A healthy smile isn’t just a functional need; It’s also critical for proper speech as well as maintaining your confidence. Choosing the right orthodontist is of the utmost importance, as you’ll be building a multi-year professional and interpersonal relationship with him or her. Many orthodontists, like our own Burien and West Seattle orthodontist Dr. Jorge Peralta, offer free consultation visits so that you can meet with the Doctor, ask some questions, and feel out the office. Consider asking these five key questions during your initial orthodontic consultation.

1. What are your qualifications and experience?

You want to trust your care to an experienced professional. Find out how many years of practical experience the orthodontist possesses. Also, pick a professional who’s a member of the American Association of Orthodontists. Members are required to complete an accredited orthodontic residency program.

2. What are my treatment options?

It’s important to understand all your available therapeutic options before you move forward with treatment. Depending on your condition, you may be able to wear alternatives like clear braces or Invisalign. Your orthodontist should take the time to explain all your options and help you choose the best solution.

3. How long should I expect these treatments to take?

Most tooth alignment issues take anywhere between a few months and two years to correct. Ask your orthodontist to give you an estimated treatment timeline. You’ll also need to know how often you should return for adjustments to your braces or aligner trays.

4. How much will my treatments cost?

Orthodontic care can be a significant investment. Knowing what your insurance covers is helpful but be sure to get an accurate price quote and explore payment plan options if needed.

5. What are your office hours?

For any therapeutic plan to be feasible, you should select a professional who’s available when you are. Same-day, lunch and evening appointments are helpful ways that an orthodontist can accommodate your schedule.

Your Trusted Orthodontist in West Seattle and Burien

Peralta Orthodontics delivers personalized orthodontic care in a welcoming environment to patients of all ages in King County. To schedule a consultation, use our online appointment request form or call our practice at (206) 938-3100 today!

Unfortunately, some people who could benefit from orthodontic treatment never make appointments with a West Seattle orthodontist because they believe one or more of the many myths about orthodontic care that have been around seemingly forever. That’s why we’d like to bust some of these myths so you’re well-informed and know the truth. Here are three of the most popular myths circulating about orthodontic care along with the facts.

Myth #1: Bulky Metal Braces Are The Only Option for Straightening Teeth

Fact: While metal braces are still the most common type of braces used, today there are many different types of orthodontic appliances from which to choose. Our Seattle orthodontic practice offers patients many choices in orthodontic appliances including:

• Conventional stainless steel braces

• Clear ceramic braces

• Lingual or “hidden braces”

• Invisalign clear removable aligners

• Invisalign Teen

Myth #2: Any General Dentist Can Provide Me With Braces

Fact: General dentists are trained to diagnose and treat infections, tooth decay, impactions, chips and other restorative issues which is great for taking care of your day-to-day dental needs. A general dentist is also the dental professional to see for making sure your teeth and gums are healthy by providing you with routine checkups and cleanings. While many general dentists offer orthodontic treatment, it is always best to see an orthodontist if you need to perfect your smile or bite with orthodontic treatment. Orthodontists receive specialized orthodontic training once they’ve finished dental school which teaches them how to precisely and accurately realign teeth and jaws.

Myth # 3: Only Kids See Orthodontists to Straighten their Teeth

Fact: This myth is one that needs to be busted once and for all because nothing could be further from the truth! Today, nearly half of all orthodontic patients are adults. There are many reasons why so many adults are seeking orthodontic care including the fact that there are now many types of orthodontic appliances which are perfect for adults like clear aligners and transparent braces which are very discreet and effective at moving teeth swiftly and comfortably.

Questions?

If you have any questions about orthodontic treatment, please feel free to contact us as we’re always more than happy to speak with you! If you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Peralta to find out how you could benefit from orthodontic treatment, please complete the Appointment Request form. We look forward to meeting you soon and helping you achieve your most incredible smile!

Our West Seattle and Burien, WA orthodontist and his team at Peralta Orthodontics never want finances to stand in the way of our patients getting the orthodontic care they need. That is why our practice offers several options for paying for the orthodontic services we provide.

What is Flex Spending?

A flexible spending account, or FSA, is a popular benefit option offered by many employers that allows participants to avoid taxation on money spent for health care and dependent care expenses. At the time of hiring or during the open enrollment period, employees may elect to set aside a portion of their pay for a given year into a FSA.

If you have a FSA through your employer, funds from that account can be used to cover the cost of orthodontic care that your dental insurance plan might not cover. The current law allows individuals with FSAs to set aside $2,550 per year. However, families can stretch these benefits because the maximum applies per employee, per plan and not per tax return or household. So if both parents are working, each can set aside $2,550 for a total of $5100 and use the money to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses (including orthodontic care) for themselves, each other and their children.

How We Work with FSAs

Under most plans, you will lose your FSA money if you don’t use it at the end of the year, although $500 of unused funds may be rolled over into the following year. We regularly work with flexible spending accounts and can set up a payment plan that can be structured over the course of 2 to 3 years (if applicable to the treatment plan) to help you get the most out of your tax-advantaged FSA account.

For more information on your payment options at Peralta Orthodontics, visit our Office Policies page. If you have any questions about paying for orthodontic care using your FSA funds, please contact us as we’re always happy to help!

Undergoing orthodontic treatment is an investment both in terms of time and money. At Peralta Orthodontics, we strive to provide our patients with affordable, high quality orthodontic care using the latest available technology and orthodontic techniques. If you’re considering seeing a Seattle orthodontist for braces, the cost of braces is surely something you’ve thought about. Here are a few tips that can help you save on braces and other orthodontic care so your finances don’t get in the way of you achieving a straight and beautiful new smile.

