Happy Holidays from your Markham and Greater Toronto Orthodontist and TeamMCO

As another year comes to a close, we want to thank the Markham and Greater Toronto community for their continued support of Markham Centre Orthodontics. With your beautiful smiles, kind referrals, and wonderful experiences, we have continued to grow into the choice for braces and Invisalign in this part of the 905.



With the holidays fast approaching, Dr. Tam and TeamMCO would like to wish everyone an amazing and safe holiday season. For those hard-to-buy-for people on your shopping list, don't forget to consider the gift of a smile that will last a lifetime!

For your reference, below are some of the safety tips from the Canadian Red Cross during this season. We hope you all enjoy some time to spend with loved ones and a fantastic, healthy New Year!
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Safety Tips for the Holidays from the Canadian Red Cross

Be careful with holiday candles - Keep candles away from decorations or other combustible materials. Don't leave children unattended in a room with lit candles. Keep candles, matches and lighters out of the reach of children. Never display lighted candles in windows or near exits.

Deck the halls with safety in mind - When decorating with lights, make sure they are certified by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Always unplug all lights before leaving home or going to bed.

Prevent choking - For children, small toys and special foods can be an incident waiting to happen. Ensure toys are appropriate for the age of the child, and won't create a danger for younger children in the household.

Keep Christmas trees fresh - Choose a fresh Christmas tree and secure it in a sturdy stand. Place the tree away from heat sources and exits and check water levels daily. If you purchase an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled as fire-retardant.

Prepare for holiday parties - Decorate only with flame-retardant or noncombustible materials. If guests will be smoking, provide them with large, deep ashtrays and check them frequently. After the party, check under sofa cushions and in trash cans for cigarette butts that may be smoldering.

Designate a driver - When attending a party, designate a non-drinking driver. If you are hosting a holiday gathering, be sure there are non-alcoholic beverages for guests who are driving and arrange for alternate transportation for guests who drink.

Inspect fireplaces and wood stoves - Have your chimney connections and flues inspected by a professional and cleaned if necessary. Use a sturdy screen when burning fires. Burn only wood—never burn paper or pine boughs.

Buckle up - During the holiday season, more people are on streets and highways. Ensure that all passengers are wearing safety belts. Seat children in the back seat of the car and in approved safety seats if younger than eight years old (less than 60 pounds), or according to local law.

Enroll in a First Aid & CPR course - Although these tips can help prevent an emergency, it is also important to be prepared should an emergency situation arise. To enroll in a first aid or CPR course, contact your local Canadian Red Cross.

Your Markham and Greater Toronto Invisalign Orthodontist Customizes Your Treatment

Invisalign treatment at Markham Centre Orthodontics is customized for each and every one of our patients. This special attention to your treatment is part of what makes it work. To find out if you are the right candidate for Invisalign treatment in Markham and Greater Toronto, we provide you with a complimentary Invisalign consultation. Should you wish to continue, the first thing we do is to take an impression of your teeth and digitize it. Using special software, we look at the current positioning of your teeth and compare it to the way your teeth should look.

The technicians at Invisalign use software to map out the exact path your teeth will take from the beginning of your treatment to the end. Keep in mind that these technicians at Invisalign are not orthodontists. The key to a successful treatment is an orthodontist who is experienced, and dictates the movements of the teeth, rather than one who simply accepts the work of a tech. After several revisions, a final result is accepted. Here at Markham Centre Orthodontics, you will receive an email with a video simulation of your Invisalign treatment via your online orthodontic Sesame account.

Over the course of treatment, you will be required to wear these clear, removable aligners one at a time; each one moving your teeth closer and closer to their final, perfectly aligned position. Since the aligners are virtually invisible, nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Dr. Tam is a certified Invisalign provider and has treated Markham as well as Greater Toronto dentists and their family members. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, give us a call at 905-477-7750. We look forward to helping you achieve that smile you've always wanted without braces!

Your Markham and Greater Toronto Orthodontist is Invited to the Invisalign Summit

This past weekend, Dr. Tam attended the annual Invisalign Summit at the Sands Expo and Conference Centre in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Summit is a wonderful opportunity for the most experienced Invisalign orthodontists to share ideas and information that can be implemented in their offices. This in turn results in greater quality results, while reducing treatment times for you, our patients. Dr. Tam was honoured to be invited back for a second consecutive year.

Dr. Tam by the 2008 Invisalign Summit schedule of lectures and events.

Malocclusions, bad bites, and crooked teeth that were once thought treatable only with braces are now increasingly being corrected with Invisalign. Keep in mind that as with conventional braces, the ability of your orthodontist to straighten your teeth with Invisalign requires careful planning and individualization. However, because Invisalign uses clear plastic aligners, additional knowledge on the way teeth move differently with Invisalign than braces is essential. General dentists and orthodontists can become certified in Invisalign by taking a one-day course. You should feel confident with having treatment at MCO, as Dr. Tam has extensive experience with Invisalign, including treatment on local Markham and Greater Toronto dentists, their family, and even himself!

