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!

Happy Holidays!

Season’s Greetings from Siu Orthodontics!

In this season given to tidings of comfort and joy, and as Dr. Tina Siu and our team reflect on the year that was, we’d like to ask you, our wonderful patients: What do you love about the holidays this year? Being with your loved ones? A clean slate for 2012? Opening presents by the fireplace? All the delicious food? Also, what gift are you most looking forward to getting this year?

We’d love if you shared with us all the things you love about the holidays. Stay warm, and don’t forget to stay away from those sweets!

Happy Holidays from our entire team at Siu Orthodontics!

Ask Dr. Siu: “I’m 31 – am I too old for braces?”

Absolutely not.

In fact, our staff at Siu Orthodontics read a fascinating statistic recently: the number of adults getting braces has actually jumped 24 percent since 1996! It's true that braces help make your pearly whites strong, healthy and perfectly-aligned, but perhaps another reason for the spike in adult braces is this: people want to look and feel great.

In an age—and society—where looks matter as much as anything, and at a time when evenly-aligned teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing—wisely—to invest in orthodontics. Treatment with Dr. Tina Siu can be successful at any age, and we know that adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful and healthy smile.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, Dr. Siu would love to have you visit for a consultation! Please give us a call to set one up!

Happy Holidays from all of us at Siu Orthodontics!

Love your new smile? Tell Dr. Siu and team all about it!

Serving San Marino, Arcadia, and South Pasadena, Dr. Tina Siu and our team provide excellent orthodontic treatment in a friendly and professional environment. We are dedicated to the comfort, well-being, and complete satisfaction of every patient that comes into our office.

Whether you've visited Siu Orthodontics for a week or months, we'd love to hear your feedback about how our practice is faring during your orthodontic treatment! There are lots of ways you can share your thoughts with the rest of the world, but we encourage you to head to our Google Local page and write a review there. Or, you may review us on Yelp if you wish. After all, reviews help Dr. Siu and team create more beautiful smiles!

You may write a review here. Thanks in advance and enjoy your week! Dr. Siu and team look forward to reading your reviews in our community!

How important is your smile? From Siu Orthodontics

We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Serving San Marino, Arcadia, and South Pasadena, Dr. Tina Siu and our team provide excellent orthodontic treatment in a friendly and professional environment. We are dedicated to the comfort, well-being, and complete satisfaction of every patient that comes into our office.

The bottom line is, we know having a beautiful smile is important to you. It’s important to us, too.

And speaking of smiling, in a poll conducted by Glamour Magazine earlier this year, people were asked, “If you had to pick between having perfect teeth, eyesight or hair, which would you choose?”

Well, 44 percent of folks out there chose teeth! In addition, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, or AACD, conducted a study and found that 99.7 percent of those polled believed a smile is an important social asset. Respondents said straightness, whiteness, cleanliness, as well as the sincerity and sparkle of one’s smile were all important factors not only socially, but career-wise as well.

Contact our office to schedule your complimentary orthodontic consultation. We look forward to meeting you and your family and helping you achieve a beautiful smile that last a lifetime!

Happy Thanksgiving from Siu Orthodontics!

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season knocking at our door, Dr. Siu and our entire staff at Siu Orthodontics wanted to stop for a moment and extend our best wishes to you, our patients, referring doctors and families, for a wonderful Thanksgiving.

As always, if you know anyone we can help, just let us know. We promise to give them the same quality orthodontic care that we have given you.

We hope that this Thanksgiving and holiday season brings fond memories. Thank you for being part of our family.

Ask Dr. Siu: “I got my braces. Now what?"

We love when patients ask us that question! Now that you’re wearing braces, it’s just as important to maintain a good oral hygiene regimen as you did before before orthodontic treatment began.

Braces are known to trap food particles and make it difficult to brush or remove plaque, which is why Dr. Tina Siu and our team recommend that you brush and floss after every meal. We also encourage you to use a proxabrush to help with the smaller areas where your toothbrush doesn’t reach. We encourage the use of fluoride rinse as well; ask Dr. Siu for a recommendation.

When your braces are initially placed, your teeth are likely to be very sensitive. You may experience discomfort for up to 3 or 5 days, which is why we encourage you to eat soft foods during that time. Remember, the less pressure you put on your teeth, the less discomfort you will have.

You may also be thinking, “Okay, so what can I eat?” We would encourage you to avoid eating sticky, hard, crunchy or chewy snacks that can stick to your teeth.

Our team at Siu Orthodontics will tell you it’s crucial to regularly check your braces for bent or loose wires and brackets. In the event of a loose/broken wire or bracket, please call our San Marino office immediately to schedule an appointment for repair.

Lastly, in addition to visiting Dr. Siu's office during your orthodontic treatment for adjustments, you should visit your dentist for professional check-ups and teeth cleaning appointments about every six months, or as recommended by your dentist.

What are your November plans?

Believe it or not, we’re almost in full holiday mode! But before you go celebrating, Dr. Tina Siu and our team at Siu Orthodontics want to know: What are your plans for November? Do you have plans for Thanksgiving? Are you planning a winter vacation? If so, we’d love to hear all about it!

You may share your stories with us below, or by posting on our Facebook page!

–The team at Siu Orthodontics

Ask Dr. Siu: What's the deal with Halloween candy?

With Halloween here, and all that candy making its rounds, it's important to remember that it's still National Orthodontic Health Month! And that means a time to once again remind all our patients to be extra careful when choosing those candies and treats!

All those sweet, sour and sticky candies may taste great, but these treats are known to damage teeth, as well as braces! Did you know sour candies can be acidic to your teeth, and actually wear down the enamel that protects them? This can cause tooth decay and cavities! Sour and fruity candy, such as Starburst and Skittles, are the worst for your child’s teeth since these candies have a low pH value, which is known to ruin enamel.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends softer treats, such as soft chocolate or peanut butter cups, or melt-in-your-mouth foods. Trick-or-treaters who indulge should make sure they brush and floss between teeth, around brackets and at the gum line. If damage occurs, please call Dr. Siu and team as soon as possible.

We hope everyone has a safe and scary Halloween!

Emergency care with Siu Orthodontics

At Siu Orthodontics, we know true orthodontic emergencies are very rare, but when they do occur we are available to you. As a general rule, you should call our San Marino orthodontic office when you experience severe pain or when you have a painful appliance problem that you can't take care of yourself. We'll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem.

You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you schedule an appointment with Dr. Tina Siu. When working with your appliances, you need to know the names of the parts of your appliances so you are able to identify what part is broken or out of place. After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important that you still call our office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair the problem. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions in your treatment plan. Click here for instructions or give us a call to learn more! We hope you're off to a great Halloween season!

What does Dr. Siu love about being an orthodontist?"

What a great profession we have! Orthodontics is one of the most rewarding occupations a person can have, in my opinion. We have wonderful patients who have fantastic stories to tell and our interaction with them is always a treat. Treatment time usually takes about 24 months so we have time to get to know both the parents and the children.

Speaking of children, I do like to work with the kids. There are challenges sometimes but mostly it's so much fun to see them grow up and develop into young adults. I think this kind of work keeps me young at heart.

And what about the results? How satisfying is it to see someone get their braces off and have a beautiful smile to show the world? Incredible! Every time I take someone's braces off or deliver retainers for an Invisalign patient I get such joy and a feeling of accomplishment. I feel like I have made a positive difference in someone's life. That is an amazing feeling.

I am so happy to have chosen orthodontics as my profession and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in brightening someone's day with a beautiful smile! :)

Dr. Tina Siu

What’s the difference between a Dentist and an Orthodontist?

“Dentists, Orthodontists, they’re all the same right?” We hear our patients asking this question as they wonder about the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist. Before becoming an orthodontist Dr. Tina Siu started her career in dental school and earned a dental degree, just like your dentist. After dental school however, Dr. Siu decided she wanted to learn more about orthodontics, which is one of nine specialties within the dental field. So she stayed in school for a few more years and became an expert in orthodontics, which focuses on tooth and jaw alignment and bite problems like overbites and under bites.

Other dental specialties you may have heard of include endodontic (focusing on the soft tissue inside your teeth), periodontic (focusing on the gums and other tissues surrounding your teeth) and prosthodontic (focusing on restoring and replacing damaged teeth).

Isn’t it nice to know there’s a dental expert in Dr. Siu to help you through any type of treatment your teeth, jaw and gums might need?

At Siu Orthodontics, October marks National Orthodontic Health Month!

We hope you're having a wonderful Monday! October is National Orthodontic Health Month, and our staff at Siu Orthodontics wanted to remind our patients to be careful when they bite into their treats this Halloween season. Remember, caramels, taffy, nuts, bubble gum, popcorn kernels and suckers are some of the foods you should be avoiding! Indulging in these foods can break your braces and lengthen your treatment time at Dr. Siu's office!

• Caramel
• Nuts
• Popcorn (including un-popped kernels)
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Licorice
• Bubblegum
• Potato chips
• Ice

If you damage your braces, please give Dr. Tina Siu and our staff a call immediately. Typically, small problems can be solved by giving us a call at 626-796-0615. Loose brackets or wires can usually be made more comfortable by applying some wax until the you can come into our San Marino office.

Ask Dr. Siu: “Where can I get more info about braces?”

