Check out our June/July/August newsletter!
JUNE/JULY/AUGUST 2021
1115 Mt. Aetna Rd., Hagerstown, MD 21740 • www.hagerstownsmiles.com • 240-329-4725
Taking Care of Each Other — and Ourselves It’s the plan for families who are looking to save money where they can. It’s also the plan for older folks who’ve had previous health care costs rejected by the government programs they rely on to afford their health care. And it’s definitely the plan for the many, many people who found themselves out of work or between jobs during the pandemic.
Honestly? It might just be the plan for you — even if you have insurance that does cover dental care. We’ve found plenty of patients who got a better deal on our plan than they would have by going through insurance, even if their policies technically cover dental care. After all, if you think of your health insurance as the “coupon” program that it really is, how often do you get coupons for the really good, whole-grain bread, as compared to the generic white bread that never gets stale? Our job is to advocate for our patients. Summer is a great time of year to take care of those regular cleanings, especially as we get busy in the next few months when the kids go back to school (including college “kids”), and everybody is trying to get in those cleanings before fall really gets underway. The best quality care we can offer people is going to be the kind we’d give our own families, and if we have to get creative to do it, well, we honestly see that as part of our job. With these programs, we’re able to offer individualized treatment plans. It’s not generic, coupon-cutter care with us, even if it is more affordable than the insurance options. We think you’re going to love this edition of the newsletter. Kick back, enjoy the read, and take some time for yourself this summer. Coming off such a tough year, it’s a good time to get back up and figure out what the new normal is. And don’t forget to have fun. My family is headed to vacation on the Outer Banks, and it’s long overdue. If we learned anything from all of this, it’s that nothing is better than the time we spend with loved ones. –Haley Gordon
Most people don’t associate summer with tough times — in fact, it’s usually the opposite! But that doesn’t mean this time of year doesn’t have its challenges. And when things become stressful, or even just busy, it can be difficult to take care of others the way we might like to. And yet, as a dental office full of driven, hardworking health care providers who love our patients, we could never accept anything less than our best. Because of our commitment to you, we’ve had to think outside the box when it comes to several unique challenges we desperately needed to address. The pandemic exposed a lot of weak points both on an individual level and also as a society. One weak point was that not every American has health insurance — although as dentists, we were already all too familiar with insurance limiting the care people can receive. After all, most insurance plans don’t cover dental care automatically — if it’s even an option! Our solution has been to offer an in-office savings plan separate from any insurance policies a person may (or may not) have. For a flat yearly cost, you get the regular dental care you need, specifically cleanings, as well as options for more advanced treatment should it become necessary.
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NIGHTGUARDS KEEP YOU FROMGRINDING YOUR TEETH PROTECT YOUR TEETH DURING STRESSFUL TIMES
O n the cover, we discussed the ways we’re trying to make dental care affordable for everyone, like having care plans that don’t depend on the insurance companies. One example of something insurance plans don’t always cover is nightguards — which is ridiculous and amazing when you consider how many Americans experience bruxism (close to 10% according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, and in our experience, likely higher). Bruxism is the grinding of teeth, especially at night when you sleep. Obviously you cannot control it — and often, it’s hard to know that it’s a problem until you experience dental damage as a result. You may wake up with a sore jaw or notice that your teeth are more sensitive than usual. Both of those are easy to ignore, especially in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but regular dental visits can help spot the problem in time because we know the signs and the right questions to ask.
is a symptom of stress) will be going away anytime soon; quite the opposite, in fact.
What’s the solution? The humble nightguard, of course.
You might remember boiling a mouthguard to fit for high school sports; an occlusal nightguard will probably remind you of that, but it’s far more comfortable, slimmer, and better-fitted. No boiling involved; we use scans and X-rays to make a device fit exactly to your teeth, which leads to a better experience all-around. That level of customization means that nightguards can be more expensive, but one will last for years and years if taken care of properly. And compared to the cost of emergency dental repair — which is where bruxism leads — it’s downright cheap. Are you a night-grinder? Are you stressed but not sure if bruxism is a factor in your life? Call us today for answers to these and other questions, and schedule an appointment for an examination and possible fitting. Make the risks of bruxism a thing of the past!
Given that Americans self-report high levels of stress (levels that are increasing), there’s no reason to believe that bruxism (which
$75 OFF CUSTOM NIGHTGUARD
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3 BUSINESS TRICKS THAT WILL IMPROVE YOUR PERSONAL LIFE
Whether your reminder is an alarm at the same time every day or even another habit (“I’ll exercise before I take my morning shower”), make sure it’s part of any new process you implement. 3: Remember, work is flexible — your personal life isn’t. Bryan G. Dyson, CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, once told his staff, “Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them — work, family, health, friends, and spirit — and you are keeping all of these in the air.” In his metaphor, work is a rubber ball. “If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged, or even shattered. They will never be the same."
