Using clear aligner therapy as an orthodontic alternative to traditional braces

Dr. Tokiko Poppe is an experienced dentist at Cosmos Dentistry in Bellevue, Washington, who works closely with patients to help them achieve a more attractive smile with the help of her dedicated dental team. She understands that many individuals want to improve their smile, and when misalignment is an issue, clear aligner therapy may be the solution!

What is clear aligner therapy?

Instead of using brackets glued to the teeth and wires connecting them and shifting them into their final positions, patients might want to ask our team about the benefits of clear aligner therapy. This is an alternative to metal braces which instead uses clear plastic trays. These trays are made using digital scans of the current smile, utilizing today’s unique technology to create a series of trays to get patients from start to finish. Treatment time with clear aligner orthodontic therapy can take anywhere from a couple of months to a year or longer, depending on the alignment issues at hand.

How do clear aligners straighten the teeth in the smile?

The answer is simple. The clear aligners are custom-made to be placed with a good fit and enough pressure to push the teeth into a straighter, more desirable position. Patients will use them for two weeks at a time and have different sets of trays depending on how severe the misalignment is and in what direction the teeth need to move. Patients with mild misalignment of the bite may use clear aligner therapy for a few months, while those with more severe misalignment might require clear aligner trays for a year or longer. With the help of Dr. Poppe and her team, you can enjoy a beautiful smile in a short period without the need for unsightly metal bracket-and-wire braces.

Am I a candidate?

The first step in learning more about clear aligner therapy is to book an appointment with Dr. Tokiko Poppe and her team at Cosmos Dentistry in the Bellevue, WA, area. Call (425) 448-4770 to request an appointment and discuss your needs with our dedicated staff. We are open to new patients and welcome those who are looking for healthier, more attractive smiles!

Dr. Tokiko Poppe

Dr. Tokiko Poppe graduated from the University of the Pacific's Arthur Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco. She has received extensive training in all aspects of dentistry and was involved in craniofacial research and studies on cleft lip and palate in school.

Dr. Poppe also completed a General Practice Residency in California, where she cared for medically-compromised adults at Veterans Hospital and children under general anesthesia at the University Medical Center. She is a member of the ADA, AAGO, AAPMD, WSDA, SKCD, AGD, American Laser Study, TBI Ambassadors, and AMR advanced program. She has completed Spear Education which dentists pursue to learn complex restorative dentistry. Dr. Poppe is also an osteopathic-trained dentist, having learned the whole-body approach from osteopathic physicians. She follows continuing education to stay abreast of the latest dental trends and enjoys sharing her knowledge with her community.

She also holds a Japanese dental license and speaks Japanese and English.