WELCOME TO OUR PRACTICE

Long Beach Orthodontics is dedicated to providing you and your family with professional and personal orthodontic care. This practice was started in Long Beach in the 1950's by the late Dr. Bertram Gerzog. Dr. Sanford Kowan took over the practice in 1977, later treating several generations of loyal Long Beach families. Dr. David Wu joined the thriving practice in 2013. After 38 years of a dedicated career and thousands of happy smiles, in December of 2014, Dr. Kowan retired.

Long Beach Orthodontics prides itself in dedicating undivided attention to every patient we treat. Our goal, is that our patients receive the highest level and quality of care possible in order to meticulously achieve a perfect smile.

Dr. David Wu and his staff look forward to welcoming you into our orthodontic family. "Brace" yourself for the orthodontic experience of a lifetime making each and every patient feel special!

DR. DAVID WU

Dr. David Wu is a Board Certified Orthodontist. He earned his doctorate degree in dental surgery from New York University’s School of Dentistry where he graduated near the top of his class and became a member of OKU (Omicron Kappa Upsilon), the National Dental Honor Society. He gained further training by completing a one year General Practice Residency at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and a three-year orthodontics specialty program at Albert Einstein School of Medicine’s Montefiore Medical Center. Originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, Dr. Wu graduated with honors in neuroscience from Amherst College in Massachusetts.

Dr. Wu prides himself in being skilled in the latest and most advanced techniques in orthodontics including Invisalign, removable and fixed orthodontic appliances, MARA, clear ceramic braces, and temporary anchorage devices (TADs).

Dr. Wu is an affiliate of the American Dental Association, the American Association of Orthodontists, and a diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontists. He is also a member of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce.

He became an orthodontist because he found the work to be fascinating and challenging. On a personal level, Dr. Wu feels that smiles are the best expression of happiness and seeing happy beautiful smiles keeps bringing positive energy into the world. He especially enjoys comparing the before and after photos to see the difference that orthodontic treatment can make. The most rewarding part is seeing all the time and effort result in the perfect smile: it’s kind of like taking a rough diamond and turning it into a gem!

As a dedicated husband and father, Dr. Wu loves spending time with his wife, Amy, and his children Aidan and Daphne. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, yoga, hiking, chess, art, golf, food and wine.

THE STAFF

Our staff members are very welcoming and personable, and they will make you feel right at home during your visits.

Fern has been in the orthodontic management field for over thirty years. She is involved in all aspects of the orthodontic practice and always enjoys meeting new patients. She welcomes them into the practice like a new “family member.” She is always available to answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding everything from office procedures to insurance questions. Fern enjoys following the progress of your treatment and is truly happy for each and every patient on their exciting debanding day.

---

Pam has been an orthodontic assistant for 11 years. She works as a liaison for the doctor and explains treatment plans to patients. She is very sensitive to everyone’s needs. Pam assists the doctor with any procedure he might be doing. She loves working with the patients and brings an enthusiasm to our team that has helped us achieve excellence in orthodontics. And if it’s your birthday, she will serenade you with her wonderful rendition of Happy Birthday to you!

---

Nicole is the newest member of our team. When she is not in the office she is busy with her college studies. Her infectious smile will warm your heart. She takes great pride in keeping the lab running smoothly and is more than eager to assist you in the scheduling of appointments. Nicole enjoys traveling and would welcome any conversation that she can talk about her experiences.

FIRST VISIT

At your first visit, you will be greeted by our one of our staff members and given a tour of the office. Initial paperwork will be completed and a complimentary, no obligation orthodontic exam will be done. During this exam, we evaluate many things relating to the face, the smile, the fit of the teeth and the amount of room for all of the teeth. This may include an x-ray and photos of you and your teeth.

You will find our examination process to be thorough and complete. Cosmetic and functional goals are tailored to the specific needs of each patient. All findings and recommendations will be explained to you in understandable terms and all of your questions will be answered. We will also review your financial options and applicable insurance coverage in detail prior to the beginning of treatment.

If a patient is still developing and is not yet ready for treatment, we will recommend the patient be placed into an observation phase where we will follow growth and development to determine the appropriate time for treatment.

We want our patients to be comfortable with their treatment plan and our office and thus your first appointment is focused on providing you with all the information necessary to make a well-educated decision on what is best for you or your child.

SCHEDULING

During the course of orthodontic treatment, it is imperative that you do not miss a scheduled appointment. Orthodontic forces must be monitored on a regular basis to insure the highest quality of orthodontic care that we can provide. We do, however, realize that some circumstances cannot be avoided, and you will occasionally need to reschedule.

In the event that you miss your regularly scheduled visit, please notify our office within 24 hours of your scheduled appointment. This will allow us to offer your appointment time to other patients. Because our most popular appointments are booked 3-4 weeks in advance, you may be asked to reschedule during school/work hours. For this reason, we encourage you to make every effort to keep your scheduled visit.

Should you arrive late for an appointment, we will attempt to treat you; however, we may not be able to complete all of the scheduled procedures. In most cases, you can be worked into an opening, assuming that all patients have been seen as scheduled. We will make every effort to work you in, but you may be required in some instances to reschedule your appointment.