When you're constantly in the “zone” at work, you're not always thinking about what's best for your personal life. While many business owners prioritize balance, what will truly benefit both your home and work life? Check out these three tricks. 1: Start your day with a plan. We know what you’re thinking: Writing out your plan is more work than just doing it. The key is to plan whenever you can. If you jot down things you want to accomplish the following day as they come up, all you’ll need to do is spend a few minutes organizing your list the next morning.
Pro Tip: Remember to include time to unwind and relax!
2: Develop new and improved processes. While certain activities can’t be replaced with shortcuts (like spending time with family), consider ways to make your current processes more efficient and beneficial. For example, you can’t lose weight if you don’t change your diet and exercise. Adjusting your habits might seem difficult, but there’s actually a straightforward method. According to “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, every new habit has a simple formula behind it: motivation, ability, and prompt.
We hope these tips help you protect the “glass balls” in your life!
NO CAVITY CLUB WINNERS NATHAN ADAMEZ SAVANNAH LUNDBERG JACKSON LUM AND RYLEE MYERS;
ICEDGREENTEA, 2WAYS
TESTIMONIAL WINNER BILL HOSE FACEBOOK WINNER DORY AUGUSTINE-BRADLEY
INGREDIENTS
• •
• • • •
2 tbsp loose-leaf green tea 4 cups filtered water, divided
1 tbsp whole coriander seeds
Option 2: Ginger Mint
1 handful fresh mint leaves
Option 1: Rose and Coriander • 1 tbsp dried rose petals
1 inch fresh ginger, cut into coins
DIRECTIONS
For Rose and Coriander Tea: 1. In a large pitcher, place green tea, rose petals, and coriander seeds. 2. Bring 1/2 cup water to just below boiling. 3. Pour hot water over tea leaves, petals, and seeds. Let steep for 10 seconds, then add the remaining 3 1/2 cups water. 4. Refrigerate 4–8 hours until tea reaches your desired strength. Strain and serve over ice. For Ginger Mint Tea: 5. Follow the instructions above, substituting the mint leaves and ginger coins for the rose petals and coriander seeds.
PATIENT OF THE MONTH WINNERS: FEB — LISA GERRINGER MARCH — RICHARD WALTZ APRIL — KEITH WELLS MAY — MICHELE KEGARISE
Inspired by 101Cookbooks.com
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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 Taking Care of Each Other — and Ourselves page 1
Nightguards Worth Their Weight in Gold page 2
Make Your Work-Life Balance Easy page 3
Iced Green Tea, 2 Ways page 3
The Paddleboard Craze Is Here to Stay page 4
WHAT'S 'SUP?
THE STAND-UP PADDLEBOARD CRAZE THAT NEVERWENT AWAY
O utdoor and exercise crazes come and go almost as fast as hairstyles and popular app games do. But every once in a while, a trend comes along that remains popular — think karate, which spiked in the ‘60s and again in the ‘80s, and it can still be found in almost every American city to this day. Back in 2013, one such trend arose: the stand-up paddleboard, or SUP for short. The act of standing on a floating piece of wood in a surfboard shape and paddling (or poling) yourself along likely goes back thousands of years, but the SUP craze can be traced back to one man — and he’s not even in his 60s yet! That man is famous surfer Laird Hamilton, a household name in a sport that doesn’t usually generate them. And Laird, along with the Waikiki Beachboys, showed the world a new way to hit the water in the first decade of the 21st century.
Unlike other crazes, the gear was simple and the activity beginner- friendly. To start, you only need a paddle, a board, a life preserver, and of course, a place to go! It’s a new way to see the water, which only boosted its popularity. Even veteran water sports enthusiasts weren’t used to standing on the water instead of sitting in a boat! But according to the industry’s own numbers, that popularity never died down. As it turns out, SUP is a good way to get around, and a lot of folks need that. Many cities, such as San Antonio, feature “paddling trails” that let SUP practitioners see the city in a new way or even commute via their board. How cool is that? If you’re looking for a new hobby this summer, it’s easy to rent a stand-up paddleboard and learn the basics. Take a class, head out into the water, and give it a shot. Who knows, you might be one of the thousands of Americans to discover a lifelong passion!
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