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235 N. SanMateo Drive, Suite 300 SanMateo, CA 94401-2672 Tel: (650) 342-4171
705 Purissima Half Moon Bay, CA 94019-1934 Tel: (650) 726-6321
The Alborzi Standard
November 2018
STAY AWAY FROM THIS DIY TREND Orthodontic Treatments That Cause Major Problems
If you are familiar with the nursery rhyme “The Little Red Hen,” you likely remember the hen’s token phrase, “I’ll do it myself!” In this story, the hen decides that she is going to make bread from scratch, a process which involves planting wheat, harvesting it, taking it to the mill, making flour, and ultimately, baking the bread. She asks her friends for help with every step of this process, but when they decline, she merely states, “I’ll do it myself!” You might be wondering why I would induce nostalgia to spotlight the little hen’s ambition and independence. Due to the prevalence of DIY trends in modern society, this story is especially relevant. Unfortunately though, when it comes to DIY orthodontic treatment, people who follow the hen’s advice might find themselves in an unsatisfactory predicament. “When it comes to self- diagnosing or self-treating your health, DIY trends can cause major problems.” Many patients ask me about DIY orthodontics, but each time they do, I give the same answer: “Stay away!” The popularity of sites like Pinterest and YouTube give people the false idea that as long as they do their research, they can do most anything at home. But when it comes to self-diagnosing or self-treating your health, DIY trends can cause major
problems. These DIY kits are marketed as invisible aligner treatments that you can apply at home without the need of a doctor’s visit. You start by filling out a form online and pay a nominal fee to request materials from the company. The company will then send you a kit to take an impression of your teeth at home. You send the impressions back, and they propose a treatment plan. The plans are reportedly reviewed by a licensed dental professional, but you are responsible for monitoring your own treatment. These kits have gained popularity primarily due to their allegedly low cost, but in most cases, they cause more issues than they fix. Those issues result in them scheduling an appointment with their orthodontist, which, ironically, is what they were trying to avoid in the first place. Now, I see the appeal to these DIY treatments, but it is my responsibility to inform people of their risks. The No. 1 problem with these
is essential to determine whether or not a patient has bite problems. Working to straighten your teeth without taking your bite into consideration can cause severe damage. The companies that pedal these products seem more interested in straight teeth than healthy ones. Additionally, these kits don’t require an examination of your gums. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of adults age 30 and older suffer from some form of gum disease. The prevalence of these periodontal issues is even more problematic when DIY treatments
kits is that they don’t require an examination of patients’ teeth. For example, when a new patient comes into my office, I first examine the anatomy of their teeth and their underlying bone structure. This data
are used because the invisible aligner actually accelerates the disease process, ultimately doing your mouth more damage than if you had done nothing at all.
–Dr. Alexa Alborzi
(650) 342-4171 | 1
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Meet Annette, Our Amazing Front Desk Manager EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT!
met Annette Greenough, our amazing front desk manager and a vital member of our orthodontics team. Due to her helpful demeanor, Annette makes an impression on every patient who has the opportunity to work with her. When she joined our team three years ago, Annette brought with her 25 years of experience working as an IT systems analyst in the health care field. During her career at Stanford University Medical Center, Annette oversaw the company’s change to computerized charting. Now she assists our team in learning the more mechanical aspects of our office’s systems. In fact, she is currently taking courses 2–3 times a week to master new and helpful technology. Annette still remembers the day she saw our clinic’s advertisement for the front desk manager position, and she explains that as soon as she came in for her
interview, she knew the job was a perfect fit for her. Annette credits her love for the job to the relationships that she and her fellow team members get to share with patients. “So many of our patients come in for their first appointment hiding their teeth or barely smiling,” Annette says, “but Dr. Alborzi is a magician at what she does. When her patients get their braces off, I see this amazing transformation. It gives me goosebumps seeing just how proud and confident they are in their new smiles.” spends her time on her beautiful 10-acre farm out in the Sierra Foothills. Between growing potatoes, pumpkins, chili peppers, and lavender, and cutting down trees for firewood, Annette’s weekends are full of exhilarating outdoor activities. In fact, just this last Mother’s Day, she received her own chainsaw as a present! If you haven’t gotten the opportunity to chat with Annette at the office yet, the next time you see her, be sure to say hello! When she is not forming memorable relationships with patients, Annette
When patients walk out of an orthodontics office, they are more inclined to remember the people who examined their teeth, such as their orthodontist and dental assistant. But they might fail to recall the people who work hard behind the scenes to keep the office and its doctors’ schedules running smoothly. At Alborzi Orthodontics, this is certainly not the case. If you have visited our office, you’ve likely
EVERYBODY IS WINNING AT ALBORZI ORTHODONTICS
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WHY DO WE CARE ABOUT WHITE TEETH?
