Over the years, braces have earned the reputation of being reliable, durable, and able to solve even the most complex orthodontic cases. Unfortunately, however, they have also started to become known for their restrictions on a person’s diet. At Dudley Smiles, we understand how important food is to bring comfort, joy, energy, and excitement to your everyday life and its critical role as a way of exploring other cultures and bringing people together. While it is true that your diet does need to be modified, you might be surprised how little is changed and how many options are still available. Before we get into that, we want to discuss why you need to switch up your lunch order to help you feel motivated to make—and abide by—the changes.

Why Does Your Food Matter?

Though traditional metal braces and newer clear braces are stronger than ever, they are not invincible and need your help to stay in excellent condition throughout treatment! One of the easiest ways to maintain braces is to adjust your diet.

You do not want to bite into food with your front teeth and should avoid hard, crunchy, sticky, or chewy food. Eating these kinds of food can damage your brackets and wires, potentially causing you unnecessary pain and discomfort. They can also get stuck in your appliances and be hard to remove, and your oral hygiene routine will become frustrating or challenging when this happens consistently. If your routine causes negative emotions, you will be less likely to thoroughly clean your teeth, gums, and braces. A mouth that is able to build up bacteria and plaque will be vulnerable to oral health issues such as tooth decay, gum disease, and other conditions that can cause temporary or permanent damage to your smile. 

Eating a diet approved by Dr. Dudley can help you avoid orthodontic emergencies, prolonged treatment time, and preventable oral health problems. Over time, your urge to eat these off-limit foods will decrease, and your new diet won’t feel so weird. If it helps, maybe you can find solace in the promise that the restrictions are only temporary, and the more you follow your “braces diet,” the sooner you will be able to eat the food you crave. 

What Can I Eat With Braces?

Are you reading this blog and rolling your eyes at every time we have previously said that metal and clear braces are durable? Do you feel like they can’t be that durable if you have to alter your diet? Let us explain! Your braces are tough and stain resistant, but if you continuously expose them to a lot of pressure they are not supposed to handle, they weaken.

Think of your braces as a powerful video game character. Your player can easily survive small battles, but your character loses strength and becomes damaged whenever you encounter a bigger, stronger opponent. When you get to the “big boss,” your player is less likely to make it due to past injuries. 

Now, think of every battle as food. The “smaller” battles are food you can eat, and the more formidable encounters are the food you aren’t supposed to eat. Every obstacle becomes more of a challenge than the last, even if it seems like it should be harmless. Eventually, your character loses—AKA, your braces break.

To protect your braces, cut your food into small, bite-sized pieces and stick to soft food that is easy to chew and won’t put too much strain on your appliances. For example:

• Pasta
• Soft, Boneless Meat And Seafood
• Casseroles
• Vegetables Softened By Steaming Or Boiling
• Soft Fruits
• French Fries
• Rice
• Mashed Potatoes
• Sugar-Free ADA-Approved Gum
• Soups
• Soft Bread
• Yogurts
• Corn off the cob
• Smoothies
• Pudding
• Ice cream
• Soft Cheeses
• Eggs

The above list does not contain specific options because many items have endless variations. It helps if you try to consider braces as an excuse to try things you would not have otherwise considered, such as a soup you always see on the menu but never order at your favorite Issaquah restaurant. You’ll find it hard to get bored of all the flavors available, and you can still consume all your daily nutrients. 

Doesn’t that sound like a lot of food you can still look forward to eating and cooking every day? There are even a few ways to satisfy your sweet tooth! Please just remember to do a good job of brushing and flossing afterwards!

What Can I Not Eat With Braces?

Now, let’s look over specific examples of what you should not eat with braces.

• Popcorn
• Chips
• Oreos
• Hard Taco Shells
• Ice Cream Cones
• Taffy, Caramel, And Other Sticky Candies
• Hard Candies, like lollipops, Jolly Ranchers, Lifesavers, et cetera
• Gummies
• Hard Crackers
• Beef Jerky
• Ice Chewing
• Nuts
• Stringy Vegetables Like Celery And Other Hard/Crunchy/Raw Vegetables
• Crunchy Or Hard Whole Fruits
• Hard Cough Drops (at least don’t bite them!)
• Corn On The Cob
• Hard, Fried food
• Anything That Requires You To Bite With Your Front Teeth

While we want you to continue to eat your fruits and veggies – please be aware that some you can’t eat without some modification. For example, you can’t bite straight into an apple or carrot – so please cut them up into bite sized cubes. We also recommend limiting your intake of sugary food and beverages, even if they won’t harm your braces, to protect the health of your teeth and gums. 

Extra: If you have clear braces, avoid foods that could stain (coffee, tea, wine, tomato-based products, etc.) and rinse your mouth with water after eating to remove any residue that could cause discoloration.

Visit Us At Dudley Smiles To Learn More!

Whether you or your family is a first-time or returning patient, molding your lifestyle around your braces can be intimidating, and it can be stressful to feel like you don’t know the right answer. Fortunately, the entire Dudley Smiles team is in your corner to help you make the right decision! Call us at any time to ask questions! If necessary, our team can help you schedule an appointment with Dr. Dudley for a more in-depth analysis of your question.
We have been proudly serving the Issaquah community for years and are excited to show you the excellent care we are known for! If you are ready to discover if you qualify for braces, contact us today to schedule a free in-person or virtual consultation!

