2012 NJ Top Dentist Recognition!

Look who has been selected as a NJ Top Dentist for 2012! It’s our very own Dr. Chung!

We’re proud to be Edison and Union, New Jersey’s trusted orthodontic practice, and we thank you for helping to make us who we are!

If you’re looking for an unmatched orthodontic experience, don’t hesitate to contact our practice to schedule a complimentary consultation for yourself or your family! We look forward to continuing to be your trusted New Jersey orthodontist and helping you achieve a lifetime of the most brilliant smiles!

Making Your Life Better with Orthodontics

The number one goal of orthodontic treatment is to give you or your child a good bite, meaning straight teeth that work well with the teeth in the opposite jaw. A good bite makes it easier for you to eat, chew and speak. It can enhance your dental health and your overall health, and may well improve your self-esteem. As a part of your comprehensive dental health care plan, orthodontic treatment can help you retain your teeth—and your smile—for a lifetime.

Let your smile express yourself! Nothing can show the world how happy you are quite like a beautiful smile. In fact, it’s one of the first things others notice about you, too. With orthodontics, you can be proud to flash your smile, because you’ll know that your smile truly represents your positive attitude.

Make your mouth healthy! Straight teeth aren’t just pretty, they’re healthy as well. Teeth that are properly aligned are easier to clean, reducing the amount of plaque buildup and risk for gingivitis. The cleaner you keep your teeth, the longer they’ll last!

Feel free to live your life! Orthodontics is easier today than ever before, with treatment options that fit your lifestyle and schedule. We can personalize your treatment to suit all of your needs!

May is National Teen Self-Esteem Month!

At our office, we know image can be everything. At an age when image is so important, the thought of having braces may intensify the already-delicate confidence of today's teens. Well, May is National Teen Self-Esteem Month, and during this time, parents are encouraged to act as positive role models, help stop negative self-images, and improve confidence and security among teenagers.
One of the great ways to improve your confidence is to improve your smile. And that begins with a consultation at our office. After all, what better time to avoid having crooked teeth in your adulthood than coming in for a consultation?
We invite you to give us a call to schedule a consultation or ask us on Facebook!

Making Braces Fit into Your Life

When you get braces at Smile Solutions there are a few things you’ll have to adjust to get optimal results in the shortest amount of time. If you have any questions about the “do’s and don’ts” of living with braces, feel free to ask Dr. Christopher Chung or any member of our staff during your next adjustment!

Eating

When you have braces, there are a few types of food that can damage your brackets and bend your wires, leading to more appointments and longer treatment times. By simply avoiding sticky, chewy, crunchy, and hard foods, as well as foods that require biting into like corn on the cob, your orthodontic experience will be much easier.

Cleaning

You’ll never believe the amount of food that can get stuck between your braces when you eat. In addition to causing bad breath and tooth decay, it looks pretty gross, too. It’s so important to brush your teeth after every meal and floss every day, and even though it’s kind of a hassle, it’ll all be worth it in the end.

Sports

Protecting your smile if you play sports is essential when you have braces. Mouth guards help protect your teeth and gums from injury.

Orthodontic Treatment using SureSmile Technology with Dr. Chung

Through the use of SureSmile technology, Dr. Christopher Chung can offer you a "braces experience" that provides: shorter treatment times, fewer office visits, less overall discomfort, and high quality results. Our technology-driven orthodontic process offers several important benefits that make the whole "braces experience" much easier for patients than conventional orthodontics!

Here's a video that features our very own Dr. Chung explaining the benefits of using SureSmile technology with orthodontic treatment.



For a complimentary consultation, give our office a call today.

Thanks to Invisalign, you can have a perfect smile without metal wires or brackets!

At Smile Solutions, we know image is everything. For many people, the thought of having metal brackets and wires attached to their teeth for two or more years may be more than enough to delay orthodontic treatment.

If you’ve been considering straightening your teeth but are apprehensive about metal wires and brackets getting in the way of your smile, Invisalign treatment at Smile Solutions may be a great solution. Invisalign, which straightens teeth through a series of clear, custom-fit removable aligners, does so in a way that is discreet and hardly noticeable.

