Take a look at this month's edition of The Heights Smile Herald!
September 2020
THE HEIGHTS SM I L E Herald
5825 Lande r b rook Dr i ve , Su i t e 124 , May f i e l d He i gh t s , OH 44124
( 440 ) 483 - 1003
Breakfasts of Fried Shredded Wheat
Who Passes on Family Stories?
During the Great Depression, my grandmother on my dad’s side saw her family lose their farm. She’d been born on that farm, and losing the family home was devastating. My dad told the story of how my grandma blamed the loss of the farm on my great-grandpa’s drinking instead of dealing with the Great Depression. My dad added that her brother told a different story and that there were a series of agricultural events that led to the loss of the farm — reliance on one crop, too many farm hands, a bad storm right before harvest that led to the loss of the entire crop. Whatever actually led to the loss of the farm, the stories gave a huge insight into what made my grandma into MY grandma. That just shows how much has changed since the 1930s. Then, farmers were dealing with ecological disaster brought on by weather. Just imagine if that happened today. How would we handle a dust bowl? We have so much advanced farming technology and techniques at our disposal, things would look very different. Growing up, my grandparents were four really cool people who spoiled us rotten whenever we came to visit. They were fun and nice, and we loved them a lot, but we didn’t know much about them. I knew they were my parents’ parents, and I had a vague sense of the work they did. Three of my grandparents were teachers, one was a farmer, and one was a minister. When we were really young, I remember some of my grandparents going to work when we would visit them. They all retired before I got much older, so everything I knew about
my grandparents was anchored in their role as grandparents.
A lot of my memories of my grandparents are associated with food. My grandma on my mom’s side would make lasagna, cinnamon rolls, and watered-down coffee. If you wanted a strong cup of coffee, you’d have to brew it yourself. Meanwhile, Grandpa would make smokies and gravy with toast. It was very greasy and full of calories, but when I was 8 years old, I didn’t care. If it was salty and flavorful, I would eat it. My grandma Schermer was the master cook in our extended family. She made almost everything from scratch and from traditional family recipes. Our kids would not consider them normal recipes, but to my brothers and I, they made the family visits feel like home. I think some of my favorites were rice pudding, Swedish pancakes, and fruit soup. My grandparents on my dad’s side were also all about food. Grandpa Schermer would make oatmeal with raisins or fried shredded wheat. He would take shredded wheat biscuits, give them an egg wash, and served with butter and syrup. I didn’t realize how weird this meal was until I got older. But now, at 47, I’ll serve up some shredded wheat every once in a while and think of Grandpa. We have a lot of old recipes we can go through to take a walk down memory lane through food. I cherish these memories so much, but I realize now how little I knew about my grandparents when I was growing up. My brothers and I didn’t appreciate their
stories until we got older. Sometimes we didn’t hear a tale until my grandparents had long passed, like the one about Grandma Schermer’s family losing their farm. Before my grandparents passed, my dad began conducting interviews and recorded some of their stories. We have binders of these stories, and through them, I gained a much deeper appreciation of who my grandparents were and what they went through. I deeply miss my grandparents, and I’m sad that my kids didn’t get to meet them at an older age. The stories they know of my grandparents come from their grandparents, my mom and dad. Though my parents live in Scottsdale, Arizona, my wife’s parents are local, and I’m glad my kids get to have a close relationship with them. Their grandparents spoil them rotten, just like we were, so the family tradition lives on. I can’t help but wonder if my kids are seeing my parents and my wife’s parents through the same filter I had with my grandparents. It will probably be our responsibility to tell our parents’ stories, just like our parents told our grandparents’ stories to us. I hope our kids look back with fond memories of their grandparents and tell their stories to future generations. -Dr. Jason Schermer
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Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.TheNewsletterPro.com
exceptionalsmiles.com