In orthodontics, your bite is defined as how your top and bottom rows of teeth align or come together when you close your mouth. The functionality of your bite is crucial to your physical and mental health, but before we get into that, we’re going to first discuss some examples of a bad bite.

• Excessive overjet is when the upper teeth stick out farther than your lower teeth. 
• An underbite is when the lower front teeth in your lower jaw stick past the teeth in your upper jaw. 
• An open bite is when the top and bottom teeth do not connect when you bite down. 
• A deep bite is when the top front teeth vertically overlap excessively the lower front teeth.
• A crossbite is when some or all teeth in your upper jaw fit inside the lower teeth. 
• Overcrowding is when there is not enough space for your teeth, so they become pushed together. 
• A misplaced midline bite is when the center of your upper front teeth doesn’t match the center of your lower teeth.

While all of those might sound scary or challenging to fix, Dudley Orthodontics has comfortable, pleasant treatment options to get your bite where it needs to be.

How can Dudley Smiles help?

Though facial surgery can and sometimes should treat a bad bite, that’s not the only way. Dudley Smiles offers a few non-invasive, minimally uncomfortable treatment options.

Metal Braces

Metal braces are a famous orthodontic appliance, but not because it has starred in great movies like Finding Nemo and Toy Story or shows like Fairy Oddparents and The Wild Thornberry, though that attention no doubt helped. They are popular for their ability to withstand almost anything to correct even the most complex adjustment needs.

Using metal wires and brackets and colorful ligatures (the bands that hold the wire to the bracket), the durability of metal braces makes them the best choice for orthodontic accessories like TADs, elastic bands, Herbst appliances, and more.

Though you would need to adjust your diet and oral hygiene routine accordingly, the changes will quickly become second nature and hardly pose any problems in your day-to-day life.

Clear Aligners

On the other end of the spectrum, we have clear aligners. Unlike braces, clear aligners are custom-made, allowing a snug, comfortable fit and almost invisible appearance. Because you need to remove them to eat, drink, and perform oral hygiene, you can keep your regular diet and oral hygiene regimen — meaning you will experience minimal disruption to your lifestyle.

Dudley Smiles is proud to offer this treatment through Spark or Invisalign clear aligners.. Their technology can help you complete treatment in as little as six months! Clear aligners also offer some accessories to help improve your bite, but their selection is limited compared to braces. 

We generally recommend clear aligners for children, teens, and adults with milder issues who can handle the responsibility of a removable orthodontic appliance.  

Clear Braces

In the middle of the spectrum, we have clear braces, which combine the benefits of both metal braces and clear aligners. 

Clear braces work identically to metal braces by using brackets, wires, and ligatures to straighten the teeth and jaw. The difference is that clear braces use brackets made of a polycrystalline mix of materials to create a tooth-colored look that blends in with your teeth. Many patients pair them with matching ligatures to create the illusion of clear braces, though you could also use colorful bands for a pop of color.

This treatment option gives you a subtle look without having to remember to wear your orthodontic appliance every day. It is also great for those who have bite needs too complex for Invisalign but don’t like the appearance of metal braces. 

Though strong, the polycrystalline mix is not as strong as metal. For this reason, we recommend clear braces to adults and older teenagers with mild to medium bite needs who can take care of this bonded appliance. 

What’s so bad about a bad bite?

It is essential to improve a bad bite because it can drastically affect your quality of life. If your teeth and jaw cannot line up correctly, you will likely have challenges with chewing and swallowing, breathing, performing oral hygiene, and abnormal wear and tear on the jaw joint and teeth. A poor alignment can also have an unwanted influence on facial structure development in children.

These issues leave you at risk of choking, vitamin deficiency, poor sleep, TMJ (jaw) pain, migraines, neck pain, trouble communicating, weakened enamel, and dry mouth. All can cause mental, physical, and oral health problems that negatively impact your life.

For the best results, visit Dudley Smiles!

To determine if you qualify for orthodontic treatment, schedule your free consultation with Dudley Smiles today! If you have questions before beginning your orthodontic journey, contact our office to speak to a kind and helpful team member!

Dudley Smiles is honored to be able to continuously serve our community by improving quality of life through smiles. We can’t wait to provide you with the exceptional care and stunning results we’re known for, so we hope to see you soon!

We know you have many places to go for your orthodontic treatment, and we encourage you not to trust just anybody with your teeth and jaw alignment.

We at Dudley Smiles would like to take a moment to share a little bit about what makes an experience with us unique and worthwhile.

Orthodontic Expertise

Some orthodontic providers, like dentists and online companies, don’t have an orthodontist overseeing your care — at least, not one you get to meet!

Some dental offices offer clear aligners for their patients to help improve their teeth and jaw alignment. While we don’t want to discourage you from seeing a dentist for your orthodontic care if you believe that is the best decision for you, we want to tell you that dentists and orthodontists are not the same! After dental school, orthodontists continue to receive specialized training regarding teeth and jaw alignment and development. This means they have more training and experience than a dentist when it comes to altering your teeth and jaw placement. 

We still encourage you to see your dentist for your oral health checkups on time, though! Orthodontists and dentists often work together to create the healthy and beautiful smile of your dreams.

Online services, on the other hand, do have an orthodontist administering your care, but it’s 100% virtual! You don’t get to meet or build a relationship with them, which can be discouraging. Online providers also are missing a big part of the picture! When you send in images of your teeth and do an at-home mold impression, they can get some information crucial to care. But oftentimes, causes for concern lie beneath the surface and can only be seen with an X-ray. An in-person orthodontist, like our very own Dr. Dudley, can conduct a thorough examination and verify the mouth’s health before starting treatment. You don’t want to move unhealthy teeth; that could lead to disastrous results!

