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JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH 2025
1115 Mt. Aetna Rd., Hagerstown, MD 21740 • www.hagerstownsmiles.com • 240-329-4725 Start 2025 Off With Confidence! NEW YEAR, NEW SMILE
Happy New Year to all our Hagerstown Smiles patients! We hope you had a wonderful 2024 holiday season and are off to a fantastic start in 2025! If gaining confidence in your smile is on your resolutions list for this year, our team of dental health professionals is here to help you achieve that goal! Our cosmetic dentistry services are designed to improve your overall confidence and appearance. And thanks to technological advances, treatments are now quick and minimally invasive. Here are three of our favorite treatments to give your smile the New Year’s shine it deserves. Teeth Whitening The take-home tray teeth whitening system is suitable for most of our patients and is easy use. This treatment comes with custom-fit trays and free enrollment in our Bright Smiles Program! You get a free whitening gel tube every six months when you come in for a cleaning. We now have gel in two different strength options: a lower percentage for patients with more sensitive teeth and a higher percentage that doesn’t have to sit on teeth as long. Results can vary, but most of our patients achieve results through a single whitening session at home every day for 2-3 weeks. Our in-office whitening option consists of two 70-minute sessions and is popular among our patients for the convenience of us doing the whitening for you. After the treatment, we’ll send you home with take- home trays to maintain your bright smile. The procedure is very simple — no light involved. We use a high-percentage bleaching gel, so you can whiten more quickly than the at-home trays. Plus, the results are instant! This is great for weddings or other special events where you need teeth whitening sooner rather than later. Veneers Veneers are a great way to change the shade or shape of your teeth. A number of factors determine whether the patient is a good candidate for the treatment. An ideal candidate for this treatment is someone who’s tried whitening before and didn’t get the results they were looking for. Another great candidate would be someone who had root canals done on their front teeth, which can discolor teeth over time. Veneers can also be a great alternative to minor orthodontic issues like crowding and other small corrections to make your teeth look straighter, without having to do braces. The procedure consists of two visits, typically about a month apart. The first visit will be the prep, where the surfaces of
your teeth are lightly buffed and shaped for the placement of each veneer (we’re minimally invasive with how much of the tooth structure needs to be removed). The second visit is the placement of your veneers after they return from the lab. You’ll be leaving with easy-to-maintain, natural- looking teeth. There is no recovery period after the procedure. However, you should be careful with eating and drinking between appointments. Orthodontics For orthodontic needs, we use our 6-Month Smiles Program, available to qualified patients aged 18 and older. This program is designed to treat patients who want either traditional braces with brackets and wires, or clear trays (similar to Invisalign). If you opt for the clear trays, you’ll change trays every two weeks as they guide the movement of your teeth. In general, patients visit for check-in adjustments roughly once a month to correct cosmetic features like uneven or rotated front teeth, and treatment is completed in less than a year. Start Your Year With Confidence! Sometimes, all you need is a fresh start to begin your journey to a “new you,” and we’re here to help. Whether you want to whiten your teeth or learn more about veneers, don’t hesitate to give us a call to schedule your consultation. We believe in Quality Dental Care With a Smile and want you to leave with a smile that gives you confidence to show the world!
–Dr. Brandy and Ashley
Call Now! 240-329-4725 • 1
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Building a snowman outside in the cold air is much better than sitting in a warm room with a cellphone for maintaining a child’s physical and mental health in the wintertime. Although most people tend to stay indoors during winter, spending time outside on snowy days can significantly people of all ages a needed boost. Here are a few interesting facts that show how a winter wonderland can enhance our well-being. The Perks of Outdoor Play Did you know you’re more likely to catch a winter cold if you stay indoors? Although we instinctively huddle in close quarters when temperatures drop, hiding inside makes us more susceptible to germs that thrive in stagnant air. Studies have shown that being cold may trigger our immune systems, which means playing outside in the fresh winter air is often better for a child’s body than snuggling up in a warm living room. Getting outside in winter also puts a child’s mind in motion. Although the sight of icicles and one’s breath in winter are old hat for adults, these seasonal events could inspire wonder and curiosity in young people, allowing them to learn new things about the world. Encouraging your child to design GET OUTSIDE, FEEL FANTASTIC! WINTER WONDERS FOR CHILDREN’S HEALTH
KNOW THE SIGNS, SAVE A TOOTH, AND PROTECT YOUR SMILE Understanding Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies never seem to come at a convenient time, catching you completely off guard.