Everyone loves to talk about their new toys. At Exceptional Smiles at Landerbrook, we’re very excited to announce that we have a new piece of technology in the office: the iTero Element 5D scanner. This is the first integrated dental imaging system that records 3D, intra-oral color, and near-infrared imaging (NIRI) scans simultaneously. It’s also a major upgrade to a system we’ve been using in the office for years, so we’re well versed on the technology. What does this mean for those who don’t speak “dentist”? Basically, the iTero 5D scanner gives patients more information about their oral health while allowing them to spend less time in the dentist’s chair. Here are a few ways the iTero 5D scanner is about to improve your visits to Exceptional Smiles at Landerbrook. Spot Problems With Less Radiation Some of the most troubling cavities are the ones that form between two teeth. Called interproximal cavities, these cavities can go unnoticed until they start to cause physical pain. Your dentist takes an X-ray of your teeth in order to spot interproximal cavities before they become a big problem. The iTero 5D scanner is also able to identify interproximal cavities without exposing patients to X-ray radiation. While the radiation from a dental X-ray is minimal, the less radiation you are exposed to in general, the better. OUR NEW TOY HELPS YOU TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR ORAL HEALTH
Fewer Obstacles Between You and Your Health Dental health scans conducted with the iTero 5D scanner collect a bunch of useful information. In addition to checking for interproximal cavities, the iTero 5D scanner also creates the same images needed to make Invisalign retainers, nightguards, or even whitening trays. This means that if you get home after an appointment and decide that you do want to get a nightguard after all, you likely won’t have to come back in for those scans. We will already have them on file.
Having this information already at the office will also be useful in the event of an emergency or to conduct virtual appointments. If a patient needs to replace their nightguard or Invisalign retainer but is unable to come into the office, we still have enough information to create the product. We can even have it shipped directly to their home.
The iTero Element 5D scanner is a very sophisticated piece of equipment that will do a lot to help improve our patients’ oral health. It helps our patients see and understand their dental health so they can make decisions that are best for them.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
You may have noticed some information on how to provide feedback in our office, or you may receive a text with a link for your feedback. Your comments and suggestions are extremely important to us and to the continual improvement for which we strive. If you find that we did something you liked at your appointment, let us know. If we did something you didn’t like, by all means, let us know so we can make it better for you on your next visit.
“Can’t say enough about this office of caring workers. You can really tell that the staff love their job and their leader. Dr. Schermer and Taylor the RDH were very great to work with. Liz at the front desk is great as well — going over all my financial options and printing out all the plans I spoke with the doctor about to take home. This office changed my mind about dentist offices.” – Robert E. “Exceptional Smiles runs like a well-oiled machine. Our appointments begin on time. They are upfront with any additional costs and are clear about the path forward if a dental issue is identified. We will be a longtime customer, and it’s a great place for kids! My kids are not scared to go see Dr. Schermer or anyone on his staff!” – Krista L.
Scan with the camera on your smartphone to share feedback about your experience. This allows us to help more people.
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(440) 483-1003
Don’t Procrastinate on Self-Improvement 3 Resources to Help Achieve Your Big Goal
What’s your big goal? Do you want to run a marathon next year? Start your own side hustle? Learn how to manage your finances better? September is Self-Improvement Month, and we’re encouraging all of our readers to start working toward their big goals! To help out, we’ve found a number of resources to assist you on your path to self-improvement during these socially distant times. Start at the Library Did you know that your local library offers digital content? The Cuyahoga County Public Library has an expansive digital collection featuring e-books, audiobooks, digital magazines, and even movies! Access this vast digital collection anywhere with your library card, and don’t wait to start learning. Visit CuyahogaLibrary.org now to browse the collection and apply for your library card online. Find a Digital Fitness Class Physical fitness is a common self-improvement goal. These days, you don’t even have to frequent the gym to improve your fitness. Looking for
a workout that will leave you feeling calmer in uncertain times? Find hundreds of instructional yoga videos for free at YogaWithAdriene.com. Need a workout that will match your fitness level? YMCA360.org offers videos and classes that will help you meet your goals. A brief online search will reveal tons of options for whatever kind of workout you’re looking for. Become an Expert in Everything Community colleges are a great place to start — and many of them have gone online, making learning more accessible than ever. Give Cuyahoga Community College a try (tri-c. edu/get-started/index.html) or Lakeland Community College (lakelandcc.edu). You can find classes in a wide range of subjects, including accounting, culinary arts, information technology, and real estate — and just about everything in between! What are you waiting for? Whatever your big goal may be, there’s no better time to start working toward it than today.
