Now that I have braces, what can I eat?

You just got braces and the orthodontist has informed you that over the next several months you will want to avoid eating anything sticky, hard, crunchy, or chewy. What does this leave for you to eat? Lettuce? Nothing?

Luckily, there was someone else wondering the same thing when she first got braces! Brenda Waterman, 13, decided she was going to find a way to have her cake and eat it too, so she created a variety of “braces-friendly” recipes that allow you to enjoy your favorite treats without interfering with your orthodontic care! Her cookbook, “The Braces Cookbook: Recipes you (and your Orthodontist) will Love,” gives patients a variety of delicious recipes, safe to eat with braces; plus additional tips and advice for packing lunches, what to eat at parties, and braces-friendly restaurant dishes! There’s even a section with tips for dealing with the soreness that can occur when your braces or appliance are adjusted. Enjoy the foods you love – even with braces!

Here is a delicious, sneak peek recipe from “The Braces Cookbook:”

Wonderful Waffles

Forget the recipe that came with your waffle iron – this recipe will redefine fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth goodness. The secret to delicious waffles is letting the batter "sit" for five minutes before pouring into the waffle iron. Top cooked waffles with syrup, jam, fresh fruit or even whip cream. Makes about 5 servings!

Preheat your waffle iron according to the directions. You may want to lightly spray it with vegetable oil before heating.
• 3 cups flour
• 2 Tbl + 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 Tbl sugar
• 4 cups milk
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
In a large bowl, whisk (or use electric mixer on low) together all ingredients. Let batter sit for about five minutes to activate the baking powder.

When waffle iron is ready, pour about 1/3 cup of batter onto each of the four squares (experiment with your iron – you don't want the batter overflowing). Gently close the cover and set your timer as the manufacturer suggests. Do not lift the cover while they bake. When done, carefully lift one edge with a flat spatula and pull the waffle away from the iron. Keep waffles warm on a plate under a clean dishtowel while the others bake.

Thanks to everyone who attended the Stone Oak Orthodontics 2010 Patient Appreciation Party!

Dr. Norris and our team at Stone Oak Orthodontics would like to thank all of our patients who attended our 2010 Patient Appreciation Party. The event was a huge success! We reserved the Palladium Theater to show two different 3-D films, and there was a juggler, face painting, a balloon artist, and caricatures for all of our patients.

If you haven't already, be sure to check out our Facebook page to view the complete event photo album. Thanks again to all of our wonderful patients and staff who attended the Patient Appreciation Party!

At Stone Oak Orthodontics, access to your account any day, any time

Did you know that at San Antonio's Stone Oak Orthodontics, our patients enjoy access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week—all through our website? You may look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, all from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

You may sign up for this convenient service on our website by clicking on the "Patient Login" button at the top of our homepage. Please give us a call if you have any questions about getting started!

This Memorial Day, what are you up to? From Dr. Norris

Memorial Day weekend, a time for Americans everywhere to celebrate freedom and honor the servicemen and women who have paid for the freedoms we continue to cherish, is almost here. Memorial Day is also the unofficial start of summer, and for many people, getting out of town for Memorial Day weekend after being cooped up in the office or classroom brings sweet, sweet relief.

At Stone Oak Orthodontics, we know Memorial Day weekend is ripe for travel. After all, it’s almost time for a season full of vacations, adventures and great memories with family or friends. Whether you are headed to a barbecue, a camping trip, or hitting the great open roads of Texas, Dr. Norris and team would love to hear all about it!

Have a nice and relaxing Memorial Day weekend!

SureSmile in the news again! From Stone Oak Orthodontics

Does the thought of having braces for two whole years bring you down? Our team at Stone Oak Orthodontics 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. Norris specializes in SureSmile, robotic braces that have revolutionized the 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.

That means less time in braces, fewer office visits, less discomfort and ultimately greater results for you, the patient - all thanks to SureSmile's stunning technology.

This week, CNN's very own Dr. Sanjay Gupta filed a short report on SureSmile, which is becoming quite popular with our patients. We encourage you to check out the video and let us know what you think! Give us a call to learn more about SureSmile or to find out if you might be a candidate.

Happy Mother's Day from Dr. Norris and Stone Oak Orthodontics!

