All posts by Stephanie Port

holiday gift donation drive 2017
Office News

Announcing Our 2017 Holiday Gift Drive

Each morning, nearly 9,000 children in foster care in Washington State will wake up this holiday season to unfamiliar surroundings.

 

Fortunately, we can make their season bright.

 

That is why Peralta Orthodontics is hosting a holiday donation drive. Together, we can help stock the Treehouse Wearhouse, a free store where kids in foster care can shop for toys, warm clothes, books, and other essential items this holiday season.

 

We were inspired to start this gift drive by a former local foster child who recalls using the “amazing” Treehouse services when she was younger. She said the people who donate to Treehouse helped to make her childhood “bearable” during a “lonely and stressful time when you’re not with your biological family”. Thanks to your donation, we can help more children feel cared for and believed in.

 

You can help by providing:

 

  • Monetary donations
  • New clothing
  • Teen gifts
  • Toys
  • Shoes and accessories

We will be collecting physical donations until Friday, December 15th.  If you plan to bring a donation to the office outside of your appointment time, please call ahead to ensure our hours and location for the day, 206-244-7800.  Feel free to email Erin with any questions, erin@peraltaortho.com.

 

Together, we can give kids in foster care a childhood and a future.

Oral Health

Halloween Candy: The Spooky Consequences of Too Much Sugar on a Developing Mouth

Soon, the neighborhoods will be filled with young ghosts and goblins who’ll be out and about collecting all types of sweet and sugary Halloween treats. While our Burien and West Seattle orthodontist enjoys all the fun that Halloween brings, he’d like to remind all of our parents that consuming too much sugar is not good for your kids’ teeth.

 

How Sugar Harms Teeth

 

Sugar is a major cause of tooth decay and cavities. The naturally occurring bacteria in the mouth feed on the sugar in candy and other foods and turns it into harmful acid. This acid attacks the protective enamel on teeth to raise the risk for decay. When kids eat lots of sticky or chewy candies like caramels and taffy, the sugar is in contact with the teeth for longer periods of time. This allows the bacteria more time to feed on the sugar to produce acid that leads to cavities.

 

Once a cavity develops, it’s very important to seek dental treatment before the decay does any more damage. Teeth that are badly decayed may need to be removed, which is something nobody wants! So what are parents supposed to do? Cancel their kids’ Halloween plans so they can’t collect lots of sweet treats that are harmful to eat? Of course not! Here are a few tips that can help protect your kids’ mouths this Halloween.

 

Ways to Limit the Effect of Sugar on Teeth

 

  • Fill your kids up with a good meal prior to trick-or-tricking so they’re less tempted to fill up on candy.
  • Encourage your kids to eat a small amount of candy in one sitting, followed by a glass of water or a thorough tooth brushing.
  • Pass out candy at parties that can be eaten quickly and easily to limit the amount of time sugar is in contact with the teeth.
  • Remind your kids to brush and floss well before bedtime to remove tiny pieces of Halloween candy that’s trapped between teeth. It’s especially important for kids wearing braces to brush and floss well as there are lots of places candy and bacteria can hide in and around all those brackets and wires on teeth!

Happy Halloween from Your Burien & West Seattle Orthodontist!

 

Dr. Peralta and his team would like to wish everyone a happy Halloween! For those of you who’ll be going trick-or-treating, be safe out there and don’t let all that candy play ghastly tricks on your teeth! Be sure to do a great job with your toothbrush and floss!

Braces

The Perils of At-Home Orthodontic Care

Our Seattle orthodontist would like to send out a heads-up about the perils of at-home orthodontic care. There are companies in operation today advertising DIY orthodontics designed to help people save thousands of dollars on the orthodontic treatment they need. These companies sell plastic aligner trays that look like Invisalign which are created from impressions consumers take of their teeth at home.

 

The Problem with Do-It-Yourself Invisalign

 

The main problem with at-home orthodontic care is that this type treatment cannot address very important issues regarding how the upper and lower teeth meet or the health status of the jaw joints and gums. Even though the companies offering at-home orthodontics do provide customer support, the “patients” have no licensed orthodontists overseeing their progress as they move through the series of aligners they’re given.

 

This lack of professional guidance can lead to some serious problems developing like:

  • Unpredictable and undesirable tooth movement
  • Permanent damage being done to the teeth
  • Bone loss in the jaw
  • Tooth decay & gum disease

An In-Person Orthodontic Evaluation is Important!

