Massih Orthodontics

This year we got to have our Mother’s Day brunch in our backyard in person! ...Something we took for granted before the pandemic. So thankful to spend time with mom this year and get to speak with my mother-in-law on the phone on their special day. Happy Mother’s Day! #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #inbrace #lingualbraces #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony #profilebalancing #dentofacialesthetics #mothersday #mom #happymothersday

May the 4th be with you! #throwback #disneyland #starwars #maythe4thbewithyou #maythefourthbewithyou #maythefourth #massihortho

Did you know that orthodontists developed the measurements for profile balance used by plastic surgeons, cosmetic injectors, oral surgeons, and orthodontists? (Swipe to see just a few of many cephalometric analyses). Orthodontists are experts at recognizing profile disharmony. In fact, it’s part of our job to try to harmonize it. That’s why when you come in to see me for an exam, I may point out that you need extractions (or not), or a specific appliance, or recomme...nd jaw surgery, or filler. #itsnotjustaboutteeth #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #inbrace #lingualbraces #whitening #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony #dentofacialesthetics #profilebalancing #jawsurgery #extractions #filler #lips #chin #lipfiller #chinfiller #fillerfriday

Selfie with this lovely dental assistant who got her braces on today! I’m always so honored when someone in the dental field chooses and trusts me with their care. #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #inbrace #lingualbraces #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony #dentofacialesthetics #dentalassistant

You’ve heard of Elf on a Shelf (and maybe Hanks on Banks @elizabethbanks or Grease on Reese @reesewitherspoon), but have you heard of... ...Lassie on Massih?! #myelf P.S. Now you know how to pronounce my last name ... #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony #tistheseason #elfonashelf #rhymeswithlassie See more

Your #friendlyfriday reminder to wear your aligners, rubber bands, appliances, and retainers. Also floss and brush your teeth, and avoid sticky or hard foods if you have braces. I have spies everywhere . #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony #tistheseason #elfonashelf #christmastime

Transformation TuesdayFresh off the needle (and her lips are swollen). Notice, in the profile view how she now has a balanced profile in relation to the E-Line and a nice curve or flick to her upper lip (vs a straight line form nose to lip). #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony #lips #lipfiller

Transformation Tuesday Chief complaint: gummy smile. Diagnosis: hyperactive upper lip and upper lip curls in upon smiling. Treatment: neuromodulator (in this case Xeomin) injection to LLSAN muscle (gummy smile botox) and orbicularis oris muscle (lip flip). Result: relaxation of the muscles that lift the upper lip and the muscle that makes the upper lip curl in upon smiling. Her upper lip pulls up less and note how it’s also fuller when she smiles, so she shows l...ess gums when smiling, resulting in a happy patient and doctor! As you can see, she’s in the middle of Invisalign treatment. In the meantime, we can start addressing her gummy smile concern! Call us to schedule your Botox (neuromodulator) treatment! #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony #botox #xeomin #gummysmile #lipflip See more

For orthodontists, this is a spooky sight! Why? ...because the orthodontic glue used for braces is not made to be permanent (your braces need to be able to come off when we’re done with treatment). That means anything hard, sticky, or chewy can dislodge brackets, loosen bands, and shift wires (causing uncomfortable pokey wires). Candy to avoid with braces: Caramels Gummy bears/worms/etc... Taffy Hard candy Sticky or chewy candy (like skittles) Candy bars with almonds or peanuts Candy that’s ok with braces: Peanut butter cups Three musketeers Mounds York peppermint patties This is not a comprehensive list, but I hope you get the idea! #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #whitening #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #uofpitt #halloweencandytoavoid #halloween #candy #halloweencandy #nothinghardstickychewy #thisishalloween #spookyseason

If you have an FSA, any remaining funds in your account will be lost at the end of the year. We can help you maximize your FSA so it doesn’t go to waste! Why not use those funds to get an extra/backup set of retainers, make an extra payment on your payment plan, or finally start on orthodontic treatment that you’ve been putting off?!... (: Tiffany&Co. hourglass) #useitorloseit #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony See more

One day only! Get rid of the scaries with Boo-tox! (Plus you get to see us dressed up in our Halloween costumes ) It’s by appointment only and spots are limited. Call us at (818)507-1515 to reserve your spot. #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony #bootox #headaches #jawpain #clenching #grinding #lipflip #smilemakeover #halloween

