Invisalign vs Braces

With all of the health and aesthetic benefits of straight teeth, it is a common dental treatment. Here at Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, we offer several different types of orthodontics including braces and Invisalign. Keep reading to learn about the differences between the two major options.

The Invisalign trays are to be worn for twenty to twenty-two hours per day. You can take them out to eat, brush, and floss, unlike with braces. While this is a definite convenience factor, it means you will have to be strict with yourself to make sure you wear the Invisalign for the recommended amount of time. Otherwise, treatment will be delayed.

This also means that there are no restrictions on what you can eat with Invisalign, so you do not have to avoid crunchy, hard, sticky, or chewy foods. Since you can brush and floss normally, there are no special supplies you need to purchase like interdental cleaners and floss threaders.

The smooth plastic trays are also more comfortable than metal braces, so the calluses and irritated spots that braces cause are less likely. In addition, the trays are clear. This means you can straighten your teeth discreetly and will not have the metal look to your smile.  

Whether you desire braces or Invisalign for your straightening treatment will depend on your preferences. To learn more, give our Renton, WA office a call at (425) 271-7725 or visit our Fairwood Dental Center website, www.fairwooddental.com. 

Veneers

Dental veneers are thin ceramic shells that cover the tooth structure and create a more brilliant, beautiful smile. Many of our patients at Fairwood Dental Center choose to have veneers placed on their teeth for a variety of reasons. They might cover teeth that are stained or misshapen or opt for veneers because they have gaps in their teeth or have teeth that are slightly misaligned.

 

Veneers are bonded securely over the teeth and match the other natural teeth, so they don’t appear obvious to anyone else. After the veneers have been bonded to your teeth, our team of experienced doctor’s recommends following these post-op instructions:

• Eat soft foods for the first few days.
• Don’t chew extremely hard foods like raw carrots, ice or candy, as the porcelain can start breaking away.
• Brush and floss the teeth with the veneers, just like your other natural teeth.

Visit us Fairwood Dental Center every six months for a routine check-up and professional cleaning.

Veneers can last a long time if patients follow these important instructions. If the gum begins to recede, they should return to our dental office in Renton, WA for replacement veneers. This doesn’t usually happen for many years and is simply part of the aging process. To find out more about veneers, contact us today.

Scaling and Root Planing

At Fairwood Dental Center, we strive to help our patients maintain optimal oral health and retain their original teeth. By offering scaling and root planing to treat early gum disease, our team of doctors is able to restore your health and save your smile in a noninvasive way.

 

Periodontal disease is responsible for 75 percent of all adult tooth loss cases in the United States, making it critical to check for and treat periodontal issues when they first arise. An infection of the gums, periodontal disease starts when a buildup of plaque on your teeth hardens into tartar and creates a suitable environment for bacteria to collect and attack the surrounding gums. In its early stages, this gum disease is gingivitis, but if it is left untreated, it becomes periodontis, and periodontis can destroy your gum tissue, lead to tooth loss and even result in a loss of bone mass in your jawbone. Heart disease, diabetes and stroke have also been linked to poor periodontal health.

 

Scaling and root planing is one of the most effective ways to treat gum disease before it develops into more serious periodontal disease. The procedure allows the dentist to clean between your gums and teeth all the way down to the roots in order to smooth the root structure and remove the tartar that is causing your inflammation.

 

The procedure is an incredibly effective and can stop the progression of gum disease before it irreversibly damages your teeth. 

Orthodontic Options

Thanks to advances in orthodontic technology, you no longer have to feel embarrassed or self-conscious because you have to wear braces. You also don’t have to wear braces for over a year to get the best results anymore. At Fairwood Dental Center, we offer braces and Invisalign for patients hoping to straighten their teeth.

 

Invisalign aligners are plastic, removable mouth pieces that gradually straighten teeth over time. They give less force per week and cause considerably less pain to straighten teeth compared to traditional braces. Since the pieces are transparent, patients are able to maintain their smile while improving it at the same time. One of the main complaints of traditional braces, while they are effective, they often leave stain marks on the teeth. This is not the case with Invisalign; patients are able to remove the mouth pieces in order to brush and floss well regularly. They do not interfere with your speech either.

 

We also offer traditional braces for patients looking to correct bite problems while straightening their teeth. These braces are made of strong metal alloys and are considered the smallest and most comfortable option. While they do take the longest of all the orthodontic options made available at our practice, they are the most effective when it comes to aligning teeth and correcting bite problems.