 

No licensed and reputable orthodontist would ever recommend orthodontic appliances to a patient without first providing that patient with a thorough orthodontic evaluation. Even though the companies offering at-home orthodontics advertise that each case is reviewed by a dentist, these hired dentists are approving cases based solely on selfies and models of questionable quality, with no diagnostic records and no oral health evaluation.

 

Contact Your Local Seattle Orthodontist

 

Dr. Peralta is a licensed and experienced orthodontist who offers individualized orthodontic treatment to patients of all ages living throughout Burien, West Seattle, Renton, Des Moines, Normandy Park, SeaTac, and the greater Seattle, WA area. If you want to improve your smile safely, predictably and effectively with braces or Invisalign, we encourage you to request a free consultation with Dr. Peralta today. We hope to hear from you soon!

peralta orthodontics team
Office News

Peralta Orthodontics 2017 Give Back Event!

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Over the years, the team at Peralta Orthodontics has been personally moved by the fight that several of our families have had to endure with breast or gynecological cancer. This is why our orthodontist, Dr. Peralta, has chosen to support Northwest Hope and Healing by donating $50 for each patient that begins full treatment during the month of August. This is our tribute to those amazing women who have touched our lives more than they will ever know!

 

In his ongoing quest to make it a priority to give back to the community, Dr. Peralta’s goal is to increase his contributions every year. In addition to donating to many local schools and our patients’ fundraising efforts for various causes, he also regularly donates to:

 

Help Us Help Others While You Achieve Your Most Incredible Smile!

 

We’re proud to serve patients of all ages living throughout Burien, West Seattle, Renton, Des Moines, Normandy Park, SeaTac, and the greater Seattle, WA area! Whether you’re looking for an orthodontist for your child or are interested in Invisalign treatment for yourself, we welcome you with open arms to Peralta Orthodontics!

 

If you begin full treatment during August, we’ll donate $50 to Northwest Hope and Healing so you can help us help others in need! Simply give us a call to set up your first complimentary consultation appointment or complete our handy online form. We’re looking forward to hearing from you soon!

peralta orthodontics west seattle office
Office News

Announcing Our New Office Location in West Seattle!

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Dr. Peralta and his friendly team have some exciting news to announce! Our new office location in West Seattle is now open and ready to serve you! Since first breaking ground last fall, progress has been steady and our brand new office is now complete. We’re more than pleased with the results!

 

Our new office is conveniently located at:

 

Peralta Orthodontics

3916 California Avenue SW
Seattle, WA 98116

 

New Hours:

 

  • Monday: 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
  • Tuesday: 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
  • Wednesday: 10:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.
  • Thursday 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
  • Friday: 8:30 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.

Our newest office, located two blocks north of the West Seattle Junction, is close to several local schools including Holy Rosary School, Seattle Lutheran High School, St. Christopher Academy, Madison Middle School, Hope Lutheran School, and West Seattle High School. This will make it very convenient for our student patients to visit us for appointments during the school year!

 

With our new convenient office location, top-notch orthodontic care is just minutes away from your Seattle-area home, work or school! If you’re in the area, feel free to drop by to have a look around! We’re confident you’ll love what you see and will be just as impressed with our new office as we are!

 

Schedule A Free Consultation With Our West Seattle Orthodontist

Dr. Peralta provides comprehensive orthodontic care to patients of all ages living throughout Burien, West Seattle, Renton, Des Moines, Normandy Park SeaTac and the greater Seattle, WA area. If you’re ready to start the journey toward your most perfect smile, please request an appointment today to set up your free, initial consultation. We look forward to seeing you soon and helping you achieve the healthy and attractive smile you deserve!

preferred invisalign provider 2017 seattle wa
Office News

We Are A 2017 Invisalign Preferred Provider & Seattle Met Top Dentist

The team at Peralta Orthodontics is excited to make a couple announcements that we’re very proud of! Recently, our West Seattle orthodontist, Dr. Jorge Peralta was named a 2017 Invisalign Preferred Provider. He was also recognized by his peers as one of 2017’s best dentists in Seattle Met Magazine’s “Best of 2017”.

