Happy Holidays from Wu Orthodontics!

We would like to know what is your favorite time about the holidays? Leave us a comment of a story or picture and share it with us!

Invisalign Summit 2010

A WUnderful Treat

Wu Orthodontics teams up with ME911 to celebrate and honor the men and women of the armed forces for Veteran's Day!

Bring your unwanted Halloween Candy to donate AND create a personalized care card to be sent to our WUnderful troops!

(Wu Orthodontics patients, 1 pound of candy = 4 Damon tokens, or any fraction thereof!) All candy donations will be sent to our troops in honor of Veteran's Day!

WHAT IS ME911.com: A one stop virtual safe for all your vital data, to prepare you for an emergency including medical data, identification and fingerprints.

A talk about ME911 from Founder, US Army Captain Brooks, will be followed by free child fingerprinting. Captain Brooks, a Wu Orthodontics patient, is an officer in the US Army Airborne with extensive experience in emergency field response and has served with distinction in Afghanistan, Iraq and Hurricane Katrina.

WHEN: Monday, November 1, 2010 4:30 - 7:30 pm

ACTIVITIES:
Free Child Fingerprinting
Create a personalized card for the troops
Pick up Literature about ME911
Light refreshments will be provided

WHERE: Wu Orthodontics
1865 El Camino Real Palo Alto, CA 94306
Ph: 650-322-0228

Join us for this fun event!

September is National Preparedness Month

Some of the WUnderful community events our team is involved in. In recognition of National Preparedness Month, Practice Relations Coordinator Lisa volunteered at Quakeville, a pilot program that took place at Juanes Briones Park in Palo Alto. Lisa is part of a group of trained neighborhood volunteers on emergency preparedness that came together what life would be like in a major disaster.


Quakeville at Juanes Briones Park, Palo Alto

 Highlights of the exercise included checking in mayor Pat Burt, seeing the Mobile Emergency Operations Center (MEOC) from officer Ken Dueker and testing out radio commands. The Boy Scouts and Red Cross also participated in the event to bring awareness to be prepared for any major disaster.

Outside the office, Lisa is an emergency block preparedness coordinator (BPC) and recently planned a block party in her neighborhood.

Dr. Wu finishes the Tour de Peninsula Ride

Dr. Eric Wu rode the Tour de Peninsula Ride. The main purpose of the Tour de Peninsula was to raise funds for San Mateo County Parks. Dr. Wu completed the 50 mile route. It was a challenging ride that included intense climbs and elevation that went up Kings Mountain and Crystal Springs twice.

Congratulations Dr. Wu!

Who Cares About Straight Teeth?

Straight teeth help you to effectively bite, chew, and speak. Straight teeth contribute to healthy teeth and gums. Properly aligned teeth and jaws may alleviate or prevent physical health problems. Teeth that work better also tend to look better. An attractive smile is a pleasant "side effect" of orthodontic treatment.

An attractive smile is a wonderful asset. It contributes to self-esteem, self-confidence and self-image – important qualities at every age. A pleasing appearance is a vital component of self-confidence. A person's self-esteem often improves as orthodontic treatment brings the teeth, lips, and face into proportion. In this way, orthodontic treatment can benefit social and career success, as well as improve a person's general attitude toward life.

You may be surprised to learn that straight teeth are less prone to decay, gum disease and injury. Straight teeth collect less plaque, a colorless, sticky film composed of bacteria, food and saliva. Decay results when the bacteria in plaque feed on carbohydrates (sugar and starch) we eat or drink to produce acids that can cause cavities. Plaque can also increase the risk for periodontal (gum) disease. When teeth are properly aligned, and less plaque collects, these risks decline. And when teeth are properly aligned it is easier to keep teeth clean. As for injuries to teeth, protruding upper teeth are more likely to be broken in an accident. When repositioned and aligned with other teeth, these teeth are most probably going to be at a decreased risk for fracture.

Untreated orthodontic problems may become worse. They may lead to tooth decay, gum disease, destruction of the bone that holds teeth in place, and chewing and digestive difficulties. Orthodontic problems can cause abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, inefficient chewing function, excessive stress on gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth, or misalignment of the jaw joints, sometimes leading to chronic headaches or pain in the face or neck. Orthodontic treatment to correct a problem early may be less costly than the restorative dental care required to treat more serious problems that can develop in later years.

Dr. Eric Wu teaches at UOP, School of Dentistry!

We would like share and congratulate Dr. Eric Wu for recently being appointed as an Adjunct Faculty Member of the Orthodontic Department at the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry!

