He extracted 4 healthy teeth -- now I have lifelong damage, sleep apnea, and disfigurement I'm writing this through tears because my life has been permanently altered by the choices Dr. Chris Riolo made. What was supposed to be cosmetic orthodontics for mild crowding turned into a devastating medical trauma. I now suffer from severe sleep apnea, facial collapse, chronic fatigue, and daily pain -- all because Dr. Riolo insisted on extracting four of my healthy teeth and retracting my arches. When I first visited his office, I was told I was a "great candidate" for braces but would need to remove four premolars to "make room." I was shocked -- I had no major bite issues, just slightly crooked front teeth. I asked if there were alternatives, but Dr. Riolo brushed off my concerns and said extractions were the "gold standard" and wouldn't affect anything long-term. He acted so confident and dismissive that I felt pressured into agreeing. From there, everything spiraled. My face started narrowing, my smile looked pinched, and I began waking up multiple times a night gasping for air. I couldn't breathe through my nose anymore when lying down. I told Dr. Riolo I felt something was wrong -- he said I was "just adjusting" and to give it time. Eventually, I saw a sleep specialist and was diagnosed with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, which I had never had before. My airway volume had collapsed due to the tooth extractions and maxillary retraction. A second orthodontist and an oral surgeon both told me that the damage is likely irreversible without major surgical intervention. One even called it "a textbook case of over-retraction in a non-extraction candidate." I also suffer from jaw joint dysfunction, tension headaches, and depression stemming from my altered appearance. I now avoid mirrors. My face looks hollow and aged -- like someone sucked the life out of it. What infuriates me most is the complete lack of accountability. When I brought this up to Dr. Riolo, he refused to take responsibility. He said my symptoms were "unrelated" or "psychosomatic." I was treated like a nuisance, not a patient whose health he destroyed. I have spent tens of thousands of dollars on consultations, imaging, and treatment to attempt to undo this. Some of the damage -- like my changed facial structure and airway loss -- may never be corrected. Please -- if you're reading this and he recommends extractions, RUN. Get second and third opinions. I wish someone had warned me. I'm only in my 20s and now live like someone decades older, constantly tired, snoring with a CPAP machine, afraid to smile, and unable to sleep properly. I trusted Dr. Riolo with my health. That was the worst mistake I have ever made. read more

I started treatment with Dr. Christopher Riolo in 2021 and continued through 2023, and the experience was devastating. In June 2023, he completely ruined my bite--leaving it uneven and open--which made basic functions like chewing, speaking, and even resting my jaw extremely difficult. His tooth-extraction-based treatment plan also led to severe TMJ issues and airway problems. My dental arch shrank significantly during treatment, leaving no space for my tongue and worsening my overall oral posture and comfort. I also experienced major bone loss and gum recession. I raised these concerns multiple times--both in person and via email--but Dr. Riolo consistently downplayed them and told me everything looked fine. How could I be "fine" when I was in constant pain and discomfort? I felt dismissed, not heard. Appointments were rushed, and at times, he didn't even see me at all. The office was often overcrowded, and I never felt truly cared for. For over a year, I suffered physically and emotionally. It has taken me a long time to find the strength to write this, but I'm doing so now to help others avoid what I went through. Thankfully, I've now restarted orthodontic treatment with a responsible and compassionate orthodontist who listens, understands, and is working to fix my bite. For the first time in a long while, I feel hope and trust that healing is possible. read more