 

Dr. Peralta has earned the distinction of being a 2017 Invisalign Preferred Provider by Align Technology, the makers of Invisalign by treating 100-lifetime cases and 50 cases a year using Invisalign clear aligners. As a Preferred Provider, Dr. Peralta provides each Invisalign patient with the treatment outcome he/she deserves which is a properly aligned, healthy and attractive smile!

 

This is the third year in a row that Dr. Peralta was named a top Seattle orthodontist by his peers, which is a remarkable achievement we’re very proud of! You can visit Seattle Met online here to read more about how he was voted one of the top orthodontists in the Seattle area.

 

Whether he is working with young children, teenagers or adults, Dr. Peralta is dedicated to giving his patients the most “hands-on”, detail-oriented treatment possible. He has scores of beautiful smiles to his credit and is trusted by patients and parents in Burien, West Seattle, and across the greater Seattle area! The whole team at Peralta Orthodontics is very proud of Dr. Peralta and all he’s achieved!

 

Visit Our Burien & West Seattle Orthodontist Today!

 

If you’re looking for an orthodontist in Seattle you can trust with your smile, you simply couldn’t make a better choice than our own Dr. Peralta! To get started achieving your best smile, please request your complimentary consultation today! Our practice proudly serves patients of all ages living in Burien, West Seattle, Renton, Des Moines, Normandy Park, SeaTac and the greater Seattle, WA area! We look forward to seeing you soon!

boy sucking thumb
Childrens Orthodontics

How To Break A Thumb Sucking Habit

Even though seeing a child suck their thumb may look innocent and even sweet, the harmful effects of a thumb sucking habit can be very serious if the habit goes on too long. A persistent thumb sucking habit that continues past the age of five or so can lead to significant tooth misalignment and/or jaw deformation. The degree of seriousness depends on several factors, including how forceful the habit is and how long the behavior continues.

 

If your child has a thumb sucking habit, below are a few tips from your friendly orthodontist in Seattle that can help your child break the habit before any serious damage can be done to their teeth and bite.

 

1. Talk to Your Child About the Habit

 

Take the time to explain to your child that their habit can cause problems with their mouth or teeth. Because many kids suck their thumbs at nap or bedtime, be present when your child is going to bed so you can gently remind them not to suck their thumb. Tell your child that breaking the habit will help ensure their teeth come in nice and straight, for an attractive smile they can be proud of.

 

2. Use a Reward Chart

 

Another good idea is to use a calendar as a reward chart and let your child apply a sticker every day when he/she doesn’t suck their thumb. If your child makes it through a week without sucking, allow him or her to choose a small reward like a trip to a favorite park or a special treat.

 

3. Use a Thumb Sucking Guard

 

There are special thumb sucking guards available to try which can help. This type of device is a plastic cylinder that fits over the thumb that’s attached to a wristband, to make the thumb too large to fit comfortably in the mouth. If you decide to use a guard, be positive when introducing it to your child. Tell your child that the guard is not a punishment, but rather a way to help him or her remember to avoid sucking.

 

4. Visit An Orthodontist!

 

If you don’t have any luck helping your child break their thumb sucking habit, visit an orthodontist or contact us for an appointment if you live in the greater Seattle area near Burien or West Seattle. Our orthodontist Dr. Jorge Peralta helps children break thumb sucking habits through the use of habit appliances. This is an oral appliance designed to block the thumb from fitting into the palate. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Oral Health

Tongue Thrust Habits: Causes, Effects and How to Fix Them

Tongue thrusting is the habit of putting the tongue in the incorrect position during swallowing, by placing the tongue too far forward or to the sides. As an infantile swallowing pattern, tongue thrusting is exhibited by children from birth, making it acceptable to have this swallowing pattern up to the age of four. While most children will outgrow the infantile swallowing pattern, some children continue to place their tongue too far forward or to the sides, due to many factors.

 

What Causes Tongue Thrusting?

 

Tongue thrusting can be caused by several things including:

 

  • A prolonged thumb or finger sucking habit
  • Mouth breathing that causes the tongue’s posture to be very low in the mouth. Often times, people who breathe through their mouths have on-going nasal congestion, allergies, or physical obstructions that cause this behavior.
  • Swallowing difficulties resulting from enlarged adenoids, tonsillitis or frequent sore throats
  • Some artificial nipples used to feed infants
  • Hereditary factors
  • Neurological problems
  • Physiological abnormalities
  • A large tongue

 

Tongue Thrusting Effects

 

The continuous pressure exerted from thrusting the tongue can push the teeth forward to cause them to become misaligned. When the teeth are not in proper alignment, it can adversely affect the bite and jaw. Most people with a tongue thrust habit tend to have an open bite wherein the upper and lower front teeth do not come together or meet as they should.

