A great braces-friendly fall recipe!

Fall is here, and sometimes we here at Smile Solutions just feel like a hot delicious meal is in order. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) made an appetizing (and braces-friendly!) fall dish that is sure to delight. Dr. Christopher Chung would like to remind you that a healthy diet provides essential nutrients and helps you achieve the best possible result from your orthodontic treatment.

Pasta Pomodorini

Ingredients:

• ¾ pound spaghetti or spaghetti
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• ¼ cup sliced garlic
• ½ teaspoon finely minced Calabrian chilies, or 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 pint small cherry tomatoes, stems removed, crushed between your thumb and forefinger
• Sea salt, preferably gray salt
• ½ cup fresh basil leaves, each torn into 2 or 3 pieces
• Wedge of Parmesan cheese

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta. While the pasta cooks, heat the 1/4 cup olive oil in a large skillet over moderate heat. Add the garlic and cook until the slivers are golden brown and crisp, then add the chilies and cook for about 30 seconds. Raise the heat to high and add the tomatoes. Simmer briskly to soften the tomatoes and thicken the juices, about 3 minutes. Season with salt. When the pasta is al dente, scoop out about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta. Return the pasta to the warm pot off the heat. Add the sauce and the basil and mix well. Add some of the reserved cooking water if the pasta seems dry. Transfer to a warmed serving bowl and grate Parmesan over the top to taste. Drizzle with a little more olive oil. Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings.

Enjoy this great fall dish and have a great week!

I got my braces. Now what?

We love when patients ask us that question! Now that you’re wearing braces, it’s just as important to maintain a good oral hygiene regimen as you did before prior to your orthodontic treatment.

Braces are known to trap food particles and make it difficult to brush or remove plaque, which is why Dr. Christopher Chung and our team at Smile Solutions recommend that you brush and floss after every meal. We also encourage you to use a proxabrush to help with the smaller areas where your toothbrush doesn’t reach. We encourage the use of fluoride rinse as well; ask us for a recommendation.

When your braces are initially placed, your teeth are likely to be very sensitive. You may experience discomfort for up to 3 or 5 days, which is why we encourage you to eat soft foods during that time. Remember, the less pressure you put on your teeth, the less discomfort you will have.

You may also be thinking, “Okay, so what can I eat?” We would encourage you to avoid eating sticky, hard, crunchy or chewy snacks that can stick to your teeth.

Dr. Chung and team will tell you it’s crucial to regularly check your braces for bent or loose wires and brackets. In the event of a loose/broken wire or bracket, please call our Edison or Union office immediately to schedule an appointment for repair.

Lastly, in addition to visiting Smile Solutions during your orthodontic treatment for adjustments, you should visit your dentist for professional check-ups and teeth cleaning appointments about every six months, or as recommended by your dentist.

Questions? Please let us know below or on our Facebook page. You may also give us a call!

At Smile Solutions, October means National Orthodontic Health Month!

Happy October! For those who don't know, it’s National Orthodontic Health Month. This month-long event is organized by our pals at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

Dr. Christopher Chung and our team realize that this is a great opportunity for us to raise awareness about the importance of oral hygiene. National Orthodontic Health Month also aims to recognize the dedicated work of orthodontists like Dr. Chung and other dental professionals in the Union and Edison area.

The AAO recommends patients avoid the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients:

• Caramel
• Nuts
• Popcorn (including un-popped kernels)
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Licorice
• Bubblegum
• Ice

If you have any questions, please feel free to give our Edison or Union office a call, ask us on Facebook, or ask Dr. Chung during your visit this month!

Looking for a delicious braces-friendly fall dessert? We’ve got a great recipe!

You have braces, and you’re probably wondering what to eat. You can’t have gum, popcorn or other delicious but braces-unfriendly foods. But fear not! Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have a delicious recipe that will satisfy both your sugar craving and hunger when the weather gets cold.

Apple Bombolini

Ingredients:

Rustic dough
• 9 ounces cake flour (about 3 cups)
• ½ cup all purpose flour
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• Pinch sea salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into large pieces
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoon cold water

Apple sauce filling
• 4 Granny Smith apples
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 vanilla bean, or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon water

Diced apples:
• 4 Granny Smith apples
• ¼ cup sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• ½ lemon, juiced

Directions:

For the dough: In a mixing bowl with a paddle attachment, add the dry ingredients and mix for 5 seconds to blend. Add the butter and vanilla and mix until the butter is about the size of peas. Add the cold water and blend until the dough just comes together. Form the dough into a roughly shaped ball, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.

