A + Family Dentistry's online newsletter for July 2017
Poway Location: 12915 Pomerado Rd. Poway, CA 92064 Phone: 858-748-5100
San Diego Location: 3780 El Cajon Blvd., Unit 1
San Diego, CA 92105 Phone: 619-265-2467
The Happy Tooth
OVERCOMING OUR FEARS
HOW A ‘TERRIFYING’ BEAST BECAME MY BEST FRIEND
Overcoming my fear of dogs was an important step in my life. Not only did it bring me my best friend, but it also helped me grow as a person. It can be hard to move past a fear, especially if it’s something we’ve carried for many years, but the world has so many opportunities when we stop letting such fears control us.
Why should we overcome our fears? When I was growing up, I was terrified of dogs. You see, stray dogs in Vietnam are not like dogs in the United States. They are really mean and hungry. When I was little, my grandmother would always tell me to never go near the dogs, and I often saw dogs chasing other kids, barking, and growling with their teeth bared. relaxed around dogs, and the dogs themselves are far more friendly. My fear of dogs didn’t go away, though. Every time I saw a dog, my heart raced. If I visited a friend who had a dog, I didn’t want to go inside their house, because I knew there was a dog in there. This fear stuck with me into adulthood, and, considering how common it is to see a dog with their owner in day-to-day life, my fear started to become a problem. In dental school, I realized this extreme phobia was unfounded, and it was starting to control me. I had to overcome it. My husband and I went to a local breeder and picked out our first dog together, a Lhasa Apso named Muffin. When we first brought Muffin home, he was this tiny little thing who practically fit in the palm of my hand — and I was still terrified of him! It took about six months before I finally became comfortable with having this mop dog around my house. As my fear started to fade, Muffin and I began to bond. Muffin became my best friend for 15 years. He was — and I am not exaggerating here — the best dog in the whole world. Lhasa Apso dogs are playful and intelligent, and Muffin really was wonderful. Having him really helped me overcome my fear of dogs and understand why people love their dogs so much. When he passed away, I was devastated. I will always be thankful to Muffin for helping me so much. When my family moved to the United States, I learned that Americans tend to have a very different relationship with dogs. People were far more
“It can be hard to move past a fear, especially if it’s something we’ve carried for many years, but the world has so many opportunities when we stop letting such fears control us.”
Recently, I’ve been invited to speak to other dentists and teach them how to run a successful practice. I am really excited for this opportunity, but, at the same time, the idea of speaking in public fills me with dread. English is also my second language, which makes public speaking that much more intimidating. Obviously, I can’t adopt a public speaker in order to overcome my fear of public speaking. Instead, I’ve been practicing speaking in front of my friends and family. I have also enrolled in singing lessons to learn how to use my voice better. I can’t say I have much talent there, but I’m having fun!
It’s not easy to overcome a fear, but I know from personal experience it’s worth it. There can be amazing things in your future when you leave your fears in the past.
- Dr. Justene Doan
July 2017 Edition
A+ Family Dentistry | 619-265-2467 | P1
Duolingo Learn a new language on your own time with Duolingo. This app lets you select your lesson intensity based on how much time you’re able to dedicate to each session and can be adjusted at any time. Lessons can range from 5–25 minutes, meaning you can be learning a new language during your lunch break! Additionally, Duolingo blends video game aspects into the learning, awarding students with experience and providing support and encouragement as you advance through the lessons. busuu Along with writing and grammar exercises, as well as flashcards and quizzes, students can communicate with any of the 60 million other users across the globe through audio recordings. Users can get help with pronunciation and find answers to questions from native speakers with firsthand knowledge. An independent study conducted by City University of New York determined 22.5 hours of busuu Premium offered the same level of knowledge and experience as a semester in a college-level language course. Babble Using speech recognition technology, the Babble app really focuses on helping students get their pronunciation correct right from the start. Rather than overwhelming students with grammar rules, vocabulary comes first, with students learning grammar as they go. Babble offers more customization in its lesson plans, meaning you can focus on the vocabulary that’s relevant to you and your current needs.
The Rosetta Phone Language-Learning Apps for Everyday Life
It’s said the best way to learn a new language is to be fully immersed in another country. Unfortunately, most of us need to be at work on Monday. So, if taking an extended trip for an immersive language lesson is out of the question, consider one of these language-learning apps, perfect for learning around your 9-to-5. From Neuroscience to Dentistry
Whether you need to learn a new language for travel, work, or just for fun, apps like these can help turn you into a real multilingual logophile.
Dr. Eli and Finding a Work-Life Balance
Speaking of family, his wife, Dr. Breeann, is also a dentist. The two met in dental school, and after seven years together, they married last August. They are now expecting their first child — a baby boy, due in October! “It’s exciting,” Dr. Eli says, part thrilled and part anxious about becoming a dad. “Breeann knows what she’s doing. She’s reading books and setting everything in motion. I don’t know what to expect, but I’m there for whatever she or our son will need.”
As a child, Dr. Eli Soumekh knew he wanted to help people when he grew up. Inspired by his father, a neurosurgeon, Dr. Eli started down the path to becoming a physician himself. He majored in neuroscience and spent some time in the hospital setting learning the ropes. It wasn’t long before Dr. Eli realized the hospital life wasn’t for him. “No one is happy to be in the hospital,” he explains. “Patients are there only when they are in serious trouble, family members are scared, and the doctors and nurses are almost always exhausted. It wasn’t the kind of environment I could see myself staying in every single day.” Rather than abandon his dream altogether, Dr. Eli looked for other places in the medical field where he would be able to make a difference in a patient’s life. He shadowed his family dentist and saw how a career in dentistry might allow him to help a lot of people, while still being able to have dinner with his family every night.
