Let us show you why the MCO Downtown Toronto Invisalign, MCO Markham Orthodontist, MCO Scarborough Orthodontist, MCO Stouffville Orthodontist, and MCO Oshawa Orthodontist Teams are regarded as the top orthodontist in Richmond Hill, Toronto, Stouffville, Oshawa, Scarborough, Whitby, Bowmanville, and Markham Orthodontists for braces and Invisalign.
Every two years, Align Technologies asks doctors to submit their best Invisalign results for consideration in a competition at the Invisalign Summit in Las Vegas, hosting over 2500 attendees. This year, they narrowed down the entries to 100 and then had orthodontists, in a double-blinded voting process, select the top 4 cases.
Markham, Ontario Invisalign Speaker's badge
Dr. Tam, your Unionville, Ontario Orthodontist, had one of his cases selected for presentation this year. It was a teen-aged patient with a severe deep bite, severe large overjet, class 2 malocclusion, and refused to have braces. The other doctors in the competition were Dr. Gerald Kim, Dr. Vladimir Tabakman, and Dr. John Sparaga. All of these outstanding Invisalign doctors presented amazing cases, with Dr. Kim receiving the most votes by audience text messaging, to take home the title of the Invisalign Case Shootout champion.
Plaque for best Class 2 Invisalign Teen treatment
What was great about this year's competition is that it once again showcased the expanded borders of treatment with Invisalign with the right doctor. When asking if you are an Invisalign candidate , remember that the answer to that question has mostly to do with the doctor's experience.
Dr. Tam with the other doctors presenting the best Invisalign cases of the past 2 years.
Dr. Passamano, Irvine Orthodontist, 2nd place in the University Invisalign competition, with Dr. Tam
There are many Invisalign certification courses allowing dentists and orthodontists to provide Invisalign in Toronto for their patients, but those courses teach doctors how to submit case materials rather than how to move teeth using this clear braces technique.
Toronto Invisalign Orthodontist lecturing to a room full of general dentists.
Dr. Tam is on the Invisalign Speaker's Bureau, traveling across North America to teach doctors how to actually use Invisalign with their patients. As it is a technique to move teeth, it is important to realize that Invisalign treatment will be different depending on the experience level of the doctor.
Dr. Tam teaching a more advanced course in how to move teeth with Invisalign.
Not only is he one of the most sought after Toronto Invisalign specialists, he is also highly respected by his peers across North America. Recently, he was invited to our nation's capital, Ottawa, Ontario, to speak at the Lord Elgin Hotel. Over 30 dentists spent their Friday morning with Dr. Tam in a 3 hour session, while 8 orthodontists spent their afternoon in a more focussed tooth movement seminar. He is happy to teach others how to use Invisalign properly and wants everyone to know that Invisalign results should be as good or better than those with traditional braces. Remember to view Invisalign as a technique, rather than as a product!
Several months ago, Dr. Tam was part of a market research project to discuss new properties for a potential Invisalign material. As one of the leading Invisalign orthodontists in Toronto, he has been a part of discussions of products such as Invisalign Teen as well as SmartTrack. All of these products require a non-disclosure, but today, this information was released to all orthodontists.
It seems like there is great potential for this material. As always, these material developments and new attachments do not change the most important factor in successful treatment, namely, the experience of the doctor in moving your teeth using Invisalign.
Here is the release:
New! SmartTrack™ Aligner Material
More Constant Force, More Consistent Control
The introduction of Nickel Titanium wire revolutionized fixed orthodontics with gentle, more constant force delivery. Now Invisalign introduces SmartTrack™, a highly elastic aligner material that delivers gentle, more constant force to improve control of tooth movements with aligner treatment.
A study of patients treated with aligners made with SmartTrack shows statistically significant improvement in control of tooth movements such as rotations and extrusions (p<0.001).
