Yukon Orthodontist Eager to Meet New Patients

Dental Depot

Hello Dr. Tang, thanks for sitting down with us today.

Dr. Yat Tang

Of course. Let’s get started!

DD

First, we want to get to know you a little bit. So, to jump into it, how long have you been practicing dental orthodontics?

YT 

I have been practicing orthodontics since 2020. I completed my residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and then I joined Dental Depot.

DD 

What got you interested in the field?

YT 

Part of why I got into orthodontics was my experience as a patient growing up. I felt like it really enhanced my life in terms of having a good smile and good hygiene and also just the confidence that comes along with it. I think it’s a huge self-esteem boost, especially for younger patients.

DD 

So, what’s your favorite part of orthodontics?

YT 

My favorite part is working with the patients, getting to know them, and understanding what their desired results are and how we can work together to achieve their best smiles. I love being part of their journey.

DD 

Absolutely! So, about Yukon Ortho. What do you think Dental Depot does differently? Or maybe even better than some of the other local orthodontics?

YT 

I think the main advantage of Dental Depot is that, because we offer dental services and orthodontic services, it makes our patients’ experience much simpler in terms of just coordinating the appointments. If they need dental care like fillings or crowns, we have dentists on the other side of our office who can see them really quickly. If the dentists notice crowding or a misaligned bite, they can send the patient over to this side of the office and we can help them here.

It makes life so much easier not to have to drive around town to get the care that you need. I think that’s a huge advantage. The fact that we can coordinate with the other doctors because we’re in the same building, it’s easier to communicate with them in person about certain patients and treatment plans.

DD 

That’s great. Have you seen Dental Depot sort of evolve or change much since joining the company?

YT 

Just like in every company, it’s always constantly evolving. You know, I’ve only been with Depot since last August, so a little less than a year. We’re just watching our team members kind of grow. For us to continue to work better as a team, I think there are some positive changes that we’re seeing. It’s more the evolution of the team rather than the office, I would say.

DD 

Yeah, it’s good to see that growth in the team. So, what is sort of the patient experience like in this office? What can a patient expect when they come in for a consultation?

YT 

Oh, good question. I’d say Yukon is unique compared to some of our other locations. We’re not as large of an office, so we can take our time to communicate with our patients during the consultation, getting to know them and what they want to achieve out of orthodontics, braces or Invisalign. What are the expectations that they have? Just being able to provide enough individual care to our patients, I think Yukon Ortho is unique for that.

DD 

What are some of the benefits of orthodontic treatment? Why would someone want to get braces or Invisalign?

YT 

Obviously, there’s the aesthetic reasons, you want your smile to look nice. But I think what most people don’t understand is also very important is the functional aspects of orthodontics. Just having your teeth all fit nicely together, will make such a huge difference long term in terms of just the longevity of your health and routine. Your overall health is absolutely going to be impacted by that change.

DD 

So, what are some of the most common questions that you get from patients about treatment?

YT 

Common questions I get are the typical, which treatment is better, braces or Invisalign? How long is the treatment going to last? How many times will patients come in for a visit? All of those kinds of things.

I usually say, depending on the case, either braces or Invisalign clear aligners could be the best treatment for each individual patient. Braces usually take longer, about 12 to 18 months or more, and Invisalign treatment can be as short as 12 months. We’ll usually see patients every couple of weeks, again, depending on the case and how much work needs to be done.

DD 

What are your thoughts on at-home orthodontic treatment?

YT 

I personally don’t have as much experience with those. I’ve never used them myself and I don’t know of too many people that have used them. But what I can say is that just like any health care treatment, it’s always best to get supervised care. So, I would always advise people to seek out a professional orthodontist to oversee their orthodontic treatment.

DD 

That’s a wise choice. So which method do you personally prefer as a provider?

YT 

Honestly, I like both. It’s really dependent on what the patient’s needs are. Invisalign is great for a lot of cases; overbite, underbite, crowding, spacing, whatever the problem. And braces are pretty much the same, so it comes down to what the patient is comfortable with, price-wise, time-wise, and commitment-wise.

Also, it’s always a fashion trend. 10 years ago, when clear aligners first came out, they were new and fancy, but some people felt a little hesitant because they had no experience with technology like that. Nowadays, it is considered to be more advanced and more successful than braces.

The interesting thing is, recently I’ve been having more patients specifically requesting traditional braces, especially the younger generation. I’m sure social media has played a huge influence on young teens wanting, and there has been a trend of getting braces specifically for the look of braces. They want to have colorful bands and everything.

DD

That’s really interesting! It absolutely is dependent on what the patient wants and needs, including aesthetics.

Okay, is there anything else that you want to tell any new patients?

YT 

Yes, one last thing. I feel like, as big as Dental Depot is, at its heart, we really are just local dentists and orthodontists. We have a big support network across the state that enables us to focus on our practice and give the best possible care to our patients.

I think a lot of people recognize our brand around OKC, the train station with the big water tower, and they think we must be some big corporate chain. But in reality, we’re just a group of doctors who care about their patients.

So, I’d say to any new patients or people curious about orthodontic treatment like Invisalign, I’m excited to meet you personally and see what I can do for you!

DD 

Well, thank you, Dr. Tang, for sitting down with us today!

YT 

Absolutely! It was my pleasure. I really am looking forward to seeing new patients this coming Invisalign Day.

DD

Yes, if you are curious about Invisalign and want to find out if treatment is right for you, we have a special event coming up at Dental Depot Orthodontics in Yukon on Friday, June 30. Visit dentaldepot.net/invisalign-day-yukon to sign up for a FREE consultation with YT and his team.