Our Blog

Parent’s Point of View 

Consistency. Commitment. People. 

It’s April 2020. At some point, we will look back at where we are and wonder how we adjusted to a life of quarantine. It has been an adjustment for everyone and we have had to adapt with immediacy and flexibility. 

What has been most admirable is how organizations and businesses have adjusted without missing a beat; and how people take care of others while going through this life changing circumstance.   

What we have experienced with Kubo Orthodontics has been a seamless, consistent, and reassuring process. Even through quarantine when we have had to abide by mandated social distancing guidelines, we have been continuing on, just differently. 

Although meeting face to face for our regularly scheduled appointment was not an option, this did not interfere with progress. There was a commitment to meet the needs of clients and maintain consistency for clients and staff. The landscape shifted, and there were immediate adjustments; but there was a reassuring calm throughout. 

Staff continued to offer professionalism through their communication. Appointments were put on hold until further notice, and questions were answered clearly and efficiently. Going above and beyond was the standard. There was a commitment to continue forward progress through our Invisalign experience. 

When it was time to receive our next set, as a city mandate, we were still in shelter in place status. Going in for our typical appointment was not an option. Instead, a curbside pick-up was offered. This was efficient and a relief as we did not want our progress to be stalled. 

Beyond the curbside pick-up, an option to have a personal consultation through Zoom was offered. The use of technology has been impressive through this process. From start to finish, technology has been an essential and effective element. This unique type of consultation demonstrated commitment and consistent focus to offer solutions to continue progress. 

Everyone has had to adjust. Adjustments can be challenging when it is different from what we normally expect. But through all of these changes, there has been a commitment to offering services in a different manner, consistency in professionalism, and a remarkable priority of taking care of one another during these uncertain times. This has become much more than straightening teeth; this quarantine has been a test of how we handle adversity.   

Essential has been a key word emphasized during quarantine. Sometimes we cannot measure how essential it is to take care of one another especially when we are in lock down. How we take care of one another shows who we are and what we stand for. 

Liao Company is a Central Valley Company which offers content marketing for organizations, businesses, and corporations. www.liaocompany.com liaocompany@gmail.com 

Teenager’s Point of View 

A person that loves their smile stands a little more confident; smile every once in a while, it might make someone’s day a little brighter. 

I hope you all are staying healthy. This whole quarantine is crazy. I have been staying healthy, washing my hands, and still praying for those in need. Since my last entry, things have been pretty normal considering it still feels like an early summer now with summer homework. 

I’ve gone to the beach a couple times and I still see people around, but I see masks and it just reminds me that we are still in a big situation and it’s no time to mess around. 

Anyway, my teeth are still getting straighter by the minute. My mom just went to go get another set of retainers and came back with amazing news. I only have one more after my next retainer change; which means only two more weeks and then I’m done changing retainers. 

It feels good to see the end of the road and I feel like I am proud of my teeth and the way they look; and I thank Dr. Kubo and his team for helping me get here. Thank you for making our smiles and everyone else’s smile prettier. 

We could all use a friendly smile at a time like this. Dr. Kubo and his team work hard to make sure that everyone is satisfied with their smile; and I think a person that loves their smile stands a little more confident. 

Dr. Kubo and his team help a lot more people then they think; not just with their smile physically but their smile mentally and that is something big. When someone likes their smile it helps a little with confidence, and that is a good thing especially when you’re a teenager. 

So a big, big thank you to all the people that work for Kubo Orthodontics and of course Dr. Kubo himself. 

Stay safe everyone; enjoy the times you have together, and smile every once in a while, it might make someone’s day a little brighter.

Although teeth seem to be solidly fixed in their sockets (at least they don’t wobble when we chew!), all teeth can easily be moved if Dr. Robert Kubo and Dr. James Kubo and our staff attach brackets and wires to them called braces. In the past, all braces were made of stainless steel, but today’s advanced dental technology gives people the option of wearing transparent, acrylic mouth trays called Invisalign®, or relying on traditional metal braces for correcting malocclusions.

Brackets, Slots, and Arch Wires – Oh My!

