A great braces-friendly fall recipe! From Stone Oak Orthodontics

Fall is here, and sometimes we here at Stone Oak Orthodontics 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. Let us now what you think of this great fall recipe!




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!

--From Dr. Norris and staff

A few Invisalign® tips from Dr. Norris

Many people know that Invisalign is a great solution to braces if you don't want to experience the look and feel of traditional metal braces. What few people know, though, is that just like traditional braces, Invisalign requires proper care to work effectively. Good oral hygiene is highly important, even when you are wearing something in your mouth that you can take out to eat with. It's still likely that your aligners can build up plaque if not treated properly.

When wearing your Invisalign aligners, Dr. Norris wants you to ask yourself the following questions:


1. Am I eating with my aligners on? - These aligners are removable and should be taken out when you eat.

2. Am I drinking anything other than water with my aligners on? - Though it's not necessary for you to take out your aligners while you drink, think about how sticky soda is. If you take out your aligners when drinking a soda, you have a better chance of keeping your aligners clean.

3. Am I brushing before putting the trays on? - The aligners have both an inside and outside. Keeping the outside clean is easy. Keeping the inside clean is also simple: just make sure you've brushed your teeth before putting the trays on.

These are all very simple steps, and ultimately, they help to keep you building good oral habits. If you have any questions about Invisalign or your treatment here at Stone Oak Orthodontics, give us a call!

Why do you love Stone Oak Orthodontics?

Dr. Robert Norris and our highly trained orthodontic staff strives to create beautiful smiles one at a time, while maintaining a personal relationship with each patient. Stone Oak Orthodontics provides the most comfortable path to a better life through a pleasing smile and dental health.

Whether you’ve just come in for a consultation or your family has been visiting our office for years, we’d love to hear your feedback. We encourage you to tell us by heading to our Facebook page or by giving us a call!

Thank you,

-Stone Oak Orthodontics

Have you seen the sneak preview of the NEW Stone Oak Orthodontics office?

If you haven't had a chance yet, be sure to visited our Facebook page to see all of our photos from the NEW Stone Oak Orthodontics office! We're excited to open soon, so that we can start seeing patients at our new location.

Ask Dr. Norris: What can Invisalign® do for my oral health?

When considering treatment options, patients often ask us how Invisalign treatment is so different than traditional braces. Well, there are more reasons to smile about Invisalign with Stone Oak Orthodontics than you may know. Invisalign is a series of removable aligners that are nearly invisible, and besides straightening your teeth, can improve your oral health. Here’s how:

Healthy gums: Straight teeth allow a close fit for gums. This lessens the gum stress that is caused by crowded or widely spaced teeth, thus also reducing red and swollen gums.

Easy cleaning: Invisalign is removable, therefore brushing and flossing is easier and you are able to maintain a healthy mouth. These habits are vital to avoiding tooth decay, plaque and even gum disease.

Improved speech and chewing: Properly-aligned teeth don’t have the discomfort or compound speech impediments that can be caused by crowded teeth or a deteriorating jawbone.

If you have any questions about Invisalign, just ask Dr. Norris the next time you’re in for an appointment. Or, you may post your question on our Facebook page! You can also read this article for more information on Invisalign and your oral health.

Stone Oak Orthodontics announces our 2010 Patient Appreciation Party!

Have you had a chance to RSVP to the Stone Oak Orthodontics 2010 Patient Appreciation Party? If not, this is an event that you won't want to miss! We are reserving the Palladium Theater to show two different 3-D films. There will also be juggling, a balloon artist, and caricatures for all of our patients! Be sure to RSVP to the event with Ginger at ginger@stoneoakortho.com or by giving our office a call.

You're Invited to:

Who: All of our patients!

What: 2010 Patient Appreciation Party

Where: Palladium at the Rim

When: 10:00am on Saturday, September 25, 2010

Why: To celebrate all of our amazing patients!

Dr Norris at the 2010 SureSmile® Conference

Have you seen this great video of Dr. Norris at the 2010 SureSmile Conference? While learning about the new high-tech braces, which are revolutionizing the orthodontic industry through digital 3-D imaging, he was able to take a short break for some recreational activity!

Next time you're in the office for an appointment, be sure to let us know what you think of this fun video! Also, don't hesitate to give us a call if you have any questions about SureSmile or orthodontic treatment options at Stone Oak Orthodontics.

Have a great week!

-Dr. Norris and team