Every April, National Facial Protection Month strives to raise public awareness and remind parents, caregivers, coaches, and athletes to play it safe while playing sports. Hook Orthodontics would like to take the time this month to remind our athletes to wear a mouthguard during recreational and organized sports. A mouthguard is used to protect your mouth from injury when you are participating in sports.   A mouthguard is an essential piece of athletic gear that should be part of your standard equipment from an early age when it comes to protecting your mouth. Mouthguards prevent injuries to the bone and tissues around the teeth. They also help prevent injuries to the lower jaw and temporomandibular joint in the jaw. A properly fitted mouthguard may be especially important for people who wear braces. A blow to the face could damage the brackets or other fixed orthodontic appliances. A mouthguard also provides a barrier between the braces and your chee...

Choosing to get orthodontic care is a big decision for anyone. It means your ready for a lifetime change that will affect your smile in a positive way. At Hook Orthodontics, we understand and respect your reasons for wanting to improve the way you look and feel. Our practice will work with you every step of the way to make sure your orthodontic care is an amazing experience. Our office utilizes the latest technology while offering a variety of safe and gentle treatment options to give you the customized, individual care you deserve. We often get asked a lot of great questions on orthodontic care and treatment. We love educating our patients on what to expect and the benefits of orthodontic treatment, which will ultimately bring a brand new beautiful smile. We have also seen a lot of false information on orthodontic treatment. Some are rumors heard by someone else, others are myths that have been told long ago, passed around and believed to be true (which are not true). Here are a ...

What is an Orthodontist?  An orthodontist is a dental specialist in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. Orthodontists must first attend college, followed by a four-year graduate dental program at a university level dental school accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA). They must then successfully complete an additional two to three-year residency program of advanced dental education in orthodontics accredited by the ADA. Only dentists who have successfully completed this advanced specialty education may become an orthodontist. What Causes Orthodontic Problems? Most malocclusions are inherited, but some are acquired. Inherited problems include crowding of teeth, too much space between teeth, extra teeth, congenially missing teeth and a wide range of discrepancies of the jaws, teeth and face. Acquired problems can be caused by trauma; thumb or finger sucking; airway obstruction by tonsils and adenoids; premature loss of b...

Our smiles are uniquely ours. However so is our bite. “In orthodontics, “bite” refers to the way the upper and lower teeth come together. A bad bite, called a “malocclusion,” happens when teeth meet improperly, or they don’t meet at all,” according to the American Association of Orthodontist. There are various bites that affect how we speak, eat and our overall mouth. Two common bites, orthodontic treatment can fix is a crossbite and underbite. A crossbite occurs when the upper teeth fit inside of lower teeth. Can be caused by misalignment of teeth or a misalignment of the bone; can affect a single tooth or groups of teeth. Your jaw may shift to one side if not corrected and wears down on your tooth enamel. An underbite happens when the lower jaw sits in front of the upper jaw. An underbite impacts tooth wear and adds a stress on your jaw joints. Through orthodontic treatment, these bites can be corrected and help keep you healthy, beyond an aesthetically pleasing smile.

The Holidays are here and that means endless sweets and of course no school for kids. The holidays in Oahu, are the perfect time to celebrate with family and also a time where we can slip up on certain foods to avoid, especially if we have braces. From sugar to cookies to gingerbread houses, there is no end in the sweet treats. Here are three foods to avoid this holiday season. 1. Candy Canes: These beautiful perfect treats are one to avoid this season if you have braces. The hard candy could damage your braces and the stickiness of the peppermint candy can get stuck in between your orthodontic appliances. 2. Popcorn: If you string popcorn around your tree, you know this how involves eating the popcorn as well. Popcorn is a great treat, however, you may want to stay away from it this year. Popcorn is notorious for getting stuck in between teeth and your braces. 3. Caramel Sweets Who doesn’t love the sweet caramel treats this time of year. From caramel apple to caramel drizzled...

At Hook Orthodontics, you can expect a professional team that will never take you for granted. Our staff is here to help you and your family get the care you deserve. We are highly trained in our area of service and attend continuing education courses to stay current with the latest treatment procedures, techniques and technology. We work as a team to create a warm and caring environment with an emphasis on you, the patient. The adhesive used to attach the braces to your teeth cures rapidly but takes several hours to completely cure. You can eat any time after leaving our office, however, we ask that you remember the list of foods that may be harmful to your braces. Until you become accustomed to eating with your new braces, you may find it beneficial to follow a diet consisting of all soft foods. Initially, the braces feel like they stick out. This is normal. As you become accustomed to your braces and tooth alignment improves, this sensation will cease to be a concern. Although t...

Halloween is right around the corner! The time of sweet treats and endless candies are here. While you may have your pumpkin carved out and Halloween costumes planned out, there is one big reminder you shouldn’t forget when it comes to Halloween and your teeth. If you are in the middle of orthodontic treatment at Hook Orthodontics and wear braces, there are certain types of candies and foods you should definitely avoid. Trade them for a braces-friendly treat such as pure chocolate, a soft cookie or even ice cream. Here are three types of treats to avoid if you have braces. 1. Nut Containing Candies Nut containing treats are very popular on Halloween (and other holidays). Avoid these types of treats because they can damage your braces, causing wires to bend or break. If you have a broken or loose appliance, please call us at (808) 261-4696 to determine if your breakage is urgent and requires immediate repair. If a piece comes loose, save it and bring it with you to the office a...