One of the SmartTrack pilot doctors remarks that, "The clinical results so far have been excellent....the fit of the teeth from aligner to aligner is better than any group of patients I have had progress through my practice. Without a doubt, SmartTrack is the most exciting change in Invisalign technology – among the many that have been introduced in recent years."
Most people who are looking for a Stouffville orthodontist want them done quickly. Companies have responded to this innate human desire by coming up with products such as 6 months smiles, Toronto Invisalign Express, and more.
Considering 6 month smiles in Toronto? Read on :)
Here is what you have to know about these products:
1. Fast braces, 6 month smiles, and Invisalign Express work the same way as regular braces and Invisalign. The same mechanical and biological principles that have applied to moving teeth for hundreds of years also apply. They do not move teeth faster.
2. They are "faster" because either the initial situation is not as difficult, or they do not correct all the problems present. They are generally good for minor alignment issues.
3. If you want to align your teeth without correcting your overbite, underbite, or overjet, this may be an option for you.
4. All dentists in Ontario can do braces and Invisalign for their patients, but only orthodontists are specialists who use these treatment techniques following several years of additional training. Remember that the doctor you choose will have a big impact on your final results.
This past August, MP Paul Calandra hosted the 2nd Annual Hockey Night in Stouffville in support of the Markham Stouffville Hospital and the Whitchurch-Stouffville Minor Hockey Association. Some of the star-studded talent included Raffi Torres and ex-Leaf Darcy Tucker. The game was played at the Stouffville Arena, with our name on the neutral zone ice.
Sabrina, Maria, Isha and Dr. Tam with their VIP lanyards at the game.
MCO Stouffville Orthodontics was proud to be a corporate sponsor for this event. We believe in supporting our local community and are very thankful for the support Stouffville has shown us!
There have recently been several Toronto Invisalign Groupon sales. Typically, these deals will offer Invisalign for extremely low fees that are not much more than the lab cost for the doctor. We get many inquiries about whether or not we price match or can lower fees for potential patients. We do not match fees, as we know that we are very reasonably-priced in the market given Dr. Tam's expertise in Invisalign and orthodontics.
Question about Groupon and Invisalign from RealSelf.com
Let's talk a little bit more about these group purchases:
1. In Ontario, our regulatory bodies do not legally allow dentists to split fees with any third party. Dentists who have engaged in these practices are and have been subjected to discipline by the Royal College of Dental Surgeons. Beware seeking treatment with doctors who are willing to compromise the ethical responsibilities of the profession.
2. Invisalign is not a commodity. You are not purchasing Invisalign. You are paying for an orthodontic service that will straighten your teeth using Invisalign. In other words, your treatment depends on the skill and experience of your doctor and their team, not "how well Invisalign works". You can read more about choosing an Invisalign doctor here.
3. Often times these deals are from general dental offices. This is their "loss leader" to get new patients into the practice. Many will require a full dental exam, xrays, cleanings, and fillings before Invisalign treatment starts and after the teeth are straight, many will offer cosmetic dentistry such as veneers, bonding, and whitening.
Remember that you are making a big investment in your teeth. Beware online sales and discounts for Invisalign and Invisalign Teen treatment and view Invisalign as a technique, not a product.
Every two years, the greatest minds in Invisalign get together in Las Vegas to discuss advancements in the use of Invisalign and to show some of the best Invisalign treatments in the world.
This year, Dr. Tam has been selected as a semi-finalist for his submission and will be in the top 100 Invisalign treatments case publication. He used Invisalign Teen in conjunction with a Class 2 corrector appliance to correct the deep overbite, large overjet, and deficient lower jaw. Take a look at the photos here. Remember, no metal braces or wires were used! Best of luck to Dr. Tam during the online voting to see if he will be presenting in Las Vegas!
