April 2018
800 South Washington St., Afton, WY 83110 (307) 885-4337 | www.drlivingstondds.com
Life with Livingston Dental
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Beauty Is in the Eye of the Child Being close to such beautiful landscapes during my childhood provided many
disappointed that my original artwork was taken away, but I’ve since learned to work with more appropriate mediums to create my designs. In fact, it was those early attempts at creativity that led me to dentistry. Looking back, I recognize that what I saw in those cracks was the same inspiration I find in a patient’s smile. There’s imperfection, and within it, there’s beauty. Dentistry gives us the opportunity to bring out what’s naturally there. It might sound like a stretch to call dentists artists, but I like to think that when I give a patient a cleaner, brighter smile and offer them a treatment that makes them smile more, I’m also creating a piece of art — one that my patient gets to show off every day. In this month’s newsletter, we’re featuring another form of art dentistry can take — the kind that lies in giving you a new tooth or a new set of teeth. We get to hear from Dr. Jeff and learn why he chose to focus on implants and veneers. I guess creativity must run in the family — Dr. Jeff is also my son. Fortunately, he has
So I grabbed a hammer, got on the hood of the truck, and spent a considerable amount of time extending those cracks. I was so proud of my artwork. When I was done with my masterpiece, I jumped off the hood of the pickup and went to grab my mom. “Mom, you have to come see what I did!” I announced proudly. She followed me outside and stood silently as I told her about my art project. I brought her to the pickup. I was so thrilled and excited about my artwork. She was speechless. She obviously did not see what I did in that damaged windshield. Despite what I’d done to the pickup, I must have convinced her that it wasn’t so bad, because I lived to tell the tale. From that point on, my mom gave us kids plenty of crayons and paper to create with. I was
opportunities for outdoor fun. We’d head to Glacier National Park to kayak in one of the most pristine areas just south of our border. My brother and I raced snowmobiles in the winter and motorcycles in the summer — and the whole family often joined in the fun.
But sometimes, instead of running around outside, I just wanted to be an artist.
When I was 5, I noticed the cracks on the windshield of our truck for the first time. I remember being very curious about those cracks. I thought, “They’re like tiny spiderwebs. How beautiful!” I saw the smaller cracks that hadn’t begun to spiderweb, and I imagined it would be even more beautiful if I could create the same designs across the windshield.
steered away from windshields and sticks to creating beautiful smiles.
Have a happy April, and until next month,
1 Livingston Dental
Gardening: Bringing Family Together Why You Should Consider Investing in a Family Garden
for everyone. It’s a chance to get the whole family involved with a single project, and you can literally share the fruits of your labor. Deciding on Plants When it comes to deciding which plants you want in your garden, there are many variables to consider. Do you want to grow edible plants, ones that have magnificent blossoms, or ones that are easy to care for? Flowers are a good start if you want a plant that grows a little faster; plus, they lend a pop of color to your garden. Growing vegetables is also rewarding, as the kids will take great pleasure in eating what they’ve grown. Other possibilities include sunflowers, blackberries, peas, and lettuce. You might be surprised at how willingly children eat their greens when they’ve had a hand in growing them.
After spending a winter cooped up inside with your family, there might be a little tension between everyone. Fortunately, it’s spring, and the warm weather, melting snow, and blooming flowers offer a good way to ease restlessness. This season, why not bring your family closer together by starting a family garden?
A Learning Experience Nearly every step in the gardening process can be a learning experience for kids and parents alike. Begin by discussing where you should start and why, what supplies you’ll need, and the types of plants you
want to grow. Gardening also offers opportunities to learn about science, ecology, and nutrition.
Collaboration Gardening gives your family a chance to collaborate. When you’re stuck inside for long periods, you may be spending time together, but it’s usually not quality time. Working in a group to create and maintain a garden is a hands-on experience Family gardens can bring something new and fresh to your home. So, get outside, enjoy the sun, and discover the joys of plants and gardening. Finding Your Best
Dental Care That’s Tailored for You
Instead of giving a generalized treatment plan, we had a conversation about what would be best for Jeremy. To start, I recommended to his parents that we focus on home care. As these were baby teeth, one of the best services we could provide to Jeremy and his parents was educating them on how to care for his teeth every day. Stories like this illustrate the focus Livingston Dental puts on finding a treatment plan that’s in the best interests of our patients. For us, an exam doesn’t just mean telling you what to do with your teeth. It means answering your questions and inquiring about your priorities. We seek to understand your unique situation. Patients need to be heard, and we are here to listen. Call Livingston Dental today to schedule your appointment.
