Dudley Orthodontics is your Sammamish braces expert
Traditional braces are one of the most effective tools we have for achieving optimal tooth and jaw alignment, and we’re proud to offer patients a variety of orthodontic options, including traditional metal braces and ceramic braces. If you’re looking for someone you can trust to provide a brilliant straight smile in the Sammamish area, the team at Dudley Smiles is here for you. We proudly create beautiful new smiles for patients of all ages in Sammamish, Issaquah, and the surrounding communities.
Braces treatment with your Sammamish braces expert
Before we put your braces on, our team will collect digital x-rays, photos, and a model of your mouth. This will provide our orthodontists, Dr. Silas Dudley with information about the movements each tooth needs to make in order to be in the best position for your smile will then use this data to formulate a customized treatment plan based on your particular orthodontic needs. This will determine how your brackets are placed.
A wire is inserted to provide customized pressure on all the teeth that need to be moved. Bends in the wire will encourage specific and precise movements of the teeth. This process is called remodeling and involves minor changes in the bone that surrounds the roots of teeth. When your braces put pressure on a tooth, cells called osteoblasts and osteoclasts form around its root. Together with the wire, this creates negative pressure on one side of the tooth, where the bone will be removed. On the other side of the tooth, the bone is reformed. This pressure and bone remodeling slowly move teeth into the correct position.
Remodeling requires constant pressure to be put on a tooth. This means that teeth will often begin drifting back towards their old positions over time once your braces are removed. Fortunately, regular use of a retainer will help prevent this natural drifting and keep teeth in their new and improved positions!
What your Sammamish braces expert offers
Today’s braces are better than ever! All of our treatment options are excellent and can correct lots of different problems, from simple to complex. Traditional metal braces often work faster at closing gaps and aligning teeth than other treatments, which can shorten your overall treatment time, and be a cost-effective option for patients on a budget. The strength, durability, and affordability of traditional braces are a big part of why they’ve withstood the test of time and are still the top orthodontic treatment year after year.
Metal Braces
The most common type of braces is the tried-and-true traditional metal braces system. Normally constructed with high-grade stainless steel, these braces work to straighten your teeth using metal brackets and archwires. Today’s metal braces are more comfortable and also more fun than ever - you have the option of choosing colored elastics to add a punch of personality to your treatment! But don’t worry, if you prefer a more subtle approach, we also offer clear or tooth-colored elastics.
Ceramic Braces
Another option for straightening your smile, ceramic braces work the same way metal braces do, but the brackets are made with a clear ceramic material instead. They’re very popular with our older teen and adult patients because they are such a discrete treatment option. Ceramic braces tend to be used on the upper front teeth more often than the lower teeth.
Since the brackets tend to be larger and more brittle than their metal counterparts, we normally don’t recommend them for our younger patients.
Since you see signs of improvement quickly when using traditional braces, they can help increase your confidence in both your smile and the orthodontic process!
Your trusted Sammamish braces expert
When you choose braces treatment with our practice, Dr. Dudley will create a treatment plan that works with all parts of your life. Using our leading-edge techniques and state-of-the-art technology, we will provide efficient, comfortable care that will help you change your smile and your life! At Dudley Smiles, we believe that advanced, personalized care leads to the best results and most positive orthodontic experience. Dr. Silas Dudley and the rest of our skilled team focus on patients as individuals, no matter the age, personal concerns, or clinical needs.
Schedule a free consultation with us today to get started!