 

Treatment for Tongue Thrusting

 

Dr. Peralta can treat tongue thrusting by fitting the patient with a special fixed appliance. This appliance is called a tongue crib and it helps break the tongue thrusting habit, while assisting in re-establishing a more proper biting pattern. This appliance works very well and is cemented in semi-permanently. Braces can also be used to bring the teeth into proper alignment. If the tongue thrusting has affected the speech, a consultation with a speech therapist may be recommended.

 

Contact Your Orthodontist in West Seattle

 

If you have any questions about tongue thrusting or how it’s treated, please feel free to contact us as we’re always here to help! If you suspect that your child has a tongue thrusting habit, we encourage you to request an appointment with Dr. Peralta today for a thorough examination and proper diagnosis.

 

woman sleeping in white bed
Braces

How Do Braces Help You To Stop Grinding Your Teeth

Bruxism, or grinding of the teeth, is a common problem among people of all ages. Our Burien orthodontist, Dr. Jorge Peralta, often sees patients who complain of problems caused by habitual teeth grinding. He also speaks to patients who grind their teeth subconsciously, without even realizing they’re doing it, until they’re told by their dentists about the physical damage it’s done to their teeth.

 

What Causes Bruxism and Why It’s a Problem

 

While grinding the teeth can be caused by stress and anxiety, most often it occurs during sleep and is caused by having an abnormal bite or missing or crooked teeth. Bruxism can also be caused by sleep apnea.

 

Clenching the teeth tightly together puts a lot of pressure on the muscles, tissues and structures around your jaw. This can lead to more serious temporomandibular joint problems or TMJ. Consistently grinding your teeth also wears down the tooth surfaces, which can lead to fractured teeth and other dental problems.

 

Orthodontic Treatment Can Help

 

If you grind your teeth and your teeth grinding habit is linked to a problem with your bite, our Burien orthodontist can help. Dr. Peralta can provide you with a thorough examination, a proper diagnosis and recommend with the right type of  treatment for you. He may recommend that you  wear a special orthodontic night guard over your teeth that will prevent any further damage to your teeth. Or Dr. Peralta may tell you that you have misaligned teeth that can be brought into proper alignment with braces to help with your teeth grinding problem.

 

Schedule Your Visit Today

 

To get the help you need for your teeth grinding problem, please schedule a complimentary exam with Dr. Peralta today. Our practice offers high quality, individualized orthodontic treatment using all the latest types of orthodontic appliances and cutting-edge technology. We look forward to seeing you soon and providing you with the treatment you need to stop grinding your teeth for better dental health!

dentist showing patient xrays
Braces

How Do Braces Fix An Overbite?

One of the most common orthodontic problems, or maloclussions, that our Burien and West Seattle orthodontist treats is an overbite. An overbite is when the upper teeth overlap more than half of the lower teeth when biting down. A serious, deep overbite can make it difficult to properly chew food and can even result in damage to the teeth or gums as the lower teeth can strike the back of the upper teeth or gums.

 

The cause of overbites is often hereditary. However, overbites can also stem from poor childhood habits like tongue-thrusting, nail-biting and prolonged thumb-sucking or pacifier use.

 

Overbite Correction

 

While there is no age limit on when an overbite can be treated successfully with orthodontic care, this problem is easier to remedy in younger children because their jaws are not yet fully developed. In some cases when the overbite is skeletal in nature and the patient is an adult, surgery may be required to reposition the jaw. Some severe overbites may require tooth extraction, so the remaining teeth can shift into their correct positions more easily.

 

Once an orthodontist conducts a thorough examination, the best course of treatment to take for an overbite will be determined based on the patient’s unique misalignment. Braces with (elastic bands) are typically used to move the teeth into their correct positions.

 

Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Peralta Today

 

If you or your child has an overbite, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with Dr. Peralta. At your first visit with us, Dr. Peralta will examine your teeth and bite and then speak with you about his findings along with any proposed treatment. We look forward to seeing you soon and helping you achieve the healthy and attractive smile you deserve!