One of our favorite parts of our job is finding the best treatment plan for our patients. Sometimes it’s straightforward; other times, we need to dig a little deeper to determine what would be the best course of action. Recently, a family came to our clinic for the first time. They moved here because of the father’s work, and their 6-year-old — we’ll call him Jeremy — had been seeing a dentist in Idaho before the move. Jeremy had very little enamel, and the previous dentist recommended they put crowns on all his baby teeth. The family hadn’t followed up with the treatment because they didn’t have the money at the time. When they moved to Wyoming, they came to our clinic, and after our hygienist met with Jeremy, she gave Dr. Livingston the introduction to his situation. Dr. Livingston looked over his teeth and saw that, while Jeremy did have a few cavities, we could find a treatment that would be a better fit for him than putting crowns on all his teeth. While the family now had the money to cover the cost of the crowns, there wasn’t a reason to put crowns on all of his baby teeth.
2 (307) 885-4337 | www.drlivingstondds.com
Bringing Renewed Confidence to Our Patients
Livingston Dental, he uses his creative abilities to bring you a new smile. Dr. Jeff specializes in veneers, crowns, bridges, and surgically placing and restoring implants. He uses all the latest techniques to provide the dental services you need. When it comes to veneers, a trained eye is crucial to creating and placing one that looks just like your tooth. With Dr. Jeff’s skills, he creates an implant that looks exactly like your tooth, replicating color, shape, and size. Our veneers have a long life and provide your teeth with the same strength and resistance as your natural enamel. We have the pleasure of hosting Dr. Jeff at our office once a month. Contact our office today to schedule your appointment and find the pathway to renewed confidence!
As he shared on the cover, Dr. Livingston’s creativity is part of what led him to dentistry. It must run in the family — Dr. Jeff Livingston, Dr. Livingston’s son, is also a dentist. Dr. Jeff specializes in specific techniques to create the most priceless artwork of all: a new smile, and renewed confidence. Dr. Jeff found his calling when he was an Eagle Scout. In pursuit of his dentistry merit badge, Dr. Jeff discovered that he was really interested in dentistry as a career, and he has been providing patients with excellent care ever since going to dental school. He now practices at a clinic in Oregon, but once a month, he comes back home to Star Valley to provide our patients with additional treatment options.
Like Dr. Livingston, Dr. Jeff brings a creative eye to his work, and once a month at
Puzzle Time! Pasta With Turkey & Broccoli
(Recipe inspired by realsimple.com)
Ingredients • 3/4 pound pasta
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper • Salt • Parmesan cheese
(shells or orecchiette) • 2 cups broccoli florets • 3 tablespoons olive oil • 1 pound ground turkey
Directions
1. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Add broccoli when pasta is 1 minute from done. Drain both and return to pot. 2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the turkey, garlic, crushed red pepper, and a pinch of salt. Cook while breaking up meat with a wooden spoon for 3–5 minutes. 3. Combine turkey with pasta and broccoli mixture, adding the remaining olive oil as you stir. Serve in bowls topped with Parmesan cheese.
OCEAN OUTDOORS SPRING VEGETABLE
GARDENING HAWAII JAMAICA LIGHTS
APRIL BLOOM CAMP FLOWERS
3 Livingston Dental
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
800 South Washington St., Afton, WY 83110 (307) 885-4337 | www.drlivingstondds.com
Inside What’s in a Piece of Art?
Gardening: Bringing Family Together How We Provide Customized Care
A Visit From Dr. Jeff Pasta With Turkey and Broccoli
3 Places to View Natural Wonders
Naturescapes One-of-a-Kind If you’re lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, you might see rare magical sights — baby turtles scuttling toward water, glowing lagoons, or a shimmering sky. But when and where do you need to be to catch these natural wonders?
Bioluminescent Plankton in Jamaica
the world. That makes Sweden and its Scandinavian neighbors a great place to see the phenomenon. From December through April, you’ll have your best chance of seeing the northern lights. Sightings are dependent on solar activity, so it’s impossible to predict the exact timing and location, but they’re easier to see during the longer, darker nights of winter and early spring. Eco tip: Book your trip through a responsible travel company, such as those that practice a fair-trade policy.
Imagine looking out at the water as the sky gets dark and seeing it turn a bright, glowing blue. That’s the sight you might be treated to at Luminous Lagoon in Jamaica, where dinoflagellates, microscopic organisms in the water, lend their glow to the lagoon. These tiny organisms thrive in areas where salt water and fresh water meet, making the lagoon in springtime an ideal place to see them. Eco tip: To ensure this magical sight will remain for years to come, always go with a “pack it in, pack it out” mentality. Take all of your belongings with you when you leave and be respectful of the beautiful environment that is yours to enjoy. Northern Lights in Scandinavia One of the most elusive natural wonders, the aurora borealis, can only be seen on dark nights in the most northern parts of
Sea Turtles Hatching in Hawaii On Oahu’s North Shore, head to Turtle Beach, which gets its name from the many turtles that nest along its shores. During late spring and summer, the waves subside, allowing turtles to crawl onto the beach to lay their eggs. Baby turtles hatch at night and make their way to the water by the light of the moon. If you do head to the beach at night to see this spectacle, don’t use white light, as it can disrupt the turtles’ progress (that means no flash photography). Eco tip: Look, but don’t touch! It’s illegal to touch a sea turtle in Hawaii. 4 (307) 885-4337 | www.drlivingstondds.com
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