best choice for you, we will make impressions of your teeth and gums in order to customize aligners that can fix your smile. 

Invisalign Corrects Mild To Moderate Teeth Alignment Issues Like:

  • Bite flaws
  • Alignment issues
  • Overcrowded teeth
  • Overlapping teeth
  • Spaces between teeth
  • Teeth grinding
  • TMJ
  • Crossbite
  • Open bite

Treatment time for Invisalign clear braces depends on how many teeth require movement, how far we need to move them, and how compliant you are with your treatment. Making a dramatic shift in your life is incredibly easy, comfortable, and unrestrictive!

Clear Braces

Clear braces are similar to traditional metal braces in that they utilize brackets and wires, except clear braces are inconspicuous and not easily noticed. While Invisalign can treat many orthodontic cases, there are some smiles that may need a wire and bracket system for teeth that are badly misaligned or overcrowded. 

Tooth-colored brackets and a clear memory wire can cosmetically improve your teeth in a short period of time. Since the memory wire uses constant low-force pressure to relocate your teeth into a more aesthetic and healthy position, treatment is fast – usually only about six months on average!

This type of orthodontic treatment works best for older teens and adults wishing to have a straight, beautiful smile. This treatment involves minimal tooth movement and is one of the most conservative ways to approach cosmetic orthodontics.

Patients who undergo clear braces as an orthodontic alternative will have to be conscientious of maintaining excellent oral health, especially cleaning and brushing around brackets and wires to prevent tooth decay, food particles, bacteria, or gum disease. While clear braces may not be as comfortable as clear plastic aligners, patients typically report that any discomfort usually fades after the first couple of days as they get used to wearing braces. Dr. Bickel can provide tips and aids to help minimize discomfort and prevent pain. 

Imagine giving our dental office a call today and having a brand new, dazzling smile six months later! At Phinney Ridge Dental, that’s how smooth your orthodontic process can be!

Advantages Of Straightening Teeth

If orthodontic treatment seems like a good and viable option for your smile, there are numerous benefits that our patients can enjoy at Phinney Ridge Dental, including:

  • Healthy gums—When teeth are correctly aligned, gums are healthier and tighter, which prevents bacteria and decay from attacking
  • More accessible at-home oral care—Brushing and flossing your teeth is easier to treat when your teeth aren’t overcrowded, overlapping, protruding, or otherwise hard to reach and clean properly
  • Improved diet & nutrition—Misaligned teeth do not line up properly when biting down and chewing, which can affect your quality of diet and the type of food you can safely and properly eat

Schedule an orthodontic appointment at our dentist’s office in Seattle, WA to see if you are a good candidate for orthodontic treatment.

Clear Orthodontic Retainers

All orthodontic treatment requires follow-up care with an orthodontic retainer to prevent relapse. Tooth shifting can occur after any orthodontic treatment, which can extend the process or require new treatment altogether. We create nearly invisible orthodontic retainers that are comfortable and protect your investment by holding your teeth in place.

Dr. Micah Bickel will discuss proper retainer wear with you and how many hours per day you should wear your retainers. Together, we can ensure that your smile remains impressive and appealing for a lifetime.

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