I'm sharing this anonymously for personal and legal privacy reasons. I believe patients deserve full transparency before starting treatment. I think prospective patients should be aware of some unique aspects of this practice: 1. In-house clear aligners: Dr. Riolo uses custom clear aligners fabricated in-house using a 3D printer from a company called Formlabs. According to Formlabs' own website, Dr. Riolo is featured as the first dentist to adopt their system, which claims to reduce production costs by up to 90% compared to commercial brands like Invisalign. These aligners are made from different materials and follow different manufacturing processes. Unlike Invisalign, which is FDA-cleared and supported by extensive clinical research, I am not aware of any independent testing, published studies, or regulatory review of the aligners used in this office. Without such oversight, it's difficult to assess their safety, durability, or long-term effectiveness. I personally know of patients who experienced complications during treatment with these in-house aligners, though I cannot speak to the clinical causes of those outcomes. Dr. Riolo had minimal involvement in managing or resolving those complications, based on what I observed. *From his reply on Google, Dr. Riolo mentioned that the materials used in his in-house aligners are FDA-approved. That may be true -- but it's important to note that for Invisalign, it's not just about materials. Invisalign is a Class II medical device that was FDA-cleared via the 510(k) process, meaning the entire system -- including the aligners, the digital treatment software and algorithm, and the manufacturing process -- has undergone regulatory review. To my knowledge, there's no equivalent FDA clearance available for this in-house system. I believe this is an important distinction for patients considering treatment. If such documentation does exist, I welcome Dr. Riolo to share it publicly. 2. Delegation of orthodontic care to minimally trained staff: After the initial consultation, Dr. Riolo is rarely involved in ongoing care. Nearly all adjustments and hands-on procedures are performed by staff who may have little or no formal training. Based on my experience, some of them appeared to be in training and lacked basic proficiency -- taking up to two hours for what should be routine wire adjustments. While Washington State permits on-the-job training for dental assistants, this setup can leave patients in the hands of individuals without adequate experience or supervision. In my opinion, this compromises the quality and safety of care. If you're considering treatment here, I strongly recommend seeking multiple opinions -- especially when it comes to irreversible dental work. Marketing may emphasize affordability or convenience, but it's critical to understand both *who* will be providing your care and *what* treatment system will be used. In-house solutions like custom-printed clear aligners may not offer the same level of clinical validation or regulatory oversight as established options like Invisalign, and hands-on care may be delegated to minimally trained staff. While Dr. Riolo may hold prestigious titles -- including affiliations with institutions like UW -- those credentials offer limited value if he is not personally involved in your treatment. These are important factors to weigh when making a long-term decision about your dental health. read more

Christopher Riolo, DDS - Orthodontists Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I've been coming here for a few years for lingual braces, really to help my bite more than my teeth. It's been a great experience, at least as good as it could be with orthotics. Dr. Riolo really knows his stuff and his team is first rate. I've even dragged this adult braces ordeal out longer than I should have by a long shot due to covid, travel, and just my own negligence with my dental health. You know what? They did not give me a bad time. They welcomed me back, Dr Riolo came up with a plan to get me on track, and I'm back on my way to fixing things. Easy check in, scheduling, and great care. Highly recommend... especially if you are like me and do not want anyone seeing you have braces. read more

I started lingual braces in here almost 9 months ago.But lingual braces changed my tooth very bad. They fixed many times even when I moved another state ,I also keep with them but it is still bad. The last time I visited in August. I give up with them because my tooth have a lot of space. Its overpriced for lingual braces. read more

Doctor Riolo and his staff have been the most professional, patient, understanding and honest set of individuals I have ever encountered. It all started when one of my friend's recommended Dr. Riolo for his amazing skills as an Orthodontist. When I first met up with Dr. Riolo, he took his time with explaining the whole process from A to Z about Lingual Braces. The quote he said that stood out for me was that "my teeth may not be perfect but they will look MUCH BETTER". Considering how crooked my teeth were, the progress was as perfect as it could get. Immediately along with his assistant Cali we created an action plan for my teeth. I got my teeth scanned and before I knew it I had Lingual Braces. Every couple weeks I had my adjustments and all of my concerns were promptly addressed. Another example of how amazing Dr. Riolo is, one time I was on a jet ski and my bracket popped open. It was a Sunday morning and I texted Dr. Riolo about what had happened. He came on his day off on Sunday night and opened his practice just to fix my bracket. That incident showed me that Dr. Riolo truly cares for his patients and is a man of his word. Towards the end of my treatments I requested a few of my teeth to be reshaped and once again Dr. Riolo made it happen while making my teeth look exceptional. I always felt very understood. As a healthcare worker myself I can honestly say that Dr. Riolo does an outstanding job and goes above and beyond at being a MASTER AT HIS CRAFT. He didn't only forever change my smile but also my life. read more

Overall my experience with this provider was very helpful and informative. I reached out to Dr. Riolo for a consultation. I found his online interface easy to use and convenient. Thier office also offers virtual appointments also very helpful. Dr. Riolo met with me for over 30 minutes and discussed my treatment options at no charge. Such generosity is very rare these days. Thank you Dr. Riolo. read more

I had braces as a kid & retainers as an adult then I had a mishap biting into something hard that chipped a tooth & misaligned the bottom front row of teeth. Dr Riolo was very kind & professional in his approach. They took my insurance & put me on aligners to properly align all my teeth upper & lower jaw & now I am back to a retainer to keep my smile better than ever! Dr Riolo's staff is top tier & I highly recommend this office! read more

