6 Reasons Why Braces Are So Much Better Now

Braces have improved since the days of headgear, and maybe even since you last got braces yourself!

invisalign, lingual braces, braces
Braces can now be minimally visible depending on the treatment

 

  1. Minimized pain – Remember dreading going to your next appointment to get your braces tightened? The pending pain almost made going to the dentist not as terrible. But, there is now this thing called “low-level laser therapy” that essentially reduces that pain. Amazing.
  2. Faster treatment – Back in the day it would take 2-5 years to get your teeth straight. The thought of all those “brace face” years made you want to start smiling with your mouth closed. But now there’s the “low-level laser therapy” and other cool ways to speed up the process. Say bye-bye to all those awkward pictures!
  3. What braces? – Invisalign has grown in popularity over the years, and there’s a reason why – you can work on getting straight teeth without showing all that metal in your mouth! A total 180-degree change from those headgear days…
  4. All that goop – One of the first (and last) steps of braces treatment usually involves getting a mold of your teeth. Putting that contraption in your mouth just welcomed a gag reflex. Now all of that is unnecessary! There are these cool scanners that can put together your teeth and bone structure with more laser-type tools. Pew pew!
  5. No more retainers! ‘m just kidding. Even with all the new technology, you still need to wear retainers after your Treatment of braces in Vancouver, so hopefully that makes you feel better
  6. Time saver – Driving to all those orthodontist appointments took a lot of time. Well, maybe more of your parent’s time. But now there are ways to speed up the treatment at home meaning fewer visits to your orthodontist! No, we’re not talking about DIY treatments here. We’re talking fully FDA-approved technology. You gotta love technology!

At PacificWest Dental, we are happy to provide our patients with modern, yet still personalized care. We aim to make sure braces don’t impede your lifestyle. We get that braces can be inconvenient so we want to make your treatment with us as easy as possible. We’d love for you to learn more here.

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Dr. Yashodhan Milind Bichu

  • Certified Specialist-Orthodontics, British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals, 2024
  • Dental Speciality Assessment and Training Program Orthodontics, University of British Columbia, 2024
  • M.D.S, Master of Dental Surgery, Goa Dental College & Hospital, Goa University, Goa, India,2010
  • B.D.S, Bachelor of Dental Surgery, MGV’s KBH Dental College & Hospital, Nashik, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, India 2006,

Dr. Yash is a Certified Specialist Orthodontist with an experience of over 14 years gained through specialist orthodontic practices in Mumbai, India and Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. He is multilingual and fluent in several languages, including Hindi, Punjabi, Marathi, and Arabic.

He completed his dental program from India in 2006 with Honors, as a distinguished recipient of the Vice-Chancellor’s Certificate of Merit for Academic Excellence and subsequently earned his master’s degree in Orthodontics from Government Dental College as a Gold Medalist of the Goa University in 2010. Being an ardent advocate of ‘Learner for Life’ philosophy, Dr. Yash went on to pursue advanced training in Lingual Orthodontics, Micro Implant Anchorage and Surgical Orthodontics at the Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea in 2014. He then completed a mini-residency stint at the UConn Dental School, University of Connecticut, USA (2017) to further hone his skills for accelerated orthodontics and clear aligner therapy.

Dr. Yash moved to Canada with his family in 2022 and completed his orthodontic specialty recertification program at the University of British Columbia in 2024, by securing the single coveted seat offered to internationally trained Orthodontists in 2023. He is also a fellow of the prestigious Royal College of Dentists of Canada- an honor bestowed to the top dental specialists in their field.

Dr. Yash believes in “Practice Passion in Orthodontics” and specializes in treating children with preventive and interceptive orthodontics, and adults with contemporary and esthetic treatment modalities.

In his spare time, Dr. Yash enjoys talking; actually, mostly listening, to his wife, Aditi, an orthodontist herself; and their chatty 6-year-old daughter, Anahita. The trio live in Vancouver and love exploring all the wonderful places, sampling the plethora of cuisines and just soaking in the resplendent beauty that Beautiful British Columbia and Canada offer!

Find Our More About Surrey Orthodontics

To find out more about the orthodontic specialties, braces for teeth and treatments at PacificWest Dental Group, please call PacificWest Dental Surrey or Vancouver offices to book an appointment. 

Dr. Yan Liu

  • University of British Columbia 2021, Vancouver, Certified Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
  • Arthur Dugoni School of Dentistry, 2004, San Francisco, Postdoctoral Fellowship
  • Pecking University, 2001, Beijing, PH.D.
  • Beijing Medical University 1997 Beijing, DDM,

Dr. Yan Liu is a Certified Specialist of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics with over 20 years of experience as both a practitioner and an educator. She has been practicing at Pacificwest Dental Group in Vancouver BC, since 2021.

She received her Doctor of Dental Medicine from Beijing Medical University in 1997 and later acquired her Ph.D. from Peking University in 2001. In 2004 Dr. Liu finished her postdoctoral fellowship at the Arthur Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco. She is now a part-time faculty at UBC Dentistry School, where she spends considerable time advancing research and mentoring students. Her clinical researches are about Assessment of Treatment Results of Invisalign and Comparison of Root Resorption Between Cases Treated with Invisalign and Fixed Edgewise Appliance.

When asked what gets her up in the morning, Dr. Liu says it’s seeing her patients thrive in life with their new smiles. She strives to explore efficient treatment modalities that serve patients well and keep her knowledge and skills updated. She also cares about the ongoing research and development in Orthodontics and how to improve the long-term impact on patients’ beautiful smiles. Her enthusiasm for her work is further evident in her active involvement in the Canadian Association of Orthodontics as well as the BC Society of Orthodontists.

In her spare time, Dr. Liu enjoys spending time with her family. She loves to golf, bike and practice yoga, too.

Professional Memberships

  • The Canadian Association of Orthodontists
  • The British Columbia Society of Orthodontists
  • The Chinese Association of Orthodontists
  • Invisalign Annual Summit Speaker

Find Our More About Surrey Orthodontics

To find out more about the orthodontic specialties, braces for teeth and treatments at PacificWest Dental Group, please call PacificWest Dental Surrey or Vancouver offices to book an appointment. 

Dr. Kevin Lee

Dr. Kevin Lee

  • University of British Columbia 2015 Combined MSc and Diploma in Orthodontics, Vancouver, BC
  • University of British Columbia 2011 DMD, Vancouver, BC
  • University of British Columbia 2006 Bachelor of Science: Biochemistry, Vancouver, BC

Born and raised in Taiwan, Dr. Kevin Lee moved to Richmond, BC with my family in 1999 when he was 15 years old. Dr. Lee received his Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry) Degree and Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of British Columbia in 2011. After spending a year working as a full-time hospital dental resident at the Montefiore Medical Center in the exciting city of Bronx, New York (Yankees!), Dr. Lee came home to British Columbia, where he spent three years at UBC to complete graduate training in orthodontics. He also earned a Master of Science degree in Craniofacial Biology for his study of Dentofacial Morphology in Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Dr. Lee is a certified specialist in Orthodontics, a fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada, and diplomat of the American Board of Orthodontics. Dr. Lee is also a director of the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce in BC.

Dr. Lee lives in Richmond with his wife Dr. Sherry Liu, a local family dentist, and their two kids. In his spare time, Dr. Lee enjoys photography, cooking, movies, and spending time with families and friends. He also volunteers at Willingdon Church as photographer and First Aid Responder.

“The unique combination of art, mechanics, and science required to treat every patient is what made orthodontics fascinating to me. Because every smile and patient is unique and different, a customized treatment plan is formed for each person to provide a balance between function, aesthetic, and health. As a board-certified orthodontist, I am passionate in updating myself with the most advanced knowledge and skill to provide quicker, easier, and most predictable treatment options for my patients. I am excited for the opportunities to meet with every one of my patients to share my knowledge, skill, and passion in orthodontics, and to form a long lasting partnership with them.”

Find Our More About Surrey Orthodontics

To find out more about the orthodontic specialties, braces for teeth and treatments at PacificWest Dental Group, please call PacificWest Dental Surrey or Vancouver offices to book an appointment. 

Dr. Cheng Lun Wang

  • DDS. Doctor of Dental surgery, University of Western Onterio, 1989
  • MSc. University of Manitoba 1994
  • Cert. of Orthodontics, University of Manitoba 1994

Orthodontic specialist, Dr. Wang, is the founder and sole-proprietor of PacificWest Orthodontics and Dental Group in Surrey and Vancouver. Dr. Cheng Lun Wang graduated with a degree in Dental Surgery from the University of Western Ontario in 1989.

After graduation, he completed an internship with the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, transitioning later into a full-time position with the I.W.K. Hospital for Children in Halifax and specializing as a pediatric orthodontist. During this time, Dr. Wang continued to teach undergraduate dental students from Dalhousie University, while also building a part-time private practice in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

Dr. Wang entered the orthodontic program at the University of Manitoba in 1991. After three years of intensive Clinical Orthodontic training, he earned a Masters of Science degree in Craniofacial Biology in 1994.

An enthusiasm for continuing education has led Dr. Wang to share his years of professional experience on Orthodontic and Pediatric dentistry at various lectures and professional presentations throughout Canada. In addition to actively practicing lingual and labial Orthodontics in his private clinics, he also serves as a clinical instructor at the University of British Columbia (UBC) School of Dentistry. His clinical research has been published in the Journal of Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, and Oral Pathology.

Dr. Wang’s primary focus is working directly with you to meet your specific orthodontic needs. Working with his orthodontic associates and support team, Dr. Wang practices out of two PacificWest Dental Group clinics – one in Vancouver BC and the other in Surrey BC. 

Professional Memberships

Find Our More About Surrey Orthodontics

To find out more about the orthodontic specialties, braces for teeth and treatments at PacificWest Dental Group, please call PacificWest Dental Surrey or Vancouver offices to book an appointment. 

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