Dr. Dr. Jan Yamashiro

Orthodontist

1234 Kilauea Ave Hilo HI, 96720 Show map

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Dr. Jan Yamashiro practices Orthodontics in Hilo, HI. Comprehensive orthodontic treatment includes metal wires that are inserted into orthodontic brackets, which can be made from stainless steel or a more aesthetic ceramic material. The wires interact with the brackets to move teeth into desired positions. Being advanced in the field, Dr. Yamashiro may also use Invisalign or other aligner trays that have been designed to align a patients? smile. As an orthodontist, Dr. Yamashiro must recognize various characteristics of a malocclusion or dentofacial deformity, define the nature of the problem, including the etiology if possible, and design a treatment strategy based on the specific needs and desires of the patient.

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Dr. Dr. Jan Yamashiro

Dr. Dr. Jan Yamashiro's Expert Contributions

My Answers

How should I prepare for my Invisalign?
Invisalign is typically more of a lifestyle change than a true physical change like braces are. You will have little tooth colored attachments get glued onto the surface of some of your teeth, so these can feel a little weird or sharp temporarily but you get used to them. If you want to be really proactive, you can get a dental check-up and cleaning at least 2 days before your Invisalign appointment, to make sure you won't need any dental work while in your aligners that could change the shape of your tooth and prevent the aligners from fitting. Also, you can start getting into the habit of consolidating your meals so that you only eat or drink anything besides water for a total of 2 hours a day. (So if you like to sip coffee or snack throughout the day, you will want to start developing some habits that allow you to go longer periods of time without snacking, or start carrying a toothbrush and some mouthwash around with you so you can brush and get your trays back in as soon as possible after every meal) It will be totally worth it, and these few tips will make the transition a little easier. Good luck! READ MORE
How do I know when I'm ready for braces?
In grown adults, a lot of times the best time for braces is "now"... as in, the sooner the better, because we don't get any younger and moving teeth around is easier the younger and more resilient your body is. However, you should also take into account that braces treatment typically lasts about 2 years, so you will also want to try to plan to stay living in that location for at least 2 years if possible. For children, we often try to plan the placement of braces when a child is going through a growth spurt, or as soon as needed to make sure no damage is being done to surrounding teeth. This varies from child to child, so your best bet would be to schedule a consultation witn a local orthodontist and have them give you an idea of when it would be best to take action. READ MORE
Is an X-ray required for braces?
This is a complicated question, but the short answer is "Yes, x-rays are strongly recommended if you are planning to get orthodontic treatment." When we move teeth, we are actually creating an inflammatory reaction that removes and redeposits bone around your teeth, and X-rays help us see how much bone you have, and what is located in your bone around the roots of your teeth, as well as the general shape of your roots as well. Depending on the shape or size of your roots, you may not be a good candidate for traditional braces, or you may not have enough bone to perform your treatment successfully, and may need some grafting. Some people also have extra teeth that can get in the way (that they don't know about), or other abnormalities like tumors or cysts. The risks of radiation has been greatly reduced due to the advancement in the technology behind radiographs, so many dental radiographs today expose you to less radiation than when you fly on a plane, or take a stroll in the sun. So the benefit of making sure you are being safe with your braces outweighs the risk. But if you are concerned for other reasons (like being pregnant or having already been through chemo or radiation therapy), then you can consult your orthodontist directly. Hope this helps! READ MORE
Do you need braces for underbite surgery?
The short answer is: Yes. Usually, if you have an underbite, your teeth have tried to compensate for the jaw discrepancy and have tipped in ways that somewhat camouflage the underbite. When you get surgery, your teeth actually have to be decompensated (all that tipping needs to be undone) in order for the surgeon to be able to actually put your jaws in the right place. Also, during surgery, the surgeons will often use your brackets to stabilize their stents. And after surgery, it is often necessary to wear elastics to keep the teeth coming together in the right position while your bones and muscles heal because your proprioception during this healing process is dramatically different than what it used to be (and the best way to wear rubber bands is to have braces). That may be TMI, but hope it helps! READ MORE
Can an orthodontist provide Invisalign?
Yes! Actually, orthodontists are the professionals who are specifically trained to move teeth, so they are the best people to provide you with your Invisalign treatment. Think of it this way, all the orthodontist does every day for work is move teeth. Some do more Invisalign than others, but the physics and biomechanical principals all still apply. Many general dentists also provide Invisalign, but they also do fillings and crowns and implants and maybe even the occasional denture or root canal, so they may not be getting the same extensive training and "practice" that a specialist would. If a general dentist does your Invisalign, just make sure they are doing it with the same expertise as the specialist. And this may sound self serving, but I definitely do not recommend do-it-yourself treatment where you mail in your impressions. Your orthodontist and your dentist normally work as a team, and they are both trained to look for warning signs or fix problems as they arise while you are moving teeth. If you do at-home treatment and you do not catch those problems early, you could be setting yourself up to lose teeth (most likely front teeth), and you are essentially practicing dentistry without a license, so will have no one to blame but yourself. Please see a professional! READ MORE
How long does Invisalign take?
It really just depends on your particular bite and biology, and the movements that you need to get your goals accomplished. There are also different appliances and techniques that can accelerate orthodontic treatment (whether with braces or Invisalign) so you would probably be best served to schedule a consultation with an orthodontist in your area! READ MORE
How do you relieve pain from a retainer?
