Welcome to the orthodontic practice of Dr. Diane Doppel. Serving Seattle, WA (Washington) and the surrounding greater Puget Sound area- Dr. Diane Doppel is your orthodontic specialist, offering Invisalign® and In-ovation® braces for children, teens, and adults.

Your dentist may have discussed with you the benefits of having healthy teeth and proper jaw alignment. Crooked and crowded teeth are hard to clean and maintain. This can result in tooth decay, worsen gum disease and lead to tooth loss. Other orthodontic problems can contribute to abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, inefficient chewing function, excessive stress on gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth, or misalignment of the jaw joints. These can lead to chronic headaches and face or neck pain. Treatment by an orthodontist can be less costly than the additional care required to correct dental problems arising as a result of orthodontic problems. For most people, a beautiful smile is the most obvious benefit of orthodontics. After your braces come off, you'll feel more self-confident.

How Orthodontic Treatment Works

Orthodontic appliances can be made of metal, ceramic or plastic. They may be removable or they may be brackets bonded to the teeth. By placing a constant, gentle force in a carefully controlled direction, braces slowly move teeth to a corrected position. This is a great time to wear braces! Gone are the days when a metal band with a bracket was placed around each tooth. You can choose brackets that are clear or metallic color. Colorful ties can be used on the braces if you wish. Wires are also less noticeable than they used to be and the latest materials move teeth faster and with less discomfort to the patient.

Duration of Treatment

Treatment time typically ranges from one to three years, depending on the growth of a child's mouth and face and the tissue response of an adult. The severity of the problem is always a factor. Every case is different. Children grow at different rates and everyone will respond variously to orthodontic treatment, so the time to case completion may differ from the original estimate. The patient's diligent use of any prescribed elastic bands or headgear is an important factor in achieving the most efficient treatment. Interceptive, or early treatment procedures, may take as few as six months.