Many of our teenagers, parents, and adults wish to have straight teeth, but without the embarrassment and discomfort of braces. Dr. Tam and Markham Centre Orthodontics are committed to delivering a "clear" solution to our patients whenever possible. Of note, Dr. Tam was a part of the Invisalign Teen pilot project, a new Invisalign appliance that has allowed more of our teen-aged patients to have a "wireless" treatment. We also know that many parents would love to have straight teeth, but would never think of getting braces. Invisalign has given us the ability to allow our parents to smile widely alongside their children!

Dr. Tam in front of the Invisalign Teen display. Markham Centre Orthodontics was a part of the Invisalign Teen pilot project.

If you are considering Invisalign in Markham and Greater Toronto, we hope you see Markham Centre Orthodontics as your experienced Invisalign orthodontist. Please feel free to contact us for your complimentary, no-obligation consultation. We look forward to meeting your needs to help you achieve that beautiful, straight smile you've always wanted.

Your Markham and Greater Toronto Orthodontist Supports Local Teams and Organizations

Unionville-Milliken U14 Boys Soccer Club with jerseys sponsored by Markham Centre Orthodontics.

We often receive requests to sponsor various events and teams in the Markham and Greater Toronto area. Markham Centre Orthodontics is proud to support organizations and teams for members of TeamMCO including the Unionville-Milliken U14 Boys Soccer Club, York South Silver Knights Basketball Club, and the Unionville Skating Club's Sparkling Ice Synchronized Skating Team. While teammates and parents are not obligated to see us for their treatment, we highly appreciate you spreading the great word about our office so that they too, may have a wonderful experience with orthodontics.

This is just one way for us to give back to the local community and say thank you for making us your choice for braces, Invisalign, and orthodontics in Markham. We sincerely enjoy the opportunity for this type of long-standing, mutual, supportive relationship of our local children. Please contact us if you have any sponsorship questions or would like to schedule a complimentary orthodontic consultation.

Group photo of the Unionville Skating Club Sparkling Ice Synchronized Skating Team.

Your Markham and Greater Toronto Orthodontist and National Orthodontic Health Month

October is National Orthodontic Health month. Did you know that there are more than 4 million children and 1 million adults receiving treatment from members of the American Association of Orthodontists?

Orthodontists receive an additional two to three years of specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align and straighten teeth. Only those with this formal education may call themselves “orthodontists,” and only orthodontists may be members of the American Association of Orthodontists. Your Markham Orthodontist subscribes to the scientific journal of the Association and attends annual conferences in continuing education. Dr. Tam looks forward to taking TeamMCO to the city where he was trained, Boston, for the annual meeting in 2009!

With the month's most famous day, Halloween, coming up, a number of different stories, tips, and images have been posted on their site. There is also a section of braces-friendly recipes by celebrity chef Michael Chiarello.

Brushing and flossing are more important than ever during the Halloween season, when teeth may receive more exposure to sweets that can cause cavities. Make sure you enjoy yourself, but remember to take care of your teeth and braces so that your treatment stays on track since broken braces and loose wires can result in longer treatment times. Please see our refresher on caring for your braces.

For more information regarding braces, straight teeth, and Invisalign in Markham and Greater Toronto, please feel free to browse our posts, website, or contact us in the office. TeamMCO wishes all of their orthodontic patients a wonderful Halloween!

VIP Reception with your Markham Orthodontist and TeamMCO!

It is extremely important to thank the people who continue to help us make Markham Centre Orthodontics your choice for Invisalign and braces in Markham.

Recently, we hosted our 3rd Annual VIP Reception for many of your dentists and dental teams. Over 80 attendees saw our office transformed into a social environment with amazing music, food, and drinks. By Peter and Pauls catered this social with live pasta, tenderloin carving, and fresh crepe stations. The evening is a wonderful opportunity to discuss various aspects of treatment with your dental health care providers and to keep them up to date with what is going at MCO. We understand that excellent treatment requires cooperation between us, you, and your dentist. This is just one of the ways we strive to be the best orthodontic office in Markham.

A big thank you to everyone for your continued support. We look forward to continuing to creating your "smiles for the future"!

Dr. Tam and TeamMCO, your choice for orthodontics, braces, and Invisalign in Markham, as they prepare for the evening's festivities.

Some of Dr. Harvey Schwartz's and Dr. Shirley Ho's Unionville Main Street Dental Team.

Dr. Tam and Dr. Daniel Seah from Bur Oak Dental.

Some of the wonderful team at Bur Oak Dental.

Some of Dr. Dennis Azuma's Horizon Dental team enjoying a seat in the VIP lounge.

