Dr. Ouyang and team want to know: What are you up to in February?

It may still be a bit chilly out there, but can you believe we’re only a month away from springtime? Today, Dr. Ouyang and staff want to know: What have you done with yourself in February? What have you accomplished so far this year? Are you keeping up with your New Year’s Resolution? Do you have exciting spring break plans?

If you have any photos or videos that you would like to share with us, please send them our way or call one of our offices and ask how! Have a great rest of the week and enjoy your weekend!

The importance of wearing mouth guards while playing sports, from Dr. Ouyang

Believe it or not, dear patients, but it’s almost springtime! Dr. Ouyang knows, however, that spring months bring an increase in outdoor activities and a greater chance of kids damaging their precious mouths and pearly whites. If you play sports, it's important that you consult Dr. Ouyang for special precautions. A protective mouth guard is advised for playing spring sports such as soccer and baseball. Be sure to avoid mouth guards that custom form to your teeth as these will resist any tooth movements Dr. Ouyang is 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 First Class Braces. And don’t forget to ask us—Dr. Ouyang will provide a mouth guard for any patient in active treatment at no additional charge.

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 with Dr. Ouyang.

Access your account anytime at First Class Braces

Access to your account, 24/7. Sounds nice and convenient, doesn’t it?

Patients of Dr. Ouyang enjoy access to their account, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on our web site. You can 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! Just see what some of our patients are saying about Ortho Sesame:

"I prefer online usage because it is more convenient." ~ Tami K.

"It's another way to keep track of my schedule, payments, and potentially future plans." ~ Eric T.

"Much more convenient." ~ Deloris R.

"No one else I know has done this yet." ~ Karla B.

You, too, may sign up for this convenient service on our web site by clicking the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please call the team at First Class Braces if you have any questions!

The advantage of Invisalign Teen™ with Dr. Tracy Ouyang

Image is everything. Dr. Ouyang knows that.

At an age when image is so important, the thought of having metal brackets and wires constantly attached to teeth may intensify the already-delicate confidence of today's teens. The team at First Class Braces thought we'd remind you that Invisalign Teen™ offers a trouble-free, clear alternative to traditional braces; and not only that, but it offers them the chance to have straight teeth without losing self-confidence!

So how does Invisalign Teen work? Much in the same fashion as Invisalign, but with a few added characteristics tailored specifically to teenagers’ lifestyles. For instance, Invisalign Teen is designed with “compliance indicators” that fade from dark to light during the two week period that particular tray is used and once it has faded teens know to change trays. Each aligner comes with up to six free individual replacement aligners in case the original aligner ends up lost or broken. Another big benefit for the patient!

With Dr. Ouyang, the treatment period for Invisalign Teen varies from nine to 18 months. If your teen is considering orthodontic treatment, please contact us and we’ll answer any questions you may have about Invisalign Teen.

Happy Tuesday!

A few helpful webisodes about orthodontics, from Dr. Tracy Ouyang

Dr. Ouyang would like to point you to a few interesting webisodes about orthodontics, located on the YouTube page of the American Association of Orthodontics, or AAO.

There, they tend to post some very pertinent videos about orthodontic treatment, as well as state-of-the-art technology in orthodontia. These include "Orthodontic Treatment Basics," "Common Bite Problems Seen in Children" and "Does My Child Need Braces?"

The staff at First Class Braces think you may find these webisodes interesting, as well as enlightening. If you have any questions about the videos, or your treatment with Dr. Ouyang, please give us a call.

When should you call Dr. Ouyang and First Class Braces?

Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have put together a helpful list that outlines when you should call First Class Braces. Here are some early warning signs indicating it’s time to check in with Dr. Ouyang:



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!

Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays from Dr. Ouyang and team!

In this season given to tidings of comfort and joy, and as Dr. Ouyang and her team at First Class Braces reflect on the year that was, we’d like to ask you, our great patients: What do you love about the holidays this year? Being with your loved ones? A clean slate for 2010? Opening presents by the fireplace? All the delicious food? Also, what gift are you most looking forward to getting this year?

