The importance of oral hygiene, from Dr. Tina Siu

Dr. Tina Siu provides dental health screenings for several groups, including the "Give Kids a Smile" program. Young & Healthy in Pasadena has a dental health screening as well as the San Gabriel Valley Foundation for Dental Health. Dr. Siu enjoys helping these lower income families be more aware of their dental health - community service is very important to Dr. Siu. She believes in giving back to the community that has given so much to her, and tries to emphasize the importance of daily oral hygiene and visits to the dentist for dental cleanings twice a year. She reminds the kids that "2" is the number to remember when your talking about your teeth: Brush your teeth 2 times a day, for 2 minutes each time, and visit your dentist 2 times a year!

Regular health screenings can help find problems before they start. They also can help find problems early, when your chances for treatment are better. By getting the right health services, screenings and treatments with Dr. Siu, you are taking steps that help your chances for living a longer, healthier life!

"Hey Dr. Siu! What's the deal with retainers?"

Have you recently completed your orthodontic treatment with Dr. Tina Siu? If so, we’d like to congratulate you again! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Siu will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, Dr. Siu will tell you that teeth may shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers, however, provide that stabilization, and are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by Dr. Siu and our staff is the best way to make sure that the treatment improvements at Siu Orthodontics last for a lifetime.

To learn more about the advantages of wearing retainers after your orthodontic treatment, please visit our website for retainer instructions and check out this helpful article about retainers from KidsHealth or give us a call at 626-537-4170!

Ask Dr. Siu: When should my child visit for a consultation?

Many parents here in San Marino, Pasadena and surrounding communities assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to come in for a consultation with Dr. Tina Siu, only to find that treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Did you know the American Association of Orthodontists recommend that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven?

That's right - age seven.

Orthodontic evaluation at an early age provides one of two positive outcomes: For some, early identification or problems will lead to easier or shorter orthodontic treatment in the future. For others, a healthy prognosis will provide immediate peace of mind.

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from years of harmful teasing, crooked teeth are also prone to injury and detrimental to good oral hygiene. So if your child is nearing age seven, we invite you to give us a call at Siu Orthodontics to schedule a complimentary consultation.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone!

Dr. Tina Siu and team, wishing you a safe and happy Fourth!

For many of our patients at Siu Orthodontics, the Fourth of July is a day of fireworks, picnics, playing at the lake or spending quality time with family. Most people recognize Independence Day as a time to celebrate and commemorate the anniversary of the signing of our Declaration of Independence.

What about you? What are your Fourth of July plans? Are you heading to a barbecue? Hitting the open road with family? Are you planning on using fireworks to light up the California night sky? (If you are, please be careful!).

Share your July 4th adventures with us on Dr. Siu's Facebook page! We even encourage you to post your photos! Have a GREAT long weekend everyone!