Leah’s Bad Dad Joke of the Month I ordered a chicken and an egg from Amazon.
Easy Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Who says a loaded potato has to clog your arteries? In this healthy version that serves four, a sweet potato base is topped with fiber-rich bean salsa.
I’ll let you know.
Inspired by EatingWell.com
Ingredients •
4 medium sweet potatoes
• • • •
1 tsp coriander
• • • •
1 15-oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
3/4 tsp salt
2 medium tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp cumin
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Directions 1. With a fork, prick each sweet potato a few times. Microwave the potatoes on high 12–15 minutes, or until cooked through. 2. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the beans, tomatoes, olive oil, cumin, coriander, and salt. When the potatoes are done, microwave the mixture on high for 2–3 minutes.
3. Cool potatoes slightly, then cut each potato open lengthwise. Pull the halves apart to create space to spoon the warm bean salsa inside. 4. Add a scoop of sour cream to each potato, garnish with cilantro, and serve!
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
I N S I D E 5825 Landerbrook Drive, Suite 124 Mayfield Heights, OH 44124
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The Stories of Our Grandparents
Your Dentist Appointments Just Got Easier
page 2 page 3
Our Patients Say It Best
Stop Letting Time Get Away From You
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Easy Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
4 Fun Family Activities for Fall
make the trip, you can always create a gold panning operation at home! Visit MessForLess.net/panning- for-gold-activity for a great step-by-step guide on how to go panning for gold in your own backyard.
Gardening, Gold, and More!
Plan a fall photo shoot.
It’s time to freshen up those family pictures hanging around the house. The changing leaves provide a beautiful background for any family portrait. Better yet, the cooler temperatures mean that an outdoor photo shoot won’t be nearly as uncomfortable as it would be in the summer. You can take your pictures by the trees in the front yard or make a daytrip of it. What about pictures at the corn maze or pumpkin patch? It’s never too soon to start planning this year’s holiday card.
4 Fun Family Activities for Fall
It’s fall, which means social media will soon be saturated with pictures of your friends enjoying “classic” fall activities. Photos of leaf peeping, apple picking, and the occasional scarecrow run rampant. But rather than following the herd, you can make your family the trendsetter of unique fall activities! Here are a few outdoor endeavors your family will love.
soil is still warm enough for roots to grow before the ground freezes for winter. Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are all spring bulbs that need to be planted in the fall. Do a little research with your family to determine the best time to start planting in your area.
Visit the museum.
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s Snead Discovery Zone is an exceptional place to take the family. They have a dinosaur fossil exhibit that’s similar to panning for gold. However, due to the current state of things, it may be closed for the time being, but it’s worth a visit when it reopens, so stick a pin in it! Watch for updates at cmnh.org/visit/sdc .
Pan for gold.
Here’s one that’s really off the beaten path: Take your family on an adventure panning for gold! Start by planning a road trip out to an old ghost town. Many of them have great tourist attractions that include gold panning. You probably won’t get rich, but it will still be a fun story. If you’re not able to
Get gardening.
Fall is the time for harvest, but if you want to enjoy flowers in the spring, it’s also a time for planting. The cooler autumn air is easier on plants, but the
Spend this fall outdoors and create great new memories with your family!
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Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.TheNewsletterPro.com
(440) 483-1003
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