Check out more Invisalign Before and After examples from Dr. Tam:
In case you weren't aware, Dr. Jason Tam, your top Toronto Invisalign specialist, is on the speaker's bureau for Align Technologies, the parent company of Invisalign. While he does not own any shares in Align, or have any financial interest in them, he very much enjoys teaching other doctors how to use Invisalign properly. There are many people who still feel that Invisalign does not work, and it is a shame, because we've created so many beautiful smiles and happy people using it.
Recently, Align flew Dr. Tam into Halifax, Nova Scotia to deliver two 3-hour lectures to dentists and orthodontists at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront. He discussed developments such as Invisalign G3, G4, Invisalign Teen, and the iOC scanner. He also provided tips on providing the best Invisalign treatment experience possible for our patients. The doctors, including Elite and Premier Providers, found the most useful part of the session to be the ClinCheck review, during which Dr. Tam helped them critically analyze their planned tooth movements for their patients.
Dr. Tam managed to enjoy some Maritime food as well! Lobster roll and clam chowder :)
MCO Orthodontics is extremely proud of Dr. Tam for being one of the most sought out and highly-respected treating doctors and speakers for Invisalign in Canada. It is not uncommon for patients to fly in or drive several hours in order to see us, and to have doctors fly in to see him speak as well. Rest assured, that with Dr. Tam's experience, you are be receiving the most advanced and best Invisalign treatment possible.
Credit for this post goes to our friends at Passamano Orthodontics in Irvine, California!
We’re going to show you how to clean a crusty orthodontic retainer, whether traditional wire and acrylic, or Invisalign / Vivera retainer. If you’re actually wearing your retainers, it’s hard not to notice them becoming dirty; and you can’t brush that stuff off! That’s because the calcium and other minerals in your saliva have attached themselves to your retainer similar to plaque/ calculus on your teeth. It’s really easy to clean and very inexpensive too!
Let’s go …. Things you will need.
A Toothbrush (or Denture Brush we provide with your retainers)
White Vinegar from any market (You can use the 5% one that’s for food, this is the key ingredient)
Small Bowl and Warm Water
Directions. Soak your Crusty Retainer in a warm bowl of half White Vinegar/half warm water for 20 minutes. The vinegar will help break up the ‘barnacle‘ looking mineral deposit on your retainer. Brush your retainer similar to your teeth. Small little circles. You probably will remove about 50-75% of the mineral-deposit. Repeat the 20 minute soak and brush until it’s all gone. You may soak it for longer periods of time if it’s extra crusty!
REMEMBER: Many of our patients think that ONLY soaking your Invisalign or Retainers in Efferdent Cleaner will keep them clean. This is false because you still need to manually debride and clean your retainers of the hidden minerals in your saliva.
Dr. Helpard of Shoreline Orthodontics is a friend of Dr. Tam, your Toronto Invisalign specialist, through the Hummingbird Study Club. They recently met in beautiful Stanley Park for lunch with their families and the conversation naturally gravitated towards orthodontics.
Dr. Daher is a Vancouver and Calgary Invisalign specialist. Dr. Tam and Dr. Daher lecture for Align Technology across Canada and the world. You'll be hard pressed to find two more knowledgeable Invisalign doctors in Canada. Recently, Dr. Tam went to visit Dr. Daher at Orthostyle in downtown Vancouver. They discussed a number of different techniques, treatment plans, and management of Invisalign. Although they are at the top of their fields, they both have the passion to continue to improve the scope of Invisalign treatment and quality of the experience for their patients.
Dr. Daher is an excellent doctor with a great team. Their highly-trained team know a lot more about Invisalign that many certified orthodontists. It is this kind of care that all patients should expect.
Thank you to both Dr. Helpard and Dr. Daher for your west coast welcome!
Your Toronto Invisalign orthodontist, Dr. Tam, recently went to visit his friend Dr. Alice Chen, a Las Vegas pediatric dentist in Summerlin, NV. They trained together while Dr. Tam was in his orthodontic speciality residency at Boston University. As many of our patients at MCO are young children, it is important to understand issues crossing both specialities in order to properly service everyone. During his visit, the doctors discussed various aspects of orthodontic and pediatric dental care, as well as ways to improve patient customer service.
Dr. Tam and Dr. Chen in the reception area of Red Rock Kids Dental.
Summerlin pedodontist reception area.
Kid's dental operatory
Dr. Chen has managed to balance her personal life and professional life very well. At the time of the visit, Dr. Chen was due to have her 2nd baby (edit: congratulations on the birth of her new son!). It is fantastic to see such great people who have the passion for both aspects of their life. As a mother of two, she really understands what it is like to be a parent, and applies her care and compassion to the children in her practice. If you're considering a pediatric dentist in the Vegas area, go and check out Red Rock Kids Dental.
Celebrating our 7th year as your Unionville Orthodontist, MCO recently hosted our annual ice cream appreciation day. Once again, we had our Lickety's soft serve ice cream for our patients and their families outside of MCO Markham.
We were blessed with great weather and a fantastic turnout. Thanks again to our wonderful braces and Invisalign patients for telling us we're the best orthodontist in Markham!
We've been very fortunate to be the popular choice for orthodontist in Stouffville and MCO is very grateful to the community for its support. We give back on a regular basis, and most recently, we were diamond sponsors for the Stouffville Strawberry Festival.
Dr. Tam had a busy weekend, volunteering as a judge for the Baby Show, attending the opening ceremonies with Mayor Emerson, MP Calandra, and MPP Jaczek, and meeting everyone at their booth on Main Street. Everyone enjoyed our Invisalign Minute to Win it Challenge. Many thanks to our wonderful patients who also volunteered their time!
At MCO, about 1/3 of our patients are Chinese. While many of our patients speak english fluently, we are happy to provide services in Cantonese for those who feel more comfortable in doing so. We recently had a commercial airing on Fairchild TV and would be happy to see you for a free consultation.
In early May, Dr. Tam attended the annual AAO session in Hawaii. Every couple of years, it is part of his mandate to make it to the AAO because it is a fantastic way to stay in tune with the new science as well as technology in our field. There were seminars on practice management, use of retainers, facial aesthetics, and more.
One of the best parts of the meeting is meeting and speaking with orthodontists from all over the world to share experiences and ideas. Dr. Tam is fortunate to know some of the top Invisalign orthodontists in the world, and met up with them, including Dr. Sam Daher and Dr. Grant Duncan. Often, this type of interaction leads to a number of great discussions!
Your Stouffville braces orthodontist at MCO has the experience of thousands of orthodontic patients. In fact, we see nearly 1000 new patients every year. One of the biggest questions we get asked is how to choose an orthodontist.
We understand that there are a number of factors that lead to you choosing your orthodontist including:
-location
-convenience
-cost
-treatment plan
-comfort level with doctor and office
-experience and results
Location
You want to make sure the office is convenient to your home/work place with ample parking or public transit. As you visit your orthodontist every 8 weeks, it is ok to travel to find the right doctor.
Convenience
Make sure the office offers hours that are convenient to you, including after school or work visits. Almost as important is the amount of time you have to wait at each visit. Offices that see their patients on time show that they value and respect their patient's time. In this day and age, offices can be extremely popular but still see their patients without delay. Make sure there is someone in the office during regular business hours in case you need to speak to someone or stop in at the office.
Cost
The overall cost for treatment must compare equal things. There are certain aspects that are easily quantifiable such as retainers, x-rays, photos, mouthguards, etc included in your treatment. Most offices will offer some sort of payment plan to divide up the cost of treatment over part of the duration of treatment. Check for hidden costs that may be incurred.
However, it is not possible to compare the actual treatment. Unlike purchasing things like TVs or appliances, orthodontic treatment is not the same everywhere, whether it is Invisalign or braces. Rather than looking for overall cost, it is better to look at the value that you receive in your treatment. Paying a little bit more for your treatment may be worthwhile when looking at the overall experience and results.
