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Memorial Day is not only a federal holiday in the United States, but it is a day of observance and remembrance of those who died in service. Originally known as Decoration Day, this solemn day has been marked on calendars since the end of the American Civil War as a day to commemorate both the Confederate and Union soldiers who fought and died in the war.

Marking the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, wreaths, or other tokens has been practiced throughout history, but it wasn't until the mark of the end of the Civil War that a special day was decided upon as the one to spend in remembrance. By 1890, every state in the country was observing Decoration Day. It wasn't until 1967 when the name formally changed from Decoration Day to Memorial Day, in order to encompass all fallen American soldiers in all wars and conflicts. In June of 1968, Congress moved the official date of Memorial Day to the last Monday in May in order to create a three day weekend.

Today, while there is certainly an air of remembrance on Memorial Day, it has become more a day of spending time with family, friends, and other loved ones. This day is also heralded as the start of summer, with many schools finishing for the year around this time. Our team at Kubo Orthodontic Group remembers it as a day to take solace and remembered those lost.

Traditional observances of Memorial Day are still held, and they often involve raising the American Flag then lowering it to a half-staff position until noon, and then raising it once again to its full height afterwards. The flag is lowered to remember those who've lost their lives while in service to their country, and then it is raised to signify our willingness to not let their sacrifice be in vain.

From community parades in the Fresno, CA area, backyard cook-outs, and fireworks to formal ceremonies, Memorial Day is commemorated in many different ways. No matter how you choose to spend this day, take a moment to remember those who've lost their lives in an effort to preserve our freedom.

Parent’s Point of View 

Mother Nature always wins - Mid course correction 

Just when I thought I was at the finish line; there was more. In orthodontic care, there is a dependency on Mother Nature. And as Dr. Kubo stated, “Mother nature always wins.” With our modern technology, there is an expectation for change and movement, but the unknown element is the influence of Mother Nature. It is never black and white, even with advanced technology and state of the art trays, braces, and retainers; Mother Nature is on its own timeline. We don’t know exactly how quickly or slowly our teeth will move even when we are consistent and disciplined. We can only estimate. And as I moved through this process, I learned that Mother Nature drives how long this process takes; it is the unknown factor in this puzzle of a process. 

When I was scheduled for this appointment, I did not know what to expect. When we went to the private room, it was like the first visit and it reminded me of how far we had come from the very first visit. I was pleased with the progress thus far. Dr. Kubo examined my teeth and was pleased as well. The amount of detail in the examination and next steps was methodical. There was confidence in where we were; next steps were clarified. Standards and expectations were beyond average. This was clearly the way Dr. Kubo and his office staff operated; every step of the way. Through numerous office visits and observations throughout a one-year period, it was evident that professionalism was the standard for every patient that walked through the doors. 

Although Dr. Kubo was pleased, his standard was to continue to improve. Little did I know that this was a mid-course correction appointment. Evaluate, assess, recommend. The evaluation determined that we would continue with a few more sets of trays to achieve optimal results; high standards. The assessment and recommendation was that it would be worth it to extend time and allow teeth to move with Mother Nature. Just good enough was not enough; isn’t that what every patient desires and deserves? 

Even though I knew this would mean a few more weeks of living with trays, I knew the payoff would be worth the effort. In everything we do, we need reliable evaluation, feedback and mid-course correction. And sometimes we need to recognize that Mother Nature is on its own timeline; so stay the course with patience and consistency. 

Liao Company is a Central Valley Company which offers content marketing for organizations, businesses, and corporations. www.liaocompany.com liaocompany@gmail.com 

Teenager’s Point of View 

Fully satisfied with my smile ~ couldn’t ask for a better one 

I went in again for an appointment to take my brackets off. This was a very exciting time for me because I finished my sets and was super excited about the final result. 

Dr. Kubo made it very pleasurable and easy. He said that I can continue to fine tune things and make my teeth even more straight or I can take them off. He said it does not cost anything to continue to want my smile even more improved than it was; it would just mean continuing the process. 

In the end, I decided that I was happy with my smile that I had and I got to take them off. 

It made me feel better that Dr. Kubo gave me options and I could make the final decision whether I wanted to go longer or take them off. 

I am fully satisfied with my smile and I couldn’t ask for a better one. 

The procedures for the appointment were the same. Once I got in my room I got to take my mask off and swish some mouthwash just for precautions; and then they got to work. The only people allowed to take the mask off were the patients. Everyone kept their face masks and protection on for both my safety and theirs. 

To take off the brackets, Dr. Kubo got a small drill and drilled them off. Some of them could be picked at, and they would fall right off; but he was very thorough and made sure that my teeth were nice and smooth just as before. 

The job was flawless and didn’t hurt a bit.

You can probably see how teeth straightening can make your smile more attractive, but you might be wary of how Invisalign Teen treatment works. If you’re like most teens at our Fresno, CA office, you love hanging out with your friends, and you don’t want to be different, watch what you eat, or worry about how you look. Invisalign Teen has several benefits over traditional metal braces that can make your treatment easier.

