Ask Dr. Shields: Who benefits from braces?

Braces aren’t just for pre-adolescents and teenagers anymore! Dr Shields will tell you that anyone, at any age, can benefit from orthodontic care; whether it’s correcting a problem not treated in your younger years, or catching a problem early.

To ensure the best overall treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, recommends that children receive an orthodontic consultation as early as age seven. If a problem is evident, taking action early can spare a lot of treatment and expense down the road.

If you never received orthodontic treatment when you were young, don’t worry! You’re never too old for a beautiful smile here at Shields Orthodontics. Go ahead, set up an appointment for a consultation and find out how adult orthodontics will transform your smile, and your life!

Happy New Year from the entire team Shields Orthodontics!

Distinguishing the Myths and Facts about Orthodontics, from Dr. Timothy Shields

Dr. Shields and his team know there are quite a few myths about orthodontists circulating around these days. Before you buy into those myths, we think you should get the facts! We came across a great site that helps set the record straight. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have some excellent information on the myths and facts of orthodontics. We encourage you to check them out today!

If you have any questions about orthodontics or your treatment here at Shields Orthodontics, feel free to give us a call.

Dr. Shields and team want to know: What do you love about the holidays?

The holiday season is upon us, and as Dr. Shields and his team at Shields Orthodontics reflect on the year that was, we’d like to ask: What’s your favorite part about the holidays? Being with your loved ones? Opening presents by the fireplace? All the delicious food? Also, what gift are you most looking forward to getting this year?

We’d love if you shared with us all the things you love about the holidays. Stay warm, and don’t forget to stay away from those sweets!

Have a great weekend!

--The team at Shields Orthodontics

Patient reviews for Dr. Shields

Dr. Shields and his team love getting patient reviews. And lately, Shields Orthodontics, serving Everett and Snohomish County, has been getting some pretty great patient testimonials! We thought we'd share some with you today! Happy Thursday!

"Dr Shields and his staff are knowledgeable and friendly ... I am impressed with how Dr Shields rewards his patients with "cool stuff" in order to get through the process of having braces as smooth as possible." ~ Galicia V.

"Lauren loves to go see him. She feels a special bond with Dr. Shields." ~ David N.

"Dr. Shields is friendly, approachable, professional, obviously competent. The office decor is great, and you have up-to-date magazines on hand. All the staff are nice, well-trained and seem to like their work. Your office also does a good job scheduling convenient times for both kids' appointments. Thanks!" ~ Terri G.

"First of all he is a Husky so I am confidant in his intelligence and skills. Our main contact time is with his staff who are all friendly and kind. My kids all love going to the office." ~ Catherine K.

"Everybody is friendly and they always welcome us into the office. After so many years they have truly become like old friends of the family. They are always joking around and make you feel very comfortable." ~ James D.

Invisalign®, is it for everyone? Dr. Shields explains

The short answer is, yes, Invisalign is for everyone, and that’s part of what makes it work. To find out if you are the right candidate for Invisalign treatment, the first thing Dr. Shields and his team do is to take an impression of your teeth as they are now and digitize it. Using special software, we look at the current positioning of your teeth and compare it to the way your teeth should look.

Next we use special software to map out the exact path your teeth will take from the beginning of your treatment to the end. Based on the results, a set of custom aligners are created just for your teeth. Throughout the course of treatment, you will be required to wear these clear, removable aligners one at a time; each one moving your teeth closer and closer to their final, perfectly aligned position. And since the aligners are virtually invisible, nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Dr. Shields is a certified Invisalign provider. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, give us a call!