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NOVEMBER 2017
8650 Candlelight Lane Suite One, Lenexa, Kansas 66215
www.PerfectSmilesDentalCare.com
913-631-2677
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A Bridenstine-Speierman Christmas MARRIAGE OF TRADITIONS
I married into a family that doesn’t put up a Christmas tree until December 12. Yes, you read that right: December 12. I’m a guy who likes to put a tree up on the 3rd or 4th, and I’m serious about getting it decorated early. When I met my wife, Sherrie, I was surprised to learn her family waits until late December to get into the Christmas spirit. “That’s so late,” I thought. But they have a good reason. It’s a tradition that honors her grandmother’s birthday, which is, you guessed it, December 12. Finally, I had an epiphany. “Okay, if we’re going to put a tree up for your grandma on the 12th,” I prompted Sherrie, “my mother’s birthday is December 4th, so can we put up a tree to honor her?” It was a funny idea, but because I’m lucky to have a wife with a sense of humor and patience for my goofy ideas, it’s become a tradition at our house. So, every year, we have two trees: one for Grandma Speierman and one for my mom, Gwenda Bridenstine. When two families combine, you make new traditions. Sharing this story always makes me chuckle, and it’s a funny tradition that’s become an institution at the Bridenstine house. But there’s a lot to be said for family traditions, as old (or new) as they may be. Other than the two-tree tradition, our family sticks to pretty typical holiday customs. As a kid, I was the eldest of eight children, and Christmas was spent with the whole lot of us waking up at 4, then 5 then 6 a.m. We’d peek at the gifts under the tree until our parents finally got out of bed and we could open them. I grew up in California in a one-story ranch house. Christmas was different there because it was warm outside. If you got a bicycle, you could actually ride it on Christmas Day.
Now, we have a two-story house, and there’s a rule that the kids can’t come downstairs until 7 a.m., just in case Santa needs a little extra time getting up the chimney. When the presents are delivered and everyone’s awake, we’ll have hot chocolate, cookies and sometimes
wait until the afternoon to open gifts. In Kansas, it’s too cold to go outside and don’t even think about riding a new bike up and down the street. We’re happy to stay warm and cozy inside by the fireplace with our hot chocolate. This year, we won’t be in California or Kansas for Christmas. Instead, we’re heading to Hawaii. After a few years of being homebodies and enjoying our new home, we’re looking forward to a warm Christmas on the islands.
“When two families combine, you make new traditions.“
One important reminder before you leave on your own holiday vacation: Please maximize your 2017 dental benefits and don’t let them run out! If you have a filling, cleaning or crown that needs to be taken care of and you have unused insurance benefits, don’t let them pass with the New Year. Our schedule is already filling up, so call us right away before we’re booked for the rest of the year!
From our office to your home, I wish you a happy Thanksgiving, merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah and a joyous holiday season!
–Dr. Bridensti ne
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If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. But sometimes we stumble across a few hidden gems that make our lives easier. And, when it comes to cleaning house, we can all use a little “easier.” Check out these products you may have already written off and let them surprise you.
That Actually Work ‘RIP-OFFS’ CLEANING
DOLLAR STORE CLEANING PRODUCTS If you’ve ever ducked into the local dollar store to buy some Mylar balloons for your niece’s birthday party, you might have noticed the jugs and spray bottles plastered with the word “Awesome.” Surely, this knock-off soap can’t work as well as your brand-name products, right? You’d be surprised. Online reviewers sing Awesome’s praises, suggesting it should really be a higher price for how well it works. Just make sure you wear gloves when you use it. DETERGENT PODS You use too much soap in your washing machine and dishwasher. At least, that’s what the New York Times reported as the No. 1 complaint from repair people and appliance experts. Modern appliances are designed to use less water, and as soap becomes more concentrated, using too much can damage your machine. That’s what makes detergent pods so handy. They don’t look like they can clean all your dishes or an entire load of clothes, but they actually provide the perfect amount for modern machines. You save money on detergent and machine repair!
FOAM CLEANING BLOCKS Anything with “magic” in the title sounds like a scam. For this reason, you may have avoided the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and similar melamine foam products. But this is one case where the product lives up to its wild claims. Melamine foam is abrasive and can break and textures, making it an effective cleaner. It can be used to whiten sneakers, clean tub scum and remove permanent marker from your fridge. Since the snake oil salesmen in the days of old first tricked trusting folks out of their hard- earned cash, consumers have wised up and are quick to write off perceived scams. Still, every now then you get lucky, and the cheap white sponge really does make the stove look like new. But you should still think twice before you say yes to gas station sushi.
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1) Our front office
retirement plan, health plan, paid holidays and vacations.
dental school. A prosthodontist is a specialist in dentures, partials, relines and full-mouth
administrator, Glenda, retired from dentistry
2) The end of the year is upon us. Please make sure to use all of your dental insurance benefits before the year ends. Use them or lose them. If you need a teeth cleaning, a filling or a crown, please call us today to make an appointment. Our schedule is beginning to fill up, especially for the hygienists. Also, if you know of anyone looking for a new dental office to call home, or anyone looking to maximize their end-of-the-year insurance benefits, we are accepting new patients. Please call today; it’s time. 3) We’d like to celebrate Dr. Tracy Boldry’s 21st anniversary with Perfect Smiles Dental Care. She came on board in the summer of 1996. Dr. Boldry is a board-certified prosthodontist. She completed three more years of specialty school after four years of
rehabilitation. She also places tooth- colored mercury-free fillings, porcelain crowns and bridges, along with implant crowns and implant retained dentures. She makes beautiful lifelike cosmetic dentures. If you know of a friend, family member or co-worker who is tired of wearing ill-fitting dentures or who has a lot of missing teeth or severely worn teeth and wants help, please have them call us to schedule an appointment with Dr. Boldry. She is a gifted artist.
