1)  Pretty simple. I don’t believe or like what I’m hearing. Heck, you may not like what I’m telling you. I was the fifth opinion once. The first four suggested a $4000 procedure, I recommended extracting a primary tooth only. It worked. 2) The fees are too high. Higher does not mean better. 3) Be careful of a hard sell. 4) Most eight year old's do not need treatment. 5) If you do Phase I treatment, your child probably won’t need orthodontic treatment, Phase II) later, or it may be less difficult later. Lie! 6) If you don’t do Phase I treatment, extractions may be necessary later, when the permanent teeth erupt. Lie! Thanks. 7) Do not start orthodontic treatment if you are moving off the island in the very near future. Good luck Dr. Hook

I know, my mom said you should not use the word “hate.” But I really hate social media. Here are the reasons why: 1) You can’t believe everything on the internet. Yelp, Google and Facebook reviews are full of lies. I long for days of old where word of mouth referrals were the gold standard. Paying fees to SEO and consultants are supposed to help place your company on the first few pages of an online search. You can see this when doctors have hundreds on online reviews. It is very common to pay for reviews. I have a tough time getting a few and when a fabulous review is submitted I have noticed that some have been deleted. 2) “Dig a Pony” by The Beatles Well if you write me a great review on my waiting room computer, your son or daughter could win a pony. Attorney's call that “quid pro quo.” 3) Years ago, it was against the ethical bylaws of many local dental societies to even place an ad in the phone book. Look how far we have come. I do have a website with an SEO compan...

Summer is officially here in Oahu! That means summer vacation, kids are at home and some free time for your family. Summer is the perfect time to schedule orthodontic appointments or to begin treatment. Summer can also be a hard time to keep up with oral hygiene routines. According to a nationwide survey by Delta Dental, nearly 30% of parents say summer vacation is the most difficult time to get their children to keep up good oral health. Here are three tips to help keep your smile and teeth healthy all summer long. Replace Your Toothbrush - Toothbrushes should be replaced every 3-4 months, so summer is the perfect opportunity to get a new one. A new toothbrush will help you ensure your teeth are being brushed and cleaned properly. Stock Healthy Snacks - With kids at home and some free time, sugary treats are bound to end up in our diet. Stay ahead of the curve and stock some healthy snacks such as fruits and vegetables already cut up and within reach. Additionally, avoid sugar...

June is Oral Health Month. A good oral hygiene routine is the foundation of a healthy smile, especially for young children. For parents, leading by example should establish healthy habits like brushing, cleaning between your teeth and seeing your dentist. This ultimately leads to the big difference in the health and happiness of your entire family and in children, fewer fears about visiting their dentist. Here are 2 tips from the American Dental Association that are a great reminder to enforce. Start a Routine and Stick to It: You may be tempted to let your child skip brushing after a long day or during times when your normal schedule is off (like a vacation), but keep at it. The more second nature brushing becomes the easier it will be to make sure your child is brushing twice a day for two minutes. Kids Need to Floss: It doesn't matter if you clean between ​your child's teeth before or after they brush as long as you clean between any teeth that touch. You can use chi...

Did you know from the ages of 7 to 11 years old, children are most vulnerable to sports related mouth injuries? The importance of protecting our smile should be stressed enough and should remind our friends and community how easy it is to protect our teeth. Wearing a mouthguard is the safest way to protect your teeth while playing sports or just enjoying sports related activities. Athletes are 60 times more likely to suffer a teeth related injury if they’re not wearing a mouth guard. Here are the three types of mouth guards you can wear, especially if you are currently in orthodontic treatment. Custom fitted mouth guards - these are made by your dentist and can be molded to fit your smile perfectly Stock mouth guards - these type of mouth guards are  performed and may be a bit bulky Boil and bite mouth guards - are mouth guards that are softened by boiling water and then insert your mouth, to form to the shape of your mouth.

Why are we a most respected orthodontic practice in Hawaii for over 25 years?  We have always practiced “The Golden Rule” or the principle of treating others as one’s self would wish to be treated. Our fees are thousands less.  All transfers are accepted with reasonable fees. We have been trained in all orthodontic appliances, including Damon and Invisalign.  Call for a consultation, you’ll be glad you did. Please read the two articles by Dr. Peter Greco, Editor for Ethics in Orthodontics. 

You better think real hard and/or get a second opinion before you pay $4,000 and commit 1-2 years for Phase I treatment, then do it all over when all the permanent teeth come in. This Phase II will cost $5,000+. Total cost approximately $12,000.  That would commit a parent to take your child to the orthodontist for 3-5 years. That's about 50 appointments. Both parents and kids would be burned out when the REAL treatment is started. No thanks. None of my four children had Phase I.  Their treatment was very short and concise. Even worse would be to spend big money for Invisalign treatment for your eight year old. It is a very cool technology, but with limitations. So peer pressure from other parents and children are going to dictate treatment? Good luck. Your child won't even do their chores and you expect them to wear these things 24/7. Coolness wears off, especially after many years. At Hook Orthodontics, we run a practice, not a business. That means we place the patient ...