Creating Beautiful Smiles
By Maggie Caldwell
Orthodontist Dr. Nancy Leung and her Smile Crew are preparing to celebrate their third anniversary of creating beautiful smiles in the Aptos community. Her office is conveniently located around the corner from Aptos Junior High, and the sign hanging outside reads “Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics.”
There’s a distinction Dr. Leung explains: “We’re not just dealing with straightening teeth; we deal with the whole face.” Dentofacial orthopedics focuses on the jaw relationships, on facial development, and correcting imbalances.
“We work a lot with children and adults with jaw problems. It is easier to correct jaw relationships earlier in life. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child should have their first orthodontic evaluation no later than age 7. In some cases, they may not be ready for treatment and will have to wait until they are older. However, it is important to know if early intervention is needed, so we can correct the problems before they cause permanent damage. Timing is very important.”
Although she treats many children and teenagers, she points out that orthodontics is not just for kids. “Adults come in, too for many reasons,” Dr. Leung says. “Many want to aesthetically look better, some need dental restorations or implants, and so their dentist refers them to align their teeth or open spaces for their final restorations.” No matter what the age of the client she listens carefully to his or her needs and then creates a personalized treatment plan for correction. “We value our patients’ input,” she explains. “We want to know their concerns so we can fix them. People enjoy beautiful smiles, and I’m happy to help them.”
Dr. Leung earned her doctorate from the University of Southern California and went on to achieve a Certificate in Orthodontics and Masters in Dentistry from the University of Minnesota. She worked extensively in the Bay Area before opening a practice in Watsonville in 2007. With the opening of her second office in Aptos in 2012, she is able to offer a convenient location for all South County residents to have their orthodontic needs met.
Dr. Leung has instituted green business practices at both offices by offering digital x-rays, which have several benefits. First, the patient is exposed to less radiation than traditional x-rays, the pictures are digital so there is no developing and less printing. “The images are also easier to share; when a patient’s dentist requests an x-ray, we can get it to them while they’re still in the chair,” Dr. Leung points out.
Dr. Leung is also the mother of two boys — ages eight and four — and recently she had the chance to experience dental situations from a parent’s point of view. “In one week I put braces on my older boy and then my younger one fell and had a dental trauma,” she explained. “I experienced the worry that parents go through. It gave me a whole other level of compassion, not just for the children I treat, but for their parents, too. She is also a member of Smiles Change Lives, a national organization of volunteer orthodontists who donate services to children from low-income families who need treatment. In addition, she has also made many contributions to support local schools in Santa Cruz County.
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If you’re considering treatment for you or your child, call Dr. Leung’s office at 831-722-5022 for a complementary examination. Dr. Leung and her staff will answer your question about treatment options, length of time, cost, and payment plans. Visit Dr. Nancy Leung online at www.smilecrewortho.com or on her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DrLeungOrtho.
Her Aptos office is located at 9515 Soquel Drive, Suite #103 or in Watsonville at 56 Penny Lane, Suite B. Office hours vary to accommodate clients’ schedules. She accepts all major credit cards as well as Care Credit.