Great question! Besides here on Dr. Siu’s website, which provides you with a plethora of information about all things braces and Invisalign, we would like to point you to a helpful website: Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, have provided lots of important information about everything braces, including myths and facts of orthodontics, tips for a better orthodontic experience and cool webisodes about orthodontics.

We encourage you to check out AAO today and feel free to contact us if you have any questions here on our blog or on our Facebook page.
Hope this helps,

Dr. Siu & Team

September is Self-Improvement Month, from Siu Orthodontics

These days, Americans everywhere are putting greater emphasis on health, fitness and self-improvement, and more people are seeking orthodontic treatment to improve their smile. September happens to be Self-Improvement Month, and our team at Siu Orthodontics know that orthodontic treatment is an investment in self-improvement that will reap benefits for a lifetime. And, recent advances in orthodontia, such as Invisalign and more effective brackets and wires, now make orthodontic treatment more palatable for many interested in obtaining that beautiful smile.

Not only does orthodontic treatment give you that beautiful smile, it can also benefit your dental and general health. If teeth are poorly aligned, removing plaque and tartar by brushing and flossing alone may be difficult. A poor bite may result in fractured or excessively worn tooth surfaces, and the extra stress caused by a poor bite may even result in problems with your jaw joints.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, Dr. Tina Siu would love to have you visit for a complimentary consultation. Please give us a call to set one up!

See you soon!

September featured patient testimonial!

Here's another testimonial from my patient Lauren who had orthognathic surgery and orthodontics! What a champ! She looks great! :)

See what Lauren had to say:

"Dr. Siu and her staff did a wonderful job on my teeth. Every time I walked in for an appointment, I walked into a friendly & warm office. Throughout my treatment, they were extremely helpful and understanding in scheduling appointments & handling minor emergencies with my brackets. I seemed to forget that I had braces because they became so comfortable to wear! Before I knew it, I was out of braces by the projected date (this summer) and smiling with straight teeth. Thank you Dr. Siu!

- Lauren

Tips for a successful school year, from Dr. Siu

At Siu Orthodontics, we know a new school year brings a lot of stress for many kids. New classes, new teachers, new friends and new academic challenges can be overwhelming! That’s why we thought we’d provide a few steps for our patients to enjoy their time in school and succeed this upcoming school year!

• Get plenty of sleep every night. Eight hours is recommended.
• Eat a healthy breakfast as it’s the most important meal of the day.
• Pack a healthy lunch or make healthy choices when selecting your school lunch. Try to avoid the vending machine and limit your intake of junk food.
• Stay on top of your homework and reading assignments.
• Stay active. Limit the time in front of the TV or playing video games. Instead, try to get outside to get some exercise—go for a walk or ride your bike.
• Ask for help. When you are having a hard time understanding a concept, ask your teacher or your peers for guidance.
• Always have a positive attitude and a smile on your face!

We hope everyone has a productive and fun school year!

August featured patient testimonial!

A happy patient writes, "Having Dr. Tina Siu as my orthodontist, made the whole experience that every kid or teenager dreads feel, instead, safe and, if I dare say, enjoyable. She has been nothing but efficient and professional as well as kind and reassuring during my two years as her patient. Kudos to Tina Siu and I strongly recommend her to anyone who in need of braces."

Ask Dr. Siu: Now that I have braces, what can I eat?

You just got braces at our office and Dr. Tina Siu has informed you that during your orthodontic treatment you will want to avoid eating anything sticky, hard, crunchy, or chewy. What does this leave for you to eat? Lettuce? Nothing?

Luckily, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, created a variety of “braces-friendly” recipes that will allow you to enjoy your favorite treats without interfering with your orthodontic care!

Recipes include main dishes, side dishes and even yummy desserts! After all, a healthy diet provides essential nutrients and helps the patient achieve the best possible results from orthodontic treatment.

If you have any questions about the recipes listed or about the foods you should be avoiding during your orthodontic treatment, please give us a call or ask us on Facebook!
Enjoy!

Tell Dr. Siu about your summer!

The dog days of summer are upon us, and what better time for our team at Siu Orthodontics to ask our patients about their summer!

Whether you visited our nation’s capitol, went on a camping trip, visited the state fair or just stayed in the L.A. area and hung out with friends, we want to know how you’re all spending your summer! Please feel free to share your summer plans and experiences with us below or on our Facebook page as the summer comes to an end soon for a lot of our patients at Siu Orthodontics! We invite you to post your photos as well!

We look forward to hearing all about your adventures! Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Smile Week at Siu Orthodontics

It’s National Smile Week at Siu Orthodontics, and a GREAT time to remind Dr. Siu's patients to practice good oral hygiene to keep those teeth sparkling during your orthodontic treatment!