If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment at our office, please give us a call to schedule a consultation with Dr. Christopher Chung.

Dr. Chung has been selected as a “Top Dentist” by New Jersey Monthly, Two Years in a Row!

Smile Solutions is proud to announce that Dr. Christopher Chung has been selected as a “Top Dentist” by other dentists and appears in New Jersey Monthly magazine’s annual list of Top Dentists for 2011!

This is the second year in a row Dr. Chung has been recognized by his peers as a top orthodontist in New Jersey. For this year’s list of Top Dentists, New Jersey Monthly commissioned an independent survey of the state’s dentists by Leflein Associates Inc., a Ringwood-based research firm. A one-page questionnaire was mailed to all 6,444 New Jersey-based dentists who have been licensed in the state for at least five years (but less than 50 years). After all the votes were counted, results showed that our very own Dr. Chung was one of the dentists selected by his peers!

Congratulations to Dr. Chung, a Top Dentist in New Jersey!

The advantage of SureSmile®

Does the thought of having braces bring you down? The team at Smile Solutions understands that one of the biggest concerns for orthodontic patients with braces is the length of their treatment.

But you’re in luck, because Dr. Christopher Chung specializes in SureSmile, high-tech braces that are revolutionizing the orthodontic industry. SureSmile, which combines digital 3-D imaging, has computer-aided treatment planning and customized archwires to straighten teeth about 40 percent faster than traditional braces. The SureSmile program calculates the exact shape and pattern of the teeth and bends and cuts the braces wires, with more precision than traditional braces.

There are three steps. First, Dr. Chung identifies the initial tooth position with the patented OraScanner, a wand with a tiny camera attached. The OraScanner creates a precise 3-D digital model of your mouth, which is then uploaded into software that lets Dr. Chung view your mouth and teeth from any angle. Next, the SureSmile system allows us to create your entire treatment plan prior to treatment, using special computer software to analyze the 3-D model of your mouth and develop a custom archwire treatment. Finally, SureSmile’s robotic technology bends Shape Memory Alloy archwires, which can “remember” your prescription.

Results

With SureSmile’s specially programmed archwires, your teeth move more directly into their intended positions. The result for our patients is shortened treatment time and a more comfortable experience in braces.

Once the braces are on it’s only a matter of time before they are taken off revealing beautiful, straight, healthy teeth. With traditional braces a patient is expected to schedule 18 to 20 office visits over two years. With SureSmile, patients average seven to 10 visits and can have their braces off within half the time!

If you’re considering orthodontic treatment, please contact Smile Solutions today!

Smile Solutions' Contest: What are your plans this Summer?

The Smile Solutions team invites you to participate in our latest contest! For your chance to WIN a gift certificate to the Mall just send us your short response to the question: What are your plans this Summer?

You can email your response to Julie@wowbraces.com or print out a flyer, fill it out, and bring it in to our office the next time you visit and you'll be entered into the drawing. To print out a flyer for our Edison location, CLICK HERE, and for our Union office, CLICK HERE.

If you have any more questions about the contest, please give us a call. We look forward to reading about your summer plans!

The Dangers of Texting While Driving, from Smile Solutions

May is National Youth Traffic Safety Month and our team at Smile Solutions wanted to take this opportunity to discuss the dangers of texting while driving. According to the U.S. Department of transportation, texting while driving leads to Distracted Driving. Distracted driving is any non-driving activity a person engages in that has the potential to distract him or her from the primary task of driving and increase the risk of crashing. What makes texting while driving particularly dangerous is that it involves all three types of distractions:

Visual — taking your eyes off the road

Manual — taking your hands off the wheel

Cognitive — taking your mind off what you’re doing

Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) The age group with the greatest proportion of distracted drivers was the under-20 age group – 16 percent of all drivers younger than 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted while driving. (NHTSA)

The video below is a documentary about the dangers of texting while driving. It includes interviews with families affected by texting while behind the wheel.



