Interested in Invisalign?

The fact is, most of us aren’t born with a red carpet smile. And that’s where Drs. Tagawa & Curtis can help. Of course, orthodontic treatment help make your teeth stay strong, healthy and become perfectly-aligned. But did you know you can get the beautiful straight teeth you’ve always wanted without braces?


We are proud to offer a clear alternative option for straightening teeth called Invisalign, which uses a series of invisible, removable and comfortable aligners that no one can tell you’re wearing. Today, we thought we would answer some of the most common questions we hear about Invisalign!

Q: How is Invisalign treatment different than traditional braces?

A: Not only does Invisalign effectively straighten teeth, Invisalign aligners are comfortable and durable, and provide patients the opportunity to enjoy their favorite activities such as sports and playing instruments, activities that can be challenging while wearing braces. Also, Invisalign’s near-invisibility is a popular feature; treatment is very inconspicuous, making it easier to fit in rather than call attention to treatment. And because Invisalign aligners are removable, patients can take remove them at meal times, as well as to properly brush and floss to maintain healthy hygiene during treatment. Finally, Invisalign treatment has fewer emergencies because there are no wires or brackets to break or stick the patients.

Q: How does Invisalign work?

A: Using a series of clear, removable aligners to gradually straighten teeth, we use proprietary 3D computer imaging technology to map the complete treatment from start to finish. When the aligners are placed on the teeth, they cause your teeth to gradually shift from their current position. After approximately two weeks, you will begin using the next set of aligners, which will continue the teeth straightening process, ultimately giving you the smile you’ve always wanted.

Q: Is Invisalign as effective as regular braces?

A: Yes. Depending on the case Invisalign maybe more effective than braces but in certain cases braces may be the optimal appliance. We recommend that you get a consultation with Tagawa & Curtis Orthodontics to see if your case will be best treated with Invisalign.

Q: How long does treatment take?

A: The length of treatment depends on the severity of each case and can only be determined by a visit to our office for a consultation.

We hope this helps! If you are interested in learning more about Invisalign, please give us a call at 714-990-5414 to schedule your complimentary consultation.


Tagawa & Curtis Orthodontics - www.breasmiles.com - 714-990-5414

Orthodontics Through the Years

Did you know that even in ancient times, people wanted to improve the look and function of their smiles? Tagawa & Curtis Orthodontics thinks of modern orthodontic appliances as sleek, efficient technology, but this was not always so! Take a look at the highlights in the evolution of braces.

 

Ancient Times: From Greece to Rome

•According to The Angle Orthodontist, Aristotle and Hippocrates first thought about methods for straightening teeth between 400 and 300 BC.
•The Etruscans, in what we now know as Italy, buried their dead with appliances that maintained spaces and prevented collapse of their teeth and jaws during life. Archaeologists have discovered mummified remains in various locations that have metal bands wrapped around the teeth.

•A Roman tomb has also been discovered in which the teeth were bound with gold wire, including documentation on the wire’s use as a dental device.

 

18th Century: A French Development

•The French dentist Pierre Fauchard is acknowledged as the father of modern dentistry. In 1728 he published a book that described various methods for straightening teeth. Fauchard also used a device known as a “blandeau” to widen the upper palate.

•Louis Bourdet was another French dentist who published a book in 1754 that discussed tooth alignment. Bourdet further refined the blandeau and was the first dentist to extract bicuspids, or the premolar teeth between canines and molars, for the purpose of reducing tooth crowding.

 

19th Century: Orthodontics Defined

•Orthodontics started to become a separate dental specialty during the early 19th century. The first wire crib was used in 1819, marking the beginning of modern orthodontics.

•During this period, gold, platinum, silver, steel, gum rubber, vulcanite, and occasionally wood, ivory, zinc, and copper were used — as was brass in the form of loops, hooks, spurs, and ligatures.

•Edward Maynard first used gum elastics in 1843 and E. J. Tucker began making rubber bands for braces in 1850.

•Norman W. Kingsley published the first paper on modern orthodontics in 1858 and J. N. Farrar was the first dentist to recommend the use of force over timed intervals to straighten teeth.

 

20th Century: New Materials Abound

•Edward Angle developed the first classification systems for malocclusions (misaligned teeth) during the early 20th century in the United States, and it is still in use today. Angle founded the American Society of Orthodontia in 1901, which was renamed the American Association of Orthodontists in the 1930s.

•By the 1960s, gold was universally abandoned in favor of stainless steel.