Personable Team Members

Influenced by his mother’s dental hygienist career and his own orthodontic experience, Dr. Dudley decided he wanted to make the same positive impact in people’s lives. His favorite day is when you get your braces off — he loves seeing how happy you are!

But Dr. Dudley is not the only person in our office — he would have a difficult time running the place on his own! He has said he “is as only as good as his team,” and he has a fantastic team in the office to help improve your smile!

Our Dudley Smiles team focuses on providing you with beautiful results and excellent customer service. We treat everyone in our office like family by creating a welcoming and fun environment. You can feel comfortable and confident while receiving the same high-quality healthcare we demand for our own families. We love getting to know you and your loved ones over the course of your treatment and aim to make your orthodontic experience as pleasurable and memorable as possible.

Patient Rewards

We are honored to be continuously trusted with providing orthodontic care to Issaquah and the surrounding areas. Your support allows us to live our dream careers every day. To show our appreciation for you and your confidence in us, we have a patient rewards program! When you sign up, you can earn points by entering contests, being on time for your appointment, referring your friends, having a good report card, shopping, and more! Ways to acquire points change frequently, so check your account often for new ways to earn! Points are redeemable for rewards and prizes!

If your children are in treatment, you can join the rewards program too! It’s a great way to excite your child about their orthodontic care and motivate them to perform their necessary routines. 

Elevating Your Smile With The Diode Laser

When you come to an in-person oral healthcare center like Dudley Smiles over an online provider, you receive top-of-the-line care thanks to our modern technology. The diode laser is just one piece of modern technology that allows us to give you the best results possible.

Using a laser for oral healthcare might sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, but it’s not! We use a diode laser daily to remove a little bit of the gumline in qualifiable patients. While we can perform this procedure for cosmetic reasons, we usually use the laser to improve bracket placement. Exact bracket placement gives your orthodontist more control over the movement of your teeth, decreasing your overall treatment time and unnecessary discomfort. Pushing the gumline back can also improve some patients’ bite and chewing abilities. 

Various Treatment Options

Most dental offices and online providers exclusively offer clear aligners, and though we love clear aligners at Dudley Smiles, they’re not the best treatment option for everybody! That’s why we proudly offer multiple treatment routes. Having more than one option allows us to help provide care for a broader range of orthodontic concerns and bring smiles to even more faces. Along with clear aligners, we also offer metal and ceramic braces. Braces are perfect for those with more complex cases or who simply don’t want the responsibility of clear aligners. With so many options, we could treat the whole family!

Come To Dudley Smiles For Many Reasons TO Smile!

At Dudley Smiles, we love what we do and want you to love your time here with us.

Your smile affects so much of your life, and we know how much our care can change a person’s life. We take pride in our work and adore watching our patients’ self-esteem and oral health improve during treatment. 

Contact us today to learn more about us and discover what else we can do for your smile! We have free in-person and virtual consultations, so you can learn if you are a candidate for orthodontic work with zero commitment!

We look forward to meeting you and your family and are excited to give you the orthodontic work you deserve!

Modern braces are one of our most reliable tools for achieving straighter teeth and a healthier smile. For a long time, the process of preparing for braces needed to catch up as treatments advanced daily. Our materials were improving, but patients still had to deal with goopy impressions to get a good mold of their teeth. Here at Dudley Smiles, we’re always looking for ways to make the treatment process less invasive and more comfortable, so we provide a better experience with the iTero intraoral scanner! 

What is an iTero scanner?

Before you start the active phase of treatment, we need to fully understand each detail of your smile to create the best results. Previously, we could only capture these measurements by taking a physical impression, or mold, of the teeth. 

Molds involve filling a tray with alginate powder, which turns into a putty-like material when we add water. Next, you would bite down on the tray until the material sets, leaving an imprint of your gums and teeth that we would use to create a dental cast. 

The traditional mold method was unpleasant, and the results weren’t always precise. Now we can avoid any discomfort with our iTero digital scanner. 

Instead of messy materials, iTero uses state-of-the-art technology to capture digital impressions of the teeth and transfer all the necessary information wirelessly. This makes the entire process less stressful, especially if you have a sensitive gag reflex. 

Since digital scans are more precise, costly retakes are practically eliminated! We’ll even be able to show you a simulated outcome of what your beautiful new smile will look like once treatment is complete.  

How does an iTero scanner work? 

To get the information we need to start treatment, we use a wand that easily fits into the mouth to capture a digital image of each tooth and the layout of the gums and mouth. With iTero, this scanning process usually takes less than 15 minutes and provides a highly accurate 3D view of your mouth. 

iTero technology gives us a quick but comprehensive look at their smile, which you’ll see on the chairside monitor. Once the scan is complete, Dr. Dudley will go over the images with you, including a simulation of your treatment with braces or Invisalign aligners. The data is sent to the appropriate orthodontic lab wirelessly by clicking a button! 

In the past, we would need to send the dental casts through the mail for construction in a lab. This often added 2-3 more appointments for patients. Since iTero uses digital scanning throughout the orthodontic appliance process, there is a quicker turnaround time. This saves time and gives us appliances that are more accurate and effective than ever. 

