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JUL/AUG/SEPT 2023
1115 Mt. Aetna Rd., Hagerstown, MD 21740 • www.hagerstownsmiles.com • 240-329-4725
Inspire Kindness and Pay It Forward
A Season of Events and Kindness It’s often said that doing good for others will come back in unexpected ways. Here at Hagerstown Smiles, we aren’t just focused on enhancing beautiful smiles and dental services you can trust — we also take great pride in being active in our community and paying it forward. One of our core values is to put our patients and community first and do our part to make the world a better place.
organizations throughout Washington County, Maryland. To contribute, our office chose to support Washington County Humane Society, Boys & Girls Club, Washington County Community Action, Girls INC., Discovery Station, and Brooke's House. In the office, we take turns choosing which charity we want to benefit. Our latest charity chair was Sheanna, who chose to raise awareness and collect nonperishable donations for The Mental Health Center. Our next charity will highlight Children In Need, so we are collecting school supplies to benefit education. If you would like to participate and assist in collecting school supplies, please drop your donations off at the front desk before Aug. 4.
pro bono work. This year, on Friday, Nov. 10, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., we will be helping veterans in our community by hosting an exciting and successful day of donations and offering free cleanings, fillings, crowns, dentures, partial dentures, and other necessary dental services to those who served our country. Space is limited, and all veterans are encouraged to call the office at 240-329-4725 to schedule an appointment, especially if they have been putting off important treatment due to financial concerns! We wish you a safe and happy close to summer and look forward to seeing your smiling faces in the office soon! – The Ladies & Gentleman of Hagerstown Smiles
Over the last few months, we’ve been busy! We recently participated in Washington County Gives, an initiative that supports numerous nonprofit
Our office is proud to announce that our team is growing! Kourteney, our front desk team
Last year, we held our first annual Veterans Day Event in which we served 56 individuals, which totaled $37,446 in
leader, welcomed her first baby, Ryder Earl Vaughn, in May 2023. Bri and Lily, our two newest hygienists, have fit right in and have
been helping alleviate scheduling availability. Lastly, we are excited to
introduce Natalie, who has joined us in our call center to assist in answering patient questions.
Lastly, we want to offer a special thank-you to all of our wonderful patients who voted us “Best of the Tri-State”! We are honored and humbled to serve such an amazing community!
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SUMMER TIPS FOR INSECT-FREE FUN! DON'T LET THE BUGS BITE
USE INSECT REPELLENTS. One of the most effective ways to keep bugs from biting is to use some form of bug repellent. Today, many people opt for non-spray repellent alternatives like repellent patches, wristbands, or clip-ons, many of which work great.
August is the last full month of summer, which means bugs are at their pesky peak. If you and your family love to get outside in the summertime, protecting your family from bug bites is about more than their itchy aftermath. Bugs can carry many diseases that put you, your family, and your pets at risk. For example, mosquitoes and ticks can transmit the West Nile virus, while ticks can spread Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, and much more — including causing alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), which is a life-threatening allergic reaction.
The type of repellent isn’t as important as whether it contains one of these main ingredients:
• Lemon-eucalyptus oil • Citronella oil (combined with thyme for ticks) • Picaridin • Diethyltoluamide (DEET) GET RID OF ANY STANDING WATER NEAR YOUR HOUSE.
So, if you and your family find yourselves outside this summer, here are some tips to keep those creepy-crawlies at bay.
COVER UP! One of the most straightforward ways to ensure no one gets bitten by a bug is to cover any exposed skin when outside. If you can, wear long-
Mosquitoes use stagnant water to lay their eggs, so any filled buckets, partially filled kiddie pools, broken fountains, or even discarded toys that have collected water can all attract mosquitoes to your yard. Routinely check your yard and dump out any
sleeved shirts, full-length pants, tall socks, and closed- toe shoes, especially when hiking or camping. And if you can, tuck your pants into your socks or shoes to prohibit anything from crawling up your legs. CHOOSE YOUR OUTDOOR TIME WISELY. Mosquitoes are most active in the early morning and late evening, so avoid going outside during dawn or dusk if possible.
water you find.
Lastly, be sure to thoroughly check for bugs on both your family and your pets before ever setting foot inside!
