Our Blog

How to Keep Your Retainers Safe

You did it! After months or even years of wearing braces, your teeth are finally straight and your smile is beautiful. But before you can fully enjoy your new smile, there is one more thing you need to do: wear your retainers. Retainers are essential for keeping your teeth in their new position and maintaining your straight, healthy

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5 Dental-Friendly Foods for a Stronger, Brighter Smile

Orthodontists Dr. Barton Soper, Dr. Lauren Lewandowski, Dr. Mohammad Mainayar, and Dr. Gabriela Aragon and the dedicated team at Advanced Orthodontics in Bellevue, WA understand that maintaining a healthy smile involves more than just regular brushing and flossing. It also means making thoughtful choices when it comes to your diet. We are firm believers in the power of

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Trick-or-Teeth: How to Safeguard Your Smile during Halloween

Halloween is certainly something to look forward to! Crafting an amazing costume, attending parties, maybe even braving a haunted house. But, with all the sugary treats making their way into your life, we’d be remiss if we didn’t warn you about the true Halloween horror – tooth decay.    If you have braces, an appliance, or Invisalign aligners,

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Do I Have to Get Invisalign from an Orthodontist?

The real answer to this question is yes. You might see advertisements online or in magazines for services that bypass the orthodontist to get you clear aligners. These services are typically referred to as mail-in orthodontics. Many adults who seek orthodontic care later in life view the orthodontist as a hassle and may be more likely to try

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What’s New in Orthodontics?

Orthodontics is a field of medicine that is experiencing continuous advancements and progress. With new inventions and research, innovative ideas and practices are being introduced into the orthodontic industry. As a result, your orthodontist is equipped with the latest and most advanced technology to provide you with the best possible treatment. It’s important to note that the latest

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How Often Do I Need to Wear My Invisalign?

How often do I need to wear my Invisalign? Adjust my expander? Wear rubber bands, retainers, or mouthguards? These questions and more are some of our most asked questions during treatment. The short answer is that if you wear these appliances and are diligent with your oral health, your treatment will progress easier. Your compliance and the length

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Does Being Pregnant Cause Gum Disease?

When you think about pregnancy, you probably don’t think about your teeth. Though it’s not something widely known and talked about, your oral health is very important for a healthy pregnancy – for both mother and child. Being pregnant changes chemical compositions throughout your body and results in changes in vitamin and mineral levels. You may recognize this

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Can Orthodontics Fix a Speech Impediment?

If you’re a reader of our blog, you know that orthodontic treatment benefits our patients in many ways that may not be immediately obvious. Most people who seek orthodontic treatment focus on a crooked bite, crowded teeth, or a smile they are generally unhappy with. While we certainly love giving every one of our patients a smile they

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Breathing and Orthodontics

Many patients and parents are surprised to learn about the benefits of orthodontic treatment extending beyond teeth. Orthodontics is not only a way to straighten teeth and adjust your bite. Your orthodontist’s skills can also identify other illnesses, work hand in hand with other treatments administered by your general doctor and adjust your whole facial appearance. In this

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