People won’t know you’re wearing them.

Invisalign Teen consists of clear trays that are virtual impossible for others to see. Chances are, the only people who know that you are getting your teeth straightened will be your family and any of your friends whom you choose to tell. You won’t need to answer to “Tinsel Teeth” and “Metal Mouth” as some of your classmates with metal braces do.

You can eat what your friends eat.

You take your Invisalign Teen aligners out of your mouth for meals and snacks, so you can eat just like you normally would. You don’t need to worry about food getting stuck in your braces or leading to a bracket popping off. Unlike with braces, you can enjoy the following foods with your friends during Invisalign Teen straightening treatment:

• Popcorn at the movies
• Trail mix with dried fruit when you’re hanging out together
• Ribs and chicken wings at a party
• Eating a peanut butter sandwich, apple, and carrot sticks for lunch

You can take care of your teeth more easily.

It would be a shame if you took the trouble to straighten your teeth and then found out that you had developed tooth decay while wearing braces. This is less of a problem with Invisalign Teen aligners because they are removable. You can brush and floss your teeth as normal just by taking the trays out of your mouth.

Getting straighter teeth can be a serious confidence-booster in the long run, and with Invisalign Teen, the treatment isn’t that bad. You can wear these clear aligners without letting people know that you’re straightening your teeth, and they won’t interfere with your diet or dental hygiene.

Parent’s Point of View 

Push through even when it is hard. 

We are knee deep in an international quarantine and the situation is hard. The ebb and flow of life is full of unexpected circumstances and this is one of them. It is a statewide mandate to maintain social distance and shelter in place has caused hardship for businesses and families throughout the world. It is hard. 

What does this have to do with orthodontic care? The correlation is at times Invisalign, retainers, braces, orthodontic bands; whatever process a person experiences is not easy and at times is hard, too. 

It is a financial investment, which is worth it, but hard. It is an investment of time, which is hard to squeeze into a busy lifestyle. I expected both of those when we started this process. What I did not expect is the physical pain. Moving teeth is not for the faint of heart. It is not that bad, but it is noticeable. The pain is not constant; it comes and goes. One tray may be tight and then the next week not as tight. There seems to be a rhythm and science to how the trays are designed. This is what is fascinating about the process; the gradual shift. 

At night, when I put in a new set it is painful since my teeth were used to the old set. But after a night’s sleep, the teeth have adjusted a bit and the pain subsides. It no longer as painful, just a slight tightening feeling; all necessary to achieve movement, correction, and needed to maintain progress. 

Everyone wants what they want, without any pain. But the reality is we have to push through, even when it is hard. We want a result, and most of the time there is pain involved. Orthodontics involves the harsh reality of pain, but it is worth it. For every person, the amount of pain varies depending on their situation, level of correction, and pain tolerance. 

23 weeks in and I would definitely do this all over again. The results thus far are excellent, and I am seeing great improvements. 

There is a level of discipline which rides alongside of physical pain; a strong mental focus, much like that of a professional athlete. The best of the best are disciplined as they push through the pain, maintain focus, and achieve the result they are seeking. No one tells athletes how painful it will be but when a person can visualize the target, they push through the pain. No one tells you how hard orthodontics will be, but if the result is a priority and within reach, then pushing through is worth the effort. 

Wearing Invisalign is not that painful, but it is good to know that your teeth are not going to move without a bit of pain. It’s not like you’re moving a piece of light furniture; in my case it’s more like you’re trying to move a heavy armoire that has not moved in 50 years; and it’s hard. It is hard to move, it is not easy, and it is a pain. 

There is a reward to pushing through the pain; in the end, the result makes the uncomfortableness worth it. Think like an athlete, stay mentally focused on the goal, remain disciplined, and do not give up moving the armoire even when it is hard. Push through. Your smile with thank you for it. 

Liao Company is a Central Valley Company which offers content marketing for organizations, businesses, and corporations. www.liaocompany.com liaocompany@gmail.com 

Teenager’s Point of View 

Sincerity towards safety ~ secure, welcoming, professional and with grace. 

My orthodontist appointment was during the pandemic. Most places started opening up so this appointment was about getting settled in and a checkup, with safety precautions of course. I have to say that Dr. Kubo was the first appointment I have been to, during the pandemic. 

I was honestly nervous about how it was going to go and how they would handle the whole situation. I must say, they handled it very professionally and with grace. 

We came to the front door with our masks on and the sign posted said to wait outside and to call when you get there. We waited patiently at the front door and called. They answered and said that a woman would come out and take our temperature and ask a few questions. 

We did so, and the woman was very well protected and it made me feel secure. We finished the check in, came in and sanitized our hands at the little clean stand. We were ushered to the back and went to a little room off the side. Everyone was in the same gear as the first woman and there were barely any patients inside. 

I can tell that they were being extra cautious with the whole process, and I greatly appreciate their sincerity towards their safety and ours. 

After the appointment, we left the same way we came in. I was very pleased with my experience with the whole thing. They accomplished a safe, but still very welcoming procedure even with a pandemic going on.