Wow! The Holidays!  Such a busy happy time! 

 I was reflecting on how excited some of our clients are about getting started with treatment,  transitioning to Invisalign from partial braces or completing treatment! 

 What a wonderful gift for your child,  spouse, significant other or  yourself.  A smile is a wonderful gift!

Phaedra just got her lower braces:  

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20120103_Phaedra_News_IMG_0041.MOV (2.84 MB)

Morgan just finished up with lower braces and an upper expander:

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20120103_Morgan_IMG_0037.MOV (3.42 MB)

Moana just got her braces off:

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20120103_Moana_News_IMG_0034.MOV (4.95 MB)

We are not talking about just lining the teeth up, we are also specialists in your bite.  When your bite is correct, your teeth tend to stay straight, you have less teeth wear throughout your life and your jaw joints are more likely to remain healthy!

Wishing you all a Happy New Year, full of Blessings, Smiles and a Healthy Bite!

Dr D

It all started with the biggest gift of all time: God allowing His Son Jesus to come live with us and then die for our sins.  Three days later, Jesus rose from the grave and was soon seated at the right hand of His/our Father.  He is now the supreme ruler of Earth.

When we accept His gift of saving us, he buries all our mistakes in the bottom of the ocean and wipes His memory [hard drive] clean of our mistakes.  Then He wants us to tell as many people as possible about this incredible offer.  He loves all of his children: the so-called bad and good so much that He wants every single one of us to be with Him from now on.  One day he will return and gather all who say yes and take us to a wonderful place of love as His sons and daughters.  Since God is the creator, owner and Ruler of the universe, He calls us His sons and daughters, royal priests of Daddy-God our Father.

He then proceeds to help us develop our characters through our life experiences, relationships and circumstances.

Wow, what a wonderful plan!  I guess that’s why so many people are full of joy at Christmas time!

Thank you so much Daddy, Jesus and Holy Spirit!

Joyful Christmas and May God bless you with life more abundantly in the New Year!

Dr D

I got to thinking; ‘everyone goes to Costco once a week!’    Our office is 10 minutes from Costco.  What if clients could combine their orthodontic appointment with their weekly Costco trip?  If we schedule 2 –8p on a weekday, then students could come after school or sports practice and parents could do their Costco shopping. We could also offer Sat or Sunday afternoon appointments from 2-6p.  That way, clients can go to the beach or their game in the morning and then have their braces appointment in the afternoon again while Costco is open.  Tuesday, November 15 was our first evening and this Sunday, December 11 is our first weekend appointment day.  The schedule has filled quickly.

I’ll admit for several years we were known for making people wait.  For the past 2 years we have been trying to see our clients within 10 minutes of their appointment time.  It seems to be a positive change for our clients, staff and myself.  Client frustration and irritation plus pressure and guilt on the staff have all been reduced.

In this vein, we are attempting to complete treatment of our clients within the estimated time, frequently 24 months.  Many cases are completed 4-6 months early, which makes everyone happy!

Recently, a Lahaina patient mentioned that she would need us to remove her archwires, so she could have her teeth cleaned.  She complained how inconvenient this was: 

1. Drive from Lahaina to Wailuku to have her arch wires removed.
2. Drive from Wailuku to Lahaina, to have her teeth cleaned
3. Drive from Lahaina to Wailuku to have her arch wires put back in.

She asked if we could clean her teeth.  I said since business has been slow, I’ve cleaned a few clients’ teeth for $99.  She said great!  We cleaned her teeth and she eliminated the inconvenience of steps 2 and 3. 

You may have an idea to help us become more convenient, please share it with us.  Everyone loves convenience!

Aloha,

Dr D 

November 2, 2011

 I sat by Sandee Simon at Café O Lei a couple days ago.  She and Laurie worked together at Center Art Gallery back in the 80’s.  She’s now a literature teacher at Maui High School but the conversation soon drifted to her daughter Glory.  She mentioned how thankful Glory is for her great smile and how much it has meant to her in her career as an actress in LA and New York.  She told me to check out her web site and I did….

http://www.glorysimon.com/

 I began reading her blogs.  Wow, Glory knows how to blog.   She calls them news.  I must say her gift is writing.  This stuff is more interesting than Time magazine or TV! 

 I especially liked the one: “Attention Men: Do’s and Don’ts of Online Dating.”  But even today’s news: “Now that’s a SCALLOP!”  is just as fun even though, it’s to be continued.  Even when she leaves her ear buds at the gym it turns into an adventure of which Tiffany Engagement ring she’d like to receive.

 Now what in orthodontics could be as interesting as these topics?  Yesterday, I took off Andrew’s braces.  Wow! Was he happy!

(download)

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20111028_Espiritu,_Andrew.mp4 (20 MB)

 Today I took off Rowan’s braces.   We finished her 4 months early, 20 months instead of 24.  She was happy in her quiet way.

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Click here to download:

20111029_Mulligan,_Rowan.MP4 (36.58 MB)

 My son Beau, 21y, has been living with me since July.

 It’s lunchtime again so I guess I’ll go see whom I run into today at lunch.  Talk to you soon…..

 Dr d

Ps.  I'm just learning how to post the news.  So I'm doing this one again with the two videos and a photo that I couldn't figure out how to do a few days ago.

Friday, October 28, 2011

I sat by Sandee Simon at Café O Lei a couple days of go.  She and Laurie worked together at Center Art Gallery back in the 80’s.  She’s now a literature teacher at Maui High School but the conversation soon drifted to her daughter Glory.  She mentioned how thankful Glory is for her great smile and how much it has meant to her in her career as an actress in LA and New York.  She told me to check out her web site and I did….

http://www.glorysimon.com/

I began reading her blogs.  Wow, Glory knows how to blog.   She calls them news.  I must say her gift is writing.  This stuff is more interesting than Time magazine or TV! 

I especially liked the one: “Attention Men: Do’s and Don’ts of Online Dating.”  But even today’s news: “Now that’s a SCALLOP!”  is just as fun even though, it’s to be continued.  Even when she leaves her ear buds at the gym it turns into an adventure of which Tiffany Engagement ring she’d like to receive.

Now what in orthodontics could be as interesting as these topics?  Yesterday, I took off Andrew’s braces.  Wow! Was he happy!  *  Something must have gone right, because instead of 24 months we finished in 12 months.  He said all of his friends are mad at him, because he got his braces on after they did and now his are off and they still have theirs!  Life just isn’t fair, is it? 

Today I took off Rowan’s braces.   We finished her 4 months early, 20 months instead of 24.  She was happy in her quiet way.*   What a beautiful young lady!

My son Beau, 21y, has been living with me since July.*  We just gave him his Invisalign recently.  It seems to be going smoothly.  He’s also taking 3 classes at Maui College and learning how to Kite Board.  It’s great to have him home again. 

It’s lunchtime again so I guess I’ll go see whom I run into today at lunch.  Talk to you soon…..

Dr d

Wow, moving after 20 years in one place, being a registered pack rat all made my 10 day "move- cation" a monumental undertaking.  Thanks to Beau and Dominique, Anna, David and Yvonne, Christian and Thomas, Rob, Ethan and Ariel, Dan and Jan for all your help.  Still unpacking and sorting.  Thanks to Ilsa Jencks and Josh Jerman my over the top, real estate professionals.  The Lord Gives and the Lord takes away, Blessed be the name of the Lord!  

The waiting room at Dr. D. office now has a New Wii !! game on !

For most people, a beautiful smile is the most obvious benefit of orthodontics. After your braces come off, you’ll feel more self-confident. During your treatment, we want you to feel as comfortable as possible.

http://www.mauismileworks.com