Here are a few simple steps you can take to improve your oral health so that you may celebrate National Smile Week for many, many years to come:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
* Floss everyday to clean between your teeth and braces.
* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks during your orthodontic treatment
* Visit your dentist regularly (every 6 months or as recommended by your dentist)!

If you have questions about any of these tips, we encourage you to give us a call, ask Dr. Siu during your next visit ... or ask us on Facebook!

And remember to smile at people you come across throughout the week, whether you know them or not. Smiles are contagious, and are a good thing to give and to get. We hope you’re all having a relaxing summer!

We proudly provide complimentary consultations!

At Siu Orthodontics, we provide excellent orthodontic treatment in a friendly and professional environment. We are dedicated to the comfort, well-being, and complete satisfaction of every patient that comes into our office. Our focus is on patient comfort and efficient treatment results.

One of our commitments is meeting with you to help you explore all or the options available to you or your child. We offer complimentary consultations for those interested in orthodontic treatment. During this time, you'll have time reserved with Dr. Tina Siu, who will assess your particular needs as well as discuss treatment options available and answer any questions you may have. We place a high value on making sure you have complete information before beginning treatment.

If you have been thinking about obtaining the dazzling smile you’ve always wanted, we invite you to give a call at 626-796-0615. Serving San Marino, Arcadia, and South Pasadena, CA, Dr. Siu is your orthodontic specialist, offering Invisalign and braces for children, teens, and adults.

See you soon!

- The team at Siu Orthodontics

Does Dr. Siu have your current contact info?

We hope you’re off to a great summer so far! If you are planning on traveling with family this summer or think you might not be able to make it to your scheduled adjustment appointment at our San Marino office, please let us know ahead of time so that we may be able to accommodate you, as well as schedule another patient with Dr. Siu at that appointment time.

Also, we ask that you give us a call and let us know if you have any new phone numbers or if your contact information has changed! Please call us with any updates to phone numbers and addresses, so we may be able to reach you. Thank you! Enjoy the rest of your week!

What’s on your mind?

As the summer progresses, our team at Siu Orthodontics strive to continue writing about important topics related to orthodontics and your treatment at our office.

To help us continue doing that through the course of the summer, Dr. Tina Siu and team would like to ask you, our readers: what’s on your mind? What would you like to know about the always-changing and exciting field of orthodontics? What would you like us to focus on our blog in the summer months? Perhaps there’s something you’ve wanted to ask Dr. Siu for a while? Let us know by posting here or on our Facebook page!

We hope you’re having a great week!

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

GREAT question! Braces were originally considered to be best appropriate for teens. But these days, kids as old as seven are beginning their orthodontic treatment. Because preadolescent kids are typically not self-conscious, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists suggest it could be a good idea to start early.

Experts, however, say it depends on the treatment required. Some children who get braces at an early age end up in a second phase of treatment, and end up having braces well into their teenage years despite starting young.

Most orthodontic treatment begins between ages nine and 14, and the folks at AAO estimate most orthodontic treatment lasts from one to three years, with two years being the average. It’s important, however, that children be screened no later than age seven for Dr. Tina Siu to assess what the best age for treatment is.

Our staff hope this helps! Give us a call at 626-796-0615 if you have any questions about your child’s treatment or to schedule a complimentary orthodontic consultation! Enjoy your weekend!

Summer health tips from Dr. Siu

School is out for many and summertime is here! We're all ready for a break from the regular schedule and whether you go on a long trip or a short one, be sure to bring your traveling toothbrush and toothpaste along! Dr. Siu has a great toothbrush that allows you to store your toothpaste in the handle! Be sure to pick one up for your next vacation. It's very handy.

Flossing with braces can be difficult on the road or at home.Superfloss works well if you are looking for something to buy at the pharmacy or come by the office to get other tools that make flossing with braces easier.

The main thing you want to be sure to do is to brush for at least two minutes and to concentrate your efforts on the tooth surfaces near your gums. This is the place that plaque builds up the most and can be harmful to your teeth and gums. So, on the upper teeth, brush above the braces near the gums and on the lower teeth brush below the braces near the gums. Give it a good scrub all around and try to push the bristles between the teeth and under the wires. Finally, rinse thoroughly and use those cheek muscles to push the water around and get all the bits and pieces out from between your teeth and braces.

Ahhhh...doesn't it feel good to have clean teeth?!! Love that feeling!

Happy Independence Day weekend!

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!

Uh-oh! Trouble flossing with braces!

Here is one of wonderful patients at Siu Orthodontics, who ran into some trouble flossing the other day. Dr. Siu and team know it can be difficult to floss with braces, but hey, at least he's trying! :)

With Siu Orthodontics, access to your account any day, any time!