Before the baby arrives, Dr. Eli and his wife are taking a two-week trip to Europe to tour around London, Bruges, and Amsterdam. It will be a wonderful adventure to close out this chapter of their lives before Dr. Eli and Dr. Breeann start their next big adventure. Congratulations to them both! We can’t wait to meet the newest member of the A+ family when the baby arrives in a few months.
P2 | A+ Family Dentistry | Aplusfamilydentistry.com
How to Fix a Broken Smile
7 Reasons You Hate Your Smile
Chipped Teeth Tooth-colored dental bonding material is a quick fix for unsightly chips.
Dentistry is much more than cleanings and cavities. It’s about creating a smile to boost your confidence, as well as your oral health. Cosmetic dentistry is a frequently overlooked side of dentistry you can use to fix the problems that keep you from sharing your smile with the world, including: Missing Teeth Dental implants, which look completely natural and are durable enough to last a lifetime, can replace a missing tooth and help maintain the integrity of your jaw. Discolored Teeth A powerful, in-office teeth whitening can give you the enviable, sparkling white smile that will stand out in any picture. For severe staining, porcelain veneers can also be used to permanently whiten your smile. Have a Laugh!
tooth-colored fillings, which can replace any metal fillings you currently have.
Uneven Gum Line Even your gums can hinder the aesthetic appearance of your smile. Luckily, a soft-tissue laser can gently make adjustments to your gum line, leaving you with a bolder, more even smile. Sometimes, all it takes is one or two corrections to turn your embarrassing smile into a work of art. Many of these treatments can be conducted during the course of a single office visit, which means you’ll leave loving your new smile. Sit down with one of our dentists for a free cosmetic consultation and learn how easily you can achieve a smile you will be proud to show off. Call 619-831-8832 (San Diego) or 858-842-5850 (Poway) to create a treatment plan that fits your smile and budget!
Gaps Between Teeth Depending on the severity of your teeth,
orthodontics, porcelain veneers, or crowns can be used to close gaps and even out the appearance of your teeth. Misshapen teeth Irregularly shaped teeth can also be fixed through the use of dental bonding, or with porcelain veneers in extreme cases. Metal Fillings If you had cavities in the past, chances are your mouth is full of old metal fillings, which can be very distracting if they’re visible when you talk or laugh. Modern dentists use natural-looking,
Easiest Chickpea Curry
Ingredients
•
2 (15-ounce) cans no-salt- added chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• • • • •
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large yellow onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
• • • •
3 tablespoons ketchup
1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick
Salt and pepper, to taste
Pinch of ground cloves
Chopped cilantro (optional)
Lemon wedges (optional)
Directions
cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 20 minutes.
1. In a large straight-sided skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. 2. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until dark brown around edges, for about 6 minutes. 3. Add garlic, curry, cinnamon, and cloves and cook, stirring, until fragrant, for 30 seconds. 4. Add chickpeas, ketchup, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 2
5. Uncover and increase heat to medium-high; cook until sauce is slightly reduced, for 5 minutes. 6. Serve with chopped cilantro and lemon wedges, if desired.
A+ Family Dentistry | 619-265-2467 | P3
Office Hours: Mondays: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Tuesdays: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Wednesdays: Closed Thursdays: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Fridays: 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturdays: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
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3780 El Cajon Blvd., Unit 1 San Diego, CA 92105
Aplusfamilydentistry.com 619-265-2467
Inside this Issue
Overcoming Our Fears
Page 1
Rosetta Phone: Apps for Learning a Second Language
Page 2
From Neuroscience to Dentistry
Page 2
7 Reasons You Hate Your Smile
Page 3
Easiest Chickpea Curry
Page 3
Yellowstone: Where the Wild Things Are
Page 4
Where the Wild Things Are THE UNSPOILED NATURAL MAJESTY OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
This summer, skip the expensive hustle and bustle of an overcrowded theme park. After a vacation like that, you’ll feel like you need another.
are unlike any other. Also, be sure to investigate the Grand Prismatic Spring, which, besides its otherworldly rainbow waters, is known for being the largest hot spring in the U.S. For many, though, the biggest draw of the park is the wildlife. Yellowstone is home to the largest bison population on public land. It houses more mammals than anywhere else in the lower 48 states, 150 species of birds, and huge populations of native fish, to name a few. Just driving around the park, you’re apt to see moose, deer, elk, mountain goats, and, if you’re lucky, grizzly bears, mountain lions, or wolves. Go boating, catch a fish, scale a mountain, ride a horse — the things to do vary as much as the breathtaking landscape. If you’re looking for an affordable, relaxed, and wide-open family vacation this summer, Yellowstone is a no-brainer.
As far as getaway destinations go, Yellowstone National Park, sprawling across Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, is a little more expansive . More than 3 million visitors flock to its astonishing peaks, multicolored pools, and dramatic geothermal geysers each year, but as you travel across Yellowstone’s 2.2 million acres, it’s unlikely you’ll see much of them. And the sheer variety of unparalleled activities to explore means fun for the whole family. Make sure to check out Old Faithful, the most famous geothermal geyser in the world, with eruptions averaging a whopping 130 vertical feet. Or if it’s majesty and exploration you’re itching for, hike one of the many trails along the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. The views, with clay cliff faces and tree-covered mountains in every direction,
P4 | A+ Family Dentistry | Aplusfamilydentistry.com
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