Pursuing Healthy Teeth For All
By Erin Kelly-Allshouse
Dr. Nancy Leung doesn’t just fix crooked teeth in her orthodontic practice, she is in pursuit of all her patients having healthy teeth.
Evie Kinkead is in a good mood before Dr. Leung starts her orthodontic treatment.
As a mother of three children, she can relate to the busy lifestyle of families with orthodontic needs.
Her oldest son, 13, just finished with Phase 2 of his orthodontic treatment. Her 9-year-old son has completed Phase 1. Her daughter, 3, is too young for braces. Dr. Leung said she likes to start evaluating the need for braces among her young patients when they are about 8 or 9 years old.
Originally from Illinois, Dr. Leung moved to California in 1982, with her family settling in El Monte, California when she was young. Her interest in dentistry came about when she accepted an undergraduate work-study assignment at the Oral Microbiology Testing Laboratory at USC School of Dentistry. Dr. Leung graduated from University of Southern California with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree and specialty training in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics from the University of Minnesota. That’s where she found a way to combine her love of science and art.
She opened her practice in Watsonville in 2007, and then seeing a need in Mid-County, opened a second office in Aptos in 2012.
Dr. Leung treats adults, teens and children. Anyone can get orthodontic treatment at any age as long as their teeth and periodontal structures are healthy, she said, but she recommends dealing with potential jaw problems early in life.
“Sometimes the jaws are mismatched and prevent a patient from speaking properly or can cause difficulty in chewing food,” said Dr. Leung.
“Someone may have a tooth that needs to be taken out and they’d be left with a space in their mouth. Sometimes, adults need orthodontic treatment in order to make enough space for veneers, implants, crowns, or bridges,” she said. “We love improving their quality of life and seeing the changes in their smile.”
The standard metal brackets, ceramic brackets, and the series of clear plastic aligners known as Invisalign are the types of appliances Dr. Leung uses in her practice.
Patients have good things to say.
Brianna Melgoza-Ortiz said: “The orthodontic treatment has increased my confidence in my smile.”
Amber Graham said, “I had a really pleasant experience wearing braces. Sure there were moments of tenderness but those moments were short-lived and subsided quickly. My braces became a part of me, literally, I didn’t even notice them after a while.”
Evie Kinkead added, “Everyone here is very kind. We love coming here.”
Technology in dentistry has changed. Dr. Leung and her team use digital X-rays that emit very low radiation, digital study models and photos, and her offices have an ingenious “chartless” method for patient record-keeping that saves paper.
Compared to when she first started practicing, she is seeing more of the do-it-yourself kind of treatments using mail order.
“Back in the day you would have to see a professional to be treated and that has been bypassed and gone straight to the consumer. People can take impressions and mail them in,” she said.
“When we see patients, we evaluate their occlusion (bite), bone/gingival support, root length and existing restorations. We have to follow the proper steps, and find the best treatment plan for the patient. When you bypass that, you might get your teeth lined up but there are underlying problems that may not be identified at the beginning. Also, the bite might not be where it should be,” she said.
She said most people want to know all their options.
“I like to be thorough, laying it all on the table so people are educated, informed and can visualize a necessary plan. We discuss my findings, treatment options, and financial alternatives,” she said.
Dr. Leung is a member of Smiles Change Lives and Give Kids a Smile, two national organizations started by her mentor and professor, Dr. Steve Litton at the University of Minnesota. These are programs for low-income families needing treatment who cannot afford orthodontics. Dr. Leung also participates in the “Give Kids a Smile” campaign promoting dental hygiene. In recognition of her efforts, the Monterey Dental Society named her “Dentist of the Year” in 2010.
“We teach kids how to brush and floss and the importance of dental health,” Dr. Leung said. “We talk about healthy foods that are good for their teeth and good for their body. Some of these second and third graders have already seen a dentist and get excited about losing their teeth and getting new ones, for others dental health is new to them.”
Diego Sanchez, a patient, shared this advice: “Don’t eat what you’re not supposed to and don’t do things that can make your treatment longer.”
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Dr. Leung’s offices are at 9515 Soquel Drive, Suite #103, Aptos, (831) 685-2800 and 56 Penny Lane, Suite B, in Watsonville, (831) 722-5022. Her website is: www.smilecrewortho.com. For orthodontic help, see www.smileschangelives.org.