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REPORT THE WELLNESS
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2025
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A SEASON OF GRATITUDE Lessons Learned From the Patient’s Chair
This fall, I’ve found myself on the receiving end of medical and dental care more often than usual, both for myself and a few family members. While I wouldn’t exactly choose that role, being the patient is probably the best exercise a health care provider can go through. There’s no better way to be reminded of what it feels like to be on the other side of the chair. The first thing I came away with was a deep appreciation for all the doctors, nurses, and administrative teams we encountered. Their work is not for the faint of heart. The hours are long, the demands are constant, and caring for people in pain takes a remarkable amount of compassion and stamina. It gave me a renewed respect for those who make this their life’s calling. The second thing, and perhaps the most valuable for me personally, was realizing how easy it is to feel confused or frustrated, even when skilled and caring professionals surround you. Our medical system can
be complicated. Simple questions can turn into long waits or confusing portals. That experience made me even more determined to continually improve our patient experience, making it easier for patients to reach our team with quick questions, providing clearer postoperative instructions, and guiding them through every step of their care. Through it all, I kept thinking about how grateful I am for our team at Jones & Copeland Smiles. Every day, they work hard to ensure our patients feel comfortable, cared for, and never like just another appointment. The extra time they take to explain, reassure, and follow up makes our office feel different, and I couldn’t be prouder of them. Lastly, as we head into the holidays, I want to say thank you to you, our patients. Unlike hospital visits, you choose to come to us. You trust us with your health, your comfort, and your confidence. We’ll never take that lightly. From all of us, thank you for allowing us to care for you and for being such an essential part of our practice family. “Being the patient is probably the best exercise a health care provider can go through. There’s no better way to be reminded of what it feels like to be on the other side of the chair.”
Warmly,
–Dr. Eric Jones
Dr. Jones and Family
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SOUND ADVICE
Is Your Work Playlist Helping or Hurting Your Focus?
Sound Support If you are working on something that requires light focus, like answering emails, then the right kind of background noise, something like instrumental music, can help you stay on track. Other beneficial times for background noise include working in a loud environment or letting low-level sounds shift your brain into creative or problem-solving mode. The key is choosing something that won’t distract your mind from what you’re trying to focus on. Cue the Quiet Noise most often gets in the way of more complex or challenging work, such as reading, writing, meetings, learning new skills, or finding solutions to issues. Deeper tasks require more brainpower, like using memory or vocabulary skills. When your brain engages in more concentrated tasks, it is more sensitive to interruptions, so a song lyric or burst of action on the TV can win out against the quieter goal you’re trying to accomplish. Background noise can be a sound decision or just more racket. The trick is tuning into what helps your mind focus without being carried away by the clatter.
The hum of a busy coffee shop, traffic outside, your favorite song through your headphones as you work; we live in a noisy world with constant background noise. But is that ambient buzz boosting your brainpower or creating static in the system? While some swear a little noise helps them focus, for others, every passing siren or side conversation is a distraction. Let’s tune in and find out if that background noise could be a productivity playlist or sound sabotage. Brain Beats
Your brain is always busy trying to filter out distractions, and how background noise impacts your noggin depends on what it is. Steady or low-level sounds, like raindrops or white noise, can help hide other intrusive interruptions, making it easier to focus on the task you’re working on. Irregular, sudden, surprise, or meaningful sounds, like a direct conversation, notifications on your phone, or lyrics to a beloved song, activate your brain, pulling you out of the concentration zone.
CONTINUING TO KEEP YOU SAFE AND HEALTHY Enhanced Sterilization Protocols and Controls
Hand-sanitizing stations are located throughout the office.
Beverages will be served safely only upon request.
There will be additional time between patients for enhanced sterilization.
Curbside check-in from your vehicle is now available.
Please reschedule if you have a fever or a sick family member.
Medical-grade air filtration is used in all operatories.
