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The MONTHLY Smile
706-453-1333 www.LakeOconeeDental.com
OCTOBER 2018
HOW TRADITIONS CAN SHAPE YOUR FUTURE Meet Dr. Andrea, Our Amazing Team Member
The celebration of any fun- filled holiday usually conjures up sentimental memories of past family customs. Halloween, for example, is chock-full of traditions that are passed down like heirlooms through generations. If your parents took you to pick out a pumpkin and helped you carve it the week before Halloween, you might do the same with your own kids. If your mom stitched together your princess costume using her sewing machine, perhaps you tried to do the same for your
degree in 2014 from the University of Georgia, where she double-majored in Biology and Psychology. If that busy workload wasn’t enough, Dr. Andrea was in the Honors Program all four years and graduated Magna Cum Laude. She then attended dental school at the University of Louisville — the same alma mater as Dr. Patti and Dr. David. After receiving her D.M.D., she worked for four years at a practice in Kennesaw, Georgia, before we had the privilege to hire her here at Lake Oconee Dentistry.
daughter. The traditions you experienced as a child play a huge role in the decisions you make as an adult, and no one knows this better than Dr. Andrea Feldman. Dr. Andrea will be celebrating her one-year anniversary working here at Lake Oconee Dentistry, so you may have already had the privilege of meeting her. But if not, here are some things you need to know about our amazing team member. Dr. Andrea credits her grandfather and her parents for inspiring her to pursue a career in dentistry. Dr. Andrea’s grandfather was a dentist, and she remembers being fascinated by what he did for a living. But because both of her parents worked in the health care field, she thought she would follow in their footsteps and become a medical doctor. She remained committed to that decision all the way into her undergraduate years until she had the opportunity to shadow some dentists in local clinics. After that, her mind was changed. Dr. Andrea was impressed by the dentists’ ability to interact with patients on a personal level. She was also drawn to the more artistic nature of dental reconstruction. Even as an eager young college student, she enjoyed the process of making crowns and dentures.
In addition to her expertise in providing patients with top-notch dental services like extractions, fillings, crowns, and dentures, the ways in which Dr. Andrea interacts and genuinely cares about her patients’ well-being is what makes her among the best we’ve seen. She credits her passion for patients to some of her early experiences
in dental school. While in school, she participated in Smile Kentucky, a program in which clinics around the area provide free cleanings and interactive oral health education to children. Many of the children were fearful to climb into the dental chair, but Dr. Andrea found that one of the most rewarding parts of the day was talking to the kids and putting them at ease. It became evident to her that,
Once she made the decision to join the dental world, Dr. Andrea never veered from that course. She received her undergraduate
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IF SHARKS CAN DO IT, WHY CAN’T WE? Grow Your Own eeth
The dental industry is teeming with new, exciting technologies that provide more realistic results when it comes to tooth implants. Perhaps the most exciting new development is the ability to grow teeth in a lab. When biology and dentistry combine, the possibilities are endless. HOW CAN YOU GROW TEETH? Scientists have discovered a way to regrow teeth using stem cells taken from the pulp of a healthy adult tooth. The pulp is isolated and coaxed into forming new dentin and eventually a tooth bud, which can then grow into a mature tooth. Pam Yelick, a professor in the department of orthodontics at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, and her team have spent years researching this new technology and continue to perfect it. Their goal is to create an implant that is nearly identical to a real tooth in function, feel, and appearance. THE IDEA BEHIND IT Sharks and snakes are constantly losing and regrowing teeth. These two animals first inspired scientists to investigate whether they could develop the technology to replicate this evolutionary benefit for humans. The ability to regrow teeth so quickly after an old one has fallen out or broken off is due to the genetics of these animals. To grow teeth properly, two types of cells are required: epithelial cells and mesenchymal stem cells. One type of cell functions as a messenger
to the other, instructing it to form tooth buds. For both cells to function, they must be given the correct mixture of growth hormones and nutrients, and they must be grown on a “scaffold,” an environment that closely mimics embryonic tissue.