The iTero scanner also allows Dr. Dudley to give you a 360° view of your smile while consulting about underlying problems identified by the scan. It can capture up to 6K images per second, giving our expert team a clear view as we map out your personalized treatment plan. 

What are the benefits of iTero scanners? 

We’ve already mentioned several advantages iTero has over traditional impressions, but it’s worth outlining these valuable benefits again! Because iTero captures more accurate measurements, it can significantly reduce your chances of being called back into our office for a redo, saving time and money. Sending digital impressions directly to the appropriate lab also results in a faster turnaround time between the scan and the start of your treatment. 

The cutting-edge technology of iTero scanners is so effective that many patients won’t require as many adjustments. This results in shorter check-up appointments in our office that are further apart throughout the treatment process. The process is more comfortable—the oral wand we use fits more easily into the patient’s mouth than the traditional trays, making for a more pleasant overall experience. 

Get the latest in smile technology with Dudley Smiles

The field has seen major improvements that benefit your smile by embracing the latest orthodontic technology. iTero scanners are part of this revolution, helping orthodontists create a more positive, rewarding, and effortless experience for every patient they see. 

If you’ve been contemplating orthodontic treatment, iTero makes achieving the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted easier! To learn more about your treatment options here at Dudley Smiles, get in touch today to schedule a FREE consultation with Dr. Dudley and the rest of our expert team. The confident smile you deserve is one click or call away!

Orthodontics is a field that is constantly advancing, with new technologies and treatments being developed all the time. At Dudley Smiles, we stay on top of these advancements to provide our patients with the most efficient and effective ways to achieve a healthy smile. 

This blog post will take a closer look at some of the most exciting developments in orthodontics and how they can benefit our patients.

Minimally Invasive Orthodontics

Orthodontics has experienced a recent revolution with the introduction of minimally invasive procedures. Unlike traditional orthodontic treatments involving metal brackets and wires, minimally invasive orthodontics utilizes clear aligners or small, tooth-colored attachments to guide teeth into their desired position gently. This type of treatment is more discrete and more comfortable for patients. 

Clear Aligners Advancements

Clear aligners, such as Invisalign and Spark, have been around for a while, but they continue to evolve and improve. The latest advancements in clear aligner technology include virtual treatment planning and remote monitoring. Additionally, clear aligners are virtually invisible, making them a popular choice among patients who want to maintain a natural appearance during treatment.

Digital Orthodontics

Another exciting development in orthodontics is the use of digital technology. Digital technology, such as 3D scanning and computer-aided design, allows for precise treatment planning and appliance fabrication. This not only results in faster treatment times but also improves the accuracy of the treatment. With digital scanning, we can create a detailed 3D model of a patient’s teeth and jaws, which we can then use to plan treatment and even create customized appliances like clear aligners or retainers.

Clear Braces

Clear braces are made of clear or tooth-colored materials. They offer the same effectiveness as traditional metal braces but are much less visible. This makes them a popular option for adults and teenagers self-conscious about wearing braces. These braces are also available in various styles and can be customized to fit the needs of each individual patient.

3-D Printed Braces

These braces are the most advanced and custom braces system. Because they are 3-D printed, each bracket is completely custom for each tooth. Our 3-D printed braces are a form of clear braces.

Self-Ligating Bracket Systems

Self-ligating bracket systems do not require elastic bands to hold the wire in place. Instead, they use a small clip, which leads to quicker treatment times and requires fewer adjustments by the patient. Patients who desire a beautiful and healthy smile with minimal discomfort will find this option ideal.

Accelerated Orthodontics

Accelerated orthodontics is a newer treatment option that uses special techniques and devices to speed up the orthodontic process. The orthodontic industry is rapidly advancing, allowing patients to access more modern and effective possibilities for attaining a healthy and beautiful smile.

With all these new advancements in orthodontics, it’s clear that the field is evolving and improving to provide patients with better options for achieving a beautiful and healthy smile.

Which Treatment is Right For You?

We are dedicated to providing the best care and finding the right solution for your needs at Dudley Smiles. Contact us today to learn more about the latest advancements in orthodontics and find out which treatment option is right for you.

Do you have facial asymmetry? If so, you’re not alone. Most people are born with some degree of asymmetry in their facial structure. In some cases, it’s barely noticeable, while in others, it can be pretty pronounced. If you’re interested in bringing some more balance to your facial features, consider orthodontics. At Dudley Smiles, we specialize in correcting teeth and jaw alignment problems that give our clients renewed self-esteem. Keep reading to learn how orthodontics can help!

What does facial asymmetry have to do with your oral health?

Various factors, including genetics, trauma, or improper oral health, can cause facial asymmetry. However, most people don’t realize that a lot of the time, these imbalances are caused by common orthodontic issues. Some examples of problems that Dr. Dudley treats to improve facial asymmetry are:

Underbites/Overbites

These result from the lower or upper jaw being too far forward or backward, respectively. Underbites can cause your facial structure to look unbalanced and can even affect your speech, while overbites can affect the appearance of your jaw and make it difficult to chew food properly.

Crossbites

A crossbite is when the upper teeth are closer to the lower teeth on one side than the other. This jaw misalignment can also cause your facial structure to look uneven. If left untreated, it can also put unnecessary pressure on your teeth and result in enamel erosion and other dental problems with time.