Enhanced Mood In addition to improved confidence, whiter teeth increase feelings of happiness. When we don’t feel self- conscious about our smiles, we smile more. Smiling releases endorphins, so this act can create a feedback loop of even more happiness! Lower Risk of Oral Problems Individuals who whiten their teeth are more likely to maintain that bright shine for as long as possible through proper dental hygiene. Regular oral care is vital for preventing serious health risks like tooth decay and gum disease. During your next visit, don’t forget to ask about which whitening treatments we recommend. We can help you enjoy bright, beautiful teeth every day!
It happens to everyone. One day, you’re standing in front of the mirror getting ready for work and you notice your teeth have begun to yellow. Even the most diligent brushers and flossers will eventually notice their teeth aren’t as bright as they would like. Unless you only drink water and eat colorless gelatin, your teeth are going to become stained over time. Why do yellowing teeth bother us so much? Well, our aversion to unsightly stained teeth may have something to do with self-confidence. White, shiny teeth are perceived as healthier than teeth that are yellow or stained. When we see someone with stained teeth, we often form certain opinions about them. Whether these opinions are justified or not is another matter, but that prejudice can affect how we treat each other and how we view ourselves. Since whiter teeth encourage more positive thinking, people who whiten their teeth often report a feeling of higher self-esteem and confidence, and this can translate into amazing results in other areas of life, as well. Improved Social Connections Who would you rather spend time with: someone who smiles and laughs freely, or someone who never cracks a smile and rarely speaks up because they are embarrassed by their teeth? When we feel confident about our teeth, the way we carry ourselves and interact with others changes. This confidence carries over into job interviews and even first dates.
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235 N. SAN MATEO DRIVE, SUITE 300 SAN MATEO, CA 94401-2672
Stay Away From This DIY Trend PAGE 1 Meet Annette, Our Amazing Front Desk Manager! Winning at Alborzi Orthodontics PAGE 2 Are Whiter Teeth Worth the Trouble? Monthly Contest PAGE 3 Issue INSIDE THIS
How Thanksgiving Became an Official Holiday! PAGE 4
SARAH HALE How Thanksgiving Became a National Holiday
Thanksgiving is one of the most popular holidays celebrated throughout the United States. One of the first documented Thanksgiving celebrations took place in 1621 when Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared a feast together. But the banquet, which celebrated the colonists’ first successful harvest, wasn’t just one large meal, nor did it last for only one day; in fact, the feast lasted for three days. In later years, Thanksgiving also lasted for longer than a single meal. During the time of the American Revolution, the Continental Congress chose several days throughout the year to celebrate giving thanks. Then, in 1789, George Washington made the U.S. national government’s first Thanksgiving proclamation. He used this to speak to his fellow American citizens about the Revolution’s satisfactory conclusion and
encouraged them to show their thanks for the freedoms they gained.
a national holiday, hoping that it would help heal the wounds of the country.
Thanksgiving became a national holiday more than 200 years after its first celebration. It gained this status largely due to the persistence of a woman named Sarah Josepha Hale. Hale was a successful magazine editor, prolific writer of novels and poems, and author of the famous nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” which was first published in her 1830 collection entitled “Poems for Our Children.” In 1827, Hale began a campaign to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. For the next 36 years, she wrote numerous editorials and countless letters to state and federal officials expressing her desire that it gain official status. In 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln finally declared it
Lincoln decided that the holiday would take place on the last Thursday of November. It was celebrated on that day until 1939, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving a week earlier in the hopes of increasing retail sales during the Great Depression. However, this plan was very unpopular, and in 1941, the president reluctantly signed a bill making Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday in November. Without the efforts of Sarah Hale, we might not have the pleasure of the Thanksgiving feast we know and love to this day. This year, give thanks for family, good food, and the resolve of one woman who recognized the importance of Thanksgiving as a national holiday.
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