All Ages Accepted
Everyone should be able to get quality orthodontic care and a beautifully aligned smile. We’re proud to offer a full range of orthodontics for children, teens, and adults at our Issaquah office.
Orthodontics for Children
A Great Start to a Healthy Smile
As a parent, you want the best for your child. That includes healthy teeth and a pleasing smile.
At Dudley Smiles, our goal is to treat your children as if they were our own, by providing them with the best possible orthodontic care.
All Kids Should Get an Orthodontic Check-Up By Age 7
For a smile that's long-lasting and healthy, your child needs teeth and jaws that are properly aligned - in other words, a healthy bite. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that your child get an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven.
By then, your child's teeth have developed enough for subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth to still be spotted while some baby teeth are still present.
This check-up may reveal that your child's bite is fine and braces for kids aren't necessary.
Or, Dr. Dudley may identify a developing problem but recommend monitoring your child's growth and development, and then, if indicated, begin treatment at the appropriate time for your child. In other cases, Dr. Dudley might find a problem that can benefit from early treatment.
What Is Early Treatment?
Early treatment may prevent or intercept more serious problems from developing and may make treatment at an older age shorter and less complicated. In some cases, Dr. Dudley will be able to achieve results that may not be possible once the face and jaws have finished growing.
Choosing the Optimal Time for Treatment
While the age that kids get braces may vary, orthodontic treatment most often begins between the ages of 9 and 14. Some orthodontic problems are easier to correct if they are treated early.
If Dr. Dudley thinks your child will need treatment, he let you know when it will be best to begin treatment. This gives your orthodontist the best chance to:
- Guide jaw growth
- Lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth
- Correct harmful oral habits
- Improve appearance and self-esteem in your child
- Guide permanent teeth into a more favorable position
- Create a more pleasing arrangement of teeth, lips and face
Signs the Bite's Not Right
It's not always easy to tell when your child may need braces or has an orthodontic problem. Even teeth that look straight may be hiding a problem bite. Here are some clues that may indicate the need for orthodontic attention:
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- Difficulty chewing or biting
- Breathing through the mouth
- Thumb-sucking
- Crowded, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
- Jaws that are too far forward or back
- Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
- Protruding teeth
- Upper and lower teeth that don't meet, or meet in an abnormal way
- An unbalanced facial appearance
- Grinding or clenching of the teeth
Orthodontics for Teens
Creating Confident Smiles
The teen years (between the ages of 12 and 16) are the most common time for orthodontic treatment because most permanent teeth will be in place.
Luckily, you have some new solutions work to make your treatment process much easier than before.
About Teen Orthodontics
Experienced orthodontists like Dr. Dudley will also be able to easily recognize issues with spacing, crowding, bite, and alignment in this age range, and your teen’s bone and jaw structure are formed enough to allow orthodontic treatment to begin.
Some teens may have even started Phase I treatment at an earlier age, and are now following it up with full braces or other orthodontic treatment.
Beyond outward appearances, untreated dental problems can have a lasting impact on your teen’s oral and overall health. If you notice any of the following issues, we recommend a complimentary consultation with Dr. Dudley at Dudley Smiles, since they could be signs your teen may benefit from orthodontic treatment.
- Early, late, or irregular loss of their baby teeth
- Difficulty with chewing or biting
- Crowding or extra spacing between teeth
- Jaws that shift or make sounds
- Frequent biting of the cheek or the inside of the mouth
- Teeth that meet abnormally or not at all
- Jaws and teeth that are out of proportion to the rest of the face
- Protrusion of teeth
Diagnosing and successfully treating certain bite problems can have short-term and long-term benefits. Problems classified as “bad bites” can often be minimized with the proper orthodontic treatment, including:
- Crooked or crowded teeth
- Missing or extra teeth
- An overbite or underbite
- Incorrect jaw position
- A disorder of the jaw joint
Straight teeth that respond well to orthodontic treatment have a lot of benefits, including:
- Being less prone to wear and tear, chipping, and tooth trauma
- Being easier to keep clean, helping to prevent tooth decay and cavities
- Reducing the chances of developing gum disease, which can result in bone loss, decay, and tooth loss
- Improving proper chewing and digestion of food
FAQs About Teen Braces
How long does treatment take?
This is a question with no concrete answer, unfortunately. Every case is different, but the average length of the active stage of orthodontic treatment is anywhere from 6-36 months.
After this phase of treatment is complete, your teen will need to wear a retainer for as long as Dr. Dudley feels is necessary based on their individual case. We work as a team with both parents and teen to create a smile that will last a lifetime.
Can teens still play sports?
Absolutely. If your teen athlete is wearing traditional braces, it’s crucial to protect their smile to stay on track with their treatment.
We strongly recommend that they use an orthodontic mouthguard to protect their braces, and their mouth, from any potential injury. Your teen can play any contact sport if they use the proper orthodontic mouthguard.
If your teen has Invisalign, they can simply take their aligner out before practice or a game, and put it back in afterward.
What about musicians?
Traditional metal braces might affect the way your teen plays some instruments. Invisalign is an excellent alternative treatment because removing their aligner before playing gives them no limitations.
Orthodontics for Adults
You Deserve a Beautiful Smile, Too
Orthodontic Treatment Isn’t Just for Children & Teens
In fact, one in every five orthodontic patients is over the age of 21.
Many adults are choosing to receive treatment later in life because they understand how important it is to maintain their oral health, they want to feel better about their overall appearance, or both.
Why Should You Consider Orthodontic Treatment?
Straight teeth are healthy teeth — When your teeth are correctly aligned it’s easier to keep them clean by flossing and brushing, which in turn helps to prevent other oral issues, including some that can affect your overall health.
A healthy, straight smile builds confidence and self-esteem — Successfully completed orthodontic treatment can help boost your self-confidence, give you a better quality of life, and allow you to smile freely for maybe the first time ever.
Untreated oral issues will get worse — Delaying or refusing orthodontic treatment when it's needed can create long-term health issues that will wind up costing you more in the end.
Dudley Smiles recognizes that children, teens, and adults will all have different dental needs and need different levels of attention and care. We work diligently with each patient to ensure you receive the most appropriate treatment for you in the most inviting environment.