Crooked or Misaligned Teeth

If teeth are misaligned, they can do more than affect the appearance of your smile—they can throw off the entire balance of your facial structure! When Dr. Dudley uses orthodontic appliances to help his patients shift their teeth back into place, they are shocked to see the effect on their overall appearance!

How can orthodontics help me achieve a more balanced facial structure?

By correcting the alignment of teeth and jaw, Dr. Dudley can shift the balance of your facial features to create a more symmetrical look. At Dudley Smiles, we offer the following orthodontic appliances to help our patients achieve a more well-rounded facial structure:

Metal Braces

Metal braces are the most common orthodontic appliance and can be used to correct all types of misalignments. Dr. Dudley can gradually shift your teeth into alignment by placing brackets on your teeth and attaching archwires to apply pressure.

Clear Braces

Clear braces are a perfect choice for patients seeking a more discreet orthodontic option. These modern braces are made of a semi-opaque ceramic material that blends in with your teeth.

Invisalign & Spark Clear Aligners

Invisalign & Spark Aligners are orthodontic appliances made of clear plastic trays that are custom-made for each patient and changed every 1-2 weeks. You can take out these removable aligners for eating, brushing, and flossing, making them an excellent option for adults and teens who want to straighten their teeth without the hassle of wires and brackets.

Smile confidently with Dudley Smiles!

Whether you want to improve your facial symmetry or boost oral health, Dr. Dudley is dedicated to helping his patients achieve a beautiful and balanced smile. Through orthodontic treatments like metal braces, clear braces, and Invisalign, Dudley Smiles can help you achieve the smile of your dreams. Contact our office today to book your free consultation and learn more about your options.

Here at Dudley Smiles Orthodontist, we believe that an informed patient is a happy patient. And we also know just how convenient things can be online. This blog is online! We’re glad you’re here! See what 5 things you wont get with mail-order orthodontics.

Shopping, work, entertainment… sometimes it seems like we can get everything we want or need taken care of at the computer! But wait a second, what about our medical and dental care? 

Anybody who’s been on a quick tour of WebMD can tell you; you don’t want to try and be your own doctor. So do you want to be your orthodontist? Well, that’s what mail-order options like Byte or SmileCareDirect want to sell you. 

But what are mail-order orthodontics? How do they work, and what am I missing from them? Let’s find out. 

What are Mail-Order Orthodontics? 

Mail-Order orthodontics starts with an online questionnaire and a few grainy cell phone pics. You’ll get an outdated gunky impressions kit in the mail, and, assuming your needs are capable of being treated with aligners, a set will arrive a few weeks later. 

The hope is that by ordering online and taking the impressions yourself, you’ll save a few trips to an office and maybe a few bucks. But what is the reality? Well, here at Dudley Smiles, we can think of a few reasons why you probably want to keep orthodontic procedures to the orthodontic experts – Let’s talk about a few of them below. 

What don’t I get with mail-order?

Dr. Si Dudley and the team here at Dudley Smiles want to ensure that you get everything you need to keep you smiling. What are we missing when we go online? Anonymous mail-order operations will tell you that you can save time and money. That’s often just the opposite of what happens. 

Plus, you’d also miss out on all these great benefits. Benefits like: 

Free In-person consultation 

Dr. Dudley is a member of the Issaquah community, just like you. And, just like you, he knows it’s essential to make every dollar count. That’s why consultations are free – every time. 

A warm, inviting atmosphere 

Your and your loved ones’ tooth and jaw health are important to you, and it’s important to us, too. We know it can be intimidating having corrective body-altering work performed, and that’s why we’ve gone out of our way to ensure that Dudley Smiles is a fun, relaxing environment. Whether it’s our Issaquah or Sammamish locations, we want you to feel welcome! 

Personalized Treatment Plans 

Dr. Dudley has years of experience setting patients up for success and has the expertise to develop a personalized course of care just for you. You can’t get that online.

 In the best-case mail-order scenario, you’ll take a picture of your teeth that convey some superficial features of your teeth and jaw’s structure and health. DIY impressions will (hopefully) accurately model more in-depth features of your starting point so that an anonymous provider can mail you a dubiously-fitting aligner. Why risk it? 

Up-to-date adjustments 

With mail-order orthodontics, there’s just no way to ensure your treatment is going according to plan. Teeth and jaws respond differently to treatment, and with the attention of proper in-person orthodontic treatment, it’s easier to be sure you’re on the right track. 

Dr. Dudley and the team will make sure that no matter how your teeth and jaws respond to care, going forward, you’ll be moving in the right direction! 

Comprehensive Care 

We at Dudley Smiles love aligners just as much as everyone else. That’s why we proudly offer the latest Invisalign and Spark aligners and state-of-the-art iTerro scanning tech. But every set of teeth is different, and traditional metal braces are sometimes the best option. You can’t get that online. 

At Dudley Smiles, you’re not a number. 

Mail-Order orthodontics is all about the bottom dollar when it comes down to it. Dr. Silas Dudley, or Dr. Si to his friends, is fulfilling his dreams by practicing the trade he loves and improving the lives of the people he lives close to. Don’t you want that kind of care regarding something as important as your dental and orthodontic health? 

See why Google rates Dr. Si and Dudley Smiles at a 5 out of 5, and let’s get you smiling today!

Your smile says a lot about you, and by the time you reach adulthood, you likely think that’s just how it will be, but we have four reasons to get adult braces. Whether your teeth affect your confidence or your ability to maintain good oral health by making brushing and flossing difficult, you don’t have to put up with it anymore. Dental technology is improving all the time, and Dudley Smiles in Issaquah, WA, will always offer the most comfortable and effective treatments. 