We’d love if you shared with us all the things you love about the holidays. Stay warm, and don’t forget to stay away from those sweets!

A great braces-friendly winter recipe! From First Class Braces

It’s chilly outside, and sometimes nothing satisfies Dr. Ouyang and her staff here at First Class Braces more than a hot meal. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) made an appetizing (and braces-friendly!) winter 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.

Best Baked Spaghetti

Ingredients
•1 lb. ground beef
•1 medium onion, chopped or 1 Tablespoon dried onion
•1 clove garlic, chopped
•3 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce
•½ cup Burgundy or merlot wine (Burgundy gives a deeper flavor)
•1 teaspoon dried oregano
•1 Tablespoon sugar
•½ teaspoon salt
•½ cup grated American cheese, about 4 slices, or ½ cup grated mild cheddar cheese
•½ lb. dry spaghetti, broken in half

Directions
Preheat oven to 350°. In a large no-stick frying pan or Dutch over, sauté meat, onion and garlic. Add tomato sauce, wine, oregano, sugar and salt. Simmer, cover, 1 hour, stirring occasionally. (It really makes a difference if you can take this amount of time! Otherwise 20 minutes will serve to heat everything.) Cook spaghetti and drain. Put half the spaghetti in a greased 3-quart casserole, and then add half the sauce and ¼ cup of the grated cheese. Add the remaining spaghetti and sauce, and stir everything with a large spoon. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Best if baked for 45 minutes at 350°. Makes about six to eight servings.

Enjoy this great winter dish and happy Friday!
--From Dr. Ouyang and team

Patient reviews for Dr. Ouyang

Dr. Ouyang and her team just love getting patient testimonials. Recently, Sylvan Orthodontics and Happy Valley Orthodontics, serving Portland and Clackamas, have been getting some great patient reviews! We thought we'd share a few of them today! Happy Thursday!

"As a parent she is not invasive as the other orthodontists I've taken my daughter too. She kind, gentle and listened to my concerns. My daughter loves her office and the staff and I never have to tug her into the car to go. Her office is very convenient to the highway and our home." ~ Chris R.

"Dr. Ouyang seems to do a very good job, everyone in the office is really nice." ~ Kristen Y.

"Knows what she is doing, great office, great and friendly staff." ~ Randee W.

"The staff is always on time. Plus, everyone is cheerful." ~ Meg D.

"Her experience and ideas on how to move the teeth; the whitening at the end." ~ Karla B.

Dr. Ouyang and team want to know: What are you up to in December?

December is here, and, believe it or not, we’re almost in full holiday mode! Dr. Ouyang and her team want to know: What are you doing in December? Any big holiday plans? Anything exciting in your life?

If you have any photos or videos that you would like to share with us, please send them our way or call our offices and ask how! We also hope you all had a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Have a great rest of the week!

--The team at First Class Braces

Be careful, Dr. Ouyang says: Gum disease can sneak up on you!

It’s easy to tell when you have a cavity; but unfortunately, gum disease can exist in your mouth without you even knowing. In fact, you can have the beginning stages of gum disease without noticing any pain or discomfort. Since gum disease can be undetectable, it’s important to watch for warning signs in order to prevent the disease from worsening!

Signs to watch for:

•Gums that appear red or swollen
•Gums that feel tender
•Gums that bleed easily (during brushing or flossing)
•Gums that recede or pull away from the teeth
•Persistent bad breath
•Loose teeth
•Any change in the way teeth come together in the biting position
•Any change in the way partial dentures fit

If you or someone in your family is showing these signs, schedule an appointment with us right away! We can diagnose the problem and begin treatment to save your teeth and give you back a healthy mouth!

Hope this helps! Dr. Ouyang

How is Dr. Ouyang doing? Let us know!

Whether you have visited Sylvan Orthodontics or Happy Valley Orthodontics for a week or for years, we’d love to hear your feedback about your experience with Dr. Ouyang and team! Now with the Internet, it’s even easier to write your thoughts and share them with the world. We'd want to encourage you to write a review of us. It only takes a moment!

You can write a review here or here.

Thank you and have a great rest of the week!

--Dr. Ouyang and team