Kennewick Dentist, Southridge Dental, Now Providing Orthodontic Services 

Braces are the most common orthodontic option. They help to correct bite and even straighten the teeth. What many people don’t know is that the field of orthodontics has much more to offer than braces. Orthodontics refers to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of facial and dental irregularities.

Apart from aligning your teeth, orthodontic treatment creates a balanced facial appearance. How? By making sure that the jaws and teeth are functioning normally. Aren’t we all looking for straight teeth that function better and are easier to clean? How about a beautiful smile?

As said earlier, there are many treatment options in this field of dentistry. Want to know more about orthodontics and the many services that can benefit you.

Read on about orthodontics and its many services.

Palatal Expanders

These are dental devices that create more space in a patient’s mouth. They do so by widening the upper jaw to allow the upper and bottom teeth to fit together. After placement, the patient will experience discomfort and pressure on the roof of the mouth.

As time goes by, the pressure will start to fade. What you need to know is that the palatal expander remains in the mouth for 4 to 6 months. As such, the upper jaw stabilizes. The right age for palatal expanders is between 8 to 13 years.

The palatal expanders help to correct the following situations: 

• Impacted teeth- if the erupting teeth are blocked by other teeth, the situation can be corrected by widening the upper jaw. This problem is common with canines.

• Crowding – this is a situation where there is a lack of space for the permanent teeth to fit in. If this were to happen, the teeth may be displaced or rotated. This dental issue occurs due to the improper eruption of permanent teeth or late loss of baby teeth.

• Crossbite – as an oral misalignment, this is where the lower and upper teeth don’t meet correctly. This problem is corrected by expanding the upper jaw.

Clear Aligners

These are orthodontic devices used to adjust the teeth. The aim of these devices is to correct poorly positioned teeth. This helps to optimize the bite and improve the patient’s appearance.

Aligners help to align your teeth without the need for screws, brackets or clasps. To correct dental issues, you will need to wear a biocompatible resin splint. Each splint is available in different thickness. It provides a steady increase in pressure aligning your teeth without discomfort.

One of the most popular clear aligners is Invisalign. To ensure the right fit, a 3D scan is necessary. Fitting takes a few minutes and before you know it, you will have straighter teeth and a beautiful smile.

Temporomandibular Joint Appliance

This appliance helps to correct issues brought about by temporomandibular joint disorder. Symptoms of the disorder include cracking, popping sounds and facial muscle spasms.

The TMJ device works by reducing pressure on the patient’s jaw joints. This helps to realign the bite. An example of a TMJ appliance is a stabilization splint. Also called a bite guard, its a hard dental device made of acrylic resin. As such, it prevents contact between the upper and lower teeth.

Retainers

The function of retainers is to prevent a relapse from occurring. This is where the teeth move back to their original position after treatment. To ensure the teeth remain in a new position, it takes 4 to 6 months.

There are two types 

Permanent and Removable

Permanent retainers consist of a wire bonded behind the lower front teeth. This helps to keep the teeth in their new position since its the area where relapse occurs the most. Removal retainers are custom designed by a lab technician. Made from clear plastic sheet, it has a tight fit and helps to hold your teeth in position.

Space Maintainers

A space maintainer is a custom made dental appliance made of metal or acrylic. The device can be cemented in the patient’s mouth or it can be removable. Its purpose is to ensure space remains open allowing the permanent tooth to erupt and fill the space. If the space maintainer is not used, the child’s teeth can shift into the open space.

In case your child loses his baby teeth prematurely, the permanent tooth can erupt into the empty space. When more permanent teeth are ready to erupt, there will be no more room. Why? The space available will be lost. To prevent this, a space maintainer holds the space left by a missing tooth.

There are two types of space maintainers: 

Fixed and Removable

Fixed space maintainers are available in four designs – crown and loop, unilateral, distal shoe and lingual. For both the crown and loop plus the unilateral space maintainers, they are placed on one side of the mouth. This helps to keep the space open.

A removable space maintainer is an orthodontic device that keeps a space open. Like a retainer, it is commonly used among older children. Why? Because they can remember to take the removable space maintainer out and place it back.

Braces

As one of the most popular orthodontic treatments, they help to align and straighten the teeth. They also correct underbites, deep bites, overbites, crossbite and malocclusions.

There are three types of braces 

Metal Braces, Ceramic Braces, and Lingual Braces.

Metal braces consist of metal brackets and wires. Compared to previous models, modern metal braces are much smaller and less noticeable. Designed with new heat activated archwires, they use the patient’s body heat to align the teeth. Also, they do so without any pain. Compared with other braces, they are the least expensive.

Ceramic braces are similar in size and shape to metal braces except for the clear brackets. As such, they are less noticeable compared to metal braces. Thanks to tooth-colored wires, they help to restore your self-esteem and confidence.

Lingual braces are like metal braces but the placement of wires and brackets is on the inside of the teeth.

Lip Bumper

Designed to correct a dentition, this device has an archwire with plastic attached to it. The archwire is placed on the patient’s molars while the plastic is on the front teeth. Also called a cheek bumper, it can help to correct the lower molars bite.

