Connect with Dr. Yamada and BVO on Facebook!

At Buena Vista Orthodontics, we value the relationships we’ve developed with our patients over the years. Even if you visit our office on a regular basis, did you know you can always connect with Dr. Yamada on Facebook?

There, we share office news, updates and contest announcements, so check it out! By Liking our page, you will receive updates from our office automatically in your news feed!

See you on Facebook!

- Dr. Yamada & the BVO team

Complimentary Consultations at Buena Vista Orthodontics

At Buena Vista Orthodontics, we have a passion for excellence and are committed to achieving your orthodontic goals. Beautiful smiles, facial esthetics, a comfortable bite and long term dental health are some of the many benefits of orthodontic treatment. Dr. Merilynn Yamada combines her education at UCLA & UCSF with over 20 years of experience to give our patients something to smile about.

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 Drs. Yamada and Abbink, 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 our Burbank, CA office a call at (818) 846-3774.

See you soon!

- The team at BVO

Are you wearing your mouth guard?

At Buena Vista Orthodontics, we know spring sports are just around the corner, and we would like to remind our young athletes in treatment to take care of both your mouth and appliances while participating in contact sports (and non-contact sports) as well this spring. Dr. Yamada will tell you that only by using a mouth guard can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. And don't forget to ask us for a mouth guard - we will provide a mouth guard for anyone in active treatment!

If you have further questions or are ready to schedule your consultation, just give us a call at our Burbank office.

What are patients saying about Dr. Yamada and Buena Vista Orthodontics?

Once in a while, our staff at Buena Vista Orthodontics get patient reviews that make us really proud to do the work we do ever day: creating beautiful smiles for our patients in Burbank and surrounding communities. Check out what a few of our patients are saying!

"They made us feel comfortable from the moment we walked in." ~ Brittany G.

"Dr. Yamada is very friendly, thoroughly explains procedures, etc ... made what could have been an overwhelming experience great!" ~ Aysia R.

"Well recommended." ~ Shayna K.

"Daughter went to Dr. Yamada (finished 9 yrs. ago). The care hasn't changed. Very friendly staff. Easy to talk to and always with a smile!" ~ Michael N.

More than just a day off from school

In the 1950s and ’60s, civil rights champion Martin Luther King, Jr. recognized the need to bring about social justice, and worked tirelessly to instill tolerance in our nation, strengthen America’s communities and move the nation forward. This weekend, tens of thousands of people of all ages and races in Burbank, Los Angeles and across California will spend their time building, giving and renovating our communities to help celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. Do you have the day off on Monday? If so, what do you plan to do to help your local community?

We’d love to know about your activities and events this MLK Jr. Day. If you have any video or pictures you’d like to share, please pass them along! If you’re not sure how, give us a call!

Drs. Yamada, Abbink and our entire team at Buena Vista Orthodontics are proud of your work in our community!

Here comes the Braces Brigade!

At Buena Vista Orthodontics, we know our patients want to get as much out of their treatment as possible. That includes asking a lot of questions and making sure they take care of both their appliances and oral health.

Would you like to learn more about what to expect during orthodontic treatment, from someone with firsthand experience? Well, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recently developed the Braces Brigade blog, where past, present, as well as future orthodontic patients from coast to coast document their (or their child’s) orthodontic journeys. The blog will serve as a source of guidance for others as the patients undergo orthodontic care.

Our team at Buena Vista Orthodontics encourages you to visit the Braces Brigade blog to read these great and informative blogs—who knows, maybe you’ll learn a thing or two! As always, don’t hesitate to give us a call at our Burbank office if you have any questions about the Braces Brigade or your own orthodontic treatment with Drs. Yamada or Abbink!

What are cavities, and how do you avoid them while wearing braces?

At Buena Vista Orthodontics, we know one word nobody wants to hear when they visit their dentist is Cavity! That’s right, the dreaded cavity; but what exactly is a cavity and how do you get one? A cavity is a hole that develops in a tooth when the tooth begins to decay. It’s important to get a cavity filled as soon as it’s detected so that it does not grow bigger.

So, what causes a cavity? Well, a cavity is caused by plaque, a sticky substance that forms on the tooth as a result of germ and bacteria build-up. Plaque is acidic and as it clings to your teeth the acids eat away the outside of the tooth (also called the enamel) and a hole is formed.

