Talkin' retainers with Dr. Shields

If you've recently finished treatment at Shields Orthodontics, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Shields will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers, however, provide that stabilization. Wearing them exactly as instructed by Dr. Shields and team is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime. Here are some things to remember when you receive your retainers:

* Wear your retainers full time, until the doctor instructs otherwise. Wearing your retainers at night ensures that your pearly whites won’t relapse.

* Take your retainers out when eating...and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.)

* Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and only a small amount of toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water.

* When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case.

* Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, give us a call immediately.

* Remove retainers when swimming or during any sporting activity in which the retainers could fall out and get broken or lost (cheerleading, basketball, etc.) or when you should be wearing a mouth guard (football, soccer, etc.).

We hope this helps! You can always give us a call if you have any questions about your retainers or anything else!

Write a review of Shields Orthodontics!

At Shields Orthodontics, our primary goal is to provide the highest quality orthodontic care in a family-based, high-technology practice. Combining the right mix of personal care, new technology and continuing education, we maintain a commitment to our patients in every facet of our practice.

Whether you have visited Shields Orthodontics for a week or for years, we’d love to hear your feedback about your experience with Dr. Timothy Shields! Now with the Internet, it’s even easier to write your thoughts and share them with the world. We'd want to encourage you to write a review of us. It only takes a moment!

You may write your review here.

Thank you and enjoy the rest of your week!

Wishing you a happy Mother's Day, from Shields Orthodontics

Dr. Shields and our entire team at Shields Orthodontics would like to take this moment to recognize all the great moms who come to our office and wish them all a HAPPY UPCOMING MOTHER'S DAY! We thought today would be a good time to let you know how much we appreciate you all!

Thank you for all you do for your teens and for helping guide them through their orthodontic treatment! You all deserve more than just a day of recognition and praise! Enjoy your special day on Sunday!

Fun fact Friday with Shields Orthodontics!

Dr. Shields and team know everyone enjoys fun facts! The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, has come up with some fun facts about orthodontics that our team at Shields Orthodontics thought you might enjoy. Enjoy your weekend everyone!

• There are nearly 4 million people in orthodontic treatment throughout the United States. Three out of four are younger than 18.

• The first mechanical treatment for correcting irregular teeth was suggested by Gaius Plinius Secundus (A.D 23-79).The American Association of Orthodontists is comprised of more than 12,000 members in the United States, Canada and abroad.

• The time required to complete orthodontic treatment ranges from 12 to 36 months depending on the nature and severity of the problem.

• Of the 160,000 dentists in the United States and Canada, 8,000 are practicing orthodontists.

• The cement that attaches the braces to the teeth is now made with a special fluoride-releasing substance.

• Wires activated by body heat used in today's braces originally were developed by NASA for use in the space program.

• In addition to alleviating or preventing physical health problems, orthodontics can boost self-esteem as treatment aligns teeth, jaws and lips.

• Famous orthodontic patients include: Dr. Joyce Brothers, Hale Irwin, Cher, Diana Ross, Phyllis Diller, Chelsea Clinton, Whoopi Goldberg, Daisy Fuentes and Brandi.

Dr. Shields wants to know: Are there teeth grinders in your house?

If you live with a teeth grinder, you may be familiar with the unpleasant sound of grinding teeth, especially recently. A study published in the journal Head & Face Medicine in March suggests that people—adults and kids—faced with stress tend to cope by grinding their teeth. In addition, the Chicago Dental Society suggests that since the recession began in 2007, teeth grinding, or bruxism, has been on the rise.

The Chicago Dental Society surveyed more than 250 members about the connection between stress and oral health. Nearly 75 percent of dentists said their patients reported increased stress over the past year, largely due to the economic recession. The first step of recovering from teeth grinding is noticing the problem, says Dr. Shields. Symptoms of teeth grinding include:

• Sensitivity in the teeth
• Tightness or pain in the jaw
• Dull headaches, earaches, or facial pain
• Chipped, worn down, or loose teeth

An important thing to remember is that people frequently grind their teeth in response to stress, and taking measures to reduce or eliminate stress can help solve the problem. If the teeth-grinder in your house can’t stop, schedule an appointment to see us by giving us a call at 425-743-0201. Dr. Shields and our team at Shields Orthodontics can help determine the cause of the problem.

Parents and Facebook, from Shields Orthodontics

Dr. Shields and our staff fully understand that thousands of parents sign up for Facebook accounts and ‘friend’ their kids, often as a way to keep an eye on their online activities. But then what? Many parents in this digital age are still lost when it comes to monitoring their kids online.

A few months ago, parenting author Vicki Courtney wrote a helpful post on the things parents should and shouldn’t do while surfing through their kids' Facebook profiles. Dr. Shields and our team at Shields Orthodontics thought you might benefit from reading Vicki’s interesting piece.