When you think of braces, the first thing that comes to mind is probably a metal-clad teen face, and that may not be the look you want to sport as an adult. While it is most common to utilize orthodontic treatments such as braces in adolescence, adults make up about one in every three to five orthodontic patients today. Talk about a positive trend!

You’re never too old to benefit from orthodontic treatment! (The oldest patient Dr. Dudley has treated was 86 years young!) Thanks to cutting-edge technology, gone are the days of painful headgear, bulky bands on every tooth, and overly tight stainless steel wires. Today’s orthodontic treatment is much more comfortable than it used to be. Dudley Smiles offers the latest orthodontic options to make new smiles fast and affordable for patients no longer in their elementary or teen years. Whether you’re looking for cosmetic corrections or to improve functionality, we have orthodontic treatments to help. 

You deserve orthodontic care that reflects your individual needs. Dr. Dudley and his friendly and experienced team believe that an informed patient will have more successful results, so your role in treatment is just as important as ours. Together, we will build your self-confidence and create positive life changes. Let’s look at some of the reasons to get braces as an adult. 

Improved overall health

Braces are instrumental in correcting misaligned teeth and other dental issues that lead to further common health problems like headaches, jaw pain, digestion issues, and even sleep apnea. 

Improper alignment of teeth and jaws throughout an adult’s life can cause damage to the areas where teeth meet incorrectly during chewing and can even make the process of chewing itself difficult. When your jaws or teeth do not meet properly during chewing, you risk overexertion of the jaw muscles and complications like TMD or temporomandibular joint disorders. Not being able to chew correctly can result in food not being digested timely or adequately and lead to acid reflux, indigestion, and diminished nutrient absorption. 

Braces also require a little extra cleaning and care, which means your mouth will be getting better overall attention and maintenance. And having straight teeth can make cleaning them much less tricky as there will be less opportunity for plaque and bacteria to build up, more room to floss with better access to your gum line, and this can decrease your chances of cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease.

Aesthetics and the confidence of a perfect smile

Your self-esteem depends significantly on your teeth, and a crooked smile or misaligned bite can leave you feeling less confident when all eyes are on you. You may notice you shy away from personal conversations or avoid having your photo taken only to give a less-than-thrilled, lips-only grin when you can’t escape. For some patients, the positioning of your teeth may even affect your speech by causing your tongue or lips not to attain the position necessary to make certain sounds. 

Here at Dudley Smiles, we believe the essence of good oral health is creating confidence in our patients. Orthodontic treatment is more than just straightening teeth, and our care philosophy embraces science and art to give you the best possible results!

Variety of treatment options

You can get the most recent orthodontic treatments at Dudley Smiles. Depending on the severity of your case, your options may include traditional metal braces, clear braces, or Invisalign. In some cases, a combination of options can improve the efficiency and aesthetics of your treatment. 

Metal braces

Traditional metal braces are the most time and cost-effective orthodontic treatment. Modern braces have come a long way in recent years and are made of high-grade stainless steel brackets connected by metal wires that are gradually adjusted to move your teeth over time. The brackets are secured to your teeth with special glue, and we offer colored ties in dozens of colors for personalization and fun that can be changed each visit.

Clear braces

Clear braces work in much the same way as their metal counterpart but are made of a clear or tooth-colored material instead of metal for a barely-there appearance. Older teens and adults may prefer this option for an inconspicuous approach. Still, it is worth noting that this option is more susceptible to breaking or staining depending on your eating and lifestyle habits. 

Clear Aligners 

Clear aligners, such as Invisalign or Spark, is an innovative system that straightens teeth without brackets, bands, or wires, unlike braces. Instead, clear aligners fit over your teeth and are removable, making it easier to eat, drink, brush, and floss. These aligners need to be worn for 22 hours a day during your treatment and are changed every one to two weeks to keep consistent pressure on your teeth and jaws. Attachments, or glue bumps, are also added to your teeth to help the aligners move particularly stubborn teeth or to perform more difficult movements. 

Cost-Efficient – Now and Later

It’s no secret that your oral health is strongly connected to your overall health, and there’s never been a better time to consider orthodontic treatment. When combined with proper dental hygiene, braces can decrease your chances of cavities, gum disease, and costly procedures like tooth extractions or treatments that treat the symptoms, not the cause, of problems. Specific orthodontic issues like misaligned bites can wear down your teeth and lead to chipping, cracking, and even tooth loss, which will cost you much more in the long run.

Dudley Smiles has improved patients’ self-confidence, appearance, and health by being committed to making orthodontics affordable for you and your family. We emphasize exceptional service, offer flexible payment options, and file your insurance forms to ensure you get your maximum benefits before creating a plan that works best for your budget. Our mission is to provide the best care without compromise, and that means your family won’t have to compromise your budget. We even offer discounts for special situations like multiple family members in treatment and paid-in-full patients. 

With Dudley Smiles, you’re never too old for a beautiful smile!

All treatments have their own lists of pros and cons, and we know you have a unique set of needs with your unique smile, no matter your age. Whether you want to keep this journey more inconspicuous, prioritize comfort over aesthetics, or simply enjoy the fastest option that gets you to your perfect smile, Dudley Smiles will ensure you enjoy every minute of the process. 