Treatment Plan
Ask the doctor to explain the rationale for your treatment plan. There should be reasons why certain appliances are required and it should be very clear why certain movements of the teeth are required. While it is sometimes a good idea to seek more than one opinion, it is also not prudent to seek out a number of opinions to find the one you agree with, if it is so different from all of the others.
Comfort Level
As you will be under a couple of years of care, you want to make sure you feel comfortable with the doctor and the rest of the orthodontic team. Doctors and teams that have had orthodontic treatment themselves are often more empathetic to the needs of their patients, as they have been patients themselves!
Does the office treat primarily children or is there also a good mix of adults? Is the environment one that welcomes families into the office to follow along with treatment?
Experience and Results
This is a tricky one because there are a lot of results that you will see online that are not actual patients treated by the doctor. Make sure you ask to see patients that have been treated in that particular practice, and even better if the before and after are similar to your situation.
In terms of experience, it is important to make sure that it is the right kind of experience and staying up to date. Doctors that have treated thousands of patients may not stay up to date on the newest technologies and treatment techniques, while newer doctors do not have the experience to make guarantees about their treatment.
It's a great idea to read reviews on different offices, but be wary about which ones you are able to trust, as many offices will have a number of reviews in a short period of time. This commonly happens when offices provide some sort of incentive for reviews to be written. This skews the reviews in a positive way and provides a biased report.
Another great idea is to find a recommendation from local dentists or those in the dental industry. Where do those dentists send their own family members for treatment? Who do the hygienists and staff choose?
Finally, don't be afraid to ask some of the patients who are in the reception area while you are waiting to be seen at your consultation. Make sure that the exam is thorough and you feel that you have all the required information before beginning treatment.
Ever wondered what it would be like to go through the Invisalign process? Take a look at one of our hygienist's blog about her Toronto Invisalign journey!
At MCO we feel that it is important for our team members to understand exactly how our patients feel during treatment. Since most of us have had treatment by Dr. Tam, we truly know what our patients want and are going through on their path towards and MCO smile :).
The end of March is an exciting time. We have a lot of new patients from the rush during March Break and it also means the time for our annual study club meeting of orthodontists that work with Hummingbird Associates. This year's meeting was in Chicago at the Wit Hotel, a nice downtown location a few steps from N. Michigan Avenue.
Dr. Jason Tam spent the first afternoon with Dr. Bob Hatheway and his potential associate before getting down to a nice dinner with 8 other doctors at Sixteen, the famous restaurant at the Trump Tower Chicago. Our business is very much like the restaurant business. We must be on time with appointments as they do with reservations, we must explain treatment options as they describe menu options, and there is often a premium to be paid for fantastic service. It was a wonderful dining experience with fantastic conversation.
Meeting for two full days in a hotel for a weekend shows the amazing dedication of this group of elite orthodontists. We discussed topics from Invisalign to marketing to patient flow to associates, with an openness and collegiality second to none. Here is a picture of Dr. Tam with the Dr. Anil Idiculla and founder of Hummingbird, Karen Moawad.
With many ideas and advice for ways to improve our patient outcomes and service, it will be another exciting few months as we continue to make MCO Orthodontics your choice for orthodontics!
One of the biggest concerns of patients with Invisalign is whether using aligners will increase the number of cavities during treatment. The truth is that with proper care, many patients actually see an improvement in their oral hygiene, resulting in healthier, whiter teeth and strong gums.
On the other hand, there are a select group of patients that may notice staining or develop cavities when they "cheat" and have food/drink without removing their aligners, or do not clean properly afterwards.
Keep in mind that prior to all orthodontic treatment, a visit to the dentist is required to make sure there are no cavities. Many patients who seek Invisalign care have not been visiting a dentist regularly and begin treatment with cavities that preexist, only to discover them during treatment. There may situations where teeth were overly rotated, whereby making it impossible to see the cavity before the tooth is aligned.