Yes! My degree in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics is not just about straight teeth. According to the state of California, botox and fillers for certain areas and purposes fall well within the scope of dentistry. Let me explain why it makes perfect sense: 1 We know facial anatomy. In dental school, we spend months learning anatomy with a cadaver lab that goes with it. We spent a lot of time in cadaver lab dissecting and finding all of the muscles, nerves, and bloo...d vessels of the head and neck. 2 We know about precise injections. For dental work, in order to get specific areas of the mouth numb, you have to get the tip of the needle in the correct spot when you inject. Bonus: we are able to give an accurate dental block in case someone needs it for lip filler! 3 We are experts in gummy smile and orofacial pain (like headache and TMD) treatment (hello botox!) 4 As an orthodontist, it’s part of my job to get your lips and jawbones in the correct position and in harmony with your face. We practice dentofacial orthopedics. This means that we routinely improve profiles/faces in a growing patient by bone remodeling. We treat certain patients with appliances meant to improve narrow faces, mid face deficiencies, and mandibular retrusion, by moving bones (when possible). It is part of my orthodontic exam to check the facial profile, thirds of the face, smile esthetics, gummy smile, chin retrusion/protrusion, mid face deficiency etc. The goal of orthodontic treatment is not only to get the teeth straight, but also to get all of these soft tissues balanced. 5 We are trained to analyze facial skeletal angles. In orthodontic residency, we learned how to locate bony landmarks on a cephalometric Xray and the angles they form. We then perform skeletal analyses to help us make decisions in forming the best treatment plan to balance these angles and proportions. 6 We can prescribe medication. Hyaluronic acid is reversible so we can dissolve it with a prescription enzyme if needed and can prescribe antibiotics, steroids, etc. in case of adverse events. Remember, it’s important for your provider to have proper accredited training and never stop learning! See more

There are many way to celebrate #givingtuesday like volunteering, buying someone else’s coffee, donating clothes to a shelter, donating financially to a cause, or even just picking up the phone and calling someone who may be alone during the holidays. We will be donating to @armeniafund this year to help the displaced and injured people of war torn artsakh. #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony #peaceforartsakh

For the remainder of the month of October, when you purchase prescription strength take-home whitening gel at our office, 100% of the proceeds will be donated to @armeniafund to help the people of Artsakh survive this horrible war. If you are a current patient, you can just schedule a pick up time. If you are not a current patient, we will do a quick exam before dispensing the prescription whitening. SHARE and spread the word!... #massihortho #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #whitening #retainers #whiteteeth #artsakhstrong #peaceforarmenia #donate

It’s easy to think of the things we wish were different this year. For me, it’s a lot of the little things we take for granted (like I wish I could have big Thanksgiving dinner with my family and give everyone a big hug!). But today I’m thinking of all the things I’m so thankful for (and it includes YOU!). Happy Thanksgiving! (By the way, this cake was from @nothingbundtcakes in Glendale. It was sooo delicious! The ladies of the office and I picked feathers from it and ...wrote down/read aloud what we’re thankful for. It was really cute and fun! ) #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony #curls #thanksgiving #gobblegobble #givethanks #happythanksgiving

Studies have shown that teeth are the #1 feature that bullies target. I really hope people are learning to be kind and to stop bullying, but in the meantime I’m glad that orthodontics can help improve self-esteem. #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony #stopbullying #bullyingbites

Smile reveal for this beauty! (The best part of my job) #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony #bracesoff #debandday #goodbyebraces #helloretainers #bestfeeling #smilereveal

This has been a crazy year with so much going on (like a pandemic, murder hornets, record setting fires, war in Artsakh...). My big 4-0 plans got cancelled, but I’m so grateful for another turn around the sun with my health, loved ones, and practice. #thisis40 #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony #birthdaygirl #happybirthday #40

Kids who are bullied tend to have increased feelings of anxiety, changes in eating and sleeping patterns, and increased health complaints. Bullying is traumatic for young kids and issues can persist into adulthood. #standforthesilent #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #retainers #straightteeth #smile #bullyingbites #stopbullying

Transformation Tuesday Here is a frontal view of the M-shaped lips from last week. I used .8ml of HA filler. This is fresh off the needle so she’s swollen here. #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony #transformationtuesday #beforeandafter #lips #lipfiller

Mother and son giving each other moral support as they embark on their Invisalign journey! #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony

Besides being Orthodontic Health Month, October is also National Bullying Prevention Month. It’s well known that teeth are one of the things that kids get bullied for. Orthodontists are joining together to take a stand against bullying because #bullyingbites #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony

Jeuveau is a #newtox that works the same way as the Botox brand to relax muscles. I use neuromodulators (like Jeuveau) for my patients who have orofacial pain (like headaches and TMJ pain), gummy smiles, and for other areas around the mouth. (And, yes, some of these injections have cosmetic side effects like wrinkle reduction and facial slimming.) #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #facialharmony #botox #orofacialpain #clenching #teethgrinding #gummysmile #jeuveau

