Again this year, Braces For Pretty Faces sponsored a Halloween candy buy back for orthodontic patients and community members in San Jose, CA. Participants were given $1 for each lb donated. Dr Yao matched each $1 for local a charity and candy was sent to our troops

2010 was our best year ever! We collected 610 pounds of candy. Patients in our orthodontic practice, kids from local schools, and local dental practices in the area joined us in our efforts.

Dr. Yao awards kids from our orthodontic practice and anyone who wants to join in from the community, $1 for every pound of candy donated. The office matches dollar for dollar the total cash awards distributed and donates that amount to a local charity in the area.

Halloween is a time when breakage of orthodontic appliances is common when kids Trick or Treat and collect candy they shouldn't eat while wearing braces. Our candy buyback program not only provides resources for our nonprofit organizations in the area, school programs, and our troops, it is teaching children the rewards of random acts of kindness and generosity.

All candy collected is donated to the US troops. Chocolate candy is donated locally and the remaining candy is sent to the troops overseas.

This year, Dr Yao will give matching charitable donations to the Big Brother Big Sisters for the Bay  Area  (BBBS). Local dental practices in San Jose also participated and donated their cash to BBBS.

And yes… collecting the Halloween candy dramatically reduces orthodontic emergency appointments that are very common this time of year. Not only does it keep us on time for scheduled patients in our practice by eliminating unnecessary emergency appointments during our day, it saves valuable time when kids don’t have to miss school to repair damaged braces, not to mention parents taking time off work to bring them in. It’s a win…win for all!

Candy was collected at both Braces For Pretty Faces office locations in San Jose, CA the week after Halloween. The money donated this year to the Big Brothers and Big of the Bar Area will go towards operation costs and other expenses.

Let us know your thoughts on our Candy Buyback Program.  Leave your comments below.  We are very interest in what you think and if you have any suggestions for next year.

Braces for Pretty Faces

The event takes place on Sat June 12 and Sun June 13, 2010. Please come and visit our booth # 100 ! There will be face painting, balloons and a raffle! The event link and information is below. If you would like to join …us for the event or would like to help volunteer in our booth #100 Please give us a call ! For more information visit www.RelayForLife.org/AlmadenCA

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length.

Relay began in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon in Tacoma, Washington, ran and walked around a track for 24 hours to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Since then, Relay has grown from a single man’s passion to fight cancer into the world’s largest movement to end the disease. Each year, more than 3.5 million people in 5,000 communities in the United States, along with additional communities in 19 other countries, gather to take part in this global phenomenon and raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer. Thanks to Relay participants, we are creating a world with more birthdays a world where cancer can’t claim another year of anyone’s life.

Anyone can participate in Relay For Life. Friends, families, neighbors, classmates, sports teams, etc., can form their own teams. No matter who you are, there’s a place for you at Relay.

Support St. Joseph of Cupertino by becoming a Fan of Dr Yao on Facebook

We want to support and contribute to the success of our schools in our communities during this financial challenging and difficult time.

To join in It’s easy as 1…2…3!

1.         Click on this link to enter our Facebook page.

4.        click the “Like” sign

5.        sign in to your facebook account…and YOU’re a FAN!!!

This is how our Fan-A-Thon program works:

• Braces For Pretty Faces (BFPF) will donate $0.50 per new fan from 1 to 500, $0.75 per new fan from 501 to 1000 and $1.00 from 1001 onwards
• Any fan is counted towards that school in that time period. It doesn’t matter whether they are “school related” or not.
• Donation will be sent to the school within 7 days, the sooner the better.

It’s that easy!  Please contact Toni Boswell, our P.R.Coordinator at 408-244-4239 or email at mail@smilebysanjoseorthdodontist.com for more details. 

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller.  So lets have some fun, fan and lots of funds together…. because at Braces for Pretty Faces, We CARE!

Leave a comment below and let us know what you think about our "Fan A Thon program"

Emmitt Smith and family!

Emmitt Smith

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, To reduce these numbers, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) is proud to team with football great Emmitt Smith to spread the message that simple and inexpensive protective sports gear – such as mouth guards – can make a difference in preventing sports injuries.

In support, Dr. Stephen Yao is giving away free MOUTH GUARD entire month of April!  Yes, at Braces for Pretty Faces, WE CARE about your winning smiles.   

Young athletes can protect their face and smile while playing with the following tips from the AAO:

Wear a mouth guard. Mouth guards can help prevent jaw, mouth and teeth injuries caused by a collision or fall. For athletes with braces, discuss with your orthodontist the best type of mouth guard for your sport.

• Wear a helmet. Helmets absorb the energy of an impact, and should be worn for activities like biking, skateboarding and in-line skating. Visit the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website to learn helmet laws in your state.
• Wear protective eyewear. Eyes are extremely vulnerable to injury during sports like soccer, baseball and hockey.
• Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin. Hockey pucks, basketballs and racquetballs can do severe damage.

We would love for you to participate in Sport Day on April 12th & 13th by dressing up in your favorite sport gear when you come in for your appointment.  We can't wait to see YOU in them!!

 For more information on mouth guard, you can visit the following links:

 http://www.braces.org/sportsafety/

http://dentistry.about.com/od/basicdentalcare/f/mouthguardtype.htm

http://www.ada.org/public/topics/mouthguards_faq.asp

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/mouth-guards

 Thank you and see you all in your favorite sport gear soon.

 Dr. Yao and Staff

Yes, we GOT GREEN! Did we mention Leprechaun Green?
Dr. Yao and staff are turn the office up with colorful tie …down to multi colors socks. Nice going Jean!!! Love the socks!!!
Toni, our P.R. Coordinator is even making sugar cookies with green sprinkles!!

We love to see you dress in green for your next appointment on 3/16 and 3/17.  Bonus….you will get a POG for it!!!

Emma in her green tiara and Jean with her colorful socks!!

Dr. Yao and Marie working diligently in green!!

Enjoy your potatoes, cabbage and corned beef for St. Patrick’s Day,  but we'll see you at Braces for Pretty Faces for some fun and lots of smiles enhancement!!

Visit us on Facebook for more pictures and fun….

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Invisalign-and-Braces-by-Dr-Stephen-Yao-in-San-Jose-CA/300792945086?ref=mf

For more pictures of this glamourous event, please visit us on Facebook …

Emma and LuAnn...so very glamourous!!

Dr. Yao and Athean with Oscar!!

We are big “Sharks” fans and a good time was enjoyed by all.  It was an exciting game with the Sharks winning against the Predators at the last minute 4 – 3.

For more details and photos about our fun night click here for information.

Tell us if you went to the hockey game and if you enjoyed the night.  We would love to hear from you.  Click on the title and leave a comment below.