This really just depends on why your retainer is causing you pain... it could be because part of it is jabbing you in the gums, or because your teeth have shifted and the retainer is putting pressure on your teeth to push them back. If there is a piece that is poking you, an orthodontist could help adjust that for you, or if your teeth have shifted, you may have to wear your retainer full time for a while to get your teeth to move back before they feel better. Also, if your teeth have shifted enough, wearing your ill-fitting retainer may actually do more harm than good... a visit with an orthodontist could help clear things up. READ MORE
Can you straighten your teeth if you have implants?
Yes and no... if all of your teeth are implants, then you will need a prosthodontist to help straighten those out (by redoing your implant crowns in a better position), but if you have one implant that is far away from your crooked teeth, then it may be possible to still make some beneficial changes. Best to schedule a consult to see what can be done... or if you haven't gotten the implants yet, hold off on them until after your orthodontics are done. READ MORE
Do you need Invisalign to fix one tooth?
Depends on how crooked that one tooth is. If it only needs to move in one plane of space and none of the other teeth need to move at all, it's possible you may be able to use a retainer instead of Invisalign, but the movement also needs to be small. If your tooth needs to move in 2 directions - say, in and turn or up and forward - then you probably need braces or Invisalign to correct, and this is often the case if you have any overlap of the teeth. A consult would help figure out what is possible, and many times you can even schedule a virtual consult these days. :) READ MORE
Can you get braces on just your front teeth?
Yes sometimes it's possible to just get braces on your front teeth... however there is a catch. If you want to straighten your front teeth, most times your orthodontist will need to have some "anchor" teeth that they use as the guideline to move the crooked teeth to, and if you want to move your front 6 teeth, you should probably also have 6 "anchors" so that the movements don't make your smile look worse. I would suggest a consult to see what is possible since the amount of "anchorage" also depends on the type of teeth you need to move. READ MORE
How long will braces take to fix one tooth?
It usually depends on how crooked the tooth is, how healthy it is, and what the other teeth around it look like. Sometimes it's more complicated to fix one tooth because of how it hits with the surrounding teeth. It's kind of like asking if you can just change one cylinder on an engine, or one tire on a 4WD car... how they function is all interconnected, but getting a consult will be a good way to find out what is possible and if it's worth it. READ MORE
Do clear aligners hurt?
I have not known aligners to have emotions but according to R.E.M. "everybody hurts sometimes..." just kidding with you :) Whenever you are moving teeth around, there is usually some level of discomfort, it can be very mild and undetectable sometimes, and other times it can keep you up at night. Everyone has a different tolerance for dental pain, and aligners tend to be more gentle than traditional braces. If you have ever gotten a seed, or piece of food, or floss stuck in between your teeth, you usually feel that same discomfort (temporarily). When you move a tooth, it's something like that feeling but it lasts for about 2-4 days then goes away. If you are concerned about the discomfort, ask your orthodontist about different ways you can remedy it (we have a few cool tools to help). In general, continuing to use your teeth even though they may be tender, is going to fare better than "babying" them, but consult your doctor. READ MORE
Can you use mouthwash while wearing Invisalign?
What are you using the mouthwash for? Mouthwash is normally meant to help remineralize and clean your teeth, and rinse/clean your gums, tongue, and cheek. So, it actually has to come in contact with those surfaces in order to work. So, mouthwash would probably work better and get to your teeth and gums better without the Invisalign trays in. But if you are just using it as a breath freshener, it won't damage the material. One thing that might happen though is the trays may get tinted the color of your mouthwash (depending on how long you swish for and what color your mouthwash is). And a lot of bad breath is caused by bacteria in the mouth, so if you have bacteria under your Invisalign trays then again, it would probably work better to take them out and get both surfaces clean. You can brush your teeth and the tray with the mouthwash briefly then rinse and put the trays back in READ MORE
Is it normal to leave Invisalign in all the time?
Yes, if you are in active treatment, Invisalign normally recommends a minimum wear time of 22hours/day in order to see results (which feels like "all the time"). You should take them out to eat and drink anything other than water, and clean your teeth/mouth before you put them back in. READ MORE
How do you brush your teeth with braces?
A video is worth a thousand words. I know this video is old, but it covers everything about cleaning and taking care of your braces and still applies today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8rOapnIJKM READ MORE
Can you get braces if you have a missing tooth?
Yes! Actually that is sometimes the best reason to get braces. An orthodontist can help you determine what might be the best way to restore any function or longevity that is lost from your missing tooth. READ MORE
Should I get braces before crowns?
The answer is: it depends... if you need to get your crowns done because your teeth are already severely cracked and may be unrestorable (not fixable) if you wait any longer, you may need to have the crown done first because braces are not a fast process... but ideally if your tooth can be temporized and just brought to a healthy point while you straighten them, then you will get more out of your crowns by completing them after your bite/teeth are aligned. READ MORE
Do retainers need to be worn all night?
If you just got your braces off then yes! It actually takes 2 years for the elastic fibers in your gum tissue to remodel, so those first 2 years after you get your braces off are your highest risk period for relapse. Follow your orthodontist's instructions on how much you should be wearing them. READ MORE
I am diabetic and have to undergo an orthodontic treatment. Will my diabetes affect my healing process?
If your diabetes is well controlled you should be just fine. In general though, adults tend to have longer periods where their teeth feel sensitive than children do, but everyone is different, and some people just have higher pain tolerances than others. If you feel like you would like your orthodontist to take it easy, just let them know. READ MORE
I am due for an extraction tomorrow and I am worried. Please help.
Extraction treatment plans can be scary and sometimes complex. If you are having doubts, get a consult with an orthodontist and let them know your concern and see if they could work with your dentist to achieve the overall best result for you and put your mind at ease. Or at the very least you will have another set of eyes on your case. Not all extractions are bad, but we understand your hesitation. Best of luck! READ MORE