Our entire staff at Stone Oak Orthodontics would like to take this time thank all the wonderful moms out there for being so great during your child's orthodontic treatment. Whether it's driving your kids to regularly scheduled appointments with Dr. Norris or for "being there" while your child is in treatment, the moms who come to our office are all great, and we'd like you to know that we appreciate you all! Happy Mother’s Day to you all!

And kids? Did you participate in our Mother's Day essay contest? You still have time to write an essay and email it to us describing what makes her so special to you. One winner will be picked to receive a $100 gift card to the Woodhouse Day Spa! Please email your essays to ginger@stoneoakortho.com.

Remember, all entries must be received by tomorrow! Get those laptops out!

Enjoy your Mother's Day, moms!

Stone Oak Orthodontics, reminding you about the importance of regular dental checkups

Our staff at Stone Oak Orthodontics wants to know: is your child brushing his or her teeth twice a day? If yes, that’s fantastic! But, don’t forget that it’s also vital for your child to visit the dentist every six months in addition to brushing their teeth a couple times a day (and visiting Dr. Norris, of course). Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health. Your dentist can:

• Check for problems that might not be seen or felt
• Detect cavities and early signs of decay
• Treat oral health problems early
• Show your child how to properly brush and floss their teeth

During an oral exam the doctor will check the health of your child’s mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If your child has not been to the dentist in the last six months, it’s time for you to schedule an appointment!

Ask us for a referral to a local dentist - plenty of great ones here in San Antonio!

Essay contest at Stone Oak Orthodontics!

With Mother's Day right around the corner, it's the time of year to celebrate our moms, aunts, friends or maybe a grandparent who has stepped in to be a mom to you.

Please write an essay and email it to us describing what makes her so special to you. One winner will be picked to receive a $100 gift card to the Woodhouse Day Spa. Please email your essays to ginger@stoneoakortho.com. Remember, all entries must be received by Saturday, May 8.

GOOD LUCK!

Help Stone Oak Orthodontics support America's troops

Our team at Stone Oak Orthodontics will be accepting donations for our troops during April and May. You may donate items such as disposable cameras, playing cards, trail mix, facial tissues, candy and much, much more. For a complete list of items, please head over to our Facebook fan page!

Please help Dr. Norris and our staff Support our Troops and enjoy the rest of your week.

This April, a reminder to play it safe! From Dr. Norris

Our staff has some good news to report this afternoon (and no, it's not an April Fools' joke!). A new study at Wayne State University reports that people with big, happy smiles may actually out-live those who don’t.

Dr. Norris has known for a long time that positive emotion has been linked to both physical and mental health, but researchers at the university did something quite interesting: they used information from the Baseball Register to look at photos of 230 players who began their baseball careers prior to 1950 and studied their smile intensity (wide smile, no smile or partial smile). The researchers then compared the players' smile ratings with data from deaths that occurred from 2006 through last year. The researchers then took into account other factors associated with longevity, such as body mass index, or BMI, career length and, believe it or not, college attendance.

The results? They found that players who weren't smiling died at the average age of 72.9 years. Players with partial smiles lived to be 75. Those with big, happy smiles, however, lived on average to be 79.9 years old!

The take-away from the new study? Smile now, smile often and you might just live longer! Have you perfected your smile by visiting Stone Oak Orthodontics lately? If not, give our team a call today at 210.402.3322.

The importance of retainers, from Stone Oak Orthodontics

If you recently completed treatment at Stone Oak Orthodontics, we'd like to take this moment to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Norris will provide - or has provided you - with retainers.

After braces are removed the teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime. Here are some things to remember when you receive your retainers:

* Wear your retainers full time, until Dr. Norris tells you otherwise.
* Take your retainers out when eating...and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.)
* Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and only a small amount of toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water.
* When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case.
* Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practicing speaking, reading, or singing aloud to get used to them quicker is a good idea.
* Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, give us a call immediately.
* Try to remember to bring your retainers to your appointments at Stone Oak Orthodontics.
* Retainer replacement is expensive...with proper care they will last for years!
* Remove retainers when swimming or during any sporting activity in which the retainers could fall out and get broken or lost (cheerleading, basketball, etc.) or when you should be wearing a mouth guard (lacrosse, soccer, etc.).
* Keep retainers away from hot water, your pockets and other places where they can get damaged.

We hope this helps! You can always contact our staff by calling (210) 402-3322 if you have any questions!

Patient question for Dr. Norris: Am I too old for braces?