However, knowing what constitutes a dental emergency versus a minor dental issue can sometimes be the difference between saving a tooth and wasting your time. When should emergency dental care be considered? Mouth and tooth pain doesn’t always mean you’re having a dental emergency. If you’re unsure as to whether or not your dental issue can wait until your next visit or if it’s indeed an emergency, ask yourself these questions: • What level of pain are you experiencing? • Do you see any blood? • Are there any signs of infection? • Do any of your teeth look or feel loose? • Did you lose any teeth? If any of your answers to these questions are yes, and are severe, an emergency dental consultation is necessary. To help communicate your pain to your dentist, here are four common dental emergencies that require immediate help. Cracked/Broken Tooth Teeth are surprisingly strong, especially when you’ve taken good care of them. However, sometimes even the strongest teeth crack, fracture, and break, and the pain can be severe if those breaks go down to the root. This emergency is usually caused by trauma, biting, or grinding. Dislodged/Loose Teeth Decay or trauma is typically the reason people lose teeth, or they become loosened from the socket. The good news is that the tooth can likely be saved if it is still attached to the mouth’s nerves and blood vessels. Lost Filling or Crown Fillings or crowns can come loose after eating or chewing sticky food. Once the crown or filling is out of the mouth, the tooth becomes more susceptible to sensitivity from temperature changes. Avulsed Tooth If a tooth has been knocked out, that means the tissues, blood vessels, and nerves are all damaged. In some cases, the tooth can be saved, but it must be kept from drying until it can be replaced. If you can’t put the tooth back in the socket right on the spot and hold it there, the next best thing is to put it in a cup of milk or saliva. To learn more about our dental emergency procedure, please call our office at (240) 329-4725.
and build the ultimate snowman also stimulates their imaginations far more than watching TV indoors. Winter play also helps keep children’s senses sharp when inclement weather disrupts their usual routines like school and sports.
The Dynamic Benefits of Vitamin D Sunlight is one of nature’s greatest gifts to our health, as it provides us with vitamin D. Getting outside when the sun appears on a winter’s day can
do wonders for our mood, as increasing our vitamin D levels reduces anxiety and stress. Instead of letting our kids hide in dark rooms on snow
days, let them venture outside and receive one
of Mother Nature’s easiest cures for the winter blues!
2 • www.hagerstownsmiles.com
CHANCE TO WIN!
WE WERE HAPPY TO DONATE OVER $5,000 TO OUR LOCAL NORTH POINT VETERANS HOME THIS PAST VETERANS DAY! THANKS TO THE PATIENTS AND STAFF THAT DONATED, TOO! CONGRATULATIONS MEGAN! We recently celebrated Megan’s 5-year anniversary here at Hagerstown Smiles! Thank you for all you do for your patients and teammates!
Refer your family and friends to be entered into our drawing for a night at Great Wolf Lodge!* We’ll draw the lucky winner in April! * in the form of a $400 voucher Free cosmetic smile design consultation.
INCLUDES NECESSARY X-RAYS. MUST BE A CURRENT PATIENT. OFFER EXPIRES 4/30/25.
Call Now! 240-329-4725 • 3
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
www.hagerstownsmiles.com 1115 Mt. Aetna Rd. Hagerstown, MD 21740 Call Now! 240-329-4725
INSIDE Get a Smile Makeover With Cosmetic Dentistry Services page 1 Outdoor Play Power-Ups page 2 Knowing When to Seek Emergency Dental Care page 2 Announcements page 3 Vacation in Tropical Panama page 4 DISCOVER PANAMA
The Central American country of Panama, home to the titular Panama Canal that allows easy passage of maritime traffic between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, is more than a hub for international trade: It’s a scenic tropical paradise. Just 30,000 square miles in size — smaller than South Carolina — Panama packs a lot of incredible sites into one compact package. The country uses the American dollar, so you don’t need to exchange currency to make a worthwhile trip there. Here are three locations you can look forward to on your vacation to Panama! Panama City Founded in 1519, Panama’s capital is a metropolis amidst lush tropical rainforests. Around 40% of the country’s population resides in the city, which is full of amazing historical and entertainment districts that attract tourists worldwide. The Casco Viejo historical district, comprised of Spanish colonial architecture, was named a World Heritage site in 1997. Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park This amazing national park, established in 1988, covers over 50 square miles and over 130 islands of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago, An Unforgettable Tropical Paradise
including the popular coral reefs of the Cayos Zapatillas. If you are
interested in rubbing shoulders with monkeys, sloths, crocodiles, and countless marine species, this is the spot for you!
Panama Canal No list would be complete without mentioning one of the greatest engineering feats in human history: the Panama Canal. The canal, which runs for roughly 40 miles through the Isthmus of Panama, was
completed in August 1914, just a month after the outbreak of World War I. The canal works via a system of locks, filled and emptied of water to raise and lower boats. Ships up to 950 feet long transport over 200 million tons of cargo annually through the canal. If you visit Panama, you have to see the canal for yourself!
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