Applesauce filling: Peel, core, and slice the apples. Put the apples with the rest of the ingredients into a saucepan. Bring to a boil, turn down the heat, and cook until the apples are very soft, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat, cool, and refrigerate.

Diced apples: Peel, core, and cut the apples into large slices. Toss with the sugar, vanilla and lemon juice and set aside.

Assemble the bomboloni: Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Roll out to1/4-inch thick round. Cut into 6-inch rounds. Place about 1/4 cup of the Apple Sauce Filling onto the center of each round. Top with a few pieces of the Diced Apples. Pull the sides up towards the center to form a bundle, pinching the dough together towards top. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour before baking

Bake the bombolonis: Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Remove the bombolonis from the refrigerator and place them on a greased or parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes. Makes 5 servings.

When should you call Dr. Chung?

Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have put together a helpful list that outlines when you should call Dr. Christopher Chung.

Here are some early warning signs indicating it’s time to check in with us:

1. Early or late loss of baby teeth
2. Difficulty of chewing or biting
3. Mouth breathing
4. Finger sucking or other oral habits
5. Crowding, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
6. Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or retrude
7. Speech difficulty
8. Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
9. Protruding teeth
10. Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all
11. Facial imbalance or asymmetry
12. Grinding or clenching of teeth

Do any of these warning signs fit you? If so, give us a call as soon as possible!

Hope this helps,

-Dr. Chung and team

Breaking Bad Habits

At Smile Solutions, we know good dental health requires only a few minutes a day. We thought we’d provide some practical advice on how to improve your or your child’s smile between your adjustment visits with Dr. Christopher Chung.

Start by brushing your teeth twice a day. Proper brushing techniques are an essential part of maintaining good oral health during your orthodontic treatment, as well as preventing gum disease. More care and time are needed to adequately brush your teeth when you are wearing braces. Brushing daily helps remove decay-causing plaque from tooth surfaces. Please consult Dr. Chung if you would like us to review brushing techniques with you or your child. The use of a mechanical toothbrush such as a Sonicare or Oral B can aid in removing plaque around braces. Flossing daily will also prevent plaque to build up between the teeth and prevent stains between your teeth. Research has shown the bacteria of gum disease has been linked to coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes and memory loss. Lastly, we encourage you to throw away old toothbrushes and replace them every 2 or 3 months, or after an illness.

We hope this helps! If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact Smile Solutions or ask your general dentist during your next scheduled visit! Or, ask us on Facebook!

Ask Dr. Chung: Now that I have braces, what can I eat?

You just got braces at Smile Solutions and Dr. Christopher Chung has informed you that during your orthodontic treatment you will want to avoid eating anything sticky, hard, crunchy, or chewy. What does this leave for you to eat? Lettuce? Nothing?

Luckily, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, created a variety of “braces-friendly” recipes that will allow you to enjoy your favorite treats without interfering with your orthodontic care!

Recipes include main dishes, side dishes and even yummy desserts! After all, a healthy diet provides essential nutrients and helps the patient achieve the best possible results from orthodontic treatment.

If you have any questions about the recipes listed or about the foods you should be avoiding during your orthodontic treatment, please give us a call or ask us on Facebook!

Enjoy!

A Beautiful Smile is Fast and Easy with In-Ovation Braces!

At Smile Solutions, we are proud to offer our patients a variety of orthodontic treatments. Today, we’d like to discuss with you the advantages of treatment using In-Ovation System Braces.

What are In-Ovation system braces?

In-Ovation braces use free-sliding technology to provide a more comfortable braces experience while achieving that beautiful smile that you have always wanted faster than traditional braces.

What’s the difference between In-Ovation braces and traditional braces?

Traditional braces use elastics and ties to hold wires into place and need to be tightened periodically. This causes slower movement of the teeth and discomfort due to friction and pressure. In-Ovation braces do not use elastics or ties and do not require tightening. They instead use free-sliding technology which results in little or no pressure while your teeth are gently moved into place.

If you are considering orthodontic treatment in the Edison or Union area, give our office a call to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Chung where he’ll be able to answer any questions you have about In-Ovation braces or any other orthodontic treatment we have available at Smiles Solutions.

Patient Referral Rewards at Smile Solutions

The highest compliment you can give our practice is to share your experience with others by referring them to Smile Solutions and Dr. Chung for their orthodontic treatment. To thank you for this courtesy, we would like to return the favor to those patients who invite their friends to join our practice. Just refer a friend and have that person mention that you sent them at their exam. Once that person begins active treatment we would like to present you with a gift of appreciation.