It’s World Smile Day! Kisses from my hubby make me smile. What makes YOU smile? (: @sararichardsonphoto)... #worldsmileday #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony #cabo See more

Transformation Tuesday M-shaped lips are one of the most challenging types of lips to fill. I recently took Julie Horne’s Lip Masterclass and learned about her technique for these types of lips. Thank you @juliehornelips for being a great teacher/lovely person and teaching me your techniques Notice that this patient had an M-shaped upper lip and longer flat philtrum, prior to her lip filler injections. ... #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony #transformationtuesday #beforeandafter #lips #lipfiller #dentistsknowlips See more

October is National Orthodontic Health Month! Did you know that orthodontics was the very first specialty? Edward H Angle founded the specialty of orthodontics in 1900. He was the first orthodontistlimiting his practice to the alignment of teeth and jaws. He also established the American Association of Orthodontists, which only admits orthodontists as members. @aao.info Nowadays, to become an orthodontist it takes more than simply choosing to limit your practice to orthod...ontics. You must complete college with dental prerequisites, followed by dental school (usually 4 years), and then complete a 2-3 year residency. (That’s 11 years of school if you’re counting!) #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony #orthodontics #theoldestspecialty #fatheroforthodontics #themoreyouknow #orthodontichealthmonth

Invisalign vs braces I’ve heard Invisalign doesn’t work as well as braces. I’ve heard Invisalign takes longer than braces.... Invisalign is only for minor issues/changes right? Wrong, wrong, wrong. I know there is a lot of information out there and it may be hard to know what to believe. I believe in evidence-based information (like scientific studies), and have my own empirical clinical data as well (experience with the nearly 1000 cases of Invisalign I’ve done). So let’s go over each of these concerns: 1) There is no physical reason or scientific evidence that braces would result in a better outcome than Invisalign in the same patient (as long as you are determined to be a candidate for Invisalign by an orthodontist who is experienced with aligners). The teeth don’t know what is moving thempressure is pressure. 2) Depending on the case, sometimes braces can actually take longer than Invisalign. 3) Although Invisalign is not just for minor cases, not every doctor is comfortable using Invisalign for more complex cases. I’ve had several patients who say other dentists or orthodontists have said they are not candidates for Invisalign. This can vary from doctor to doctor, as it really does depend on the doctor’s confidence in and experience with clear aligners. Over 80% of my patients use Invisalign, but if I think braces would be better for you, I will tell you so! #mythbusters #becausescience #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony #curls #facts #invisalignorbraces See more

It’s World Kindness Day today, and this quote really speaks to me. #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony #worldkindnessday #bekind

Your #friendlyfriday reminder that you need to floss more than once every couple of months. #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony #funnyfriday #comics #flossyourteeth #flossing

Here is a frontal view of the patient from yesterday’s post. Did you guess which areas we treated? This case is an example of what I mean when I say that orthodontists are trained to look at more than just your teeth. I look at all the angles of your face during an exam and am working towards a balanced profile and dentofacial harmony. Even though she has a good Class I occlusion (no excessive overjet or retrusive mandible) she still had a retruded chin, so I placed fil...ler into her chin to balance her profile. For overall dentofacial harmony, I topped it off with a bit of filler in the cheeks. Bonus: I also treated her masseters with Botox. As a result, she isn’t clenching and getting headaches like she used to. Due to not overworking her masseter muscles, she will also get some facial slimming in the lower third of her face. Check out yesterday’s post to see other angles of this transformation. #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignfirst #whitening #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony #profilebalancing #chinfiller #cheekfiller #botox #filler #fillers See more

Thank you for your service! I’d like to give an extra thank you this year to the Armenian soldiers fighting in Artsakh. #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony #veteransday #thankyouforyourservice

Did you know that we get daily background radiation from the earth, cosmic rays, and things we ingest? In honor of World Radiography Day, I made this graph to put into perspective how low the radiation dose is for dental and orthodontic x-rays. When you have a consultation with me, we take a complimentary panoramic X-ray so that I can get a big picture view of the health of your teeth and jaws or any hidden pathology. This X-ray is an essential part of my diagnosis process.... It’s a different X-ray than what’s taken at the general dentist’s office and therefore shows me different things. Note that the radiation dose of a panoramic X-ray is equal to one day of existing on Earth. So rest assured that when we take that X-ray for your consultation, the dose is very low (and we use a lead apron for extra protection!) so you are safe! #massihortho #discoveryoursmile #glendaleorthodontist #orthodontist #glendale #lacrescenta #lacanada #burbank #braces #invisalign #invisalignteen #invisalignfirst #whitening #zoom #retainers #straightteeth #smile #uclagraduate #gobruins #uofpitt #facialharmony #xray #radiation #themoreyouknow #xrayday #facts #worldradiographyday