Dr. Tam in action speaking with Dr. Chi Tai, Markham Oral Surgeon, and Dr. Jonathan Tai.

Dr. Andrea Ho-Fatt Wang and some of her team arriving for a great evening.

Dr. Tam takes a moment to snap a photo with his parents.

Dr. Miranda Wong, Dr. Patsy Kwok, and Natalie from the reception at Metro Square Dental with Dr. Tam.

Dr. Tam describing some of the new features of the office to Dr. Maneesh Gupta, owner of Bur Oak Dental.

Liz and Dee from Dr. Jacob Apter's enjoying the moment.

Dr. Tam with Dr. Pranab Chakravorty and the Elson Dental team.

Dr. Michael Banh and Dr. Vicki Kuo waiting for some refreshments.

An Invisalign Testimonial provided by your Markham and Greater Toronto Invisalign Orthodontist

Here is an Invisalign testimonial from a real Invisalign patient that was posted on YouTube. She goes over her experience of the first couple of trays and answers a lot of common questions regarding Invisalign. There is a blog with several entries about her entire "Invisalign Adventure". Some entries are not technically correct, but it does provide a good overall progress of treatment.






Having been treated with Invisalign himself, Dr. Tam can truly understand the complete Invisalign experience. In addition, he has treated Markham and Greater Toronto dentists as well as their dental teams with Invisalign. For more information, please visit our previous Invisalign blog entry or website . We look forward to continuing to be your office of choice for Invisalign treatment in Markham and Greater Toronto!

Markham and Greater Toronto Invisalign Treatment... Your Markham and Greater Toronto Orthodontist Proudly Offers Invisalign and Invisalign Teen!

Here is a brief video about Invisalign treatment, an orthodontic alternative to straightening teeth without braces.

Invisalign® is a series of removable appliances called Aligners. Incrementally, the Aligners move your teeth and straighten them. They are removable, but to be effective, the Invisalign Aligners have to be worn for at least 22 hours per day. This discipline required to wear the Aligners is far outweighed by its advantages. They are not easily seen by your friends, family and colleagues, more comfortable to the lips, and cheeks, and can be removed for ease of eating, brushing, and flossing.

Moms and dads, if you've ever wanted to have straight teeth as you've provided for your children, but wanted to avoid wearing any wires, here's a wonderful opportunity to do so without the use of braces. The next time you are in the office, speak to us about how you can go wireless!

Our office is proud to be one of the most experienced Invisalign providers in the Markham and Greater Toronto area and first offices in North America to offer and initiate treatment using the new Invisalign Teen product.

Invisalign is a fantastic treatment, but a firm understanding about the way teeth are moved with Aligners versus braces is extremely important. While many dentists and orthodontists can be Certified Invisalign Providers by taking a one day course, Dr. Tam has attended numerous continuing education courses about Invisalign, including the by-invitation-only Invisalign Summit in Las Vegas. He has been invited to go back again this coming November. We have proudly treated local dentists, their dental staff, and family members with Invisalign.

Dr. Tam works with Invisalign as well as other aesthetic orthodontic options. Invisalign is a great treatment method and gets great results. However, not everyone can be treated with Invisalign. You should see Dr. Tam for an examination to determine if you are a candidate. He will also make you aware of all the aesthetic orthodontic alternatives before choosing to proceed with Invisalign®, such as "clear" brackets, veneers, or crowns. Note that sometimes traditional braces and appliances must be used before or after treatment with Invisalign®.

Let us help you make an informed decision to suit your treatment needs. Call us to find out how you can make MCO your experienced Invisalign Orthodontist for Markham, Unionville, Thornhill, Ajax, Pickering, North York, York Region, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, Toronto, Stouffville, and the GTA.

Your Markham and Greater Toronto Orthodontist Proudly Offers Online Access!

In our busy lives, many of our patients and parents have requested text/email reminders and the ability to access financial information. Our Invisalign patients enjoy having access to their orthodontic simulations. To help you, Markham Centre Orthodontics is proud to now offer the convenience of 24/7 online access to your account with Ortho Sesame.

We constantly strive to exceed your expectations in our quality of care and service. This is just one way that we try to ensure that you have an incredible experience with Markham Centre Orthodontics. We are honoured that you have chosen us as your Markham and Greater Toronto orthodontist for your straight teeth, braces, Invisalign, and more!

To sign up, please visit our website and click on the "Patient Login" tab to continue.

Ask your Markham and Greater Toronto Orthodontist... How are braces placed on the teeth?

There are two main methods of placing braces on the teeth: direct and indirect bonding.

Teeth are first polished and then prepared with a number of different solutions that are rinsed and dried. The placement of braces requires an extremely clean and dry environment. Therefore, a mouth prop is placed to help keep the tongue and cheeks away from the teeth. A suction tube may also be placed to remove any excess saliva.