Of course not! Recently, our staff at Stone Oak Orthodontics read a fascinating statistic: adults getting braces has jumped 24 percent from just 14 years ago! In fact, did you know one of every five patients in orthodontic treatment is over the age of 21?

In an age—and society—where looks matter as much as anything, and at a time when evenly-aligned teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing to invest—wisely—in orthodontics. While orthodontic treatment is often associated with teens, adult orthodontics and braces at our San Antonio office can achieve amazing results for adult patients. With treatments such as Invisalign, you can have your teeth straightened less noticeably. After the initial examination and diagnostic records, Dr. Robert Norris will be able to determine the best possible treatment for your individual needs. At your consultation, Dr. Norris can outline the treatment plan, time of treatment expected, and financial arrangements. A large percentage of our patients are adults, and they agree that it's never too late to improve their greatest asset: THEIR SMILE!

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, Dr. Norris and our team would love to have you visit for a consultation. Give us a call to set one up!

The SureSmile® advantage at Stone Oak Orthodontics

Does the thought of having braces for two entire years bring you down? Dr. Robert Norris and our dedicated team at Stone Oak Orthodontics understand that one of the biggest concerns for orthodontic patients with braces is the length of their treatment. But you’re in luck, because Dr. Norris specializes in SureSmile, high-tech braces that are revolutionizing the orthodontic industry. Through the use of SureSmile's sophisticated 3-D imaging, treatment planning, and customized precision archwires, Dr. Norris can reduce treatment time compared to that of conventional braces. There are three steps. First, Dr. Norris 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. Norris 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.

Fewer Office Visits

In addition to shortening treatment times, the greater efficiency of the SureSmile system also helps reduce the number of wire changes and adjustments you'll need, and that means fewer trips to the orthodontist. The SureSmile system's 3-D software lets your orthodontist analyze how to effectively and efficiently align your teeth. Through this software, personalized archwires are designed to move your teeth into proper alignment smoothly and directly, reducing the number of maintenance visits.

Less Overall Discomfort

Anyone who has worn braces will probably tell you that wire adjustments and changes were the least favorite part of the process because they usually caused discomfort. Fortunately, the SureSmile system is engineered to maximize therapeutic efficiency of each wire, significantly reducing the number of adjustments needed. This means fewer episodes of discomfort over the course of your treatment here at Stone Oak Orthodontics.

If you’re considering orthodontic treatment, or would like to learn more about SureSmile technology, please give us a call.

Ask Dr. Norris: When are two phases of treatment necessary?

Usually patients in treatment at Stone Oak Orthodontics already have their permanent teeth – they are pre-teens, teens and adults. But in some cases we have to start treatment earlier, even before the patient’s permanent teeth come in. Dr. Robert Norris and our team call this “two-phase treatment.”

When we have patients with clear developmental problems at an early age, it’s best to start work when they are young, before the problems get bigger and more difficult to treat.

Examples include:
• An upper or lower jaw that is not growing correctly
• A mouth growing in a way that doesn’t leave enough room for all the permanent teeth to come in
• A severe malocclusion, or bad bite, which means the jaw doesn’t fit together correctly

In these cases we will start early and do one round of treatment – phase one – while the patient still has their baby teeth. Phase one usually does not involve braces, but can include a different type of appliance that helps the jaw grow into place properly. We’ll follow up with phase two usually a few years later, when permanent teeth are in place. Generally phase two involves standard braces.

In order to catch early problems, Dr. Norris recommends that children have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven (and so does the American Association of Orthodontics). However, if your dentist or pediatrician sees any sign that early treatment might be necessary, he or she may recommend your child visit Stone Oak Orthodontics even sooner.

Getting social with Stone Oak Orthodontics

At Stone Oak Orthodontics, we embrace technology, whether it’s through the innovative orthodontic treatments we offer, our high-tech web site or our interactive Facebook fan page. We love connecting with our patients online, whether it’s by sharing news on our blog or communicating ideas on our fan page. For social media to work, we understand that conversation is vital, and that’s why we invite you to join in and tell us what’s on your mind. Although social networks are hugely popular these days, our team knows they’re unpredictable and ever-changing.

While Dr. Norris and our staff take a little time to research how to best use social media, we thought we’d ask you, our loyal patients: How would you like us to use our social networks? What would you like us to share on our blog? Send us your thoughts or give us a call!

