And the game is on!

One of our patients has sent in her Summer Postcard Contest picture and is in the run of winning big!

Lake Wanaka, New Zealand (South Island)
April 2009

Here is the letter that came along with the picture:

Dear Dr. Wu,

Enclosed is Elisabeth's contribution to your travel photo collection! (We forgot to bring it to our appointment this week)

This was taken on her trip to New Zealand in April. Those shirts are going to be seen 'round the world!

Also, thank you again for her "special request" DS prize. She's been saving up those tokens, and she's so thrilled to have earned this new horse-themed game. Nothing like a little incentive to keep the kids focused on the orthodontic goals.

We couldn't be happier with the results thus far, and with the outstanding professionalism (and FUN!) that we experience every time we come to your office.

Wu Orthodontics is the BEST!

Dr. Wu's Dental Screening at Herbert Hoover Elementary Was a Huge Success!

Last Wednesday, April 8, there was a free dental screening at Herbert Hoover Elementary School to reach out to underprivileged kids throughout the Palo Alto community.

We are pleased to report that it was a great success!

The event was coordinated by the Palo Alto Unified School District and the Mid-Peninsula Dental Society. There were three Palo Alto dental professionals conducting the screening, Dr. Alan Lu, Dr. Latha, and Dr. Eric Wu.

Together, they were able to screen 29 kids!

Dr. Eric Wu is the Mid-Peninsula Dental Society Chair and he also attended Herbert Hoover Elementary School.

Summer Postcard Contest From Wu Orthodontics

Summer is just around the corner and we hope that you will be out and about enjoying the world. Whether exploring the Palo Alto community or traveling internationally, we want to hear all about your adventures.

So Wu Orthodontics is having a Summer Postcard Contest!

Here are the details, of course in postcard form!

Contest details...

We will have many categories, including...

So many great ideas, from climbing the Eiffel Tower

to scaling a rock wall..

to African Safaris!

Whatever you think of, there is a category to enter your postcard. So grab your Wu Orthodontics t-shirt and your cameras and show us what you got!

Palo Alto Girls Softball League and Wu Orthodontics In Full Swing

They came out swinging for opening Day on Saturday.

That's right, the Palo Alto Girls Softball League is officially in full swing. And the team sponsored by Wu Orthodontics kicked off their season right in their stylish new jerseys. Dr. Wu went out to meet the team and cheer them on.

The next two months will be full of challenging opponents,long practices, and grueling strategy sessions, but with Wu Orthodontics on their side, these girls are sure to wow their opponents.

Stay tuned for pictures of the girls in their Wu Orthodontics jerseys!

Is Invisalign Really Customized for Each Patient? - Wu Orthodontics

Yes, it is, and that’s part of what makes it work. To find out if you are the right candidate for Invisalign treatment, 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 we use 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.Wu is a certified Invisalign provider. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, give us a call at 650-322-0288.

When Are Two Phases of Treatment Necessary?

Usually patients in orthodontic treatment already have their permanent teeth – but in some cases we have to start treatment earlier, even before the patient’s permanent teeth come in. We 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, or a mouth growing in a way that doesn’t leave enough room for all the permanent teeth to come in.

In these cases we will start early and do one round of treatment – phase one – while the patient still has “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, such as a retainer. We’ll follow up with phase two usually a few years later, when permanent the patient’s permanent teeth have come in. Phase two often does involve braces and sometimes headgear.

In order to catch early problems, we recommend 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 an orthodontist even sooner. For more information about two-phase orthodontics, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Wu please call 650-646-3999 and visit our web site.