Helping straighten the community — through Orthodontics
By Jon Chown and Cynthia Howe
It was a busy 2013 for Dr. Nancy Leung, DDS; just a year after opening her Orthodontics practice in Aptos located at 9515 Soquel Drive, she moved her Watsonville office to 56 Penny Lane Suite B and merged her practice with Dr. Jim Jacobson.
“It’s been going well,” she said while taking a break at her Watsonville office. “Between the two offices (Aptos & Watsonville) we’re open four days a week. A lot of patients like that. They can go between the two offices and sometimes patients will be at one office or another. Quite a few patients that live in Watsonville are going to school in Aptos, so they can choose which office to use depending on their schedule.”
Leung has more than a decade of experience in Orthodontics in such places as Minneapolis, Palo Alto, Southern California, Sacramento, and Santa Cruz County. She earned her doctorate from the University of Southern California, School of Dentistry and then continued her studies and earned a Certificate in Orthodontics and a Masters in Dentistry from the University of Minnesota. In 2007, she opened her own orthodontic office in Watsonville.
She says she loves it here in Santa Cruz County.
“The clean air, the beach and the beautiful weather, we’ve found home,” she said. “We are happy to be here everyday knowing that there is no better place to live.”
Dr. Leung treats adults, teens, and children. Treatments available include full treatment, early child interceptive treatment (Phase I, Phase II), orthognathic surgery cases, adult orthodontic treatment and Invisalign clear aligners. She offers metal braces, ceramic braces, self-ligating brackets and Invisalign.
“We do everything we can to ensure that treatment is comfortable, easy, convenient, and affordable. We also work closely with our patients to find the perfect financial arrangement everyone is comfortable with,” she said.
People visit Dr. Leung for a variety of reasons, not only because they may have crooked teeth but in pursuit of healthy teeth. A misaligned bite can cause wearing and fracturing of healthy teeth and crowded teeth can be difficult to clean resulting in decay and periodontal disease — and more adults are getting braces. They may have wanted treatment as a child, but didn’t get the opportunity, or they might need them due to new circumstances.
“It’s for various reasons and may not be just for aesthetics,” she said. “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.
However, most of her patients are younger. The recommended age for an orthodontic evaluation according to the American Association of Orthodontists is 7 years old. It’s better to be evaluated early so there are more treatment options available. She offers free orthodontic examinations so prospective patients can get to know her. She reviews the patient’s goals and expectations, takes digital photos and performs an examination.
“I like to be thorough, laying it all on the table so people are educated, informed and can visualize the plan. We discuss my findings, possible treatment options, determine the best time to start treatment, length of treatment, and financial alternatives,” Dr. Leung said.
In south Santa Cruz County the care needed can be difficult for some to afford. With two young children of her own – one in first grade and another in preschool – Dr. Leung understands. She participates in the “Give Kids a Smile” campaign, donating her time and resources to treat some patients for free. She also visits local schools and teaches dental hygiene. In recognition of her efforts for helping in the community, the Monterey Dental Society awarded her in 2010, “Dentist of the Year.”
“We teach kids how to brush and floss and the importance of dental health. 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,” she said.
She is also devoted to the environment. She uses digital X-rays that emit very low radiation, digital study models and photos, and her offices have an ingenious “chartless” method for individual client record keeping that saves paper.
“Being green is important to me, hence the green apple with braces as our logo!” Dr. Leung said. “And I drive a hybrid car.”
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Dr. Leung offers weekend appointments, various office hours and office locations in Aptos and Watsonville to accommodate clients’ schedules. Her offices are located at 9515 Soquel Drive, Suite #103, Aptos Tel # (831) 685-2800 and at 56 Penny Lane, Suite B, in Watsonville Tel # (831) 722-5022. Visit Dr. Leung’s website at: www.smilecrewortho.com