FUTURE POSSIBILITIES What’s catching the attention of the public is how quick and easy this method could potentially be. Instead of undergoing serious dental surgery, patients would only need a routine operation for the tooth bud to be placed. However, researchers and scientists still face several hurdles. For example, the epithelial cells seem to respond to gum tissue after this kind of surgery, but the mesenchymal cells don’t. Though it's rumored that human trials will begin in 2019, it’s likely to be some time before this technology becomes common practice. Still, it’s interesting to imagine a future in which growing teeth would be as easy for humans as it is for some of our sharp-toothed animal friends.
WHY THERE ARE KIDS ON YOUR PORCH ASKING FOR CANDY
The History of Trick-or-Treating
As Halloween looms and you load up your grocery cart with candy, you may ask yourself, “Why do I provide these
of the living and the dead. To trick the spirits leaking into our world, young men donned flowing white costumes and black masks — a great disguise when ghosts were about.
spooky gremlins with a sugar high every Oct. 31, anyway?” Well, when your doorbell starts ringing around 6 p.m. this All Hallows’ Eve, you can thank the Celts for this tradition of candy and costumes.
The Catholic Church was never a big fan of these pagan traditions, so they renamed it “All Saints’ Day” and gussied it up in religious garb. By the 11th century, people were dressing up as saints, angels, and the occasional demon instead of spirits. Eventually, costumed children started tearing through town begging for food and money and singing a song or prayer in return — a practice called “souling.”
Halloween itself is a kind of mishmash of four different cultural festivals of old: two Roman fêtes, which commemorated the dead and the goddess of fruit and trees (not at the same time); the Celtic Samuin or Samhain, a new year’s party thrown at the end of our summer; and the Catholic All Saint’s Day, designed to replace Samuin and divorce it from its pagan origins.
But when did they start dressing up as Minions? Starting in the 19th century, souling turned to “guising,” which gave way to trick- or-treating in mid-20th-century America, and the costumes diversified. So put on some clown makeup and a big smile, scoop up a handful of sweets, and scare the
Long before there were young'uns on your porch dressed as Thanos with candy-filled pillowcases in hand, the Celts believed that Samuin marked an overlapping of the realms
living daylights out of ‘em — ‘tis the season!
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Have a Fun and SAFE Halloween! EVEN THE MOST FRIGHTENING GHOULS NEED TO BE CAREFUL
Happy Halloween, you goblins, ghouls, witches, and spooks! It’s that time of year again when kids and adults alike can dress up and roam the streets as their favorite heroes, frights, or princesses. While kids are eager to show off their outfits and fill their pillowcases with sugary treasures, it's crucial to be aware of the potential dangers on Halloween night. PRACTICE STREET SAFETY Make sure your kids understand basic road safety. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, “Children are more likely to be struck by a vehicle and killed during Halloween than any other day of the year.” Before heading out for some good old-fashioned trick-or-treating, take the time to go over basic safety tips. Teach kids to look both ways before crossing, use crosswalks and traffic signals, cross streets on the corners, and never run across the street. Making eye contact with drivers before walking in front of their cars is also a good way to make sure the driver knows the child is there. CHOOSE SMART COSTUMES Halloween wouldn’t be Halloween without costumes! They should be fun, but you can also make them safer by following a few simple guidelines. Add reflective tape to candy bags and costumes, and wear light colors to stand out in the dark. Buying or making the right-sized
costumes is also important. If they’re too large, they create a tripping hazard, and if they’re too tight, they can restrict movement. If your child wears a mask, make sure they can see out of it properly. MAKE A PLAN Before heading out to trick or treat, create a plan and discuss it with every member of your family. This ensures that if someone in your group wanders off, they’ll know where to look for you or where to go. In case you’re separated, label your child’s costume with your name, address, and phone number. If your children are old enough to trick or treat without adults, make sure that their cellphones are charged and on them at all times, and schedule regular check-ins. As we enter the height of s’mores season, consider upgrading those store-bought marshmallows to homemade ones. For a colorful treat, you can easily add food coloring to this recipe. Homemade MARSHMALLOWS
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as a dentist, she was treating so much more than just a tooth. She was also making a positive impact on a patient’s life.