I cannot speak more highly of Dr. Riolo and his staff. When I came highly referred to Dr. Riolo I was scared as I do not like the dentist or any dental work. I was greeted by Kristy warmly and was immediately felt at home. Kristy could sense I was nervous and she went out of her way to make sure I was comfortable and at place. When I finally met Dr. Riolo I was at ease. He is extremely professional and made my comfort his priority. He in detail examined me and detailed what my life with braces would be like. 12 months later I could not be more thankful. I felt out of place being an adult getting braces but once I had them I wanted to be an ally. I was always welcome and rooted on for the next step of my treatment and for that I am forever grateful. read more

I was looking for an orthodontist to consult on Invisalign options, as I'm new to the Seattle area. I came across Dr. Riolo after reading Yelp reviews and figured I'd give his office a shot. I've had braces twice before and headgear once, as a child, and have a pretty bad crossbite. I told him that I was hoping to get my front teeth straightened out a bit but didn't have much hope for ever fixing my crossbite. He said he'd see "what we could do" about fixing the crossbite gap. Dr. Riolo has been nothing but amazing right from the start. My invisalign checkups are ten minutes from start to finish (unless I have more questions), I never have to wait when I arrive for my appointment, the front office staff are incredibly kind and funny, and he has a great bedside manner! He's very easy to talk to and clearly very intelligent, so I feel like I'm able to interface with him a lot better than any orthodontist I've had previously. Not only that, but I can actually feel my crossbite closing - I can bite down much better than I've ever been able to before! My teeth are getting super straight and I no longer feel self-conscious about smiling. I didn't even realize I had jaw problems at all until they started going away (no more popping/jaw locking) - I had completely given up on having straight teeth, but honestly with the treatment I've gotten at Dr. Riolo's office I'm starting to feel like that might be a possibility. :) read more

Mrs Burcu Bayirli (Mr. Riolo's wife) was so helpful when my retainer's glue shipped off before the Holidays. Her team (Kristy & Abby) was so great at fitting me in last minute and the service I received was impeccable. I loved the fact that everybody was very professional and friendly! Would highly recommend their services! read more

Dr. Riolo is a great option for adult orthodontics in Seattle. He has another practice north of town where he sees kids. His downtown office isn't ALL adults, but it's most of the clientele, which is great if you are also an adult! His chairside manner is fantastic and all of his employees are nice and professional. He has late hours on certain days, should you need to come in late because of work or something like that. He's a skilled orthodontist, and he's honest with his patients. I actually trust him more than I trust my dentist. I checked out a few different orthodontists when I was first considering treatment, and went with Dr. Riolo because of his credentials and because he seemed like someone I wouldn't mind seeing once a month for a few years! It didn't hurt that his prices were very reasonable. He's easy to reach if you have questions because he always has his Blackberry on him, and he'll get back to you personally. I'm surprised there aren't any reviews yet; I guess he's just so laid back and easy to work with that people don't even think about it once they're out of his office! He's rad. read more

I'm a little more than 1/2 way through my treatment and it's been a wonderful experience! I had another consultation before I came to him and the difference was like night and day. I was so impressed that I pretty much made up my mind on the spot. If you are looking for non-traditional braces such as incognito, he is the best there is. Everyone at the office makes it a point to take care of the patient first, from scheduling to procedures and everything in between. I am looking forward to the day when I can finally remove my braces but I will miss seeing everyone on a regular basis. read more

Dr. Riolo is excellent and the medical assistants are great to work with. I have experienced great care from them. Unfortunately, the customer service from the front desk is the worse that I have ever experienced. The service is unfriendly and unwelcoming, and puts forth a vibe that makes me cringe every time I have to interact with them by phone or in person. The attitude I get from the front desk is one of, "Oh, that doesn't work for you? Well, too bad. That's all we can do." I have to tell myself to focus on getting through the treatment plan and then I won't have to deal with them anymore. read more

I love Dr. Riolo and his team. They are hands down the best. I'm an out of state patient that needs major dental work and he's been working with me since day one. He is very involved in all my other dental work and works with my periodontist and endodontist to ensure everything is going well! Words cannot express how grateful I am to be a patient of Dr. Riolo, he actually cares and will make sure your smile is outstanding. read more

