“Just as musicians bring people together with harmony, Orthodontists create overall harmony of a patient’s face.”
When you meet the new Orthodontist at ARCH Orthodontics, smile and say ‘ahn-yo ha-sayoh.’
Orthodontist Dr. Caroline Tahk, a native of South Korea who attended high school and dental school in the Boston area, is the newest member of the elite ARCH team which has eight offices from Boston to Hyannis. She will primarily see patients at ARCH’s Hyde Park and Westwood offices.
A virtuoso violinist, Dr. Tahk earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. “I was a violinist before becoming an Orthodontist,” she smiles. “I believe musicians can bring people together with beautiful harmony just as Orthodontists can create an overall harmony of a patient’s face.”
Announcing the new team member, ARCH principal Dr. Andrew Chase said, “Dr. Tahk perfectly fits our culture. She’s a positive and motivated pro.” On joining ARCH, she said, “I got such positive vibes when I first met Dr. Chase and his team. It’s a warm, family-like atmosphere. I’m so lucky to become a member of this highly-regarded practice.”
Dr. Tahk earned highest honors in both her majors, Biology and Music, at Emory University. She received her Certificate in General Dentistry at the University of Rochester Eastman Institute of Oral Health, her Masters in Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, and a Certificate in Orthodontics at the University of California – San Francisco. Her clinical experience includes bracket systems, aligners (Invisalign), and a range of high-tech appliances.
She says, “I had braces in high school and I grew up learning how an Orthodontist can positively impact someone’s life through my dad, an Orthodontist. It’s a unique specialty that can affect the overall harmony, balance and stability of the mouth, the face, and the patient as a whole.”
Dr. Tahk says, “No matter the age, I care about making positive impacts on people’s lives. For adult patients, we provide higher self-esteem and confidence through improved aesthetics. It‘s rewarding to see how their quality of life improves over the course of treatment. For kids, beautiful smiles can improve self-esteem and bring confidence and positivity, especially in the era of social media, It’s gratifying to hear patients say, ‘I can smile now without covering my mouth with my hands!’”
One of Dr. Tahk’s more interesting cases: “A high school girl had severe crowding, under bite, and multiple teeth in abnormal positions. Her self-image caused severe depression. After two years of Orthodontic treatment, there was a dramatic transformation. She noticed positive changes and smiled more. It was rewarding for me. She could not stop looking at herself in the mirror on the day she got her braces off.”
Among Dr. Tahk’s hobbies are playing the violin, attending concerts, travel, cooking, and yoga. Her favorite community activity is playing music at senior citizen homes.
ARCH Orthodontics, a pioneer with the new BRIUS behind-the teeth brace system, offers free initial consultation (a $500 value) and interest-free financing. During June, there’s a New Patient Referral Contest in which one patient will win a Provincetown Getaway. To learn more, call 781-209-6776, email smilemaker@archorthodontics.com or visit www.archorthodontics.com.
– By Stan Hurwitz / stanhurwitz@gmail.com
