Wrigleyville Dental - April/May 2022

Take a look at our latest newsletter!

WrigleyvilleDental.com | 773-975-6666

MEET DR. SHIVANI PATEL

Hey, everyone. My name is Dr. Shivani Patel. I am beyond excited to be joining such a caring and brilliant team here at Wrigleyville Dental. I grew up in the northwest suburbs and completed my undergraduate education at Loyola University in Chicago (go, Ramblers!). After receiving my degree in biochemistry, I headed to a warmer climate to obtain my doctorate in dental medicine. I spent four years at Midwestern University in Arizona, where I received training in all facets of dentistry. Four years and a million memories later, I was ready to come back to Chicago to start practicing dentistry. Within the last year, I moved downtown and started looking forward to exploring all that Chicago has to offer. I try to stay

active, read, check out new restaurants, and spend time with my not-so-little puppy (ask me to show you pictures!) when I’m not working. I am always looking for new books and restaurants, so if you have any recommendations, I’m all ears. My reading list from the past couple of months includes: “The Promise of Sleep” by William Dement, “Lifespan” by David A. Sinclair, and “It's All in Your Mouth” by Dominik Nischwitz. If you have read these books, I am always ready for a discussion. I’m always looking for new reading too, so if you have any suggestions for good reads, definitely let me know. I can certainly go on and on about my interests, but I’m sure you are wondering what got me into the fascinating career

of dentistry. Growing up, believe it or not, I hated visiting the dentist. As a child, I loved anything sweet — and as a result, I ended up with cavities in my baby teeth. My parents dreaded taking me for checkups because every appointment I would unfailingly create a scene. Yes, I was that child, the child who could be heard kicking and screaming. This fear continued into my late teens, at which point I started my time at Loyola and worked with an advisor to choose my career path. I had always known I wanted to go into the medical field, but the thought of a career in dentistry did not yet cross my mind. During my time at Loyola, I met a dentist whom I came to look up to, as I witnessed her patience with those with dental anxiety (similar to mine as a child). She influenced me to explore the field, and I am eternally grateful for this. As a result of my experience with dental anxiety, I understand what I needed back then and how I can help my patients overcome their own form of dental anxiety. After I graduated from dental school, I have continued my education in implants, braces, aligners and more. I am open to answering any and all questions about your journey to healthier teeth or tooth replacement options. I feel very lucky to be joining such a motivated team that prides themselves on helping people reach thier dental and health goals. To those patients who I’ve had the pleasure of working with, thank you for trusting me with your smile. For those I have not yet met, I look forward to working with you and giving you a healthier smile. –Shivani Patel, DMD

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The Art of Quieting Your Mind Before Bed All day long, thoughts run through your mind, and by the end of the day, your head is probably ready to explode. After all, it's estimated that in 24 hours you can have between 60,000–80,000 thoughts. At some point, your brain needs a break, and that’s especially true before you try to go to bed. Here are some ways to quiet your mind, so you can get a full night’s sleep!

KEEP YOUR BED FOR SLEEPING. If you aren’t sleeping, get out of bed! Getting in the habit of scrolling through your phone, watching TV, reading, working, or even eating in bed teaches your brain that your bed is for things other than sleeping! If you find yourself tossing and turning, get out of bed and try a relaxing activity such as reading, journaling, listening to music, or meditating. When you get tired, try getting back in bed. BREATHE DEEPLY. Breathing exercises can not only help calm your mind and spirit, but they can lower your heart rate, which is especially beneficial in relieving stress or anxiety when things are upsetting you.

WRITE IT DOWN. Instead of letting thoughts fill your mind right before bed (such as the next day’s tasks or any worries you have), set aside time before bed to write it out. Whether you are a fan of journaling, writing letters, or simply just listing out your problems, goals, and thoughts, grab a pen and paper and make it a nightly routine. This way, your thoughts will be freed before your head hits the pillow. LISTEN TO MUSIC. There have been many artists making music specifically for sleep. Listening to binaural beats can help put your brain to sleep. If that's not your thing, you can also try a guided meditation to help you relax and get

you in the mood to sleep. Some people even end up falling asleep while listening to these.

TURN YOUR ROOM INTO A SLEEP HAVEN. Keeping your bedroom neat, relaxing, and calm can help improve your sleep! Keep all televisions, computers, and screens out of the bedroom and furnish it with soft colors and textures that are tranquil and soothing to you. Pumping the brakes on worrisome thoughts racing through your mind can be tough, but trying these tips and tricks may earn you some relief and much needed sleep.

With These 3 Hacks MAKE YOUR KITCHEN CLEANER THAN EVER BEFORE

You cook your meals, make your coffee, wash the dishes, and do so many other activities in your kitchen. It’s no surprise that our kitchens are often the most trafficked rooms in our homes. Our kitchens are also commonly the messiest rooms in the house since they’re used to cook meals. Trying to keep your kitchen clean on a daily basis can be maddening. Every time you make a meal, there’s another mess to clean up. It seems like there’s no end to the kitchen cleaning process. Thankfully, there are a few hacks you can try that will lengthen your time between cleanings and ideally help your kitchen sparkle. GARBAGE DISPOSAL CLEANING If your home has a garbage disposal, there’s a good chance that it’s one of the dirtiest appliances in your kitchen. It’s also one of the hardest things to clean since it’s located in your sink. But there is an easy trick to keep it fresh. Fill an ice cube tray with water and lemon wedges, then stick it in the freezer. Once it’s frozen, crack the ice cubes free, and send them down the drain with the garbage disposal

turned on. The lemons will improve the smell while the ice removes any excess grime and cleans the blades.