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Many parents hit mental roadblocks trying to help their children with homework. Perhaps you’re trying to teach your child long division or Spanish grammar rules, but the knowledge doesn’t stick. Have you ever considered having your child teach the material to you? The science of how children learn shows that “learning by teaching,” also known as “the protégé effect,” is an effective way for children to build a deeper, longer-lasting understanding of new information. By digging into new concepts and figuring out how to communicate them to others, children must engage more deeply with the material. They must answer questions and clarify areas of uncertainty. Educators say this makes them more likely to retain the information. Many children will relish taking the lead and playing an instructor role. A good way to start is to ask your child to explain a skill or concept they are learning in class and then ask questions. If your student gets stuck, instill good research and study skills by suggesting they refer to their notes or search through other class materials. FLIP THE SCRIPT Supercharge Your Child’s Learning by Letting Them Teach You!
interests them. Start with the big idea and then create a step-by-step explanation, showing connections among the ideas and including examples to illustrate main points. Then encourage them to convert the concepts to a video tutorial and view it together. While this technique lacks some of the verve of face-to-face interaction, the intellectual exercise is still valuable. Ask your child’s teacher for suggestions on concepts to practice at home or for learning tools that might facilitate learning by teaching. The teacher may offer questions or suggest activities to give your child new opportunities to play teacher. Also, don’t hesitate to encourage your child to perform skills they have learned, play guessing games about school topics, or listen to them describing new knowledge. Remember that genuine, non-judgmental parental interest in a child’s learning is a high-octane fuel for lifelong growth!
Many kids love making videos, so consider channeling that medium for learning. Have your child create a concept map for a subject that
SMILE-FRIENDLY RECIPES
BRAIN BREAK!
BAKED PINEAPPLE SALMON
Ingredients
• 1 can pineapple slices, drained, reserving 1/4 cup of juice • 2 1/2 lb side of salmon • Salt and pepper, to taste • 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 4 tbsp hoisin sauce • 3 garlic cloves, minced • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice • 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped • Lime slices
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. 3. Place pineapple slices on baking sheet. 4. Season both sides of the salmon with salt and pepper and lay over pineapple. 5. In a small bowl, whisk together chili sauce, melted butter, hoisin sauce, garlic cloves, lemon, and pineapple juice. Pour over salmon.
6. Bake for 15 minutes or until cooked through. 7. Garnish with cilantro and serve with lime slices.
Inspired by ChefJar.com
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A Season of Gratitude PAGE 1
How Background Noise Shapes Your Workflow PAGE 2
Sit Down, Mom and Dad, Class Is in Session Baked Pineapple Salmon PAGE 3
Paradise Found PAGE 4
Bungalows and Bliss TROPICAL ESCAPES TO SAVOR
Fresh Perks in French Polynesia Outdoor bungalows are also a big hit in Bora Bora. In addition to in-room pools, the Four Seasons Bora Bora resort offers guests a view of Mount Otemanu that all intrepid travelers should experience at least once. Over at the Westin Bora Bora , vacationers can take in the locale’s modern aesthetics while sipping cocktails at its swim-up bar. If you plan to travel with a large group, the two-story Presidential Suites and overwater villas at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui are outstanding options. Not surprisingly, Bora Bora isn’t the only place to visit in French Polynesia. Although the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa tends to book up quickly due to its smaller size, it’s worth trying to get a room for this vacation spot’s famous snorkeling sites alone.
Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands , boasts seven restaurants offering a vast array of global delicacies. Another Maldives mainstay, Soneva Fushi , offers some of the largest overwater villas in the world, perfect for viewing the area’s breathtakingly clear waters. And if you’re a fan of exploring tropical travel via social media, you’ve likely caught an eyeful of Instagram favorite Soneva Jani . This Maldives destination provides guests plenty of playful options, ranging from a waterslide to a trip on one of the resort’s seaplanes. Of course, an extraordinary vacation doesn’t necessarily mean spending time in an expansive environment. Those looking to balance luxury with a low-key vibe should check out Gili Lankanfushi Maldives , a boutique resort that invites guests to lounge on a private water hammock as their worries wash away.
Whether you’re looking to book a tropical trip this winter or want to live vicariously through descriptions of dream destinations, this article is for you! From overwater bungalows to swim-up bars, these resorts redefine relaxation in some of the world’s most glamorous getaways. A Spectacular South Asian Sojourn If you want to add flavor to your wintertime festivities with an international jaunt, the Maldives, just southwest of India, is home to some of the world’s most renowned resorts. Celebrated for its spacious rooms, private pools, and “floating breakfasts,” The Ritz-
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