Dr. Wu loves teaching as well as being the most up to date with the latest techniques and technology. Dr. Wu will be working with orthodontic residents and teaching them about the Damon system, Invisalign, TADs and soft tissue lasers to name a few things.

Continuing education is very important to Dr. Wu and he considers himself to be a perpetual student!

Dr. Wu constantly strives for excellence in orthodontics, and a big part of that includes keeping himself informed on the latest and most efficient treatment techniques. You can always trust that because of his dedication to continuing education, you will always receive the best orthodontic care in Palo Alto when you visit Wu Orthodontics!

Got Yogurt? Your Gums May Thank You!

It’s a bird; it’s a plane; it’s… yogurt! It appears that plain, simple yogurt may be the newest superhero in our ongoing battle against gum disease. Researchers at Kyushu University in Japan studied nearly a thousand subjects between the ages of 40 and 79, and found that those with higher intakes of lactic acid foods like yogurt exhibited significantly fewer signs of periodontal (gum) disease. The study concluded that regularly eating yogurt may help keep your gums and teeth healthy.

Gum disease is an infection that occurs in the gums, deep tissues and bones that support your teeth. Without treatment, gum disease can lead to tooth loss. The American Academy of Periodontology cites gum disease as the primary cause of tooth loss in adults age 35 and over.

The best way to fend off gum disease is to follow the same measures you take to avoid cavities:

-Brush your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste

-Floss every day between each tooth and behind your molars
-Have your teeth professionally cleaned on a regular schedule
-Maintain a healthy diet (and perhaps add some yogurt!)
It’s important to be aware of the symptoms of gum disease, since it can often occur without pain or discomfort to signal its presence.

Keep a lookout 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

Wu Orthodontics Goes Green Certified!

Wu Orthodontics is pleased to announce that it is a Certified Green Business, after completing the Green Certification Program through Bay Area Green Business Program. Wu Orthodontics is the first green certified orthodontic practice in Palo Alto and Santa Clara County!

The Green Certification Program is a volunteer program for businesses to become certified and recognized for conserving water and energy, preventing pollution, reducing carbon footprint and minimizing waste. To become certified, a business must pass a series of audits that involve energy, lighting, water and waste.

Thanks to the efforts of Practice Relations Coordinator Lisa who managed the project from start to finish in just a few months. We would like to thank our devoted staff members, patients and parents for helping us achieve green certification. We and the environment appreciate your efforts!

Welcome our Newest Team Members!

We’ve added new members to our family here at Wu Orthodontics. We would like to extend our warmest welcome to Lisa and Samantha!

Lisa is our Practice Relations Coordinator and comes to us with 10 years of marketing and sales experience. She loves building life long relationships and presenting a practice message in professional and “Wu”nderful ways.


Samantha is our Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) and comes to us with over 3 years of orthodontic experience. She loves seeing patients before treatment and the improvement it has made towards their new smile.


We are very excited to have Lisa and Samantha join our team, and we look forward to all of the “Wu”nderful contributions they will bring to our practice.

Please join us in welcoming Lisa and Samantha to the team at Wu Orthodontics! To find out more about the rest of our team, visit our web site.

Give Kids a Smile Month

February is a special time because it's National Children's Dental Month. Dr. Wu shared information with second graders on the importance of oral health in the local area.

Sleep Apnea

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing while you sleep. The pauses in breath can last from a few seconds to minutes at a time. The severity of the condition depends on the number of occurrences per hour during sleep. Usually, the normal breathing starts back up again with a loud snort or choking sound.

Sleep apnea is usually a chronic (ongoing) condition that disrupts your sleep that may result in poor sleep quality and make you tired during the day. Sleep apnea is one of the leading causes of excessive daytime sleepiness.

The condition of sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed. Doctors usually can't detect the condition during routine office visits. Most people who have sleep apnea don't know they have it because it only occurs during sleep. A family member and/or bed partner may be the first to notice the signs of sleep apnea.

The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea. This most often means that a portion of the airway has collapsed or is blocked during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea happens more often in people who are overweight, but it can affect anyone. If left untreated sleep apnea can:
•Increase the risk for such conditions as high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, obesity, and diabetes
•Increase the risk for or worsen heart failure
•Make irregular heartbeats more likely
•Increase the chance of having work-related or driving accidents

A “sleep study” is usually required to diagnose sleep apnea.
Treatment for sleep apnea may include lifestyle changes, CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), surgery, and/or oral appliances.

Dr. Wu is well trained to fabricate custom oral appliances for sleep apnea, having completed an advanced course in serious training for Dental Sleep Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles School of Dentistry. Please give us a call at 650-322-0288 to schedule your complimentary consultation today.