Here is the list of the Top Ten Facebook No-Nos for Parents, designed specifically for those moms and dads who aren’t sure whether they’ve crossed the line in monitoring their kids’ presence online.

We hope you find this article informational. Please let us know what you think!

Ask Dr. Shields: What, exactly, is malocclusion?

Malocclusion, or what calls Dr. Shields calls “bad bite,” is the improper alignment of teeth and/or jaws. When your teeth and jaws are not properly aligned, it may impact your bite, the ability to properly care for your teeth, your gum tissue health and even your appearance.

Most people experience some degree of malocclusion, but it generally is not severe enough to require corrective measures. If your malocclusion is serious enough, however, treatment at Shields Orthodontics may be necessary to correct the issue.

Dr. Shields and our team will tell you that untreated malocclusion can lead undesirable mouth problems, including tooth decay, gum disease, chipped and cracked teeth. The most common solution for malocclusion, of course, is orthodontic treatment. The actual course of treatment, including the length of time you will require braces, will be determined by severity of your malocclusion. The goal of your treatment is to move your teeth into the proper position and correct any misalignment in the jaw. If overcrowding is causing the problem, Everett and Snohomish County orthodontist Dr. Shields may need to remove one or more teeth as part of treatment.

At Shields Orthodontics, we use the most advanced technology in the field in order to ensure that you receive the best possible results. If you have any questions about malocclusion, please give us a call and we’ll try to answer any questions you may have.

Have a great weekend!

Saving face with Shields Orthodontics

Our team at Shields Orthodontics has some great news to report on this Good Friday! People with big, happy smiles may actually out-live those who don’t! That, according to a recent study conducted at Wayne State University in Michigan.

You see, Dr. Shields knew that positive emotion has been linked to both physical and mental health. But researchers at the university did something interesting: they used information from the Baseball Register to look at smiles of 230 players who began their baseball careers prior to 1950 and studied their smile intensity (wide smile, no smile or partial smile). The researchers then took into account other factors associated with life longevity, such as body mass index, career length and even college attendance.

The results? Researchers found that players who weren't smiling died at the average age of 72.9 years. Players with partial smiles lived to be at least 75. Those with big, wide smiles, however, lived on average to be 79.9 years old!

Our take-away from the new study? Smile now, smile often and you might just live longer! Have you perfected your smile by visiting Shields Orthodontics lately? If not, give us a call and have a great weekend!

It's spring! Do you know where your mouth guard is?

At Shields Orthodontics we know how important it is to protect your face while playing sports. It's spring, however, and Dr. Shields knows spring months bring an increase in outdoor activities and a greater chance of damaging your precious mouth and pearly whites. Our dedicated team also knows sports-related injuries are common among children. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, 70 percent of parents said their biggest worry is that their child will get hurt while playing sports.

That’s why we're doing our part to spread the word that facial sports injuries can be avoided simply by reminding your kids to wear mouth guards. Ask our team—Dr. Shields will provide a mouth guard for any patient in active treatment. In addition, the AAO has provided a few tips for keeping your kids safe on the field this spring. Please remind them to:

• Wear mouth guards during contact sports
• Wear a helmet
• Stretch before and after a game or practice
• Wear protective eye wear
• Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
• Be observant—even as a spectator

All of these can reduce injuries. Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with braces avoid serious sports injuries. Be sure to avoid mouth guards that custom form to your teeth as these will resist any tooth movements Dr. Shields is trying to achieve. Lastly, please call us if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment at Shields Orthodontics.

Dr. Shields, partnering with the University of Washington’s School of Dentistry

Dr. Shields has been a member of the University of Washington Orthodontic Alumni Association Board of Directors since 1985. The alumni support the UW School of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics by providing funding for equipment and graduate student research. In addition, the UWOAA sponsors continuing education seminars, including the annual Alton Moore Lectureship. In 2001, after serving in various executive positions, Dr. Shields was elected President of the Board. He is now the past-past president, but is still very active. In 2005, the UWOAA began a fundraising campaign to remodel the antiquated UW orthodontic clinic. The clinic was already outdated when Dr. Shields was a graduate student there. The project has involved working with the Dean of the UW Dental School, the Department of Orthodontics and the architects to design the clinic.

Dr. Shields has personally garnered more than $1 million in pledges to the Clinic Fund from his orthodontic colleagues. In addition, Dr. Shields has been in charge of collecting and investing the donations. Fundraising continues with the final pledge drive just getting under way. The dream of a new orthodontic clinic hopefully will become reality by 2012. And, of course, patients and families are welcome to make a pledge to help train the next generation of orthodontists who will create beautiful smiles for our future grandchildren! If Dr. Shields calls you and you're a graduate of the UW Orthodontic Program, get your check book out!