Our modern and convenient office features advanced technology to make choosing your orthodontic treatment options a little less daunting. If you still have questions about getting braces as an adult, our happy and well-trained orthodontic team would love to meet you for your FREE consultation to get you started on your journey to a confident smile. 

You’ve tried everything else- could orthodontics help your TMJ-related sleep issues? Most people think of getting a perfectly straight smile when they think about orthodontics. While that is the most obvious benefit of orthodontic treatment, bite problems and crooked teeth are more than just a matter of appearance. 

It is no secret that your body does much of its healing and repair while sleeping, but did you know that your oral health can dramatically affect your sleep quality? If you are having trouble sleeping due to teeth grinding, sleep apnea, or snoring, there is a good chance that orthodontic treatment can help change that. 

Dr. Silas Dudley and his skilled team see many patients frustrated with their traditional treatment plans for sleep apnea, like CPAP machines. We are dedicated to providing customized treatments for each of our patients in a way that makes them feel listened to and comfortable throughout the process. In many cases, Dr. Dudley can create an individualized orthodontic treatment plan that gets you back to sleeping functionally and fully. Let’s look at how orthodontic treatment can help your sleep issues. 

Health Risks of Sleep Apnea

While you sleep, your mouth and jaw muscles relax with the rest of your body. This relaxation is entirely normal, but issues arise when you sleep on your back, causing your jaw to slide backward and narrowing the throat. As you try to breathe through that constricted space, the sound of snoring is produced. Snoring is a definite sign you should mention to your doctor at your next appointment. 

Another factor affecting your snoring and sleep apnea could be related to your bite or the alignment of your jaw and how your teeth meet when you close your mouth. Bite problems are common and can be an overbite, where your upper front teeth extend over your lower front teeth; an underbite, where your lower front teeth rest in front of your upper front teeth; or an open bite, which is when your upper and lower front teeth do not meet at all. For most people, traditional braces can correct your bite problem relatively quickly. They will also remove obstructions to create better airflow through your mouth, alleviating your snoring and sleep apnea concerns. 

Orthodontic treatment options besides braces

Not all sleep issues are created equally, and because of that, we can utilize more than just traditional metal braces for some mouth and jaw issues contributing to your sleep problems. We have you covered when it comes to treatment options in Issaquah, Sammamish, and the surrounding areas.

A Rapid Palate Expander, or RPE, is a device placed on the roof of the mouth and used to widen the upper jaw. This appliance is typically used as a treatment for children since their mouths and palate are still not fully formed and can easily be manipulated. Frequently, when a child’s mouth does not appear wide enough to accommodate adult teeth, your doctor can use this appliance without braces to provide spacing support for those teeth to come in correctly. This palate expander creates space allowing better airflow through the mouth, helping ease or even prevent sleep apnea.

Another notable option is using custom oral appliances to help keep the jaw in a forward position and keep airflow unobstructed. Two different methods of custom oral therapy vary only slightly, with one having an extra piece to help position your tongue correctly. This option is called a tongue-retaining mouthpiece. The other therapy option is the mandibular advancement device which moves your lower jaw forward and tightens the soft tissues of the upper airway, preventing airway obstruction. 

For some people, you may not have actual sleep apnea but instead experience pain in and around your ear, jaw pain, headaches, difficulty chewing, and temporomandibular joint pain that can be contributed to your bite issues and cause other concerns like Temporomandibular Joint Disorder or TMD.

TMJ/TMD

Your temporomandibular joints connect your lower jawbone to your skull. These joints get a lot of use throughout the day as you speak, chew, swallow, and yawn, Pain in and around these joints can be unpleasant and may even restrict movement. Not all jaw pain is associated with TMD, though. Tell your doctor at your next appointment if you notice any pain in addition to ear ringing, head and neck aches, clicking or popping sounds in your jaw, muscle spasms, alignment changes, or lockjaw. We can help determine if you have TMD and create a customized treatment plan to help relieve your symptoms.

Most people get TMD without ever having braces. Symptoms usually come and go regardless of whether braces are worn, but there are solutions if you find yourself experiencing any issues as described above. 

If you do not have Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, you can take many different preventative steps to maintain a healthy, strong smile. 

• Relax your face – “Lips together, teeth apart.”
• Avoid grinding your teeth
• Avoid all gum chewing
• Chew foods even on both sides of your mouth
• Do not sit with your chin rested on your hand
• Practice good posture – keep your head up, back straight, and shoulders squared
• Do not cradle the phone receiver between your head and shoulder

Improve your sleep, your smile, and your life with Dudley Smiles!

We are committed to providing you with the best information and options for your specific needs at Dudley Smiles. We want you to take pride in your smile and have a lifetime of successful sleep to be the healthiest you possible. 

Our caring and experienced team recognizes that children, teens, and adults will all have different dental needs, requiring a different level of attention and care. We work diligently with each patient to ensure you receive the most appropriate treatment in an inviting environment. 

We know wearing braces and other oral devices can be uncomfortable, but creating a proper bite young can create excellent health in the long run. If you face sleep issues like sleep apnea or TMJ, make yourself at home at our friendly, clean, and comfortable offices in Issaquah and Sammamish.

We look forward to helping you achieve the beautiful, show-stopping smile you’ve always wanted, so start your smile journey with a FREE consultation exam today. 

Early treatment can radically simplify later treatment and, in some cases, can help you avoid later treatment altogether. It allows your dentist and orthodontist to monitor the growth of the jaw and guide incoming permanent teeth. It will enable the doctor to regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches to gain space for permanent teeth, avoid the need for extractions, and reduce the likelihood of impacted permanent teeth.

