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

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!

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 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!

Dr. Yamada and Buena Vista Orthodontics support National Orthodontic Health Month!

Would you believe it's already October? This is National Orthodontic Health Month, and our friends at the AAO put together a helpful website that provides important information on protecting your braces, including tips for trick-or-treaters, braces-friendly Halloween recipes, facts about braces and treats you should avoid while undergoing orthodontic treatment.

The AAO recommends patients avoid the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients:

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

If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call at (818) 846-3774, ask us on Facebook or ask Dr. Merilynn Yamada during your next visit!

Dr. Merilynn Yamada, reminding you to visit the dentist during your treatment

Are you brushing and flossing daily properly during your orthodontic treatment with Dr. Yamada? If the answer is yes, we think that’s great! But, don’t forget that it’s also important for you to visit your general dentist here in Burbank every 3-to-6 months in addition to brushing your teeth and flossing (and visiting our office, of course). Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health, especially during treatment at Buena Vista Orthodontics.

Your general dentist can check for problems that might not be seen or felt, detect cavities and early signs of decay, treat oral health problems early and show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth.

During an oral exam your dentist can check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If you have not been to the dentist in the last six months, let us know during your next visit and we will provide a few great references in Burbank or surrounding communities! We hope you have a wonderful weekend!

The SureSmile® advantage at Buena Vista Orthodontics

At Buena Vista Orthodontics, we offer a variety of different orthodontic treatments - including Invisalign and the Damon System - designed to help give our patients the beautiful smiles they deserve. While there are so many effective treatments available, SureSmile is one of the top treatments in our Burbank office!

SureSmile gets our patients out of braces twice as fast, and with less discomfort than with most conventional treatments. Patients also spend less time in our office and more time smiling. Instead of Dr. Merilynn Yamada bending an archwire by hand, a SureSmile wire is custom-shaped by a robot. When the wire is inserted, each tooth moves directly to the prescribed position. It's this precise movement that enables such great results with a shorter treatment time.

For more information on SureSmile, head to our website or give us a call at (818) 846-3774. Happy Monday and have a wonderful week!

Like Buena Vista Orthodontics on Facebook, win GREAT prizes!

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 and other social networks?

In fact, by “Liking” us at Facebook.com/BuenaVistaOrtho, you will be automatically entered for a chance to win five great prizes this summer, including:

1st place: $100 gift certificate to Best Buy.

2nd place: $50 gift certificate to Best Buy.

3rd place: Three awards of $25 gift certificates to Best Buy.

By “Liking” us on Facebook, you also will receive news, updates and contest announcements, including our upcoming video contest in which you can win an Apple iPad – all through your news feed!

Contest ends Tuesday, September 3rd, when we will have a drawing.

See you on Facebook and GOOD LUCK everyone!

Staying connected with Buena Vista Orthodontics

At Buena Vista Orthodontics, we embrace all forms of new technology, whether it’s through the innovative orthodontic treatments we offer, our high-tech web site or our Facebook page. For social media to work, however, Drs. Yamada and Abbink understand that conversation is vital, and that’s why we invite you to join in and tell us what’s on your mind. Although social networks are hugely popular these days, we know they’re unpredictable and ever-changing.

While we take a little time to research how to best use social media, we thought we’d ask you, our amazing patients and readers: How would you like us to use our social networks? What would you like us to share on our blog in the coming months? Please post your thoughts on Facebook or give us a call at (818) 237-4779!

What are happy patients saying about Buena Vista Orthodontics?

Last Tuesday, you may remember, our staff at Buena Vista Orthodontics asked you, our amazing patients, what you most liked about your experience Dr. Yamada, Dr. Abbink and staff. Well, we received some pretty great reviews, and thought we’d share a few with you today. Please feel free to contribute your own thoughts about our office! Our entire staff loves getting patient testimonials!

"Very friendly office staff - kids are very comfortable there." ~ Christopher V.

"I love the way Dr. Yamada has incorporated computer(s) system in her office. It is fantastic!" ~ Maggie R.

"Friendly, experienced, professional, super staff." ~ Eunice W.

"Drs. Abbink and Yamada and staff are great with the patients. They are very good at explaining the procedures and the reasons behind performing them." ~ Noah K.

"Good results with my daughter, so it was an easy decision to go to her when I needed orthodontic treatment." ~ Stephen S.

"Positive atmosphere and quality staff. A great environment begins at the top and that says a lot for Dr. Yamada." ~ Karen R.

"Dr. Yamada is at the top of her game." ~ Ryan O.

Dr. Yamada wants to know: What do you love about our office?

From your very first visit to Buena Vista Orthodontics, our dedicated team - including Dr. Merilynn Yamada - strive to provide superior orthodontic treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere.

Today, we thought we’d ask you, our wonderful patients: Have you been especially impressed by Dr. Yamada? Did our dedicated team go out of their way to make your day? Are you in love with your smile?

Dr. Yamada and our staff 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. Yamada combines her education at UCLA & UCSF with over 20 years of experience to give her patients something to smile about.

Whether you’ve just come in for a complimentary consultation or your family has been visiting our office for years, we’d love to hear your feedback. Or, you can tell us by posting on our Facebook page or by giving us a call at (818) 846-3774!

We hope you have great rest of the week, and we hope to post some of your responses next week!

The advantage of SureSmile® in Burbank, CA

Does the thought of having braces bring you down? We understand that one of the biggest concerns for orthodontic patients with braces is the length of their treatment.

But you’re in luck, because Dr. Yamada specializes in SureSmile, high-tech braces that are revolutionizing the orthodontic industry. SureSmile, which combines digital 3-D imaging, has computer-aided treatment planning and customized archwires to straighten teeth about 40 percent faster than traditional braces. The SureSmile program calculates the exact shape and pattern of the teeth and bends and cuts the braces wires, with more precision than traditional braces.

There are three steps. First, we identifies the initial tooth position with the patented OraScanner, a wand with a tiny camera attached. The OraScanner creates a precise 3-D digital model of your mouth, which is then uploaded into software that lets us view your mouth and teeth from any angle. Next, the SureSmile system allows us to create your entire treatment plan prior to treatment, using special computer software to analyze the 3-D model of your mouth and develop a custom archwire treatment. Finally, SureSmile’s robotic technology bends Shape Memory Alloy archwires, which can “remember” your prescription.

Results

With SureSmile’s specially programmed archwires, your teeth move more directly into their intended positions. The result for our patients is shortened treatment time and a more comfortable experience in braces.

Once the braces are on it’s only a matter of time before they are taken off revealing beautiful, straight, healthy teeth. With traditional braces a patient is expected to schedule 18 to 20 office visits over two years. With SureSmile, patients average seven to 10 visits and can have their braces off within half the time!

If you’re considering orthodontic treatment, please contact Buena Vista Orthodontics today!

24/7 Access to Your Account at Buena Vista Orthodontics

At Buena Vista Orthodontics, we embrace new technology, whether it is through the innovative orthodontic treatments that we offer, our high-tech web site and social networks, or our modern office conveniently located in Burbank.

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! 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!