The Dr. Hong Orthodontics Blog http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog The blog of Dr. Justin Hong - Orthodontist serving Orange & Irvine, California (CA) Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:47:28 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 Distinguishing the myths and facts about orthodontics, from Dr. Hong http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/12/distinguishing-the-myths-and-facts-about-orthodontics-from-dr-hong/ http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/12/distinguishing-the-myths-and-facts-about-orthodontics-from-dr-hong/#comments Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:47:28 +0000 mynetworks0832@sesamesearch.com http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/?p=105 Trust us when we say Dr. Hong and our staff know there are quite a few myths about orthodontics (and orthodontists) floating around these days. But before you buy into those myths, we think you should get the facts! Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists set the record straight (no pun intended) and have provided some information that sheds some light on the myths and facts of orthodontics. We encourage you to check them out today!

If you have any questions about orthodontics or your treatment here at Dr. Hong Orthodontics, feel free to give us a call.

]]> http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/12/distinguishing-the-myths-and-facts-about-orthodontics-from-dr-hong/feed/ 0 Season’s Greeting from Dr. Hong Orthodontics http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/12/seasons-greeting-from-dr-hong-orthodontics/ http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/12/seasons-greeting-from-dr-hong-orthodontics/#comments Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:40:54 +0000 mynetworks0832@sesamesearch.com http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/?p=102
In this season given to tidings of comfort and joy, and as our team at Dr. Hong Orthodontics 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!

–Dr. Hong and team

]]> http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/12/seasons-greeting-from-dr-hong-orthodontics/feed/ 0 Emergency care with Dr. Hong Orthodontics http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/12/emergency-care-with-dr-hong-orthodontics/ http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/12/emergency-care-with-dr-hong-orthodontics/#comments Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:28:23 +0000 mynetworks0832@sesamesearch.com http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/?p=98 At Dr. Hong Orthodontics, we know orthodontic emergencies are never convenient nor timely. If you are a patient of record, Dr. Justin Hong and our team are committed to your dental health and are more than willing to see you after hours or over the weekend. As a general rule, you should call the 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. If you have a orthodontic emergency after regular office hours, please give us a call. If you are calling us after hours, please follow the emergency prompts to learn how you may be able to solve the problem yourself, or, if you cannot, how to contact Dr. Hong and team.

Common issues include:
*Broken Brace
*Broken Wires
*Tie has come off of a Brace
*Loose Expander
*Poking Wire Tie
*Sharpness Felt on the Tongue Side of a Brace
*Loss of a Separator
*Initial Soreness
*Wire Poking

You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you visit our office.

]]> http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/12/emergency-care-with-dr-hong-orthodontics/feed/ 0 Have you had your check-up lately? http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/12/have-you-had-your-check-up-lately/ http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/12/have-you-had-your-check-up-lately/#comments Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:17:37 +0000 mynetworks0832@sesamesearch.com http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/?p=95 Even if you brush and floss daily, as well as maintain your braces it is still important to visit your local dentist every 6 months, or as recommended. Why?

• Your dentist can detect and treat tooth and gum problems that you may have never felt or noticed.
• Even thorough daily oral care may not be enough to prevent cavities and oral decay.
• Frequent visits can allow your dentist to treat a problem early to prevent future complications.

If you have not visited a dentist in the past six months, please let us know! Dr. Justin Hong will be happy to provide a few great references here in the area!

– Dr. Justin Hong & Team

]]> http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/12/have-you-had-your-check-up-lately/feed/ 0 Only a few weeks left for our Smile Contest! http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/12/only-a-few-weeks-left-for-our-smile-contest/ http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/12/only-a-few-weeks-left-for-our-smile-contest/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:47:59 +0000 mynetworks0832@sesamesearch.com http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/?p=91

Dr. Justin Hong is enjoying all the pictures of patients being uploaded to our special Smile Contest 2011 album on our Facebook wall! Keep those coming!

Remember, you only have a few weeks left until December 15, 2011 to “like” your favorite picture and help that patient win an iPod Nano!

If you have questions or would like to include a special Smile Contest image of your own, be sure to call us or contact us on Facebook. We look forward to seeing your smiles!

]]> http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/12/only-a-few-weeks-left-for-our-smile-contest/feed/ 0 Giving thanks this holiday season http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/11/giving-thanks-this-holiday-season/ http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/11/giving-thanks-this-holiday-season/#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:46:08 +0000 mynetworks0832@sesamesearch.com http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/?p=88 With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season knocking at our door, Dr. Hong and our entire staff 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.