Featured patient review for Shields Orthodontics

Ok, Ok... we've shared patient reviews with you before, but this one—a personal note from one of our patients—made us proud. Here's what she had to say about her experience with Dr. Shields and our team at Shields Orthodontics:

... Getting braces for our two sons = thousands $$$
... Getting teeth pulled and appliances installed = hundreds $$
... Replacing lost retainers = minimal $, (in comparison)
... Having two handsome sons with beautiful teeth and proud smiles = PRICELESS!

Thank you, Dr. Shields, and your awesome staff—from front to back. You are ALL the BEST of the BEST. We are lucky to have had you and will continue to recommend you through the years ... Dr. Shields, you are amazing and unique in the way that you run your office—everyone is very professional, caring and fun—always lots of smiles while working hard...that is truly a reflection of "the boss"!

Thank you for ALL that you have done for my sons—after all these years, we will miss seeing you and your staff. Best wishes for your continuing popularity and success!

Ask Dr. Shields: When should my child come in for a check-up?

Many parents assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to visit Shields Orthodontics, only to discover treatment would have been much easier if started sooner. Did you know the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven?

That’s right: seven.

You're probably wondering: why seven? Well, at that age, enough permanent teeth have arrived for Dr. Timothy Shields to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or what we call “bad bite.” Also, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites and open bites can be detected by Dr. Shields.

Orthodontic evaluation at an early age provides one of two positive outcomes: For some, early identification or problems will lead to easier or shorter orthodontic treatment in the future. For others, a healthy prognosis will provide immediate peace of mind.

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring on years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and are detrimental to good oral hygiene. So, if your child is nearing his or her seventh birthday, give us a call at Shields Orthodontics to schedule an appointment.

Shields Orthodontics, supporting National Children’s Dental Health Month

February may almost be over, but did you know this happens to be National Children’s Dental Health Month? That's right; each February for the past 60 years, the American Dental Association (ADA) has sponsored National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

For kids wearing braces, brushing and flossing can become more difficult, requiring extra time and vigilance to remove food particles that accumulate on and between the teeth and in braces. New options for braces such as Invisalign Teen, which is removable, make it easier for kids to maintain good oral health during orthodontic treatment.

If the health of your teeth is ignored during treatment with braces, the results can be significantly compromised. Dr. Timothy Shields is available and happy to explain why effective brushing and flossing is one of the most critical actions needed from patients during orthodontic treatment. Have you visited Shields Orthodontics lately? Give us a call and schedule an appointment!

Shields Orthodontics among the best in the area!

Dr. Shields and our entire team at Shields Orthodontics are proud to announce our office was named by Seattle Metropolitan Magazine as one of the top practitioners in King, Snohomish, Kitsap and Pierce counties.

To create the 2010 list, Seattle Metropolitan Magazine sent ballots to dentists asking, “If you had a patient in need of a dentist, which dentist would you refer them to?” Presented with the names of nearby practitioners and the opportunity to write in nominations, each dentist evaluated specialists and each specialist evaluated general dentists whose work she or he is familiar with "based on years of experience, continuing education, manner with patients, use of new techniques and technologies and results." Thank you, also, to our dear patients, for recommending us and writing such great reviews over the last year! Our team is extremely honored to be named among the best!

More patient reviews for Shields Orthodontics

A couple of months ago, our team at Shields Orthodontics shared with you a few patient reviews for Dr. Shields. Well, we've been getting a ton of new testimonials lately, and thought we'd post a few more. If you have any reviews of your own, please... feel free to share them with the world!

"His laid back personality and sense of humor and his wonderful staff. The office seems very professional, and though I have nothing to compare it to, seems very state of the art. The office is incredibly friendly. The gals at the desk never act rushed and are happy to visit while they work. The coffee/tea/etc is a very nice way of saying, "We appreciate your business". There is nothing I don't love about the place..." ~ Nathan N.

"I appreciate his confidence and his reassuring nature. I like his ties too." ~ Wendy V.

"The office staff was very friendly. Dr. Shields was very reassuring to Kendra." ~ Casey H.

"The girls in Dr Shields office are the best!!! Thanks Sarah for always taking such good care of my son!" ~ Keica O.

"Child-centered." ~ Laurie B.

Talking Cardiodontics with Dr. Timothy Shields

If you have been told you have periodontal disease (also known as gum disease or periodontitis), you're not alone, says Dr. Shields. An estimated 80 percent of American adults currently have some form of the disease! Periodontal diseases range from simple gum inflammation to serious disease that result in major damage to the soft tissue and bone that support the teeth. In the worst cases, teeth are lost.