Choose a Less Costly Treatment Method

Thanks to so many advances made in the field of orthodontics, there are now many different types of braces to choose from. Of course, your West Seattle orthodontist will have the final say in what type of braces you can wear based on your particular orthodontic problem, but you may have several types of appliances from which to choose.

With these different types of braces come different prices. For instance, conventional metal braces cost less than clear removable aligners. Braces that fit on the backside of the teeth (lingual braces) are more costly than conventional braces, as are braces featuring sliding-door bracket technology. So if you’re given a choice and you wish to save money, choose the least expensive type of appliances.

Begin Treatment Early

Treating some orthodontic issues early can help avoid more complicated treatment later that can end up costing significantly more. If you think your child needs orthodontic treatment, don’t delay on taking him or her in for an evaluation. This way, we can identify any problems early on and treat them before they become bigger, more expensive problems.

Ask Your Orthodontist About Payment Plan Options

Many orthodontists offer payment plan options, so don’t forget to ask. Peralta Orthodontics offers a no-interest, in-house payment plan that allows you to pay in person at your monthly visits, through the mail or set up as an automatic payment through our secure server.

Look into Other Payment Options

Many insurance companies offer partial coverage for orthodontic treatment. Check with your insurance provider to see if it covers orthodontic treatment. If you have a health savings account or flexible spending account, your orthodontist may work with these accounts. It is possible that a payment plan can be structured over the course of two to three years to better utilize your tax-advantaged accounts.

Follow All Instructions Your Orthodontist Gives You

It is important to follow all the instructions your Seattle orthodontist gives you. For instance, you will be told to avoid braces-busting foods like hard, crunchy and chewy foods. If you do eat something you shouldn’t, you may need to pay the cost of replacing broken wires, bands or brackets. The same thing goes with retainers. If you don’t take good care of your retainer and it breaks or you lose it, a new one will have to be made for you, which will cost you money.

Contact Your West Seattle Orthodontist

If you have any questions about the cost of orthodontic treatment, please don’t hesitate to contact us as we’re always happy to help! Peralta Orthodontics never wants finances to stop you from obtaining the orthodontic care you need. We offer many payment options, accept many types of insurance and have some financing options available to help make getting the treatment you need possible.

While one of our recent blog posts discussed Dr. Peralta’s philosophy on adult wisdom teeth extractions, his opinion differs when it comes to adolescents.

For adolescent and teen patients,  braces are usually removed long before it is time to consider the wisdom teeth. However, by the time the final retainer check appointment approaches, our Burien and West Seattle orthodontist Dr. Jorge Peralta will likely recommend wisdom teeth removal.  The primary reason why he recommends this for all adolescents, and not necessarily adults, is because far more often than not, wisdom teeth can present the following issues:

• They can be painful when erupting
• They can be difficult to clean
• They are prone to extensive tooth decay that can transfer to nearby teeth
• Soft tissue infection can occur
• Cysts (fluid-filled sacs) may surround them and cause issues
• Gum disease can occur

In an effort to prevent these potentially costly and inconvenient side effects of wisdom teeth, Dr. Peralta recommends extracting them prophylactically.  Particularly for teens, the benefits of visiting the oral surgeon early include healing more quickly, preventing health issues and potential emergency dental appointments, and removing them before they have the opportunity to impact the fit of retainers.

For adolescent patients, Dr. Peralta typically recommends that they visit the oral surgeon between the ages of 15-20. The exact timeframe depends on the development of the wisdom teeth and if their position can potentially impact the final orthodontic result and health of surrounding teeth.

If you have questions about orthodontics and wisdom teeth removal or would like to schedule an appointment at our Burien or West Seattle orthodontic offices, give us a call or fill out our appointment request form online now.

Whether you’re wearing Invisalign clear aligners or conventional metal braces, you surely want your treatment to go along as planned. After all, orthodontic treatment is a big investment in terms of both time and money. It’s a 2-way street as both you and your orthodontist have responsibilities in helping you achieve your new, beautiful smile.

The team at Peralta Orthodontics wants all of our patients to get the best, most efficient treatment possible. Here are a few tips for getting the most out of your orthodontic treatment.

Be Extra Diligent with Your Oral Hygiene

It is always important to do a good job of brushing and flossing your teeth. But good oral hygiene is even more important when you’re in orthodontic treatment and especially if you’re wearing conventional braces that are bonded to your teeth. By being extra diligent with your oral hygiene, you can avoid common dental problems that could delay your treatment like tooth decay and gum disease.

Follow the Instructions Given By Our Seattle Orthodontist

Whether you’re wearing Invisalign aligners or regular braces, it’s important that you follow all of the instructions that your orthodontist gives you. For instance, if you are wearing traditional metal braces, you were told to avoid eating braces-busting foods like hard, crunchy and sticky foods. If you are wearing clear aligners, you were told to wear the aligners for at least 22 hours per day. If you do not follow the instructions you’re given, your time spent in treatment may be prolonged. Failing to follow the instructions we give you could also alter your final results and make your treatment more costly, so it’svery important to be compliant.

Keep Your Regularly Scheduled Appointments

It’s also very important that you come to all of your scheduled orthodontic appointments. These important visits allow Dr. Peralta to check on your progress and/or to make necessary adjustments to your appliances. When you visit our Burien or West Seattle orthodontic offices as you should for each scheduled appointment, you will be doing your part to ensure that your treatment moves along as planned. This will result in you getting the best possible result, which is a straight and healthy smile that you can proudly wear for the rest of your life!