Dr. Dr. Jan Yamashiro's Practice location

Practice At 1234 Kilauea Ave

1234 Kilauea Ave -
Hilo, HI 96720

Get Direction

New patients: 808-935-5228

Fax: 808-969-9117

Mon:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Tue:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Wed:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Thu:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Fri:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Sat:Closed
Sun:Closed

1717 Folsom St. -
Boulder , CO 80302

Get Direction

New patients: 303-443-3774

Fax: 303-442-6651

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Get to know Orthodontist Dr. Jan Yamashiro, who serves patients in Boulder, Colorado.

Dr. Yamashiro is an orthodontist who is currently serving patients’ dental needs at her private practice – Yamashiro Orthodontics – in Boulder, Colorado. There, she and her team of dental professionals offer the latest in orthodontic technology and treatments. The Yamashiro Orthodontics office is about 80% digital, which is friendly to the environment and improves the continuity of care and communication between the team and different medical & dental providers.

Dr. Yamashiro is originally from Hilo, Hawaii. She earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of the Pacific in San Francisco, California, where she graduated with honors. Thereafter, she went on to complete her residency in orthodontics at the University of Colorado in Denver, as well as her Master of Science in Dentistry in orthodontics/orthodontology at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. Upon completion of her residency, Dr. Yamashiro practiced in Hilo, HI for a few years. She then became homesick for the mountains and purchased the practice of Dr. Sabott and started Yamashiro Orthodontics in Boulder to continue her career. Since taking over for Dr. Sabott she has grown the clinic from 2 days a week to 4 days, and has enjoyed providing more full time services to the Boulder area.

Dr. Yamashiro is a member of the American Dental Association, the Metro Denver Dental Society, and the Boulder/Broomfield County Dental Society. She is also a member of the SPEAR study club and is a certified Invisalign® provider. Invisalign is a type of orthodontic treatment that helps to straighten teeth without the use of the typical metal braces.

Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, formerly referred to as orthodontia, is a specialty of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis, prevention, and correction of malpositioned teeth and jaws. As an orthodontist, Dr. Yamashiro is responsible for locating problems with the positioning of patients’ teeth and with their oral development. She continuously strives for better ways to treat her patients.

In her spare time, Dr. Yamashiro enjoys rock climbing with her husband, Matt, and staying fit by running, swimming, and doing yoga. She loves Hawaiian food.