Gum disease is a threat to your oral health. Research is also pointing to health effects of periodontal diseases that go well beyond your mouth. So we at Shields Orthodontics want to let you know some interesting facts and ways to treat the disease.

What is Periodontal Disease?

"Perio" means around, and "dontal" refers to teeth. Periodontal disease is an infection of the structures around the teeth, including the gums and the bones that hold the teeth. The earliest stage of periodontal disease is gingivitis – an infection of the gums. In more severe forms of the disease, all of the tissues are involved, including the bone. Bacteria that live and reproduce on the teeth and gums cause periodontal disease.

Symptoms of Periodontal Disease

Symptoms may include the following:
--redness or bleeding of gums while brushing teeth or using dental floss
--halitosis, or bad breath
--gum recession, resulting in apparent lengthening of teeth
--"pockets" between the teeth and gums indicating that the bone which holds the teeth in the mouth is dissolving
--loose teeth

Gum inflammation and bone destruction are largely painless. Hence, people may wrongly assume that painless bleeding after teeth cleaning is insignificant, although this may be a symptom of progressing periodontitis. If your hands bled when you washed them, you would be concerned. Yet, many people think it's normal if their gums bleed when they brush or floss.

Periodontal Disease Affects Your Health

Periodontal disease is a putrid, festering infection of the mouth. Bacteria and inflammatory particles can enter the bloodstream through ulcerated and bleeding gums and travel to the heart and other organs. In recent years, gum disease has been linked to a number of health problems. Researchers are studying possible connections between gum disease and:
--Heart disease: Gum disease may increase the risk of heart disease. Gum disease also is believed to worsen existing heart disease.
--Stroke: Gum disease may increase the risk of the type of stroke caused by blocked arteries
--Diabetes: People with diabetes and periodontal disease may be more likely to have trouble controlling their blood sugar than diabetics with healthy gums.
--Premature births: A woman who has gum diseases during pregnancy may be more likely deliver her baby too early and the infant may be more likely to be of low birth weight.

Combating Periodontal Disease

--See your dentist! See your dentist every six months for a checkup! Regular professional cleanings and checkups make you feel good, look good, and could be a lifesaver!
--Brush and floss daily. Take your time and do it right!
--Use an anti-bacterial mouthwash. Daily use of an anti-bacterial mouthwash helps to disinfect the teeth and gums, and reduces the number of bacteria.
--Straighten your teeth. Crowded teeth are nearly impossible to keep clean. Orthodontic treatment can greatly reduce inflammation and periodontal disease.

If you have any questions about protecting your health as well as your health, please give the team at Shields Orthodontics a call.

Dr. Shields wants to know: What helps you relax at our office?

Dr. Shields understands not everyone is always excited to see their dentist or orthodontist. We also understand the apprehension some adults and children may have towards getting braces. Because of this, Dr. Shields offers an assortment of orthodontic solutions to cater to your unique needs.

But Dr. Shields wants you to know our team strives to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each visit. We’d like to know: What is it about Timothy Shields, DDS that makes you comfortable or puts you at ease? Is it something about our pleasant environment? Our friendly staff? Dr. Shields himself?

Let us know by posting here or by giving us a call! Enjoy the rest of your week!

A few helpful Invisalign® Tips, from Shields Orthodontics

A few weeks ago, the team at Shields Orthodontics blogged about the advantage of Invisalign treatment in our office. Today, we thought we'd follow-up and share with you a few helpful tips about Invisalign.

When wearing your Invisalign aligners, Dr. Shields wants you to ask yourself the following questions:

1. Am I eating with my aligners on? - These aligners are removable and should be taken out when you eat.

2. Am I drinking anything other than water with my aligners on? - Though it's not a necessity for you to take out your aligners while you drink, think about how sticky a soda is. If you take out your aligners when drinking a soda, you have a better chance of keeping your aligners clean.

3. Am I brushing before putting the trays on? - The aligners have both an inside and outside. Keeping the outside clean is easy. Keeping the inside clean is also easy: just make sure you've brushed your teeth before putting the trays on.

These are all very simple steps, and ultimately, they help to keep you building good oral habits. If you have any questions about Invisalign or your treatment here at Shields Orthodontics, please don't hesitate to call us!

Shields Orthodontics want to know: What are you up to in January?

The New Year is here, and, believe it or not, we’re only a couple months away from spring! Dr. Shields and our team at Shields Orthodontics want to know: What are you doing in January? Any big winter break plans? Anything exciting going on in your life?

If you have any photos or videos that you would like to share with us, please send them our way or call our office and ask how! We also hope you all had a happy and safe holiday season!

Have a great rest of the week, from the entire team at Shields Orthodontics!