At Siu Orthodontics, we embrace new technology, whether it is through the innovative orthodontic treatments that Dr. Tina Siu offers, our high-tech web site and social networks, or our modern office conveniently located in San Marino and serving Arcadia and South Pasadena.

Did you know that patients at our office have access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week—all through our website? You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, from the comfort of your own home, which is especially helpful during the holidays! And, because we know folks sometimes forget, you can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

You, too, can sign up for this convenient service on our website by clicking on the "Patient Login" button at the top of our homepage. Please give us a call if you have any questions about getting started or ask Dr. Siu on Facebook!

Share your summer adventures with Dr. Siu!

At Siu Orthodontics, we just can't believe it's already June. As the school year comes to an end for a lot of Dr. Siu's patients, the days get longer and the temperatures begin to climb, there’s no better way to beat the heat than jump into a pool or cool off under the shade with a beverage. For a lot of our patients, summer brings a chance to get away from it all and escape every-day life, if only for a week or two. For others, it means a season of relaxation and relief from homework and other duties.

What about you?

What are your plans for summer? Do you have any interesting plans for a summer vacation? Does your family have a vacation or family reunion planned? We want to see when and how you are all spending your summer vacations. If you’re going somewhere exotic, fantastic! If you're going camping under the California sun, awesome! Even if you're staying at home, we know that can be fun, too.

Please feel free to share your summer plans and experiences with us on our Facebook page as the summer rolls along!

Smile! June is National Smile Month!

Now that June is here, our team at Siu Orthodontics thought we’d tell you June is National Smile Month, and a good time to remind all our patients to practice good oral hygiene between your visits to our San Marino office, as well as your general dentist.

Below are a few simple steps you can take to improve your oral health so that you may celebrate National Smile Month for many, many years to come:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
* Floss everyday to clean between your teeth and braces.
* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks during your orthodontic treatment
* Visit your dentist regularly (every 6 months or as recommended by your dentist)!

If you have questions about any of these tips, we encourage you to give us a call, ask Dr. Siu during your next visit or ask us on Facebook!

What would Dr. Siu’s dream job be?

At Siu Orthodontics, our job is providing excellent orthodontic treatment in a friendly and professional environment. We are dedicated to the comfort, well-being, and complete satisfaction of every patient that comes into our office.

But let’s say Dr. Siu's profession wasn’t in orthodontics.

Dr. Siu was recently asked, “Is there a profession or a job you’ve always wanted? Which job would you like to experience, if only for a day? Why?”

Here is her response!

There are a few things I would consider if I was not an orthodontist. I'm not sure I would be any good at it, but I do love to cook and it would be fun to be a caterer. I wouldn't want to be a chef in a restaurant, that's too much pressure! But to cook for small dinner parties might be fun. At least I would love to go take a formal cooking class to learn how to make fantastic food.

Secondly, I always thought I would be a good handyman if I had some training. I love watching the plumber or the electrician or carpenter come and figure out how to fix things in my office. I like problem solving and am so happy when I figure it out for myself! Seems like you just need a little know how and the right tools and you can fix almost anything!

I wish I could play golf well enough to make money doing it but alas, the game is much harder under pressure! I'll leave that to the professionals and just have a fun game with my husband or my girlfriends!

Love your smile? Tell the world ALL ABOUT IT!

Serving San Marino, Arcadia, and South Pasadena, Dr. Tina Siu and our team provide excellent orthodontic treatment in a friendly and professional environment. We are dedicated to the comfort, well-being, and complete satisfaction of every patient that comes into our office.

Whether you've visited Siu Orthodontics for a week or months, we'd love to hear your feedback about how our practice is faring during your orthodontic treatment! There are lots of ways you can share your thoughts with the rest of the world, but we encourage you to head to our Google Places page and write a review there. Or, you may review us on Yelp if you wish. After all, reviews help Dr. Siu and team create more beautiful smiles!

You may write a review here. Thanks in advance and enjoy your week! Dr. Siu and team look forward to reading your reviews in our community!

May marks National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

Did you know the month of May is designated National Physical Fitness and Sports Month? In 1983, President Ronald Reagan encouraged Americans to incorporate more physical activity into their lives, and the reminder is even more significant in this day and age, as kids everywhere are distracted more and more by television, social networking and video games. Kids living an active lifestyle can improve their health, productivity and overall well-being, and best of all? It doesn’t have to take a lot of time!

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has provided these public health guidelines for your convenience. The guidelines call for children and teens to exercise for at least one hour each day of moderate intensity physical activity (such as playing sports or brisk walking) or one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous activity (jogging, dancing and jumping rope).