When light pressure is consistently exerted on teeth, they will gradually move in the direction of the force. For example, affixing brackets to front teeth and threading a flexible, metal wire through tiny slots on the front of the brackets allows the orthodontist to tighten this arch wire enough to initiate desired movement of teeth. Generally, orthodontic patients visit Kubo Orthodontic Group once a month to have this wire tightened to keep teeth moving in the desired direction.

Tissues surrounding the teeth that experience pressure from arch wires will slowly (and, for the most part, painlessly) stretch, and allow the socket to enlarge so the tooth and its root become looser temporarily. This allows the root to move without causing bleeding or pain. Once Dr. Robert Kubo and Dr. James Kubo and our staff are satisfied with the repositioning of teeth, we will remove the braces and let bone material fill in the socket so that teeth are solidified into their new (and straighter) positions.

Clear Braces vs. Traditional Braces

Both types of orthodontic corrective devices move teeth in the same manner: by applying a continual force against teeth. Clear aligners, like Invisalign, are mouth trays made of hard acrylic material that people wear for at least 23 hours a day. Unlike metal braces, Invisalign can be removed for eating and brushing purposes and the aligners are nearly invisible because of their transparency.

Invisalign aligners are usually reserved for people with gaps between their teeth or whose teeth are only slightly crooked. Traditional metal braces are often necessary when severe malocclusion exists and requires more pressure than Invisalign offers.

Parent’s Point of View 

Engineering and Design – Product. Process. Progress. 

Engineering and product design is fascinating. As a family of engineers, it is interesting to observe and analyze the engineering and design of products; this includes Invisalign. Most people do not pay much attention; but when you invest a substantial amount of hard-earned funds into braces, retainers, or Invisalign, it is always good to know what you are getting. 

I did not know what to expect with Invisalign. I had researched the product but until I saw my first set, it was like a blind date; I did not know what to expect. When I held my first set in my hand, my first impression was the sturdiness of the trays. And when Dr. Kubo placed them on my teeth, they fit like a glove. 

The glove is tight and form fitting, but this is only way to reach the goal of straight teeth. From an aesthetic point of view, no one really notices them. They don’t modify appearance much. They do modify speech, but it simply takes time to get used to talking with them. They do modify daily habits; you get used to having to take them off, eat, and put them back on. They limit my ability to snack because I don’t want to go through the off, rinse, and back on process; but that is not such a bad thing. It’s actually a very good thing. Over all, my attention to my general health and oral hygiene has been more of a priority, which is a good thing. 

Back to the design of the product. The engineering of the trays is solid. The materials are strong and made with precision. The process of producing the tray by scan is efficient and the trays are customized. The tray was much stronger than I anticipated; sturdy and designed for each individual. 

You can see the shift with each tray. As each week passes and I change my tray, the alignment of my teeth improve. The trays reflect the weekly progress. When I peeked ahead at a tray 4 weeks ahead, the tray was closer to being straight. This was the visual I needed to keep going; it’s always nice to see the end goal. The progress is gradual, and the shift is healthy. There is a level of uncomfortableness, but it’s just like the glove is tighter. You get used to it until the next set. Then it may get tight again, but it is worth it. 

Through research and discovery, there are many products out there. After holding my Invisalign and wearing them on my teeth for 8 weeks into the process; I am impressed with the product, the process, and am seeing results. 

We are all stewards of our finances; and as we invest in our orthodontic care, it is a good feeling to know the product we choose is what is best for our children and ourselves. Discovering what is the best product and process is essential. The effort, time and financial investment is worth it.   

We are worth it. The product is worth it. The effort is worth it. 

Liao Company is a Central Valley Company which offers content marketing for organizations, businesses, and corporations. www.liaocompany.com liaocompany@gmail.com 

Teenager’s Point of View 

Quarantine. Missing happy normal smiles. 

Ah the quarantine. Yes, it has affected us all. I am still in shock that it has happened and is still continuing. Everything is surreal in my mind; I cannot wrap around the idea that people all over the world and their families are struggling through this horrible time. My heart and prayers go to everyone going through it. 