In case there is a likelihood that the molars will move when the second molars come in, the lip bumper can hold the molars in their original position. This allows the erupting teeth to reach full maturity.

After this happens, full braces help to extend the treatment. What you need to know is that a lip bumper can also be used to hold molars together. This prevents the molars from messing each other as you bite.

If the molars are misaligned, they will scratch the enamel off each other when chewing. If there is a lot of crowding, the lip bumper helps to keep the cheek or lips of the teeth.

Finding the Right Orthodontic Treatment

Finding the right orthodontic treatment seems like a mammoth task. With careful consideration, you can receive the best treatment. Factors to consider include experience, types of treatment, reputation and many payment options. By taking into account the factors above, you will receive the best care at an affordable price.

Thinking of braces or invisalign? Have another Orthodontics issue? 

Call Southridge Dental today.

Southridge Dental

3911 West 27th Avenue

Suite 105

Kennewick, WA 99337

Call today, (509) 581-0081 or visit our site at https://mykennewickdentist.com – Kennewick’s favorite Orthodontics provider.

Kennewick Dentist Only Dentist to Win Awards in Both Categories,
Best Dentist and Best Dental Office

At Southridge Dental, you are in good hands. Our team is committed to providing friendly and quality patient-centered care to the Kennewick community. From the moment you call to schedule your appointment to when you walk through our doors, you become part of our dental family. 

We pride ourselves in providing quality dental care and 100% customer satisfaction. Our focus is not only on quality dental care, but we also provide information on keeping your mouth beautiful and healthy. 

Our Services 

We love working with patients of all ages. As such, we offer a wide range of dental services to ensure all your needs are met. Not only that. We always ensure that you and your family have a comfortable experience. 

Our services include:  

● General Family Dentistry Services 

● Cosmetic Dentistry Services 

● Orthodontics 

● Emergency Dental Services 

● Oral Appliances for Sleep Apnea and Snoring 

● Comfort Dentistry

Our Background 

In 2017, Dr. Sean Simper opened the doors of Southridge Dental to the community in Kennewick. Focusing on Family and Cosmetic Dental care, Dr. Sean Simper has continued to offer quality dental care. 

With 15 years of dental experience, the staff at Southridge Dental make everyone who walks through the doors feel like they are family. At Southridge Dental, the staff also offers comfort items such as warm blankets, coffee, juice, warm neck rolls, paraffin hand wax and much more. 

A Brief History of Dr. Sean Simper 

Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta in Canada, Dr. Sean Simper attended the University of Calgary where he graduated with a Degree in Biology and Psychology. Upon graduating, he moved to Australia and attended the University of Sydney at the Faculty of Dentistry. 

After completing his studies at the University of Sydney, he worked for a year in Australia but his yearning to learn more led him to the University of Texas. His acceptance at the University of Texas allowed him to advance his education in general dentistry. Although the University and the City of Texas offered hundreds of opportunities, he wanted to learn more. 

He accepted a second residency at the University of Washington. After completing his residency he moved to the Tri-Cities. He bought Southridge Dental and opened its doors in 2017. When Dr. Sean Simper set out to open his practice, he wanted to create a practice where he, as a dentist, would want to go. 

Simply put, he wanted:  

●  A practice where the dentist would want to know him personally. Also, the dentist ought to be caring and gentle 

●  A practice where the dentist has a genuine concern for his comfort during the entire visit 

●  A practice where the dentist respected his time and kept to his schedule. 

●  A practice where he could be attended to in case of emergency 

●  A practice where he could receive the best treatment 

●  A practice where the dentist was highly trained and up to date with the latest trends in the field of dentistry 

To date, these are the same principles that guide Dr. Sean Simper and his staff at Southridge Dental. As such, you will find Dr. Sean Simper chatting with his patients to get to know them better. Not only that. He listens to his patients without judgment. 

By running his dental practice with this philosophy, he won the Tri-City Herald‘s 2019 People’s Choice Awards for Best Dental office and the Best Dentist less than 2 years after opening. In fact, he is the only dentist to have won the awards in both categories. 

To keep up with the latest trends in the field of dentistry, Dr. Sean Simper has lots of additional training that includes his fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry. Also, he trains in Invisalign, dental Implants, laser dentistry and sleep apnea. 

As a result, he is ranked among the top 5% of dentists in the US. 

Dr. Sean Simper is married to his beautiful wife, Jennifer and they have 3 boys together – Ozzy and the twins, Xavier and Sebastien. 

Why Choose Southridge Dental

At Southridge Dental, the staff has created a comfortable environment for all patients. Services are provided on a first come, first serve basis. For high-level emergencies, Southridge Dental reserves the right to provide priority to children and pregnant women. 

As a drug-free facility, patient care comes first making your experience at the office one to remember. Dr. Sean Simper has teamed up with the best staff in the industry. Not only are they well trained and skilled but highly experienced too. 

The entire staff at Southridge Dental prides themselves in providing quality care. 

If you are in search of attentive dental care, we welcome you at the Southridge Dental office. Call us today at (509) 581-0081 and schedule your appointment.

Seeking a caring Kennewick Dentist?

Southridge Dental
3911 West 27th Avenue
Suite 105
Kennewick, WA 99337
Call: (509) 581-0081