When an appointment has to be rescheduled for any reason, we ask that you take the next available appointment to prevent treatment delays. Because our appointments are scheduled 3-4 weeks in advance, we reschedule appointments on a first-come-first-serve basis. If you are unable to schedule an appointment that is convenient for you, we suggest you take the first available appointment and request that you be put on a waiting list for any cancellations. If there is an opening in the schedule, we will be happy to call you.

FINANCIAL & INSURANCE

There are many different agreements between insurance carriers and their subscribers, and each contract provides a different benefit. However, orthodontic insurance generally differs from regular dental insurance in that each insured individual usually has a lifetime maximum benefit for orthodontic services. This benefit is paid as a percentage of the orthodontic fee (diagnostic records, initial fee, monthly payments, etc.) until the benefit maximum has been reached. Charges for lost or broken appliances may not be covered by insurance.

For your convenience we will gladly assist you in submitting both predetermination and initial insurance claims pertaining to charges for care rendered in our office. However, please be aware our primary financial relationship is with our patients or their families and not with their respective insurance companies. Final responsibility for collection of benefits from your insurance company rests with the insured party. Our professional services are rendered and charged directly to the patient or their family and they are responsible for payment of all fees incurred.

Know what your benefits are before treatment starts. If you are not sure, contact your insurance company so you know exactly how much you can expect to be paid and when to expect payment. If desired, we will submit a pre-treatment claim for determination of benefits for you. If you would like our office to submit claim forms prior to treatment, we ask you provide us with the name, address, and telephone number of your insurance carrier as well as the appropriate forms. Please compete the insured or employee portion of your form and sign where indicated. We cannot render services on the assumption our charges will be paid by an insurance carrier. For your convenience, we will accept payments from your insurance company assigned to us by the insured. Such payments will be credited accordingly to your account. If your company requires verification of continuing treatment, you may send them a copy of your cancelled checks or cash receipts. If your insurance carrier provides a form for verification of continuing treatment, we will be glad to complete the signature portion.

For your convenience, we accept payment by Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.

RIGHT AGE

Orthodontists today can successfully correct most problems regardless of the patient’s age. But that does not mean that the orthodontic treatment starting age does not matter. In fact it may play a significant role in the total time and expenses required for the completion of the orthodontic treatment.

Early intervention can make a dramatic impact on establishing the proper occlusal foundation. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that all children have a check-up with an orthodontist by the time they reach age 7, for early detection of any potential problems. By the age 7, some of the permanent teeth have erupted, so that most children have a mix of adult and baby teeth. At this stage of mixed dentition, we can spot potential orthodontic problems related to jaw growth and eruption of adult teeth. Some growth-related orthodontic problems are easier to correct when they are identified early…while the facial bones are still growing.

An early exam allows us to determine how and when a child's particular jaw and/or dental problems should be corrected for the optimal results. Early treatment, or phase one therapy, may be needed to create a better environment to idealize the occlusion for the patient or possibly create an environment to elevate treatment forever. An early orthodontic examination does not always result in immediate treatment. After evaluating your child, we may simply want to monitor your child periodically while the permanent teeth erupt and the jaws and face continue to develop.

Most orthodontic problems are ideally treated during this time. Usually, all or most permanent teeth are erupted and patients are at one of their most active phases of growth. This is a great time to correct most problems, as the jaws are actively growing and their growth can be most easily modified during this time. In order to minimize patient involvement during the treatment process, we will work very hard to maximize ideal treatment goals with our adolescent patients.

Healthy teeth can be moved at any age, and it is never too late to improve your smile. Our team works with all of our adult patients to achieve their individual concerns.

EMERGENCIES

Contact our office in the event of any orthodontic emergency. We will adjust the schedule to see you if an office visit is necessary.

Even though you are careful, you may occasionally damage your appliances. We want our patients to be informed of problems that may occur, and understand how to solve them, at least temporarily, until it is possible to return to our office.

Loose band or bracket

If a band or bracket comes loose from the tooth, call our office for an appointment. While a tight band or bracket actually protects a tooth from decay, a loose band or bracket is extremely dangerous and decay can occur under it very rapidly. If the band or bracket is still attached to a wire, leave it in place and apply wax if there is discomfort. If the band or bracket comes completely out, place it in an envelope and call for an appointment.

Broken archwire

If a main archwire breaks (the one that goes all the way around the outside of your braces), call our office for an emergency appointment.

Loose wire

Try to place the wire back in the tube. Place wax over it if there is any discomfort and call for an appointment.

Poking wire

Sometimes a poking wire can be safely turned down so that it no longer causes you discomfort. Try to tuck the wire back in and out of the way with the blunt end of a toothbrush, or some other smooth object. If you are unable to take care of a poking wire, apply wax and call our office for an appointment.

Lost tie-wire or elastic tie

This is not a real emergency, but please notify an assistant at your next appointment.

Soreness

Soreness during treatment is to be expected. Warm salt-water rinses and Advil are helpful in relieving soreness.

Headgear does not fit

Sometimes this is caused from not wearing your headgear as prescribed. If the facebow has been bent or if the band holding the headgear is loose, do not wear the headgear. Call for an appointment.

Accidents involving teeth

Contact our office immediately, or contact your general dentist.

---

Please remember: If you are involved in contact sports, a regular mouth guard can be fitted over your braces for added protection.

MAP & DIRECTIONS

Long Beach Orthodontics

David Wu, DDS, PC
622 E. Park Ave.
Long Beach, NY 11561
516.432.5195

REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT