Dr. Nelson and Dr. Steinhart are orthodontic specialists, your smile is in expert hands! Theyre also very active members of the Sammamish community and love interacting with our patients both inside and outside the office. One of the most rewarding things about being an orthodontist is the lifetime relationships the doctors are able to make with their patients and families.
As the son of an orthodontist, I was fortunate to grow up in the wonderful world of orthodontics! My father, James, practiced orthodontics in Ballard and Magnolia for more than 40 years. As a high school student, I worked in my dads lab making orthodontic study models and appliances. Then, before entering dental school, I spent a year working as a clinical assistant in his Ballard office. Those years working for my dad gave me a great appreciation for the value of a smile and the impact orthodontics makes in peoples lives.
Following my undergraduate education at Brigham Young University, I attended dental school at the University of Pacific in San Francisco, CA. I loved my time at UOP so much that I ended staying there for my two year orthodontics residency, receiving my Masters degree and Orthodontic Certificate in 1998. Upon graduation I considered many different options to begin my career, ultimately deciding to start my own practice from the ground up on the Sammamish Plateau. It was a great decision! I feel very grateful and blessed to live and practice in this amazing community.
Outside of work I love spending time with my family. I also enjoy anything related to golf, football, and basketball you can regularly find me working on my jump shot pre-dawn at the Sammamish YMCA! I am active in my church and love supporting great charitable causes like Mammas Hands, Relay for Life, and others.
Orthodontics has been my passion since I was a young patient with braces growing up in New Jersey. My orthodontist showed me how fun and rewarding this profession can be; a lesson that Ive kept in the front of mind ever since. Ive also learned along the way that there is nothing more gratifying than changing a persons smile and potentially their life!
I graduated from Rutgers School of Dental Medicine in 2007, both for my Doctorate of Dental Medicine and my Orthodontic specialist degree. After practicing for five years in eastern Washington and the previous two in New York City, I am so glad to be grounded on the eastside, where my wife was born and raisedand even had her braces!
My family and I live in the area and when Im not moving teeth, I can also be found playing tennis, traveling, hiking, snowboarding, and playing my guitar with my three little future rock stars. I cant wait to see you and your family while grabbing coffee at the local Starbucks or at one of the many sporting events in our town.
Yes! 99% of the patients we examine for orthodontics are candidates for Invisalign treatment. It is an amazing technology and has many advantages over braces including increased comfort, no dietary limitations, improved oral hygiene, and the fact that it is practically invisible. Its also about half as many visits to the office as braces treatment.
We are the top Invisalign First provider on the West Coast, we have extensive training and experience with Invisalign for kids. It is a great way to expand jaws, create space, and line up teeth perfectly straight no metal required!
Definitely not. Invisalign is a doctor-driven treatment, each doctor prescribes the specific movement for each tooth of every patient. Invisalign manufactures aligners based on the doctors prescription, so the doctor that treats you makes all the difference. Dr. Nelson and Dr. Steinhart are top 1% Invisalign Providers in the world they have more experience than 99% of the doctors doing Invisalign. They have treated over 20,000 patients with Invisalign or braces, you are in expert hands!
Invisalign treatment is the process of wearing a series of clear, removable aligners that gradually straighten your teeth. No brackets and wires, and none of the restrictions that come with metal braces.
Your doctor will create a unique, digital treatment plan that maps out the exact movements of your teeth. Your Invisalign clear aligners are then designed to apply the right amount of force to the right place at the right time based on your plan. Your doctor will be with you every step of the way to monitor your progress and ensure your aligners fit correctly.
Invisalign clear aligners are virtually invisible people may not even notice youre wearing them. You can remove them to eat and drink, to brush and floss, or for special occasions. There are no metal brackets or wires that could irritate your mouth or break, sending you to your doctor for an emergency visit.
The length of treatment depends on multiple factors, like how complex your case is and how often you wear your aligners. Your doctor will determine exactly how long your treatment will take based on your specific needs. On average, Invisalign treatment time is 12 to 18 months, though you can start seeing results in a matter of weeks.