With years of experience straightening smiles for the Issaquah area, our knowledgeable Dudley Smiles Orthodontist team knows your treatment may require more than just straightening your teeth. Facial asymmetry, caused by a narrow upper jaw or crossbite, is not just an aesthetic concern for some patients. It can also contribute to other oral and general health concerns like head and jaw pain. Our doctor can utilize an orthodontic appliance called a palatal expander to correct the shape of your upper jaw. 

In simple terms, this device can apply constant pressure to your jaw and is slowly manipulated over time to widen the upper jaw allowing space for permanent teeth to grow in and existing teeth to be adjusted appropriately. This treatment is most often used in children during facial growth when the bone is easier to change, but patients can also use it for adult palate corrections with excellent results. Let’s dive in to understand precisely what palatal expanders are, how they work, and if this might be a good option for your orthodontic journey. 

What is a palatal expander?

The upper jaw grows in two separate pieces as your mouth matures to account for this growth. It isn’t until closer to puberty that the two halves bind together to form a solid supporting structure. Our expert team can utilize this permeability to help provide your teeth space to grow and align your upper jaw with your lower jaw for optimum alignment and bite. 

The palatal expander is custom-made from Dr. Dudley’s 3-D digital scan of your upper jaw and teeth. This scan is digitally sent to a lab, where the data is turned into a high-grade metal appliance that your orthodontist will install on the roof of your mouth. The device consists of two halves connected in the center by a screw that your orthodontist will instruct you to turn with a unique key on a specified schedule. This process takes time as it keeps pressure on both halves of the jaw bone, causing them to widen as intended, and is typically left on for a short time after the desired results are achieved to allow time for the bone to get used to its new position.

Who Needs a Palatal Expander?

Palatal expanders are used to slowly expand the roof of the mouth and widen the upper jaw meaning anyone can require this specific orthodontic treatment. Malocclusions like an overbite, or when your upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth, can lead to complications like jaw and head pain, tooth decay and gum disease, and even sleep apnea. While having a narrow jaw can affect tooth alignment, leading to impaction and broken teeth or even obstruction of permanent teeth that have yet to grow in. A palatal expander can make both of these dental corrections.

Before puberty, your bones are still growing and forming, making them a bit softer than adult bones. This is also true for your jawbones and means this treatment is quicker and most effective when used during adolescence before adult teeth are entirely in place. It is not to say that adults can not benefit from the orthodontic treatment of palatal expanders, but you should expect a bit more discomfort and time to reach your desired results.

Different Types of Palatal Expanders

Depending on the adjustments needed for your unique jaw, there are several different types of palate expanders. Some expanders are fixed, and some are removable, but all palatal expanders are custom-made for the perfect fit for your palate shape and size. Let’s take a look at some of the options in orthodontic expanders. 

Removable Palate Expander

If your jaw corrections are minor, you may best benefit from a removable option. There are many brands, but, in general, this appliance looks similar to a clear aligner tray with a screw in the center. It will need to be worn 24 hours a day but often do not require more prolonged treatment. Removable palatal expanders also do not always require tightening the screw daily like permanent appliances. 

Fixed Palate Expander

The fixed palate expander, most commonly known as the rapid palate expander (RPE), is a system of bands attached to corresponding back molars and connects high in the center of the roof of the mouth with a screw. You will be given a unique key with instructions on how and when to use it to rotate the screw, maintaining adequate pressure for mouth expansion.

The Negatives and Alternatives

As with any procedure that will garner significant results like this, it does require work and commitment. While it may seem that this would be quite a painful experience, it isn’t more than minor discomfort, and typically, that discomfort only lasts a few minutes after adjusting the screw. And, just as with braces, palatal expanders may take a little time to get used as your tongue rests against the expander. This can make speaking, chewing, and swallowing seem a little off, but chances are, you are the only one that notices it, and you’ll get used to it in about a week. 

Orthodontic treatment with a palatal expander can often cause space to form between your upper front two teeth. This spacing is entirely normal, and the gap most often closes on its own, but braces might be a good option for some patients to maintain this change. You may also experience some drooling, a lisp, or even mild headaches during your treatment, especially after tightening the central screw.  

It is essential to maintain proper oral hygiene during this treatment process as it is any other time. Brush and floss regularly and avoid eating chewy, sticky, or hard and crunchy foods to ensure the appliance is not compromised. 

Sometimes, a palatal expander may not be the best option for you or your smile. In those cases, our doctor can recommend traditional braces, removal of impacted or overcrowded teeth, or even jaw surgery to correct the spacing in your jaw. Dudley Smiles Orthodontist has a solution for you regardless of your orthodontic situation!

For trusted experience and care, trust Dudley Smiles Orthodontist

Dr. Silas “Si” Dudley and his team are dedicated to providing customized treatments for each of our patients in a way that makes you feel listened to and comfortable throughout the entire process. Our excellent team supports this commitment with energy and an eye for detail, making the whole experience smooth and hassle-free. 

Deciding to seek orthodontic treatment is an exciting step! If you are ready to see what might be the best route to your best smile, we would love to meet with you for a FREE consultation to get to know you better. At Dudley Smiles Orthodontist in Issaquah, WA, we want your time with us to be great. No two people are the same, so no treatment plans should be the same. Keep up with us on social media!