In the direct bonding technique, braces are placed one by one, and their positions adjusted in the mouth, prior to being secured to the tooth. This time-consuming process is often completed by dental auxiliaries rather than the orthodontist, as it is usually during busy clinic hours.

Careful preparation around braces placed on model for indirect technique.

Indirect bonding (IB), is an efficient and quick alternative. An impression of the mouth is taken and a model poured. Braces are then placed on the model and a tray is formed around the teeth and braces in the lab. The braces can then be transferred via this tray to the top and bottom teeth all at once.

Completed tray with braces ready for transfer to the mouth.

What are some of the advantages of IB?

-Higher degree of accurate bracket placement than with direct bonding (imagine trying to put a brace accurately on a back tooth inside the mouth compared to putting it on a model where you have a clear, unobstructed view).

-Shorter treatment time and fewer appointments since the brackets are placed more accurately at the first appointment.

-More comfortable and less time spent in the chair for the bonding appointment. Placement of the braces does not hurt, so don't worry!

-Often no need for bands, so there is no need for uncomfortable elastic separators.

-There is a custom base, allowing the bracket to fit more accurately to the conformation of your tooth.

-The orthodontist is the one who determines the location of each bracket prior to your visit.

Tray removal after braces have been placed on the teeth.

At Markham Centre Orthodontics, we recognize the benefits of IB, even though it requires our team more preparation time, lab work, and requires finely trained technical skills. We do the work in our own lab to ensure quality treatment and customized control. We pride ourselves on the fact that, whenever possible, our patients have braces placed with this technique. It is our goal to provide you with the most efficient, accurate, and comfortable experience possible, from the first day the braces are placed.

Your Markham orthodontist and TeamMCO are dedicated to communicating important information regarding this topic or any aspect of orthodontic treatment. Please contact our office via our website if you have any comments or questions!

TeamMCO... Your Markham Orthodontist, Dr. Tam, and his Team

TeamMCO recently got together to take some photos for our new website, due to be released in the next couple of months. Below, we are sporting the TeamMCO t-shirts, available in various colours, given to our new patients on the day they receive their braces or new appliances. Remember that wearing your t-shirt to your appointments will earn you VIP points that you can redeem for various TeamMCO VIP rewards!

Team Markham Centre Orthodontics
L-R: Wanda, Anna, Megan, Dr. Tam, Joanne, Mandy

In addition to the information currently available at http://www.markhamortho.com/ , you will soon be able to play games, see instructional videos, and log in to view your appointments. We are really excited about these changes and honoured that you continue to choose Markham Centre Orthodontics amongst all Markham orthodontists for your orthodontic care.

Dental Office Ice Cream Appreciation Day

It has been a busy summer so far with a lot of you getting braces and joining TeamMCO. To kick off the end of school, Dr. Tam visited some of your dental offices and served ice cream from the Lickety's Ice Cream truck, as a thank you to them for entrusting us with your care, as members of TeamMCO. Offices that were not open that day were treated to some Felix and Norton Cookies.

It was an extremely hot and sunny Wednesday, and everyone enjoyed treats from dipped cones to milkshakes to banana splits. Dr. Tam spoke with your dentists and provided them with a practice profile to allow us to increase communication and coordinate treatment between our offices. An enormous thank you to Tony, the ice cream man, for serving up some delicious ice cream. We look forward to another Ice Cream Appreciation Day next year!

Dr. Kranc eagerly awaiting his sundae.

Dr. Verma of Markhamack Dental with his team enjoying the day.

Some of Dr. Gupta's team at Bur Oak Dental, including Dr. Seah on the left.

Some of Dr. Applebaum's team at Dentistry for Children, including Dr. Lin in the middle.

Part of Dr. Azuma's team at their new Horizon Dental office.

Dr. Kwok and her receptionist at Metro Square Dental. Dr. Miranda Wong grabbed a milkshake and had to see her next patient!

Dr. Tam with Dr. Remtulla and her receptionist at Townley Dental.

Leslie and their new Dental Assistant at Dr. Bhasin's Armadale Dentistry Office

Dr. Rollan Wong takes a break from his patients to grab a cool snack.

Niagara-on-the-Lake Retreat

Dr. Tam, Megan, and Wanda recently went on a continuing education retreat in Niagara-on-the-Lake, hosted by 3M-Unitek. Topics of the conference included the use of the Forsus (Fatigue Resistant Device), SmartClip Self-Ligating appliance, iBraces, and teamwork as the recipe for a successful orthodontic practice.

They stayed at the beautiful Queen's Landing for two nights, and enjoyed the wonderful town that plays host to the annual Shaw Festival. The trip would definitely not have been complete without a tour of the Inniskillin Winery. All in all, it was a great weekend of learning and fun!