Please practice safe driving!

-Dr. Christopher Chung and team

Thanks to Invisalign®, Mom can have a perfect smile, too!

Hey Moms! Focusing on your kids' teeth and oral health so much that you're neglecting your own? If you've been thinking wistfully about having your own set of perfect teeth, our staff at Smile Solutions can help! We are specially trained to offer an adult-friendly option for straightening teeth called Invisalign.

This course of treatment consists of a set of clear aligners that are molded to fit your teeth using a proprietary technology. You wear them all day and night, except for meals, brushing, and flossing – when you can easily slip them out to make eating and cleaning a snap!

Because they're clear, your teeth will be steadily straightening – and no one will know it but you!

Please give us a call to set up a consultation, so we can discuss the specifics of your treatment.

What’s on your reading list?

With the school year close to winding down for a lot of our patients at Smiles Solutions, we wanted to remind all our patients about the importance of reading. Sure it’s easy to keep putting off reading this time of year, but reading is a vital step in brain development and literacy. And if you needed any more reason to read, May marks “Get Caught Reading Month.”

Today, we thought we’d ask: What's on YOUR reading list? What are some of your all-time favorites? Out of ideas for great reads? Ask us for suggestions, and Dr. Christopher Chung and our team would be happy to provide a few suggestions. You may also ask a local librarian for some ideas on what to read next!

Happy reading! Be sure to share with us your book picks or your all-time favorite novels or literature on our Facebook page!

Vote for Dr. Chung as NJ's Favorite Kids’ Orthodontist

Last Year, Dr. Christopher Chung was voted as a Top Orthodontist by New Jersey Family magazine and the time to cast your vote for NJ’s Favorite Kids’ Docs and Exceptional Pediatric Health Care Professionals has come again. Dr. Chung and our dedicated team at Smile Solutions work hard every day to ensure that our patients’ experience with orthodontic treatment is nothing less than exceptional and we would greatly appreciate your vote for NJ’s Favorite Kids’ Orthodontist.

CLICK HERE and cast your vote for Dr. Christopher Chung and Smile Solutions.

We greatly appreciate your vote of confidence, have a great day!

-Dr. Chung and team

WIN an iPad 2!

Show the world your totally terrific teeth! Put on your creativity cap and draw, color, paint, collage, or sculpt a piece of art describing your teeth and why you love them! When you’re finished, take a digital picture of your creation, or scan it in and save it in JPG format. CLICK HERE to submit the JPG file to us. Our Totally Terrific judges will review each beautiful piece of art and pick three winners who will receive an iPad 2! Contest ends June 30th, 2011.

Good luck everyone!!

-Dr. Christopher Chung and team

April is National Facial Protection Month!

With spring here, many children, teens and adults will once again pick up the ball, bring the bat out of seasonal retirement, and lace up their cleats to hit the fields for the return of spring sports! April is National Facial Protection Month, and during this time, Dr. Christopher Chung and our dedicated team urge our young athletes to play it safe when out on the field. If you play sports and are undergoing orthodontic treatment with Smile Solutions, it's important that you consult Dr. Chung for special precautions, such as wearing a mouth guard. A protective mouth guard is advised for playing spring sports such as baseball, soccer, lacrosse and others. Be sure, however, to avoid mouth guards that custom form to your teeth as these will resist any tooth movements we are trying to achieve.

In case of any accident involving the face, check your mouth and the appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances damaged, please schedule an appointment with our office. And don’t forget to ask us — we offer mouth guards and your first one is complimentary.

Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Please give us a call if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment.

A great braces-friendly spring recipe!

Winter is over, and the weather is finally starting to get warmer. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) made an appetizing (and braces-friendly!) spring dish that is sure to delight. Remember, a healthy diet provides essential nutrients and helps you achieve the best possible result from your orthodontic treatment.