Yes, cavities can be repaired by your general dentist, but here are a few simple steps you can take to prevent cavities while you’re wearing braces:

· Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice daily

· Gently brush your gums to keep them healthy (when choosing a toothbrush it is recommended to use soft bristles)

· Floss your teeth at least once a day to remove plaque and food that may be caught between the teeth and braces where your toothbrush can’t reach

· Limit the amount of soda and sugary treats you eat or drink

· Be sure to visit your dentist every six months for a teeth cleaning and check-up during your orthodontic treatment with Dr. Merilynn Yamada

We hope that helps! Give us a call to learn more about keeping your braces and oral health in tip-top shape! Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from all of us at Buena Vista Orthodontics!

2010 is almost over—and what a year it was at Buena Vista Orthodontics! Dr. Merilynn Yamada and our staff thought we’d ask: what was memorable about 2010 for you, and what are you most looking forward to in 2011? Do you have a new year's resolution, or any exciting plans for the coming year?

Have a safe and happy New Year, to all our patients, friends, family and all our dental and medical colleagues in Burbank and surrounding communities here in Los Angeles.

See you all in 2011!

When should you call Dr. Yamada and Buena Vista Orthodontics?

Thanks for the question. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have put together a helpful list that outlines when you should call Buena Vista Orthodontics. Here are some early warning signs indicating it’s time to check in with Dr. Yamada and team:

1. Early or late loss of baby teeth
2. Difficulty of chewing or biting
3. Mouth breathing
4. Finger sucking or other oral habits
5. Crowding, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
6. Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or retrude
7. Speech difficulty
8. Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
9. Protruding teeth
10. Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all
11. Facial imbalance or asymmetry
12. Grinding or clenching of teeth

Do any of these warning signs fit you? If so, give our Burbank office a call as soon as possible! Happy Holidays!

Season's greetings from Buena Vista Orthodontics!

In this season given to tidings of comfort and joy, and as our team at Buena Vista Orthodontics reflect on the year that was, we’d like to ask you, our great patients: What do you love about the holidays this year? Being with your loved ones? A clean slate for 2011? 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 here, or on our Facebook page, all the things you love about this time of year.

Happy Holidays from Drs. Yamada & Abbink and our entire staff!

What puts you at ease at Buena Vista Orthodontics?

Dr. Yamada and our team understand not everyone is always thrilled about visiting their orthodontist. But here at Buena Vista Orthodontics, we strive to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each visit at our Burbank office. Today, we’d like to know: What is it about our office that makes you comfortable or puts you or your child at ease? Is it something about our pleasant environment? Our courteous staff? Perhaps it's something about Drs. Yamada or Abbink?

Let us know by posting on Facebook or by giving us a call!

Ask Dr. Yamada: “I’m 33 – am I too old for braces?”

Absolutely not! At Buena Vista Orthodontics, nobody is “too old” for braces! In fact, we read a fascinating statistic recently: adults getting braces has actually jumped 24 percent since 1996! In fact, one of every five patients in orthodontic treatment is over the age of 21. Of course, braces help make your teeth stay strong, healthy and become perfectly-aligned. But we’d like you to know orthodontic treatment with Dr. Yamada or Abbink can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

In fact, we are proud to offer an adult-friendly option for straightening teeth called Invisalign, which uses a series of invisible, removable and comfortable aligners that no one can tell you're wearing. So, you can smile more during treatment as well as after.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, we would love to have you visit for a complimentary consultation at our Burbank office. Please give us a call at (818) 846-3774 to set one up and have a wonderful rest of the week!

Talking retainers with Buena Vista Orthodontics

If you've recently completed treatment at Buena Vista Orthodontics, our professional team would like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Merilynn Yamada or Dr. Bruce Abbink will provide—or have provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth are known to 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 Drs. Yamada or Abbink is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime.

If you have additional questions about retainers or your treatment here at our Burbank office, please give us a call at (818) 846-3774 or ask us on Facebook! Our staff would love to hear from you! Enjoy your weekend!

What do you enjoy most about fall?

It’s fall here at Buena Vista Orthodontics, a time when families in Burbank and surrounding areas begin to make plans for Thanksgiving and the winter holidays. But before you go celebrating, we wanted to ask you, our wonderful patients, “How are you spending your time this fall?”

Dr. Merilynn Yamada and team would love to hear about your favorite places for eating, shopping, and entertainment here in Burbank and surrounding areas. We are interested in learning about what makes our unique community “yours.”

Feel free to post your responses on our Facebook page, or give us a call! Have a wonderful weekend!