]]> http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/11/giving-thanks-this-holiday-season/feed/ 0 Ask Dr. Hong: “How can Invisalign improve my oral health?” http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/11/ask-dr-hong-how-can-invisalign-improve-my-oral-health/ http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/11/ask-dr-hong-how-can-invisalign-improve-my-oral-health/#comments Fri, 18 Nov 2011 22:19:08 +0000 mynetworks0832@sesamesearch.com http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/?p=84 When considering treatment options, patients often ask us how Invisalign treatment is so different than traditional braces. Well, there are more reasons to smile about Invisalign with Dr. Hong Orthodontics than you may know. Invisalign is a series of removable aligners that are nearly invisible, and besides straightening your teeth, can improve your oral health. Here’s how:

Healthy Gums: Straight teeth allow a close fit for gums. This lessens the gum stress that is caused by crowded or widely spaced teeth, thus also reducing red and swollen gums.

Easy cleaning: Invisalign is removable, therefore brushing and flossing is easier and you are able to maintain a healthy mouth. These habits are vital to avoiding tooth decay, plaque and even gum disease.

Improved speech and chewing: Properly-aligned teeth don’t have the discomfort or compound speech impediments that can be caused by crowded teeth or a deteriorating jawbone.

If you have any questions about Invisalign, just ask Dr. Hong the next time you’re in for an appointment. Or, you may post your question on our Facebook page! You can also read this article for more information on Invisalign and your oral health.

]]> http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/11/ask-dr-hong-how-can-invisalign-improve-my-oral-health/feed/ 0 Show us your smile and win an iPod Nano! http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/11/show-us-your-smile-and-win-an-ipod-nano/ http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/11/show-us-your-smile-and-win-an-ipod-nano/#comments Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:10:59 +0000 mynetworks0832@sesamesearch.com http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/?p=77 Dr. Justin Hong knows a great smile is important to you and enjoys providing quality orthodontic treatments to his patients.

To celebrate your smile, we are running a Smile Contest from November 1 through December 15, 2011. Just post your best photo to our Facebook wall and have your friends ‘like’ your picture.

You’ll be entered to win cool prizes including an iPod Nano!

Give us a call if you have questions or stop by our Orange or Irvine offices. We look forward to seeing your gorgeous smiles!

]]> http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/11/show-us-your-smile-and-win-an-ipod-nano/feed/ 0 Breaking bad habits http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/11/breaking-bad-habits-2/ http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/11/breaking-bad-habits-2/#comments Wed, 02 Nov 2011 22:20:18 +0000 mynetworks0832@sesamesearch.com http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/?p=74 At Dr. Hong Orthodontics, we know good dental health requires only a few minutes a day. We thought we’d provide some practical advice on how to improve your or your child’s smile between your adjustment visits with Dr. Hong.

Start by brushing your teeth twice a day. Proper brushing techniques are an essential part of maintaining good oral health during your orthodontic treatment, as well as preventing gum disease. More care and time are needed to adequately brush your teeth when you are wearing braces. Brushing daily helps remove decay-causing plaque from tooth surfaces. Please consult Dr. Hong if you would like us to review brushing techniques with you or your child. The use of a mechanical toothbrush such as a Sonicare or Oral B can aid in removing plaque around braces. Flossing daily will also prevent plaque to build up between the teeth and prevent stains between your teeth. Research has shown the bacteria of gum disease has been linked to coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes and memory loss. Lastly, we encourage you to throw away old toothbrushes and replace them every 2 or 3 months, or after an illness.

We hope this helps! If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact Dr. Hong Orthodontics or ask your general dentist during your next scheduled visit! Or, ask us on Facebook!

]]> http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/11/breaking-bad-habits-2/feed/ 0 Halloween TIPS from the American Association of Orthodontists http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/10/halloween-tips-from-the-american-association-of-orthodontists/ http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/2011/10/halloween-tips-from-the-american-association-of-orthodontists/#comments Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:59:33 +0000 mynetworks0832@sesamesearch.com http://www.drjustinhong.com/blog/?p=70 It’s almost that spooky time of year again and Dr. Justin Hong and our team thought we’d share some Halloween tips from our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists.

Trick-or-treating safety guidelines:

• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult
• Carry a flashlight
• Wear a light-colored or reflective costume
• Choose face paint over masks for young ghosts and goblins
• Have an adult inspect all treats before the children dig in

To protect your braces, steer clear of the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients:

• All hard candies
• All chewy candies
• Caramel
• Nuts
• Licorice
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Bubblegum
• Popcorn (including unpopped kernels)
• Ice

Of course, Halloween does not have to be completely treat-less. Braces-friendly Halloween treats can help you enjoy the “spook-ta-cular” holiday. For example, plain chocolate candy is okay, provided you remember to brush and floss afterwards. Bobbing for apples as well as caramel apples are not recommended. However, you can enjoy thinly sliced apples, dipped in yogurt or creamy chocolate sauce.

Dr. Hong suggests looking for foods that are soft, such as soft chocolate that can melt in one’s mouth or peanut butter cups. Overall, candies that aren’t sticky, chewy, hard or crunchy are generally acceptable.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN from the entire team at Dr. Hong Orthodontics!

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