Here’s how it works:

• You’ll receive 15 tokens when your referral comes in for a consultation.
• When your 1st referral starts treatment, you will get an additional 15 tokens + 2 AMC Movie Tickets. And at this point your name will ALSO be entered into a raffle to WIN an iPad!! A winner is drawn every 3 months.
• 2nd referral begins treatment; you will receive a Gift Card.
• 3rd referral begins treatment, you receive an iPod Shuffle.
• 4th referral begins treatment; you get a Sonic Care toothbrush.
• 5th referral begins treatment; you’ll be the proud owner an iPod Touch!

Rules and Guidelines:

- Referral must start recommended treatment
- Outside of immediate family
- New referrals only
- Must bring in the referral form signed from the patient
- Referral must be a current or former patient

If you have any additional questions about the Smile Solutions Patient Referral Rewards program, please give our office a call or ask Dr. Chung or any member or our team during your next visit.

Why the Damon® System?

Something big is happening in the orthodontics world, and it’s no other than Damon braces, which allow your teeth to move more comfortably and easily than traditional braces. With the Damon System, achieving that perfect smile will be faster and easier than you ever thought possible.

Here’s why Damon® is better:

With the new Damon braces, we can achieve terrific results and finish your treatment faster. Depending on your case, this may mean saving many months of treatment! After analyzing your specific needs, we will be able to provide you with a treatment plan that will have you smiling soon! Because Damon braces are very precise and effective, we can reduce the need for many of the time-consuming and complicated procedures that are used with traditional braces. Because Damon braces work more efficiently, fewer adjustments are required. As a result, your appointments will be faster and fewer in number. Due to the unique design of this new braces system, we can move your teeth into their correct positions with much less discomfort than traditional braces. Also, Damon braces are small, very comfortable, and easy to keep clean.

Dr. Christopher Chung is a certified Damon System provider. To learn more about the Damon System or your treatment here at Smile Solutions, please give us a call.

i-CAT 3D Technology at Smile Solutions

Edison and Union orthodontist, Dr. Christopher Chung, uses the i-CAT Cone Beam Three-Dimensional Orthodontic Imaging System. When compared to traditional dental x-rays, i-CAT technology provides several advantages:

-Lower radiation dosage

-More precise evaluation

-High resolution images

- Detailed three-dimensional views of all anatomies such as bone, teeth, tooth orientation, tooth and nerve relation, airways and sinuses

- Less invasive procedures through increased precision, thus reducing risks for patients

Our team at Smile Solutions is constantly working towards providing the best orthodontic experience for our patients. If you have questions about the i-CAT digital imaging system, please feel free to ask our team and Dr. Chung during your next visit, or give our office a call. Have a great week!

How Does SureSmile Work?

If you're considering orthodontic treatment in the Edison or Union area, we encourage you to learn about SureSmile with Smile Solutions. When compared to conventional braces, Dr. Christopher Chung will tell you that there are several advantages of SureSmile technology, including: shorter treatment times, fewer office visits, less overall discomfort, and high quality results.

Here's a video from CNN that discusses the benefits of SureSmile and how it works:



Give Smile Solutions a call today to schedule your orthodontic consultation with Dr. Chung.

Stay Cool with a Braces-Friendly Summer Treat!

Summer is here! Kids and adults alike will now be spending more time outside being active and enjoying the hotter temperatures. And what’s better on a hot summer day than a delicious treat that will cool you down after doing something active in the summer sun? Luckily, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have just the thing, Watermelon Sorbet! You can find the complete recipe below:

Watermelon Sorbet

Ingredients

• ¾ cup water
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon lime juice
• 2 to 3 cups watermelon, diced, no seeds or rind

Directions

In a small saucepan, heat the water, sugar, and lime juice on medium high for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Chill this “syrup” at least 20 minutes. In the meantime, place the watermelon chunks in a food processor or blender and liquefy them. Add the chilled syrup to the watermelon puree and blend. Freeze sorbet in an ice-cream maker according to manufacturer’s directions. Serve immediately.

Happy Summer!

- Dr. Christopher Chung and team

June is National Smile Month!

According to the American Dental Association, a person's smile outranked eyes, hair and body as the most important physical feature, which is why it's important for our team at Smile Solutions to support National Smile Month this June.

One of ways that Dr. Christopher Chung creates perfect smiles at Smiles Solutions is with SureSmile. The use of SureSmile technology allows for several advantages that you won't find with conventional braces, such as: shorter treatment times, fewer office visits, less overall discomfort, and high quality results.

If you would like to learn more about SureSmile at Smile Solutions, please give our office a call or ask Dr. Chung during your next visit.

Celebrate National Smile Month by showing off your pearly whites! Post your favorite smile photos on the wall of our Facebook page. We look forward to seeing what you share!