Most families in Liberty Lake come to us during the middle-school years, and the timing is right: permanent teeth are in, growth is still an ally, and teens adjust to braces quickly. Our office at 21950 E Country Vista Dr, Suite 100A in Liberty Lake is close enough to fit an appointment around practice, and Dr. Josh Johnson plans every case himself.
What Treatment Involves
Brackets are bonded to the teeth and connected by an archwire Dr. Johnson adjusts at short visits every several weeks. Most teen cases run about 18 to 24 months depending on what needs correcting, and you will get a specific estimate at the free consultation rather than a brochure number.
Because braces are fixed, they work whether or not your teen thinks about them. That is the practical argument for brackets over removable clear aligners in a schedule crowded with school, sports, and a first job.
Choosing Between Clear And Metal
- Clear braces — tooth-colored ceramic brackets that all but disappear in photos. The usual pick for teens who care how treatment looks. Clear ties can pick up stain from certain foods between visits; we replace them at every appointment.
- Metal braces — the most durable and often the fastest option for bigger corrections, with colored elastics your teen can change every visit.
Our braces page compares both in detail, and other treatments covers the additional appliances some cases need.
Life With Braces In Liberty Lake
Sports go on as usual with a mouthguard — tell us what your teen plays and we will advise. Food is where the actual change happens: hard, chewy, and sticky items break brackets, so jerky, popcorn kernels, hard candy, and caramel are out, and crunchy foods like apples and carrots get cut into pieces.
Hygiene determines the final result more than anything else your teen controls. Brushing after every meal and flossing daily prevents the marks that plaque leaves around brackets. Elastics, when prescribed, are what correct the bite — skipping them is the number-one reason treatment runs long.
We are open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., adjustment visits are short, and DentalMonitoring lets your teen send scans from a phone between appointments so we only bring them in when there is something to do. More on our technology page.
Credentials, Briefly
Dr. Johnson earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Washington in 2002 and a Master of Science in Orthodontics from the University of Michigan in 2005, and has been practicing since 2006. He is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists, and the Washington State Society of Orthodontists.
Retainers follow active treatment, and they are not a formality — teeth drift for life, and the adults we treat for relapse are almost always the ones who stopped wearing retainers as teenagers. Read our patient reviews and see why families choose us.
Questions We Hear From Liberty Lake Families
- Clear or metal for a teen? Clear if appearance is the priority, metal if durability and speed matter more. Both work; we will make a recommendation.
- How many appointments? Short visits every several weeks, fewer with DentalMonitoring handling checks remotely.
- What about cost and insurance? Fees depend on the case; see the payment calculator and financial information under patient resources. Most dental plans with an orthodontic benefit apply.
- Can appointments be after school? We are open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. — tell us what you need when you call or text (509) 277-9773 and we will do our best.
- Do you treat adults too? Yes, frequently. Parents often start treatment alongside their teenager.
What The Timeline Looks Like
A typical teen case runs about 18 to 24 months: bonding and a short adjustment period, then months of steady adjustments, then a detailing phase where the bite is fine-tuned, and finally removal and retainers. Elastics usually come into play in the middle stretch, and that is where cooperation decides whether the case finishes on schedule.
For the wider picture, see orthodontic treatment, other treatments, and our patient reviews.
Get Your Free Smile Consult
Book a free consult — call or text (509) 277-9773, or contact us for our Liberty Lake office.