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IS IT TIME FOR BABY’S FIRST DENTAL APPOINTMENT? SCHEDULE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER
As a new parent, every milestone your baby reaches is an exciting frontier. Their first smile, first laugh, and first word are all cause for celebration — and so is their first tooth! But did you know the glint of a tiny incisor is also a sign? It means it's time for your baby to see the dentist. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry says children should have their first dental appointment before they turn 1, especially if your child's first tooth appears before their first birthday. Stanford Medicine advises making the appointment “within six months of the first tooth coming in.” Why so early? Well, think of the old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The earlier your baby sees the dentist, the earlier the professionals can spot and prevent problems with their teeth.
possible to avoid these cavities with treatments like silver diamine fluoride (SDF) and fluoride varnish, and dentists can apply them if needed. They can also check for other issues, like baby teeth lodged in your child’s gums negatively impacting their adult teeth or signs their airway isn’t developing properly. Visiting the dentist can be stressful, but you shouldn’t worry about your child’s first visit. These appointments are typically quick, easy, and pain-free. As Stanford Medical Children’s Health explains it, “The first visit often lasts 30–45 minutes. Depending on your child's age, the visit may include a full exam of the teeth, jaws, bite, gums, and oral tissues to check growth and development. If needed, your child may also have a gentle cleaning.” Not only will a one-year dental visit keep your child’s teeth and airway healthy (reducing their pain and dental expenses in the years to come), but it will also help them feel comfortable in the dental chair. In a world where 19% of people have “moderate to high” dental anxiety, this is almost as equally important for their long-term health!
Many parents don’t realize it, but 50% of children get early childhood caries (what the professionals call cavities) in their baby teeth. It’s
BACK SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE Supplies To Donate: Backpacks , 1" binders, colored pencils, composition books crayons, dry erase markers, erasers, glue sticks highlighters, pencil boxes, pencil pouches mechanical pencils, pocket folders scissors, spiral notebooks subject dividers
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www.hagerstownsmiles.com 1115 Mt. Aetna Rd. Hagerstown, MD 21740 Call Now! 240-329-4725
INSIDE A Charitable Season page 1
Keep Those Pesky Pests Away!
Let Your Confidence Shine! page 2
The Right Age to Take Your Kids to the Dentist
Back-to-School Supply Drive
Thank You, Veterans! page 3
Travel Like a Pro With TSA PreCheck page 4
Don’t Remove Your Shoes Reduce Pre-Flight Wait With TSA PreCheck
When you arrive at the airport, you likely feel resigned to the hassle of waiting in a long security line and taking off your shoes. But did you know there’s an elite flight club full of people who don’t need to go through that routine? They have that privilege because TSA PreCheck has confirmed they aren’t a security threat. Best of all, the program is inexpensive and easy to join. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) began the TSA PreCheck program in 2013 to improve frequent flyers’ experience. TSA performs an enhanced security screening
a designated security line where, in March 2021, TSA reported the average wait was only 5 minutes.
The vast majority of airlines and airports operating in the U.S. accept TSA PreCheck, and you can apply with an online application. You must finish registration and submit fingerprints at an in-person enrollment center, but most appointments take about 10 minutes. Five years of enrollment costs $78. At that price, even those who only book one round-trip flight a year might decide to avoid the typical security hassle. Further, many credit cards will reimburse the cost. TSA PreCheck isn’t the only method on the market. Nexus is another domestic security program, and Global Entry allows expedited processing through customs and immigration when returning to the U.S. on international flights. Which service best meets your needs depends on your travel habits. But if you fly regularly, these programs are almost certainly worth your time and money. Don’t get left behind — consider enrolling before your next trip!
on applicants and issues those who pass muster a Known Traveler Number (KTN) that entitles them to fewer security checks at the airport.
A TSA PreCheck registration, however, won’t let you waltz straight from the parking lot to your plane. Members must still walk through a metal detector and allow the TSA to X-ray carry-on items. But people with TSA PreCheck can bypass the full body scan or pat down. They also keep their shoes and belts on while leaving laptops and appropriately sized liquids in their carry-on bags. Finally, PreCheck passengers have
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