•Lingual braces were the “invisible” braces of choice until the early 1980s, when tooth-colored aesthetic brackets made from single-crystal sapphire and ceramics became popular

 

Today

As we arrive in the present, you need only look at your own braces to see how far we’ve come. Your treatment plan was probably created with a 3D digital model, and we may have used a computerized process to customize your brackets and archwires. Perhaps you have clear aligners, self-ligating brackets, or highly resilient ceramic brackets with heat-activated wires.

Orthodontics has come a long way from the days of Aristotle, and even the bulky wrap-around braces of just 60 years ago. Regardless of your specific treatment plan, the development of high-tech materials and methods has made it possible for your orthodontic experience to be as effective, efficient, and comfortable as possible. Call our office at 714-990-5414 to schedule your complimentary orthodontic consultation!


More information can be found at:
http://www.angle.org/doi/full/10.1043/0003-3219(2002)072<0501:obftpt>2.0.CO;2 http://www.archwired.com/HistoryofOrtho.htm


Tagawa & Curtis Orthodontics - www.breasmiles.com - 714.990.5414

Back to School!

Now that most schools are back in session, Drs. Tagawa & Curtis would like to remind all of our patients about the importance of scheduling appointments in advance. With school, clubs, sports, and family duties to consider, we know that it can be challenging to find time to visit Tagawa & Curtis Orthodontics. In order to accommodate all of our patients’ busy schedules, it is important that you plan ahead for your appointments so that we are able to provide you with a convenient appointment time.

As always, please remember to give us advanced notice if you’re unable to make your regularly scheduled appointment with Dr. Tagawa or Dr. Curtis. Feel free to give us a call if you have any questions, or if you would like to schedule your fall appointment.

We’ll see you soon and we wish you and your family a wonderful fall season!

Tagawa & Curtis Orthodontics - 714.990.5414
www.breasmiles.com - www.facebook.com/breasmiles

September is National Childhood Injury Prevention Month

This month, we want you to be extra careful with your braces and appliances. After all, September marks the start of fall sports and an increased risk to mouth injuries. September also happens to be National Childhood Injury Prevention Month, and Tagawa & Curtis Orthodontics thought it’d be a good idea to share a few sobering facts about sports and facial injuries, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO).

*More than half of the seven million sports and recreation-related injuries that occur each year are sustained by youth between ages five and 24. Collision and contact sports have higher injury rates; baseball, soccer, basketball, and football account for about 80% of all sports-related emergency room visits, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

*Sixty-seven percent of parents say their child does not wear a mouthguard, yet, 70 percent say their biggest fear when their child plays is that they will get hurt.

*Of the parents whose children do not wear a mouthguard, 84 percent say it’s because the league or coach does not require it.

*The average high school baseball pitcher can throw a fast ball between 75 and 85 miles per hour. This compares to being hit in the mouth by a speeding car!

We hope this helps you remember to wear a mouthguard and other forms of protective gear when participating in fall sports around North Orange County! We encourage you to give us a call if you have any questions!

Tagawa & Curtis Orthodontics - 714.990.5414
www.breasmiles.com - www.facebook.com/breasmiles

Smart Snacks for Healthy Teeth

Getting your kids to eat fruit, veggies and yogurt instead of candy, chips and ice cream might feel like pulling teeth. But it's important to encourage them to eat "smart" snacks to keep their teeth – and body – healthy.

 

Whether you’re transitioning your older kids to a healthier, balanced diet or just getting started with a little ones, here are some tips for healthy snacking:

 

Set the tone. Your kids mimic what you do, so it’s important that you eat smart snacks too. And be sure to practice good oral hygiene in front of your kids; if you brush and floss after meals and snacks, your kids will too.

 

Get creative with snacks. Show your kids that healthy snacks can be fun! Prepare tasty combinations, such as apple slices with peanut butter, fruit smoothies, meat and cheese rollups, or yogurt sprinkled with granola and bananas.

 

Keep your kids involved. When you make your grocery list, ask your kids to brainstorm about what kinds of food they'd like to eat. This is a good opportunity to help them understand what's good for their teeth and what's not. Then go grocery shopping together and teach your kids how to read the Nutrition Facts label so that they can check the sugar content.

 

Prepare nutritious meals. Snacking smart is great for your teeth, but so is eating well-balanced lunches and dinners. Make sure to add fruits and vegetables to every meal so that your kids become accustomed to them.

 

 

Tagawa & Curtis Orthodontics - www.breasmiles.com - 714.990.5414