It is important to understand that normally, the teeth are exposed to a natural cleansing process with the saliva that bathes them. With aligners on, there is less exposure to the saliva and actually an aligner that can trap undesired sugars against the teeth. Simply brushing after a meal may not be good enough. Proper and thorough brushing, flossing, and rinsing will be required. The best way to think about it is that food may still be stuck between the teeth that cannot be reached by a brush and sometimes when you have a drink, your saliva is still coloured like that drink for several minutes after you've had it.
At MCO Orthodontics, we have a lot of patients spanning the teens through young professionals and adults that use Invisalign. We emphasize proper care and provide them with everything they need to take care of their teeth in treatment. It would be a shame to invest in straightening teeth without taking care of them to avoid cavities. This is a consideration when looking at fixed braces or Invisalign.
Your Markham Orthodontist opened a 2000 square foot facility beginning construction in 2005. Thanks to the confidence of local dentists and thousands of very happy patients, Dr. Tam decided it was time for the office to expand just 6 short years later.
New reception area
Our renovated and expanded office now spans about 3100 square feet with the most advanced technologies available. We feature digital x-rays for more accurate images and less radiation, as well as 3-D digital camera teeth scanners for Invisalign and retainers. There is a spacious reception area, private financial payment station, 2 comfortable consultation rooms, 2 fully stocked toothbrushing areas, and 8 semi-private treatment stations, with seating for parents or siblings.
New Clinical Area
The goals of this renovation were to improve the experience for our patients by allowing parents and friends to follow treatment as it is going on in the clinic, provide a modern and comfortable office environment, and to help position ourselves as the best orthodontist in Markham. Check our more pics here: http://www.mcosmiles.com/office-tour.php
Your Markham and Stouffville Orthodontist knows that on occasion, there can be some orthodontic emergencies that occur. However, as a general rule, there are few true emergencies that cannot wait until the clinic has an appointment available for you. Common issues include broken appliances, poking or sharpness from brackets and wires, and general soreness.
If something occurs, you should call the office or email us to let us know about your issue. After hours, in an extreme emergency, you can contact Dr. Tam directly.
The following solutions may help you relieve discomfort:
General soreness: When you get your braces on, it is very common for you to feel general soreness in your mouth, and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. This can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in 8 ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. If the tenderness is severe, take over the counter aspirin or other headache/pain relief medication. The use of Tylenol is advised over Advil/Ibuprofen.
Poking wire: Placing wax on the poking edge of the wire is a great way to alleviate the discomfort. You can also use the wire cutter provided to you in your care kit.
Loose bracket or band: If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it. If the wire comes out entirely, wrap the bracket in a tissue, and call our office immediately. Remember, after alleviating your discomfort, it is still very important that you call our office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair the problem.
Broken or lost retainers: It is important to let the office know as soon as possible so that you can have your retainer repaired or replaced. Teeth will shift very rapidly out of alignment without retainers in as little as a few days.
As per our office policies, comfort visits will be booked whenever we have an opening. It may not always be possible to book you a visit after work/school/Saturday since most visits are booked up 8 weeks in advance.
There is a new product available for orthodontic relapse patients beginning January 30th.. It is called Invisalign Express 5, used for very minor crowding and spacing. There is one case of up to 5 aligners, plus one refinement of up to 5 aligners. Note that the refinement is not included in the cost of the original lab fee.
There will be a ClinCheck that can be modified, and there are SmartForce attachments and aligner features available as well.
Example of a treatment with 5 aligners
Please be aware that at MCO Orthodontics, there are very few patients who qualify for treatment with regular Invisalign Express (5 months) and there are likely extremely few patients who will qualify for Express 5 (2.5 months). Still this is a viable option for those who have some minor issues that they want to take care of without braces, and would like to use the top brand in clear aligner treatment.