At Siu Orthodontics, we always encourage our patients to stay fit by exercising or participating in sports. However, we want to remind you to always wear a mouth guard or other forms of facial protection when playing sports. To learn more about how often your child should exercise, we recommend you check out this series of helpful articles about kids and exercise, courtesy of our friends at KidsHealth.org.

Braces 101 with Siu Orthodontics

If you ever sustain damage to your braces and need to call Siu Orthodontics, we can help you more effectively if you can tell us exactly which piece is in trouble! Here’s a handy diagram and corresponding list of all the parts that make up your braces.

Elastic Tie: Tiny rubber band that fits around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Archwire: The main wire that acts as a track to guide the teeth along. It's changed periodically throughout treatment, as teeth move to their new positions.

Loop in Archwire: Frequently used for closing space left by an extraction. Many archwires don't have a loop.

Bracket: Small attachment that holds the archwire in place. Most often, a bracket is cemented directly onto the tooth's surface, eliminating the need for a band.

Headgear Tube: Round, hollow attachment on the back bands. The inner bow of the headgear fits into it.

Coil Spring: Fits between brackets and over archwire to open space between teeth.

Tie Wire: Fine wire that is twisted around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Band: A thin ring of metal fitted around a tooth and cemented in place. The band provides a way to attach the brackets to the tooth.

Hook: Welded or removable arm to which elastics (rubber bands) are attached.

Elastic (Rubber Band): Small rubber band that is hooked between different points on the appliance to provide pressure to move the teeth.

Hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions!

How do we "Go Green" at Siu Orthodontics?

Our team at Siu Orthodontics know that we are living in an age when more and more people have a renewed commitment to conservation, and are frequently reminded to recycle, reduce and reuse. We, too, have taken steps to make our office more environmentally-friendly.

We have a digital X-ray machine that our registered dental assistants can take wonderful radiographs with - the results are instant and are on the computer and in our patients' files quickly and easily. These digital radiographs can be sent by our front office, Kathy, to the patient's dentist or oral surgeon by email as well.

In addition, using the digital radiographs keeps us from creating hazardous waste with developer and fixer when developing hard copy radiographs. The computer treatment records have been a great way to go green at our office as well. And no more treatment cards to lose! We back up our system daily so we know we will have our patients records available no matter what happens. The treatment chart is also connected to the photos, radiographs and all correspondence related to our patient that is scanned into the computer.

Lastly, we offer patients access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week? Our office has convenient and secure online services with Sesame 24-7™. Patients can also receive appointment reminders through email or text messages. Since this information is submitted electronically, we eliminate the use of large amounts of paper and printing materials.

You, too, can sign up for this convenient service on our website by clicking on the "Patient Login" button on our homepage.

Ask Dr. Siu: “I’m 31 – am I too old for braces?”

Absolutely not.

In fact, our staff at Siu Orthodontics read a fascinating statistic recently: the number of adults getting braces has actually jumped 24 percent since 1996! It's true that braces help make your pearly whites strong, healthy and perfectly-aligned, but perhaps another reason for the spike in adult braces is this: people want to look and feel great.

In an age—and society—where looks matter as much as anything, and at a time when evenly-aligned teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing—wisely—to invest in orthodontics. Treatment with Dr. Tina Siu can be successful at any age, and we know that adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful and healthy smile.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, Dr. Siu would love to have you visit for a consultation! Please give us a call to set one up!

Dr. Siu's office has had a facelift!

Dr. Siu's office has had a facelift! We remodeled our office with new chairs in the reception room, as well as new lighting above the receptionist's (Kathy's) desk. We also have a new lamp in the reception room and added more lighting in that area.

The wood was painted with a blue wash, which gives us a warm and beautiful feel. The underwater photos were re-matted and framed for a new look. Finally, there is new wallpaper in the back office as well that brightens up the rooms.

At Siu Orthodontics, we provide excellent orthodontic treatment in a friendly and professional environment. We are dedicated to the comfort, well-being, and complete satisfaction of every patient that comes into our office. Stop by for a tour or schedule your complimentary orthodontic consultation. We look forward to meeting you and your family and helping you achieve a beautiful smile that last a lifetime!

Connect with Siu Orthodontics on Facebook!

At Siu Orthodontics, we are dedicated to the comfort, well-being, and complete satisfaction of every patient that comes into our office. Dr. Siu and our staff also value the relationships we have developed with our patients in San Marino, Arcadia, Pasadena and surrounding communities. Even if you only see us for your appointment on a regular basis, did you know that you can now connect with Dr. Siu and team on our Facebook page?

We invite you to “like” us at Facebook.com/SiuOrthodontics. There, we share office news and updates on our Fan Page, so check it out! By Liking our page, you will receive updates from our office automatically in your news feed!