Sports and mouth guards, with Stone Oak Orthodontics

At Stone Oak Orthodontics, we know how important it is to protect your face while playing sports. The spring and summer months bring an increase in outdoor activities and a greater chance of damaging your precious mouth and pearly whites. Dr. Robert Norris and our team also know sports-related injuries are common among children. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, 70 percent of parents said their biggest worry is that their child will get hurt while playing sports.

That’s why we at Stone Oak Orthodontics are doing our part to spread the word that facial sports injuries can be avoided simply by reminding your kids to wear mouth guards. Ask us—Dr. Norris will provide a mouth guard for any patient in active treatment.

In addition, the AAO has provided the following tips for keeping your kids safe on the field. Please remind them to:

• Wear mouth guards during contact sports
• Wear a helmet
• Stretch before and after a game or practice
• Wear protective eye wear
• Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
• Be observant—even as a spectator

All of these can reduce injuries. Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Be sure to avoid mouth guards that custom form to your teeth as these will resist any tooth movements Dr. Norris is trying to achieve. Lastly, please give us a call if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment at Stone Oak Orthodontics.

Dr. Norris wants to know: What do you love about San Antonio?

Stone Oak Orthodontics, located in San Antonio and serving surrounding communities, is situated around some pretty special neighborhoods. Each is unique with its own personality, created by the people and places (and our amazing patients) living within.

Today, Dr. Norris and our team thought we'd ask: What are your favorite things about San Antonio or your community? Is there a local event you attend every year? Do you have a favorite eatery? Perhaps a favorite Texas getaway? Do you love the relatively nice weather we get year-round?

Please feel free to share some information about your favorite local hang-outs in San Antonio, and everything you love best about “your neck of the woods.” And, who knows, we might just might post your response on our social networks!

Ask Dr. Norris: Is Invisalign® really customized for each patient?

It is, and that’s part of what makes it work. To find out if you are the right candidate for Invisalign treatment at Stone Oak Orthodontics, the first thing we do is to take an impression of your teeth as they are now and digitize it. Using special software, we look at the current positioning of your teeth and compare it to the way your teeth should look.

Next, Dr. Norris uses special software to map out the exact path your teeth will take from the beginning of your treatment to the end. Based on the results, a set of custom aligners are created just for your teeth. Throughout the course of treatment, you will be required to wear these clear, removable aligners one at a time; each one moving your teeth closer and closer to their final, perfectly aligned position. And since the aligners are virtually invisible, nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Dr. Norris is a certified Invisalign provider in San Antonio. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment at Stone Oak Orthodontics, please give us a call. Enjoy the rest of your week!

What are patients saying about Dr. Norris and Stone Oak Orthodontics?

Last week, we asked you, our wonderful patients, what you most liked about Dr. Norris and our team at Stone Oak Orthodontics. Well, we received some pretty great reviews, and thought we’d share a few with you today. Please feel free to contribute your own thoughts about our office! Dr. Norris and team love getting patient testimonials!

"We were impressed with his vast knowledge and courteous personality and the friendly and efficient office staff. The time given to us and the detailed information made me feel very confident that we had made a perfect choice for our children's needs!" ~ James B.

"I am extremely impressed by everything at your office. When I walk in I am greeted by name and that really impresses me. The people who have worked on the adjustments, x-rays, molds etc have all been wonderful and Dr. Norris is amazing! I asked my dentist for a referral to a quality Orthodontist and she recommended several but stressed that she would choose Stone Oak Ortho first and I am pleased that I took her advice." ~ Lisa N.

"The office is fun to go to. Everyone seems to really like being there." ~ Angela A.

"Dr. Norris has a fantastic office with a fabulous staff (and they all have great smiles)!!!! I look forward to my visits and appreciate the great service. Thanks to all those who work so hard behind the scenes to make the doctor and the patients happy!" ~ Fawn V.

"ALWAYS ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY!" ~ Tami G.

What do you love about Stone Oak Orthodontics?

From the very first you walk through the doors at Stone Oak Orthodontics, Dr. Norris and our team strive to provide superior treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. We aim for developing a personal relationship with you, and providing you with the most comfortable path to a better life through a pleasing smile and dental health. We thought we’d ask you, our terrific patients: Have you been especially impressed by Dr. Norris? Did our team go out of their way to make your day? Do you love your new smile?

Whether you’ve just come in for a consultation or your family has been visiting Stone Oak Orthodontics for years, we’d love to hear your feedback on our networks. Or, you can tell us by giving us a call!