After getting braces back home in Philadelphia, we left that evening for Seattle to visit my son. I think I have a high pain threshold and was trying to tough it out... but by day four I had terrible pain. It was related to a wire digging into the back of my mouth. The pain was getting worse and now I had developed swelling and enlarged lymph nodes in my jaw. Wax helped but didn't stay on easily. This was something only an orthodontist could fix. I needed help and fast. Now I was feeling physically ill as well. After calling three other orthodontist in the area who weren't open Fridays or wanted me to wait until after hours, I called Dr. Riolo's office. The women who answered the phone was a breath of fresh air and realized this was fairly urgent. She said to come right in. I wanted to climb through the phone line and kiss her. My husband dropped me off and I ran into the building. The office was clean and beautiful. The staff sharp and friendly. Dr. Riolo's warm, calm and self assured manner put me right at ease. He said he could easily solve my problem. Though it turned out not to be the length of the wire but the position it was in. He had the proper equipment to file it down carefully without damaging the bracket. Viola...the pain was instantly gone and relief immediate! He gave me instructions and sent me on my way. The swelling/node began to recede right away, as he reassured me. I briefly saw his credentials on line before the appointment but now realize he has a PHD in Epidemiology, as well. He's not only kind but brilliant and highly qualified! Those are amazing attributes in any doctor. If I lived in Seattle he would be my orthodontist without a doubt. THANK YOU to Dr. Riolo and his staff for their kindness and compassion! Bless you all! read more

I went to 4 orthodontists and decided that Dr. Riolo was the best fit because of his approach to my teeth situation and his level of detail. Great doctor and great guy. I would highly recommend. read more

Christopher Riolo, DDS - Orthodontists Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I recently had a consultation via a referral, and was **very** satisfied with the whole experience. I appreciated the electronic communication to exchange information as well as online pre-registration. But it was even better when talking in person. I was given very complete, in-depth information about my options with a straightforward recommendation that doing nothing could be the best way to go. Since I am used to the hard sell even in healthcare, it was refreshing and inspiring to see someone who cares about their business and honest advice. I will be back for any future work, even if I didn't end up needing anything immediately. read more

As an orthodontist treated by another orthodontist, I must say that I received nothing but high quality care. If you are looking for an experienced, detail oriented orthodontist who delivers excellent treatment quality I highly recommend Dr Riolo. With his clinical and teaching experience, attentiveness and being a good listener he makes sure your concerns are being addressed properly. Additionally, I must admire him for staying up-to-date with the latest technology that helps deliver better treatment. He utilizes a variety of treatment techniques which allows him to deliver fine customized treatment for each patient. My 1.5 year treatment was recently completed and my bite feels much better. I am very happy that I proceeded with the treatment and chose him as my orthodontist. Oftentimes, I consult my patients orthodontic cases with him and consider him an expert in the field of orthodontics. read more

My experience at Dr. Riolo's office was extremely pleasant. He was kind, competent and professional. The office is beautiful and newly remodeled. I'll be coming here for all future orthodontics needs. read more

Dr. Riolo is absolutely amazing! I don't know what else to say. He was so friendly, kindhearted, funny, and positive throughout my treatment. He is highly educated, willing to answer all your questions, and help you in any way he can. His staff is wonderful and seem genuinely happy to be there. I loved the atmosphere and seeing the quality relationships between him and his staff. He offered so many options from Invisalign to traditional braces (gold, clear, metal...) to incognito! The office is beautiful, modern and high tech. Working in the dental field myself, I have high standards, and Dr. Riolo and his staff have gone above and beyond. He was able to correct my bite, putting me in a much more comfortable and functional position without surgery! I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity for Dr. Riolo to help me with my teeth, and can't wait to show the world my new beautiful (and functional) smile! read more

I love Dr Riolo. He' s just cool. Has a great chairside manner and makes you laugh while he makes you very comfortable. He offers options and is very clear when explaining your treatment. He is affordable. He is easy going and very schedule flexible. You can tell he puts his patients first. The staff is equally wonderful! I wish he was my "regular" dentist!! I would highly recommend him to anyone-- no matter where you're coming from. I saw him for Invisalign and I lived an hour and 15 mins from his office one way! read more

I personally haven't seen Dr. Riolo, but I did meet his wife and his assistant (I apologize for forgetting your names!), and they were absolutely wonderful. My boyfriend's dog annoyingly ate my retainers. I only recently got my braces off, and my treatment was in California, so I couldn't go back to my orthodontist to get new braces. I was really panicking about replacing my retainers since I had no sick hours to use (just got employed) and most places were not open on weekends or evenings. This office, however, was very accommodating; they were willing to book evening slots for me or a weekend slot. However, since their office was so close to my work building, I was easily able to just swing by during lunch ON THE SAME DAY I CALLED THEM ABOUT MY RETAINERS. The assistant knew that getting my retainers replaced ASAP was important, so they let me go in on the same day! They were efficient and very friendly, and I would definitely recommend this office! read more