Ingredients • 3 packages
Dr. Andrea’s love for working with children in the office may have something to do with her love for being a mother to her own children, Grayson and Ava. Dr. Andrea says she has wanted to be a mother since she was a little girl, and her dreams came true when she and her husband had their son and daughter. As a family, they love spending time together hiking, riding bikes, and playing on the lake. She believes one of the best parts of parenting is seeing the world through her children's eyes. The joy and fascination with which they view the world reminds her to never take the little things for granted. Between being an amazing dentist, an excellent mother, spending time with her family, and running the Chicago marathon (yes, she did that!), this talented doctor is a fantastic addition to our team, and we are thankful to have her! We hope you’ll get an opportunity to meet Dr. Andrea the next time you’re in the office. –Dr. David and Dr. Patti
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract • Powdered sugar, to coat
unflavored gelatin
• 1 1/2 cups
granulated sugar • 1 cup light corn syrup
Instructions 1. In a mixing bowl, combine gelatin and 1/2 cup cold water. Let sit while you make the syrup. 2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water until the sugar dissolves. 3. Raise heat to high and bring syrup up to 240 F, using a candy thermometer to check for temperature. 4. With an electric whisk on low speed, slowly whisk syrup into gelatin mixture. Switch speed to high and whip for 15 minutes, until very thick. Fold in vanilla after whipping. 5. Dust a nonmetal baking dish with powdered sugar and spoon mixture into dish. Smooth mixture, top with more powdered sugar, and let stand uncovered overnight. 6. Cut into squares, decorate, and serve.
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1011 Parkside Main | Greensboro, GA 30642 If you have any questions, call us at 706-453-1333 www.LakeOconeeDental.com
We’re located at 1011 Parkside Main between the Publix parking lot and the movie theater.
Trick-or-Treating Safety! page 3 Homemade Marshmallows page 3 October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month page 4 Inside
Meet Dr. Andrea, Our Amazing TeamMember page 1 A Futuristic Way to Replace Missing Teeth? page 2 The Surprising Origins of Trick-or-Treating page 2
EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES
Do You or Someone You Love Need to Schedule a Mammogram?
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Organized, in the National Breast Cancer Foundation's words, to "honor those at every step of the breast cancer journey," the annual observance has also served to educate the public and raise funds for research. Learn more about this deadly but survivable disease, and find out how you can help. BREAST CANCER IS EXTREMELY COMMON. According to the NBCF, 1 in 8 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives. It is the second leading cause of death in women (behind heart disease). A breast cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence, however. Thanks to research and ongoing education, there are over 3.3 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. today. WHAT CAUSES BREAST CANCER? Breast cancer is caused by damage to cells' DNA. It’s most common in women over the age of 40, though approximately 2,500 men in the U.S. are diagnosed each year as well. The risk of breast cancer increases with age. Most risk factors, such as age, gender, and family history, cannot be changed. And hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may also place you at higher risk. However, research shows that exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy diet and
weight, and minimizing alcohol consumption may reduce your chance of being diagnosed with the disease.
Contrary to popular myths, breast cancer is not caused by milk, microwave ovens, cellphones, caffeine, plastic cutlery, or deodorants.
ANNUAL MAMMOGRAMS ARE FREE. Early detection is the biggest factor in breast cancer survival. There's some debate among researchers and insurance companies over the "right" age to begin screening, but most sources agree that women should begin to get regular mammograms in their 40s (and earlier if they have a family history of the disease). The Affordable Care Act (ADA) requires all health insurance plans to cover the cost of annual mammograms for women age 40 and older , and there are many organizations devoted to providing free mammograms to uninsured individuals. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Visit Donate.nationalbreastcancer.org/ to learn how to help. The NBCF funds cancer research, works to provide free mammograms to low-income women, and serves as a resource for patients and their families. Many cities also have local organizations in need of donations and volunteers.
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