NO NEED FOR AUTO CLEAN How do you normally clean your oven? Do you press the auto-clean button and let it run? While this works, it will often leave your house with a displeasing smell and can even set off your fire alarms. You can make a mixture of 1/3 cup water, 1/3 cup white vinegar, and 1/2 cup baking soda. Spray the inside of your oven with the mixture, but avoid the heating elements. After 8–12 hours, clean the oven with soapy water and dry it using a cloth. Your oven will be cleaner than you might’ve even imagined. QUICK CABINET CLEANING Your cabinets and pantry can get gross quickly and attract bugs if the items inside of them are open or spilled. If you try to clean your cabinets with a rag, you’ll end up missing some of the crumbs and dirt. Instead, use your vacuum cleaner to capture any debris and ensure they are spotless. It’s a quick and easy method to keep your cabinets clean.

2 | WrigleyvilleDental.com

SUDOKU

IS IT LEGIT? 4 WAYS TO STAY SAFE SHOPPING ON INSTAGRAM

Shopping on Instagram? Yep, it's a thing!

The power of videos and photos is captivating, and businesses and influencers alike have figured out how to utilize the platform to get brands noticed. So, many businesses are using targeted advertising on social media platforms. While consumers are scrolling, brands are able to get in front of their target market. It’s a great way for honest businesses to advertise, but it's also an easy way for fraudulent brands to trick eager shoppers with enticing product videos and photos, only to deliver poor quality items and, sometimes, nothing at all.

Place a number in every cell in the grid, using the numbers 1–9. You can only use each number once in each row, each column, and each of the 3x3 boxes.

Don’t be fooled. Follow these four tips to stay safe while scrolling and shopping!

RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH. When you’re interested in a product, be sure to search for independent reviews and/or complaints. On a company’s website, those reviews may be fraudulent or cherry-picked, so instead, rely on your social network, Google, and other websites to gather feedback. If you aren’t finding any, that may be a red flag! INVESTIGATE THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT. Before making a purchase, look for contact information provided on the business’s website. Then, take the company’s responsiveness for a test drive. By calling the company, you should get a good idea of whether or not they are legitimate and trustworthy. LOOK FOR RED FLAGS. Take a look at their Instagram profile. Do they have a lot of followers and posts? Sort through comments and user interactions to get a feel for their legitimacy. Are they verified and does their bio have a website linked? Most importantly, check out the comments on their photos. This will tell you what other users have to say about the product. SCOPE OUT THE RETURN POLICY. Many times, shady businesses have a “no return” policy. This is because they know their product doesn’t hold a candle to what it is advertised to be. Before making a purchase, do some digging to find out what the return policy is. If there is one, pay attention to how long you have to return it if you aren’t satisfied! While scrolling on Instagram, no doubt some pretty enticing product advertisements will taunt you. After all, shopping on Instagram seems to be both simple and convenient. But before you click “buy,” always do your due diligence to make sure your purchase is safe.

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

• 1/2 tbsp avocado or coconut oil • 2 1/2 lbs mixed

1. Preheat oven to 400 F. 2. In a large bowl, combine avocado or coconut oil, root vegetables, and onion. Toss until evenly coated, then spread the mixture across two greased oven pans. 3. Sprinkle vegetables with salt and pepper, then roast them for 35–40 minutes. While vegetables are roasting, cook pasta according to package directions. 4. When vegetables are done, heat oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. Sauté shallots and garlic for 4–5 minutes. 5. Add the root vegetables and onion, pasta, vegetable broth, and vinegar to the pot and stir until warm. Add the arugula and cook until wilted.

vegetables of choice, chopped into 3/4-inch pieces (parsnips, turnips, carrots, butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, etc.)

• 1 red onion, chopped • 1 tbsp olive/avocado/ coconut oil • 1 shallot, thinly sliced • 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced • 8 oz uncooked pasta • 1/2 cup vegetable broth • 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar • 2 handfuls arugula • Salt and pepper, to taste • Nutritional yeast, to taste

6. Serve with salt, pepper, and nutritional yeast.

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

3256 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL 60657

Inside Meet Dr. Shivani Patel

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5 Solutions for Quality Sleep

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3 Hacks to Improve Your Kitchen’s Cleanliness

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Balsamic Roasted Vegetable Pasta

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Stay Safe While Instagram Shopping

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Introducing New Treatments!

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We Have New Treatments on Deck!

We recently invested in a new laser that can do so many cool things! It’s not an ordinary laser, but is like five lasers in one! We’d like to share with you just a few things that this amazing laser can do. Our new Fotona Laser allows us to treat and remove cavities with a laser light and can be usually done without anesthetic! The best part, is that it sterilizes along the way. We also offer a procedure called NightLase. This is a treatment for patients who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea or a sleep-related breathing disorder, including persistent snoring. Some structures within your mouth, such as enlarged tonsils, an enlarged tongue, or a droopy soft palate can take up too much room and affect your breathing. The NightLase treatment tightens the soft palate in the back of the throat. By doing this, there is less tissue and “floppiness,” reducing snoring and

breathing issues. The best part about NightLase is that there is no anesthesia involved and the process is painless, safe, simple, and effective! This laser is also used as an aesthetic treatment called Smoothlase to help smoothen fine lines and wrinkles and plump lips. It’s always great to treat yourself! Additionally, this laser has a photobiomodulation feature. It’s a fancy low level laser treatment that helps reduce inflammation, improves soft tissue healing, and relieves pain. It’ll be a treatment that we will be incorporating into various procedures. If you’re interested in any of these treatments or think that you’d be a good candidate for the NightLase treatment, give us a call today to chat about your options and to set up a consultation! We cannot wait to serve you!

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