this year. She had worked in the dental profession for over 20 years, 11 of those with Dr. Bridenstine. We wish Glenda the best in all her future endeavors. We are now in the process of finding a replacement at our business office. If you know of anyone who may be interested in applying, please have them send us a resume. We are looking for someone with excellent people skills and great phone etiquette. We seek a person who is teachable, trainable and a great team player with a natural and friendly attitude. If this person has no dental experience, we will train them. This is a great full-time opportunity with benefits including a fully funded 401(k)
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Will Ruin Your Teeth Most people like to be helpful. If someone is having a hard time, we’ll happily offer some advice. However, even the most This Bad Advice
Bad Advice: Don’t brush bleeding gums; give them time to heal. Bleeding gums are often a symptom of gum disease or a warning that gum disease is on the horizon. When plaque is allowed to build, it hardens into tartar. This calcified material irritates your gums and can potentially wear them down. The only way to remove the damaging plaque buildup is to brush your gums regularly. Not brushing due to bleeding will only lead to further problems. However, it’s important to determine the cause of bleeding, as it may also have something to do with your toothbrush or diet. If your gums are bleeding regularly, let your dentist know. When we give advice, we certainly mean well, but the best of intentions don’t make up for bad results. Let’s stick to what we know and leave the dental advice to the experts.
teeth, remember most stains are beneath the surface, where the charcoal can’t reach. Furthermore, scrubbing the gritty, abrasive substance across your teeth is likely to erode your enamel and damage your gums, leading to more dental problems. Bad Advice: The best kind of mouthwash has alcohol. If your mouthwash burns, it likely contains alcohol. Some insist the burning means the mouthwash is working, but alcohol isn’t necessary for mouthwash to be effective. Alcohol just stabilizes the formula. It isn’t what kills germs or freshens breath. In fact, alcohol in mouthwash has been known to cause dry mouth, which can make your breath smell worse and lead to more germs. Studies from BioMed Research International found alcohol-free mouthwash may have a better effect on the gloss, color and hardness of your teeth.
well-intended advice can have damaging consequences. When it comes to our teeth, there is a lot of misinformation going around. Here are some common bits of “wisdom” you can ignore. Bad Advice: Use activated charcoal to whiten your teeth. Activated charcoal, which is not the same as the bricks in your barbecue, is the latest beauty craze, thanks to its ability to absorb chemicals and toxins. Walk down the health and beauty aisle, and you’ll find charcoal in soap, face masks, shampoo, moisturizer and deodorant. However, before you use charcoal to whiten your
HAVE A
Laugh
3-Ingredient
BLACK BEAN SOUP
This protein-packed, fat-free soup is delicious, only requires three ingredients and is super quick and easy to put together. What more could you ask for?
Ingredients
• 2 (15.5-ounce) cans black beans • 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 (14.5–15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
Directions
1. Combine all ingredients in a medium pot. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
2. Remove from stove and blend using an immersion blender or a traditional blender.
Recipe courtesy of HoneyAndBirch.com.
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8650 Candlelight Lane Suite One Lenexa, Kansas 66215 913-631-2677 PerfectSmilesDentalCare.com
Inside THIS ISSUE
New Traditions When 2 Families Combine PAGE 1 These Products Make Housework Easier! Things to Know PAGE 2
Can Tall Tales Destroy Your Teeth? 3-Ingredient Black Bean Soup PAGE 3
Come Celebrate the Season! PAGE 4
SOME LOCAL HAPPENINGS TO GET YOU IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT Come Celebrate the Season!
STAMPIN’ UP PRESENTS: MAKE & TAKE CHRISTMAS CARDS When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., November 25 Where: Excelsior Springs, Missouri Admission: $25 Suit up … in your best crafting gear. After picking up presents at the Yuletide Market, head to the American Artifact Co. to make the accompaniments to your gifts. Once you’ve signed up, you can stop by anytime between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to make your cards. Just be sure to allow some time for it; the website recommends two hours. All materials and instruction are provided.
Christmas lovers, rejoice! There are several reasons to leave the house this season and get into the holiday spirit. If you’re the type who loves to get a head start on gift shopping, the Yuletide Market is where you’ll want to be. Plus, you can make cards for everyone at the Stampin’ Up Presents workshop. And don’t forget about the Seasons of Celebration for a fun and festive way to round out the gift-gathering.
YULETIDE MARKET When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., November 18 Where: Platte City Middle School, Platte City, Missouri Admission: Free
SEASONS OF CELEBRATION When: November 10 Where: Lenexa Baptist Church, Lenexa, Kansas Admission: $25
Make your list, and check it twice: The Yuletide Market is happening again in Platte City. With over 100 vendors, there will be a satisfying variety of gifts to choose from for all your recipients. Jewelry, toys, gourmet delicacies and home decor are just a few of the categories that will be available. Support local artisans and get a one-of-a-kind gift.
Gather at the Seasons of Celebration this November to truly get in tune with the holiday spirit. A ticket includes a meal and four unique gifts that are sure to add a sparkle to your holiday.
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