See you on Facebook and have a great rest of the weekend,

- Dr. Siu and staff

Play it safe this spring, from Dr. Siu

With spring here, many children, teens and adults, as well as a lot of patients at our office, will once again pick up the ball and bring the bat out of seasonal retirement.

So, today, Dr. Tina Siu and our dedicated team urge our young athletes to play it safe when out on the field. According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, children, high-school athletes and adults will have more than 5,000,000 teeth knocked out in sporting events this year.

Here are a few ways to ensure your mouth’s safety this spring, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists:

1. Wear mouth guards for contact sports such as baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse.
2. Wear a helmet
3. Wear protective eyewear
4. Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
5. Be alert, even as a spectator

We hope that helps. Protective gear is vital for anyone engaging in tooth or mouth-threatening activities. If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact Siu Orthodontics or ask Dr. Siu on Facebook.

Stay safe and have fun!

What's going on at Siu Orthodontics?

Dr. Tina Siu has decided to create a team for Making Strides for Breast Cancer walk on May 1st. We have brochures here in the office and will be trying to get people to donate to our Team Smiles to raise money for the American Cancer Society and Breast Cancer Research.

Secondly, we recently re-modeled and updated our office to continue providing excellent orthodontic treatment in a friendly and professional environment.

Lastly, Dr. Siu recently hosted a dental health screening for the Young and Healthy organization in Pasadena. Dr. Siu screened all the kindergarten classes at a school in Pasadena—it was great fun and very rewarding. The kids were excited about having their teeth checked!

For more info on all the happenings in the office, we invite you to connect with Dr. Siu on Facebook!

Ask Dr. Siu: Who benefits from braces?

Braces aren’t just for pre-adolescents and teenagers anymore! Dr. Tina Siu will tell you that anyone, at any age, can benefit from orthodontic treatment, whether it’s correcting a problem not treated in your younger years, or catching a problem early.

To ensure the best overall treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, recommends that children receive an orthodontic consultation as early as age seven. If a problem is evident, taking action early with Siu Orthodontics can spare a lot of treatment and expense down the road.

If you never received orthodontic treatment when you were young, don’t worry! You’re never too old for a beautiful smile at Siu Orthodontics. Set up an appointment for a free consultation with Dr. Siu at our San Marino, CA office and find out how orthodontics will transform your smile, as well as your life!

See you soon!

Invisalign patient testimonial [Video]

Dr. Tina Siu and team came across this video recently and realized that it's just what folks considering Invisalign need to see. Invisalign gets a ton of promotion online (including here on our blog), but people rarely get the see a clear cut, unbiased, point of view from someone who actually has chosen to straighten their teeth with Invisalign.

At Siu Orthodontics, we get quite a lot of requests for Invisalign. We always let our patients know about the stages of Invisalign, as well as how one might first react to it. But, to hear it from someone actually wearing these clear aligners is really something else.

Check out this video of a patient who has been wearing her aligners for only 10 minutes! Because they’re clear, your teeth will be steadily straightening – and no one will know it but you! Please give us a call to set up a complimentary initial consultation, so Dr. Siu can discuss the specifics of your treatment.

Because they’re clear, your teeth will be steadily straightening – and no one will know it but you! Please give us a call to set up a complimentary orthodontic consultation, so we can discuss the specifics of your treatment. Dr. Siu is a Certified Invisalign Provider in San Marino and Pasadena.

Presidents' Day Fun Facts!

Today marks Presidents’ Day, a day known for celebrating both George Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s combined February birthdays. Presidents’ Day was created in 1971, when President Richard Nixon combined the birthdays of two of our most well-known presidents into one single federal holiday. Presidents’ Day also marks a hard-earned day off from work and school for a lot of our patients at Siu Orthodontics.

Here are a few fun facts about our nation’s presidents we thought you might enjoy:

*Ulysses S. Grant, our 18th president, got a speeding ticket ... on a horse. Grant was given a $20 speeding ticket for riding his horse too fast down a Washington street.

*George Washington is the first president to be featured on a postage stamp.

*President Obama collects "Spiderman" and "Conan The Barbarian" comic books, and has even read every "Harry Potter" book.

*Ronald Reagan, our 40th president, broke the so-called “20-year curse,” in which every president elected in a year ending in 0 died in office.

*Harry S. Truman was the first president to have his Inauguration and speeches televised.

*Not only was James A. Garfield the first president to be ambidextrous, but it was said he could write a sentence in Latin with one hand and write it in Greek with the other hand.

*Fourteen presidents served as vice presidents: J. Adams, Jefferson, Van Buren, Tyler, Fillmore, A. Johnson, Arthur, T. Roosevelt, Coolidge, Truman, Nixon, L. Johnson, Ford, and George H.W. Bush.

