Celebrities love braces, too!

Did you know that back in 2002, Tom Cruise had braces? At the time, he was 40 years old and filmed Minority Report, Austin Powers in Goldmember and the Last Samurai. Check out his smile in Jerry Maguire, Rain Man or The Firm and compare to the post-braces Tom Cruise in Valkyrie or Tropic Thunder. Do you notice any differences in the alignment of his pearly whites? The fact is, movie stars need to look their best for the silver screen, and it wouldn't be possible without orthodontists like Dr. Joseph Catania.

In fact, lots of Hollywood stars have had orthodontic treatment. Check out this slideshow of famous faces with braces. If you’ve thought about getting the perfect smile you’ve always wanted, please give Joseph Catania DDS a call at 315-446-3360.

Soy-simmered chicken wraps, a nice, braces-friendly summer recipe!

Let's say you just got your braces on, and Syracuse orthodontist Dr. Joseph Catania told you that you'll want to avoid eating anything sticky, crunchy, hard or chewy for the foreseeable future. What does this leave for you to eat this summer? Lettuce? Yogurt? Nothing?

Well, our pals at the American Association of Orthodontists made an appetizing (and braces-friendly!) summer dish that is sure to delight: soy-simmered chicken wraps. Remember, a healthy diet provides essential nutrients and helps you achieve the best possible result from your orthodontic treatment with Dr. Catania.

Ingredients:

• 3 boneless chicken breast halves
• 2 large onions, chunked
• Small flour tortillas (pkg. of ten) wheat or white
• (optional: 10-16 oz. of cooked chopped broccoli)
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup water
• 2 Tablespoons honey
• 1/8 teaspoon ginger
• 2 Tablespoons peach or apricot jam
• 1 Tablespoon cornstarch

Directions:

In a slow cooker, or a large pan on the stove, layer the onions and the chicken breast. Allow at least three hours in the slow cooker on medium, or at least one hour on the stove—the longer the better. Spoon out the chicken onto a cutting board, and with a knife and fork, shred the chicken as finely as you’d like. Then, stir all sauce ingredients together over medium heat until the mixture starts bubbling, and let it simmer for five minutes on low heat to thicken. In a serving bowl, stir sauce and onion into chicken; if you’d like, add cooked chopped broccoli. This dish makes about six to eight servings.

Our staff at Dr. Catania's office hope you enjoy this great summer dish! Have a phenomenal weekend!

Dr. Catania and team want to know: what's on your summer reading list?

Two weeks ago, you might recall, Dr. Joseph Catania and our staff asked you about your summer plans. Well, with summer only a week away, some of us at Syracuse's Joseph Catania DDS have been thinking more and more about the importance of reading. More specifically, of course, summer reading. We know that during the summer, it’s easier to go play some ball with your friends or watch TV for that matter, but reading during the summer is a key step in being prepared for your classes in the fall and maintaining your skill level.

If you're out of ideas for summer reading material? Ask us for suggestions, and our staff would be happy to provide a few good suggestions. You may also ask a local librarian for some ideas or check out various summer reading lists that we found recently.

Happy summer reading, from Dr. Catania and team

What are happy patients saying about Dr. Catania?

Syracuse orthodontist Dr. Joseph Catania and team love hearing from our current and former patients and receiving testimonials. Well, we've been getting quite a lot lately, and thought we'd share a few with you!

"Dr. Catania is always happy and willing to answer any questions." ~ Brian N.

"He is very nice and I understand him when he talks about my treatment." ~ Thomas P.

"Professional, yet friendly and approachable to both parents and children." ~ Gary F.

"Friendly employees, fun games like which pet belongs to which employee and how much money is in the jar. You also have the wooden nickle for brushing & a gift certificate to target which my son can strive for. Along with this online info its a great fit." ~ Colleen K.

"Wonderful for children." ~ Joseph B.

Tell Dr. Catania and staff: What are your summer plans?

As the school year comes to a close, the days get longer and the temperatures climb in Fayetteville, Syracuse and other areas, there’s no better way to beat the heat than jump into a pool and cool off. For some folks, summer brings a chance to get away from it all and escape every-day life, if only for a week. For others, it means a season of relaxation and relief from homework.

What about you?

What are your plans for summer? Do you have any interesting plans for a summer vacation or an exciting camp for your favorite sport? Does your family have a vacation or family reunion planned that is a tradition? Please feel free to share your summer plans and experiences with us as the summer rolls along!

Dr. Catania and team would like to wish all of our patients and their families a safe and fun summer!