Egger Smile News

I know that orthodontic treatment probably isn’t at the front of your mind this week . Who knew that finding hand sanitizer and toilet paper would become a contact sport?! Nonetheless, we want you to know that your health and safety is still our top priority, which is why we are following the recommendations of health and government officials to limit orthodontic treatment to  non-elective  treatment only . The decision to close was not made lightly, however, keeping our community safe is important to us, and we felt these precautions were necessary to accomplish this. Our limited treatment will continue at least until the end of April. We will continue to closely monitor changes and keep our patients informed of any changes. SO WHAT IS ESSENTIAL (NON-ELECTIVE) ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT? Personally, I think the answer to this question is different in different situations. Some people may argue that no orthodontic treatment is ever essential since straight teet...

To all of our patients, families, and community, We know that this is a challenging time for many—and an unprecedented one for us all, globally. As we adjust to this new and rapidly changing landscape, we’re working to develop ways to put both our team and patients health first. Our office is currently open, but we are taking tenacious measures to ensure hygiene and social distance. Here are our current plans as we head into the work week: 1- We ask all patients to notify us if they feel they are at risk for COVID-19, so that we can reschedule their appointment accordingly. Please notify us if :       ~ You have flu-like symptoms, or otherwise feel unwell, stay home and rest. This               will reduce the risk of  spreading your illness to others.      ~If you or someone you are in close contact with have recently traveled to one of         the...

So, Your Orthodontic Retainer Isn't Fitting Anymore? Orthodontic retainers are devices that we orthodontists give our patients to keep their teeth in the most ideal position as possible after their braces come off. We like to say say “as possible” because there is no retainer that can prevent all tooth movement from happening. Even the bonded retainers that are glued to the lower teeth do allow for some minor change. The goal is to keep tooth changes to a minimum. Some movement following the removal of braces is not only acceptable, it is welcome. Teeth will erupt and drift slightly so the retainers will actually fit BETTER than the day the braces were removed. This is desirable movement for the back teeth, but not up front where people may notice. Retainers that do not cover the chewing surfaces of the back teeth allow settling. Wearing two full-coverage retainers at the same time does not permit settling. Your orthodontic  retainer should fit great on the ve...

Here we are prepping for clear aligner therapy like it's our job.  AND WE LOVE IT! While there are several major companies that have labs to fabricate the aligners, the most recognizable lab is Invisalign, which is our preferred company. Here at   #eggerortho , we use a iTero digital scanner to make a virtual 3D model of your teeth. With that model and the necessary dental records taken in our office, Dr. Egger then reviews the records and makes a custom treatment plan for each patient. The template (shown above) is being filled with a composite resin on individual teeth in a precise shape based on Dr. Egger’s prescription. These are what are more commonly known as attachments. The size, shape and placement of the attachments is dependent on the amount of tooth movement necessary. The attachment template is filled at the patient’s appointment and is stored in a dark, temperature controlled area so that the resin does not harden and set. Once the te...

3, 2, 1... HAPPY NEW YEAR! Start 2019 off with good oral health If you want healthy teeth throughout your life, then you need to take care of them. Good oral hygiene habits are not something you can just do "occasionally". You have to make good habits such as brushing and flossing twice daily. If you don't keep your teeth and gums clean, you will need costly dental treatment later in life. Here are some more tips that will help ensure you keep your gorgeous SMILE for a lifetime.  Brush Twice Daily You probably already know that you need to brush your teeth at least twice a day, but lots of people don’t follow this advice. In particular, people forget to brush their teeth at night, which means that the plaque from the day has 8+ hours to build up while you are sleeping. This can result in cavities and gum disease. Brush Thoroughly When you brush your teeth, make sure you brush your tongue and your gums at the same time. This helps to ...

Nothing makes us SMILE more than when you love your SMILE! 1. Feedback helps us give you our best .   We want every single one of your visits to be friendly, comfortable, and thorough. Even if you’ve left us a review in the past, we appreciate hearing from you after each of your visits so we can be aware of anywhere we can serve you better. 2. Your online reviews help us to learn and recognize areas where we can grow.   Online reviews can help us learn the needs and concerns of our families and friends. This, in turn, allows us to make better decisions about how we can continue to improve our services to our community. 3. Your voice is important and your opinion counts !  We value each and every one of you and we really appreciate when we’re able to learn how you feel about your visits to our office! Please take just a brief moment to leave us a review on whichever of the following sites you prefer: Google+ Yelp Facebook Dr. Nadine Egger and the...

Thank you patients and friends!  What an incredible honor. Dr. Nadine Egger was voted by her peers as one of Washington State's "Top Dentists 2018” by Seattle Metropolitan Magazine.  https://www.seattlemet.com This blog is for informational purposes only. The opinions expressed here are protected by copyright laws and can only be used with written permission from the author.

Why you should be smiling in 2018 The world looks brighter from behind a smile!   Smiles are contagious . Studies have shown that people have a difficult time frowning when someone else is smiling at them. In fact, they couldn’t help but smile themselves. Make a habit throughout the year to compliment the people you meet with a smile and watch them pay it forward. Smiles relieve stress . When you smile, the body releases endorphins that help quickly change your mood. This makes you feel better, thus relieving your body of stress. Try smiling even when you don’t feel like it and notice the difference. It is easier to smile than frown . Did you know the body uses more muscles to frown than it does to smile? That means you have to put forth more effort to look sad than to simply appear happy. Turn that frown upside down in 2018 and give your muscles a break. It boosts your immune system . Scientists have found that smiling relaxes the body, allowing it to build a...

Thank you for all the SMILES in 2017! We had so much fun wearing our ugly Christmas sweaters.  Thank you to all of our #rockstar dental offices for the holiday treats & goodies – We do love treats! We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season, and we look forward to a happy and healthy New Year. 

Seattle King County Clinic Dr. Camille VanDevanter and Dr. Egger spent a unique and wonderful weekend helping the Seattle-King County Clinic giving back to our local community! They are already looking forward to helping out again next year. Seattle-King County Clinic brings together healthcare organizations, civic agencies, non-profits, private businesses and volunteers from across the  State of Washington to produce a giant, free health clinic in the Key Arena at  The Seattle Center.  The four-day, volunteer-driven clinic provides a full range  of free dental, vision and medical care to under-served and vulnerable people in the community. #giveback This blog is for informational purposes only. The opinions expressed here are protected by copyright laws and can only be used with written permission from the author.

4 Ways To Put Your Flexible Spending Dollars To Good Use: Treat yourself.  If you’ve always wished you could improve your smile, now is the time to make that dream a reality! By using your FSA dollars to give yourself Invisalign or braces, you’ll be well on your way to a more beautiful smile in no time. Do something nice for your spouse.  Wondering what to get your spouse for the holidays? Wonder no more! Giving them the rest of your FSA dollars to fix their smile is a great way to not only use up your remaining funds while also giving your main squeeze a special gift that will last them a lifetime. It’s especially nice if you don’t have dental insurance! Purchase extra retainers and mouthguards. I t’s inevitable that you or your children will misplace your retainers or mouthguard at some point. Buy an extra one to make sure you’ve always got backup! Start your child on the path to greater confidence & self esteem.  If you have a child that will eventuall...