Labor Day is upon us, and that means the non-official end to summer. Before the kids head back to school and temperatures start to cool down, this is your last chance to barbeque in the beautiful Puyallup, WA community, head to the lake, and wear your favorite pair of white pants.

About Labor Day

Each year, Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday of September. It is the one day of year Americans celebrate their achievements in work, which the US Department of Labor says has contributed to prosperity and well-being of America as a whole. Americans have been celebrating Labor Day since the 1880s, and today it is an official federal holiday.

Interesting Facts About Labor Day

• Every year, more than 30 million Americans travel over Labor Day weekend.
• Canada was the first to celebrate Labor Day, and the US soon followed.
• President Cleveland made Labor Day and official US holiday in 1894.
• Labor Day marks the beginning of the NFL and NCAA sports seasons for fans.
• Labor Day marks the end of hot dog season, when Americans consume seven billion hot dogs.

Thanks for being a valued patient of our orthodontic office. Our staff would like to wish you a safe and happy Labor Day weekend. Enjoy your time off!

Damon Smile braces are passive, self-ligating braces, which means they don’t need elastic o-rings to keep the wires in their desired position. This system uses small sliding doors to allow the wires to slide freely through their slots instead of the o-rings used by traditional braces.

Stops on the wires prevent them from moving out of position over time. The absence of o-rings in Damon Smile braces also allows you to maintain better oral hygiene, since o-rings can trap bacteria. These braces are suitable for both adults and children.

Construction

The first set of wires in Damon Smile braces are composed of a metal alloy that contains copper, nickel, and titanium, commonly abbreviated as CuNiTi. These wires have a curve that’s wider than your natural arch, and that allows them to apply the necessary pressure against your teeth. The wires are very thin, beginning with a diameter of 0.014 inches.

Dr. Sung Lee will replace this initial set of wires with a series of successively larger ones as your teeth move into their desired alignment. Your teeth will be ready for the next set of wires when Dr. Sung Lee can passively place them into their brackets. Heavier wire may be composed of other materials such as a titanium molybdenum alloy (TMA) or stainless steel.

Cost

Dr. Sung Lee and our team will determine the cost of your braces, depending on a variety of factors such as the difficulty of your case and the length of time required for treatment. Another factor that can influence the cost of Damon Smile braces is your insurance coverage. Dental insurance plans often cover orthodontic treatments such as Damon Smile braces, so you’ll need to check with your insurance provider.

Sung Lee Orthodontics also offers a variety of payment plans, so be sure to ask our Puyallup, WA team about making your orthodontic treatment with Damon Smile affordable.

Adults

Adults often use Damon Smile braces to obtain a more youthful appearance in addition to correcting specific malocclusions. The cosmetic benefits of these braces include:

• Straighter teeth
• Improved facial balance
• Smoother cheek contours

Many patients with Damon Smile braces begin to see results after about ten weeks.

If you’re interested in Damon Smile braces, please contact Sung Lee Orthodontics and schedule an appointment!

Those challenging teenage years are some of the most self-conscious ones of your life, and concern for your appearance definitely plays a large part. Invisalign is becoming a very popular choice for adolescent patients today, but is it the best choice?

The results from teenage Invisalign users indicate that Invisalign is both effective for teeth straightening and for satisfying that urge to avoid the dreaded “metal mouth.” Dr. Sung Lee can help you determine if Invisalign is right for you, but this article will explain why so many people are calling Invisalign the best choice for teens today.

Metal-Free Braces

Invisalign is a clear plastic device that fits directly over the teeth. There are no metal parts to mar the look of your smile, and your Invisalign aligners can straighten while allowing your pearly whites to shine through. Any teen will be the first to tell you that appearance is a top concern, so this is an excellent choice. People don’t even need to know you’re straightening your teeth with Invisalign.

Eat, Brush, and Floss Easily

Another particularly attractive aspect of Invisalign for most teenagers is the freedom it allows. While traditional metal braces can make eating, brushing, and flossing difficult, this is not the case with Invisalign. The aligners are easily removable for these activities, which gives teens the freedom they desire to live life as usual.

More Free Time

Invisalign Teen aligners need to be checked and adjusted at Sung Lee Orthodontics less frequently than traditional braces. This allows for fewer appointments, something that is really important to teens. Having your teeth straightened is no reason to forgo activities or make room in your schedule for constant office visits when you choose Invisalign.

Learn more about Invisalign Teen at our Puyallup, WA office!

Braces don't look or feel much like braces anymore. New materials and techniques have made braces lighter and more comfortable than ever before.

One of the most intriguing developments involves Damon Smile self-ligating braces. You might recall that older style braces involved a lot of wire and rubber bands to keep in place. As teeth moved into their new positions, all that material had to be moved, too. In the meantime, the rubber and wire blocked toothbrushes and floss. In other words, it was really hard to keep teeth clean.

Damon Smile braces eliminate the connecting wires and rubber bands. Instead, one permanent component keeps braces in place. Self-ligation eliminates the need for headgear or external wires in most cases, making these braces a winner in the appearance category, too.

Avoid the Cutting Edge

Traditional braces pose a small but painful risk: you can catch your cheek or gum on the rough edge of the brace wires. Damon Smile braces have a smoother surface that significantly reduces that risk.

Because the braces self-adjust and move with teeth, patients need fewer appointments at our Puyallup, WA office. They don’t have to come in for tightening or readjustments. Teeth can move into position faster with self-ligating braces, although this can vary by patient. Patients report the braces are pretty comfortable, too.

More Room to Move

Another thing we like about Damon Smile braces: they actually adapt to the shape of the mouth as teeth change position. As a result, Dr. Sung Lee won’t have to pull back teeth to create space for crowded front teeth.

If you need braces, you have a lot of options. There’s probably never been a better time to look into having your teeth straightened. Call our Puyallup, WA office for guidance on the fastest and most effective way to improve your smile.