My experience through this has been pretty normal. At first, it did not feel much different from a normal break. It was kind of like spring break came early and we just got an extra week off. Then after spring break ended, I feel like it has been different. I know stores are only letting a certain amount of people in. I know that everyone is exhausted of staying inside and not being able to see friends or socialize. I mean, I get it; I am too. 

I would even say I miss school a lot. Being without school has made me realize how much I miss it. I cannot imagine how it is affecting parents and adults. I have heard that many companies cannot afford to have workers anymore so parents of children, college students, and others are losing their jobs to this terrible incident. 

I know Dr. Kubo is taking great care of his co-workers and is still in business. This makes me happy knowing that there are still places that are still working around this situation they were put in; and still doing their job. I know it is hard, but I think they are doing a great job. 

For a time, I had to wear the same retainers because Dr. Kubo was trying to figure a way around all of this. Eventually, he came up with a curbside pick-up and is just having customers pick up their next set of Invisalign by driving by and getting what they need. This is very efficient and I think it can work well for the clients; it has worked well for my mom and me. 

Once I got my new set it was like back to normal. I change them and keep them clean; then change them the next week. I am sad that I did not get to see any of the normal happy smiles I usually see in the office, but I know they are working through this to provide for their own families and make the best of this quarantine life.

The idea for Earth Day was the brainchild of Gaylord Nelson, a senator from Wisconsin. He envisioned an Earth Day that would be a kind of environmental teach-in. The first Earth Day celebration took place on April 22, 1970, and a surprising 20 million people participated on that day. Ultimately, it became the largest organized celebration in US history.

Earth Day Over the Years

Over the years, the recognition of the day, and the number of people celebrating it all over the world, turned Earth Day into an international celebration. Because it is celebrated throughout the world, it is not only the largest international environmental observation, but it is also more widely celebrated than any other environmental event in the world. Today, Earth Day is celebrated in 175 countries where over 500 million people participate in celebrations.

The Earth Day Movement

The Earth Day movement is credited with developing the idea that people should “think green”. It encouraged congress to enact laws, including one that resulted in the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. It also inspired the passage of the Endangered Species Act.

The Five R's and Their Importance

• Reduce – Reduce by avoiding unnecessary purchases. Reduce your use of materials that wind up in landfills. Reduce the use of chemicals around your house. Reduce your use of disposable bags, plates, cups, eating utensils, and batteries.
• Reuse – Instead of using plastic bags for your groceries or purchases, bring your own reusable bags. When you go to buy coffee at Starbucks, take a travel mug so you don't have to get your coffee in a disposable paper cup. Instead of storing food in disposable refrigerator containers, buy containers that can be washed and reused. Don't use regular batteries. Whenever possible, opt for rechargeable batteries that you can reuse.
• Recycle – Most cities offer a recycling program to collect used bottles, cans, and newspapers. Recycling includes collecting recyclable materials that would otherwise be considered waste, sorting and processing recyclables into raw materials such as fibers and manufacturing raw materials into new products.
• Re-buy – Make an effort to purchase things that are made through recycling. When purchasing furniture, look for items that are made from reclaimed wood. When buying paper for kids school work, computer printer paper, holiday cards, or anything else, make a point of purchasing recycled paper products. Instead of buying clothing at full retail price, shop for second hand clothing. You will save a lot of money by doing so!
• Rethink – Rethink the way you do things so that you do them in an eco-conscious way at all times. Instead of driving to work alone, consider taking the bus or going in a carpool. Walk or ride your bike when you're only going a short distance. Plan your shopping trips and errand runs so that you can do everything on one day, and do it in a way where you can save time and gas.

Other ways to "think green" include growing your own food, composting yard waste and food scraps, or by participating in local recycling programs. Join a group like Freecycle so you can share your unneeded and unwanted possessions with people who can use them. Likewise, you'll be able to get things you need or want for free.

Earth Day teaches people that the planet belongs to everyone, so everyone is equally responsible for protecting it. Although Earth Day is an environmental celebration, our team at Kubo Orthodontic Group wants to remind you that you don't have to wait until then to make changes that will allow you and your family to live a greener life.

Happy Earth Day from the team at Kubo Orthodontic Group.