Check out our Mar/Apr newsletter!
March/April 2022
THE HEIGHTS SM I L E Herald
( 440 ) 483 - 1003
5825 Lande r b rook Dr i ve , Su i t e 121 , May f i e l d He i gh t s , OH 44124
OUR HYGIENISTS, TAYLOR, JANAE, AND LAUREN! Dental Superstars
Hygienists are the backbone of any dental practice. Without their hard work and dedication, our office would not be able to build such strong patient relationships, and Dr. Andrea and I could not dedicate as much time to complex problems. At Exceptional Smiles, we have three incredible hygienists: Taylor Boutcher, Janae Szczepinski, and Lauren Alder. I’d love to give you a chance to get to know them better, so I’ve asked them to each tell you a bit about themselves. Taylor: When I was a kid [...] I loved my hygienist. She was excellent at her job, and she clearly enjoyed doing it. She inspired me, and I wanted to follow in her footsteps. I have been at Exceptional Smiles for over seven years. I started as an intern, then trained to be an assistant. Finally, I went to hygiene school, and I’ve now been a hygienist for four and a half years. Exceptional Smiles’ name is appropriate because they’ve taught me what exceptional dentistry is. Through them, I’ve learned how to care for patients and be the best hygienist I can be. I’m so grateful for my relationships with coworkers and patients. When I’m not at work, I enjoy spending most of my free time with my boyfriend, Alex, and my two cats, Finnegan and Francesca. I have a big family — five sisters and two brothers — and I love hanging out with them, too. I also do my best to stay active through yoga, cycling, and walking. Janae: Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been interested in teeth. Luckily, my childhood dentist lived across the street fromme, and he offered me a job while I was in high school. From there, my interest in dentistry only grew, and I decided to make it my life’s work. I’ve now been at Exceptional Smiles for almost 10 years, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I commute 35 miles each way, but working with this team is worth it. The best part of my job is seeing the change in people’s mouths. I get instant gratification upon seeing teeth that needed cleaning become perfectly plaque- and tartar and stain-free. But it’s even better when the patient comes back to the
office for their next visit with a cleaner and healthier mouth than they had before. I’ve been married to my husband, Steve, for seven years, and we have three
children: Mac (6), Drew (3), and Violet (1 1/2). I grew up in a very small town in Western Ohio, so we spend many weekends traveling to see my family or spending time with my in-laws. I’ve learned so much from so many people just by talking with my patients. Lauren: During high school, I had the opportunity to attend a vocational school for dental assisting. I started working as a dental assistant before I even graduated. Since I love working with people and was interested in teeth, this seemed like the perfect career path. I’ve now been in the field for 14 years and working at Exceptional Smiles for nine of them. So many people suffer from dental anxiety, and I love being able to help them overcome their fears. I get to show them that going to the dentist doesn’t have to be a scary or anxiety-filled experience. There’s also something incredibly satisfying about removing the tartar from someone’s teeth and seeing the end result. I love spending time with my dog, Olive, and spend a lot of time taking care of plants and my garden. I also love summer because I can grow my vegetables, go kayaking, and do other outdoor activities. Mayfield Heights is a great place to live, and I have the best team of coworkers anyone could ask for. With all the time we spend together and the relationships we’ve built, it feels like a second family. Everyone at the office is so grateful for the work these three incredible hygienists put in every day, and I know our patients are, too. The next time you’re in, I hope you’ll give your hygienist a big thanks and an even bigger smile. -Dr. Jason Schermer
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ORAL CANCER Early Detection Saves Lives
Approximately 50,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with oral cancer every year, and 10,000 lose their lives to the disease. April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, which draws attention to the fact that many oral cancers are preventable and treatable. Oral cancer can appear on the lips, tongue, hard and soft palate, floor of the mouth, cheeks, sinuses, or throat. Men make up about 70% of oral cancer diagnoses, with male smokers and excessive drinkers over 50 being most at risk. Poor diet, excessive sun exposure, and HPV infection also have links to oral cancer. Symptoms of the disease include lumps, bumps, and discolored or rough patches in the mouth. Unexplained oral bleeding, numbness, or sores also require medical attention immediately. Sufferers may also experience swelling, ear pain, sore throat, or dramatic weight loss. But with all cancers, early detection is key to preventing the worst outcomes, and many people do not experience symptoms until the disease has progressed. Oral cancer patients have an 83% five-year survival rate when diagnosed early. Unfortunately, many cases are discovered late, when the five-year survival rate drops to 50%.
It’s one of the many reasons regular dental visits are crucial to your overall health. During your appointment, your dentist will conduct a routine exam, including asking about any changes in your medical history and new, abnormal symptoms. Next, the dentist will perform a visual exam of the mouth and throat and feel for any lumps in the neck or jaw areas. Since not all oral cancers are immediately visible, at Exceptional Smiles, we also use a VELscope Scanner to help detect early instances of oral cancer. During the month of April, Exceptional Smiles is offering free VELscope oral cancer screenings, valued at $100. The handheld device uses a blue light to sense changes in your mouth, and any concerning areas will appear fluorescent. If the dentist observes worrying signs, they will conduct further tests to confirm or rule out cancerous cells. The process only takes a couple of minutes and allows us to make more early detections and save more lives. For the sake of your health, if you notice any changes in your mouth, seek immediate guidance from your dentist. And if it has just been a while since you last came in for a cleaning, don’t put it off any longer. Your life could depend on it.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING “Fantastic people and great service. I would recommend them!” -Alex S. “No waiting around to be taken in for my appointment. Very friendly staff, and they have nice clean offices too! I had a very thorough exam.” -Shelly G.