"My son is turning seven - when should I bring him in for a consultation?"

Braces were originally considered to be best appropriate for teens. But these days, kids as old as seven years old 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.

Dr. Yamada will tell you 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 our team at Buena Vista Orthodontics to assess what the best age for treatment is (Dr. Yamada offers complimentary consultations).

Hope this helps! Give our Burbank office a call at (818) 846-3774 if you have any questions about your child’s treatment, or ask us on Facebook! Enjoy your weekend!

Dr. Yamada & Buena Vista Orthodontics with the 411 on Halloween treats

Dr. Merilynn Yamada and our staff at Buena Vista Orthodontics know a lot of parents are worried about their kids going overboard on candies this weekend, sugar and other sweets. We get it - Halloween is a dreaded annual event for a lot of you (no pun intended!).

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. In addition, we also want your child to steer clear of sticky, chewy, gummy and nutty goodies.

Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists recommend 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, call Buena Vista Orthodontics as soon as possible.

We hope everyone has a fun, safe and scary Halloween!

What is Invisalign, and is it right for me? [Video]

We've touched on the power of Invisalign treatment before, but today thought we'd share a helpful video for those who are intrigued by the idea of straightening their teeth without using traditional metal braces. The Invisalign system at Buena Vista Orthodontics is a state-of-the-art system of clear, removable aligners that we proudly offer to adults and teens at our convenient Burbank, California office. We have plenty of resources on our website to check out about Invisalign, or give our office a call at (818) 846-3774 for a complimentary consultation to learn if this revolutionary new treatment option is right for you!

Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment. Plus, brushing and flossing are no problem. They are also comfortable, with no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. And no metal and wires usually means you spend less time in our office getting adjustments. Dr. Merilynn Yamada is a Certified Invisalign® Provider in Burbank and surrounding communities.

Love your smile? Then we invite you to review Buena Vista Orthodontics on Google!

Dr. Merilynn Yamada and our team at Buena Vista Orthodontics have a passion for excellence and are committed to achieving your orthodontic goals. Dr. Yamada combines her education at UCLA & UCSF with over 20 years of experience to give her patients something to smile about.

Whether you've visited our Burbank office for a week, months or even years, we'd love to hear your feedback about your experience. There are lots of places on the Internet where you may share your reviews, but we'd like to direct you to our Google Local Page to write a review of us - it only takes a moment!

You may write your review here.

Thank you in advance and enjoy the rest of your week! :)

Patient Video Contest at Buena Vista Orthodontics!

Dr. Yamada and our staff are pleased to announce the start of our patient video contest! Here’s how YOU can win an Apple iPad, Nintendo Wii or Amazon Kindle or a $100 gift card from Best Buy.

To be officially entered, we are asking you to record a video and submit it to us. Video length should be approximately 30 to 60 seconds (but longer videos will be accepted). In the video, you can:

a) Demo how to clean & care for your teeth with braces.
b) Create a “deband song”
c) Explain the benefits of orthodontic treatment.
d) Describe your personal experience with orthodontic treatment at BVO …OR
e) Discuss the best part of getting your braces off and/or having your new smile.

Please submit your video to the BVO staff or e-mail to smile@buenavistaorthodontics.com. Be sure to put “patient video contest” in your e-mail subject line and include your full name. Also, please label any CDs you give to our staff. Contest closes on December 31st or upon receipt of 25 entries (whichever comes first).

Once all videos are submitted and posted to our YouTube page, ask your friends and family to go online and vote for best video between January 1st and 15th. Videos with the most votes will be the winners.

Contest winners and awards will be announced on our Facebook fan page. This contest is Open to adults, teens, and kids (under 18 must have written consent from parent or legal guardian to participate).

GOOD LUCK!!

Ask Dr. Yamada: Why are straight teeth so important?

Good question!

Some people ask us why Dr. Merilynn Yamada and our team at Buena Vista Orthodontics work so tirelessly to give our patients straight teeth. Of course it’s great to have a smile full of evenly aligned teeth, but did you know that straightening your teeth can keep them healthier? Straight teeth lead to better oral hygiene, increasing your chances of keeping your own natural teeth for a lifetime.

Straight teeth are less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque, which is the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay; plus, straight teeth are easier to keep clean! If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are out of alignment, we encourage you to give us a call at (818) 846-3774 to set up a complimentary consultation. Dr. Yamada and our team can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment at our convenient Burbank office.

Enjoy your weekend everyone!