*Abraham Lincoln was the tallest of the U.S. presidents measuring 6’ 4” tall.

*Virginia is the birthplace of more United States presidents than any other state, followed by Ohio and Massachusetts.

Love your smile? Tell the world about it!

Serving San Marino, Arcadia, and South Pasadena, Dr. Tina Siu and our team provide excellent orthodontic treatment in a friendly and professional environment. We are dedicated to the comfort, well-being, and complete satisfaction of every patient that comes into our office.

Whether you've visited Siu Orthodontics for a week or months, we'd love to hear your feedback about how our practice is faring during your orthodontic treatment! There are lots of ways you can share your thoughts with the rest of the world, but we encourage you to head to our Google Local page and write a review there. Or, you may review us on Yelp if you wish. After all, reviews help Dr. Siu and team create more beautiful smiles!

You may write a review here. Thanks in advance and enjoy your week! Dr. Siu and team look forward to reading your reviews in our community!

Complimentary Consultations at Siu Orthodontics

At Siu Orthodontics, we provide excellent orthodontic treatment in a friendly and professional environment. We are dedicated to the comfort, well-being, and complete satisfaction of every patient that comes into our office. Our focus is on patient comfort and efficient treatment results.

One of our commitments is meeting with you to help you explore all or the options available to you or your child. We offer complimentary consultations for those interested in orthodontic treatment. During this time, you'll have time reserved with Dr. Tina Siu, who will assess your particular needs as well as discuss treatment options available and answer any questions you may have. We place a high value on making sure you have complete information before beginning treatment.

If you have been thinking about obtaining the dazzling smile you’ve always wanted, we invite you to give a call at 626-796-0615. Serving San Marino, Arcadia, and South Pasadena, CA, Dr. Siu is your orthodontic specialist, offering Invisalign and braces for children, teens, and adults.

See you soon!

- The team at Siu Orthodontics

February Marks National Children's Dental Health Month

At Siu Orthodontics, February is National Children's Dental Health Month, and Dr. Tina Siu and team thought we’d promote good oral hygiene among our patients with a few tips and tricks, courtesy of the American Dental Association.

• Teeth brushing techniques: It takes only two minutes to properly brush using short, gentle strokes and devoting extra attention to the gumline, areas around fillings and hard-to-reach areas such as the back teeth.

• Flossing: hold the floss snugly between thumbs and index finger and insert it between each of the teeth, making sure to go beneath the gumline and curving the floss around the base of each tooth.

• Snack wisely: choose healthy snacks such as cheese, fruits and vegetables and avoid crunchy, sticky, chewy candies that can stick to the teeth. If you eat these snacks, be sure to brush after doing so.

• Carbonated or sugary drinks: these drinks create acids that can damage the teeth when mixed with saliva, so they should be avoided altogether. If you’re going to drink one of these beverages, don’t sip on it throughout the day. Rather, drink it and then brush your teeth.

• Regular dental visits: in addition to seeing our team at Siu Orthodontics during your orthodontic treatment, you should visit your dentist for professional check-ups and teeth cleaning appointments about every six months.

National Dental Health Month aims to increase awareness about the importance of our patients' oral health. If you have any questions about keeping your mouth healthy, or about your treatment with Siu Orthodontics, please feel free to give us a call or ask us on Facebook!

Ask Dr. Siu: When Are Two Phases of Treatment Necessary?

Thank you for the question. Usually patients in treatment at Siu Orthodontics already have their permanent teeth – they are pre-teens, teens and adults. But in some cases our team at Siu Orthodontics have to start treatment earlier, even before the patient’s permanent teeth come in. We call this “two-phase treatment.”

When Dr. Tina Siu has patients with clear developmental problems at an early age, it’s best to start work when they are young, before the problems get bigger and more difficult to treat.

Examples include:
•An upper or lower jaw that is not growing correctly
•A mouth growing in a way that doesn’t leave enough room for all the permanent teeth to come in
•A severe malocclusion, or bad bite, which means the jaw doesn’t fit together correctly

In these cases we will start early and do one round of treatment – phase one – while the patient still has their baby teeth. Phase one usually does not involve braces, but can include a different type of appliance that helps the jaw grow into place properly. We’ll follow up with phase two usually a few years later, when permanent teeth are in place. Generally phase two involves standard braces.

In order to catch early problems, we recommend that children have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven (and so does the American Association of Orthodontics). However, if your dentist or pediatrician sees any sign that early treatment might be necessary, he or she may recommend your child visit Dr. Siu's office even sooner.

We hope this helps! Please give us a call if you have any questions or ask Dr. Siu on Facebook!