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SPRING INTO A NEW SMILE YOUR OPTIONS FOR BRIGHTER, STRAIGHTER TEETH
A new season is upon us, and that makes it the perfect time for a whole new look. As we shake off the winter blues and start freshening up for spring, it’s worth considering whether your smile could use a revamp. If you’re not thrilled with the state of your smile, there are many things we can do to help.
weeks or more via store-bought treatments. We can even set you up with an at-home system for regular use and long-term benefits.
But no matter how white your teeth are, if they’re crooked or crowded, you’ll likely feel unconfident in your smile. Using the Invisalign aligner system, we can give you straighter teeth without the wires and metal of braces. Discreet, comfortable, and affordable, Invisalign can correct approximately 90% of straightening problems, so ask your dentist for more information. Exceptional Smiles is offering the best deal ever on All-Include Invisalign for $3,759, Call today to schedule your free consultation. Finally, veneers can offer you a straighter, whiter, more even smile without majorly overhauling your actual teeth. Veneers are paper-thin but incredibly strong, and they bond to the outside of your natural teeth, covering chips, stains, mild crookedness, and other issues. Veneers are considered a conservative approach to cosmetic dentistry, and they let you choose the shape, length, and color of your teeth through less invasive means. Whichever approach you’re considering for your new smile, our office will be glad to help you with expert recommendations, comprehensive price quotes, and the personalized care you need to look your best. Call our office today to schedule your consultation and see how much brighter your world — and teeth — can be.
The first thing to take care of is any broken and decaying teeth. If you have cavities or other damage, we can use porcelain crowns to hide and protect your teeth while creating a flawless smile. Crowns are sturdy and natural- looking, so no one will be able to tell which of your teeth aren’t natural. We can also do most crown replacements on the same day for instant results. If your teeth are all intact, they may still need a little TLC. As we age — and imbibe a lifetime’s worth of tea, coffee, wine, or tobacco — our pearly whites can start to look dull or yellow. Our customized Zoom teeth whitening system can give you noticeable results in an hour or less, which would generally take LEAH’S BAD DAD JOKE OF THE MONTH
Baked Feta Pasta AKA Viral TikTok Pasta!
Inspired by Delish.com
This viral TikTok pasta has you covered for Valentine’s Day!
Ingredients •
Q: What falls in March but never gets hurt?
4 cups cherry or grape tomatoes
• • • • •
Red pepper flakes, to taste 3 sprigs of fresh thyme 1 8-oz block of feta cheese
• • • •
1 shallot, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
10 oz pasta of choice Lemon zest to taste
A: The rain!
1/2 cup olive oil
Salt, to taste
Directions 1.
Q: When do gorillas fall from the sky?
Preheat the oven to 400 F. 2. In a large pan, combine tomatoes, shallot, garlic, olive oil, salt, red pepper, and thyme. 3. Place the cheese block in the center of the pan and bake for 40 minutes. 4. Cook pasta according to box instructions. Save 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining the noodles. 5. When the tomato and feta cheese mixture is done, add the cooked pasta, pasta water, and lemon zest, stirring until completely combined.
A: During Ape-ril showers!
If you would like your favorite joke featured, email Office@ExceptionalSmiles.com . You may see it in our next issue!
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
(440) 483-1003
INSIDE 5825 Landerbrook Drive, Suite 121 Mayfield Heights, OH 44124
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Meet the Hygienists!
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April Is Oral Cancer Awareness Month
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What People Are Saying About Us
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New Season, New Smile!
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Get Healthy While Spring-Cleaning!
Sunday, March 20, is the first day of spring — which means it’s time for some spring-cleaning. Did you know that cleaning is not just about tidying up a physical space? It’s also about improving overall well-being. Here’s how organization and cleanliness can help you in more ways than you might expect. SPRING-CLEANING REDUCES STRESS AND DEPRESSION. Tidiness and mental health are actually connected. Studies have found that having a clean home is directly correlated to happiness and your ability to focus. Anxiety can spike when laundry is piling up, items are strewn everywhere, and papers get scattered on various surfaces within the home. Clearing the clutter is a great way to boost your mood and increase those feel-good hormones. IT PREVENTS ILLNESSES. Doorknobs, refrigerator handles, light switches, countertops, and remote controls are all things we touch many times a day. Cleaning anything that’s used often is one way to reduce the spread of germs. By keeping household surfaces clean, we help thwart the spread of viruses and illnesses. 4 HEALTH BENEFITS OF SPRING-CLEANING IT’S MORE THAN JUST TIDYING UP
SPRING-CLEANING HELPS YOU BREATHE BETTER. Spring often brings pollen that triggers allergies for many. But pollen isn’t the only thing to blame when people have difficulty breathing. When dust and pet dander build up in your home, your respiratory system is greatly affected too. Deep-cleaning your air filters and vents can make breathing effortless — and it’s truly amazing how this can improve your well-being. IT KEEPS YOU MORE ACTIVE. Off the couch and on your feet! Even just running the vacuum and clearing the clutter from the dining room table will get you up and moving, which is healthy for your heart and body.
This spring season, putting some elbow grease into your cleaning will benefit you in more ways than one. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later!
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