Soy Simmered Chicken Wraps

Ingredients:
• 3 boneless chicken breast halves
• 2 large onions, chunked
• Small flour tortillas (pkg. of ten) wheat or white
• (optional: 10-16 oz. of cooked chopped broccoli)
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup water
• 2 Tablespoons honey
• 1/8 teaspoon ginger
• 2 Tablespoons peach or apricot jam
• 1 Tablespoon cornstarch

Directions

In a slow cooker, or a large pan on the stove, layer the onions and the chicken breast. Allow at least three hours in the slow cooker on medium, or at least one hour on the stove—the longer the better, but you don’t have to do anything to it while it cooks. Spoon out the chicken onto a cutting board, and with a knife and fork, shred the chicken as finely as you’d like. In a small saucepan, stir all sauce ingredients together over medium heat until the mixture starts bubbling, then let it simmer for five minutes on low heat to thicken. In a serving bowl, stir sauce and onion into chicken; if you’d like, add cooked chopped broccoli. Makes about six to eight servings.

Enjoy this great spring dish and have a great week!

--Dr. Christopher Chung and the Smile Solutions team

What, exactly, is malocclusion?

Malocclusion, or what Dr. Christopher Chung calls “bad bite,” is the improper alignment of teeth and/or jaws. When your teeth and jaws are not properly aligned, it may impact your bite, the ability to properly care for your teeth, your gum tissue health and even your appearance.

Most people experience some degree of malocclusion, but it generally is not severe enough to require corrective measures. If your malocclusion is serious enough, however, treatment may be necessary to correct the issue.

Dr. Chung will tell you that untreated malocclusion can lead undesirable mouth problems, including tooth decay, gum disease, or chipped and cracked teeth. The most common solution for malocclusion, of course, is orthodontic treatment. The actual course of treatment, including the length of time you will require braces, will be determined by severity of your malocclusion. The goal of your treatment is to move your teeth into the proper position and correct any misalignment in the jaw.

At Smile Solutions, we use the most advanced technology in the field in order to ensure that you receive the best possible results. If you have any questions about malocclusion, please give us a call and we’ll try to answer any questions you may have.

All the cool kids do it!

Braces today are “cool” and—many would say—even “fun.” These were among the findings of a 2010 nationwide survey of moms whose children are going through or have had orthodontic treatment. New technologies such as SureSmile and the Damon System, advanced computer software, color options, and even popular celebrities—Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Danny Glover, Serena Williams—sporting stylish braces are making orthodontic treatment more comfortable, fashionable and cool for today’s teens.

The study, conducted on behalf of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists for February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month, found 86 percent of moms reporting that braces are cooler today than when they were children. Sixty-nine percent of moms also said wearing braces makes their children feel cool, and 81 percent reported their children’s experience with orthodontic treatment as either positive or extremely positive.

Different color options and the ability to change colors, for example, provide exciting ways for young patients to customize appearances. That enthusiasm helps them to feel good about their orthodontic treatment with Dr. Christopher Chung, and may contribute to the success of treatment.

Has your child or teen visited Smiles Solutions for a consultation? If not, please give us a call and let us help your child begin the journey to a gorgeous smile!

At Smile Solutions, what puts you at ease?

Dr. Christopher Chung and team understand not everyone enjoys visiting their orthodontist. But we strive to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each visit. We’d like to know:

What is it about Smile Solutions that makes you comfortable or puts you at ease? Is it something about our pleasant office environment? Our friendly staff or Dr. Chung?

Let us know by posting here, on our Facebook page, or by giving us a call!

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month!

Each February for the past 61 years, the American Dental Association (ADA) has sponsored National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

For kids wearing braces, brushing and flossing can become more difficult, requiring extra time and vigilance to remove food particles that accumulate on and between the teeth and in braces. New options for braces such as Invisalign Teen, which is removable, make it easier for kids to maintain good oral health during orthodontic treatment.

If the health of your teeth is ignored during treatment with braces, the results can be significantly compromised. Dr. Christopher Chung is available and happy to explain why effective brushing and flossing is one of the most critical actions needed from patients during orthodontic treatment. Have you visited Smile Solutions lately? Give us a call and schedule an appointment!