About Orthodontics
What is an Orthodontist?
An orthodontist is a specialized dentist who has committed 2-3 years beyond the 4 years of dental school to receive training exclusively in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics at a graduate residency program accredited by the American Dental Association.
Dr. Burn graduated from the University of Washington Orthodontic Program, widely considered one of the best programs in this specialty. She has been an Associate Professor at the UW Dental School, and is proud to practice alongside some of the most talented dentists in America. Dr. Burn's training and experience enable her to practice the specialty of orthodontics with the highest standard of care.
What kind of technology is used in the practice?
Dr. Burn uses digital modeling with a MEDIT Scanner, which allow 3 dimensional evaluation of your teeth and bite. That’s right - no more impressions! All retainers and appliances are made this way, which is perfect for patients with a sensitive gag reflex, and produces highly accurate models that are stored virtually.
Custom clear aligners are offered in appropriate cases using impression free-intraoral scanning and 3D printing. Our patient’s teeth are digitally moved to Dr. Burn’s exact specifications and staged at 0.2mm increments. Each increment correlates to a custom fabricated aligner that moves your teeth with out braces.
We use elastomeric ligatures in most braces treatments, which come in every color in the rainbow! Change them at each visit to coordinate with the season, your favorite outfit, or for your favorite sports team! We love bringing color to your life.
We use light-force nickel titanium "memory wires," which are proven to move the teeth more efficiently and with the lighter pressure than was possible in the past. We have both metal and clear brackets, as well as some lingual and removable aligner options. Ask Kim at your consultation!
Our office provides digital radiography, which produces a fraction of the exposure of traditional x-rays. It also eliminates the need for toxic chemicals that were used to develop traditional (analog) x-ray films in the past.
We have 3x the recommended airflow with HEPA filtration with hospital-grade filtration units (Surgically Clean Air), and we capture aerosols with a Healthy Air unit (extraoral suction). Health and Safety are #1.
Why should I choose Orthodontics?
In most cases, a dramatic improvement in the way your smile looks is the most immediate benefit of orthodontic treatment. People simply look and feel better about themselves with a well aligned smile that they are proud of. However there are many reasons beyond looks alone to consider orthodontic treatment.
As you can imagine, crooked teeth are harder to clean and maintain. This increases your risk of experiencing tooth decay, and can cause gum disease to worsen - both of which may lead to tooth loss. There are other orthodontic problems that can lead to abnormal wear of the teeth, impaired chewing function, and strain on the supporting tissues of the teeth (gum and bone).
Orthodontic treatment is usually a less costly alternative to the additional care required in treating the numerous dental problems arising as a result of poorly aligned teeth.
Request a complementary consultation.
There is no charge for your initial consultation.