Take a look at our September newsletter!
4,617 Lives Changed Through Sedation 1,688 5-Star Reviews, and Counting 86 Years of Combined Experience
The Home of Anxiety-Free Dentistry
SEPTEMBER 2022
SIGNATURE SMILES TEAM GOES GOLFING! We brought all 3 offices together for team building at Top Golf where we all spent the afternoon practicing our swings to get a hole in one with our patients!
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Teenage Self-Esteem vs. Social Media WHAT TO KNOW AND HOW TO SPEND TIME ELSEWHERE
According to Mayo Clinic, nearly 97% of kids aged 13–17 years old use social media, whether it’s YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or another platform. Although these platforms come with major benefits — such as staying in touch with distant family and friends — it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your teen’s social media usage. Research shows that using social media more than three hours a day can increase risk of mental health problems, including anxiety and depression. Here’s why — or at least, a few expert theories. THE PROVEN RISK FACTORS Social media affects everyone a little differently. For teens, thankfully, there are some studies about these differences. Beyond simply the number of hours spent on social media, there are other ways that researchers have noticed the negative impact of social media on teens. A 2016 study of more than 450 teens found that greater social media use, nighttime social media use, and emotional investment in social media (such as feeling upset when prevented from logging on) were linked to worse sleep quality and higher levels of anxiety and depression.
It even matters how your teen is using social media. Is your teen interacting or only looking? A 2015 study found that social comparison and feedback seeking by teens using social media were linked to depressive symptoms. Additionally, a 2013 study showed that older adolescents who used social media passively, such as simply looking at pictures, reported declines in life satisfaction. In contrast, participants who used social media to interact with others and post their own content didn’t experience these declines. THE ALTERNATIVES Instead of staring at a screen, encourage your teens to spend time face-to-face with their classmates and friends; that’s especially important for teens who are vulnerable to social anxiety. Remind your teen that certain behaviors aren’t okay on social media: gossiping, spreading rumors, bullying, or damaging someone’s reputation (online or otherwise). Even if these activities can seem harmless at first, they are extremely damaging and hurtful to the people involved. Face-to-face contact is one of the most promising ways to deflect the negative aspects of social media. Don’t miss a chance to give your teen the one-on-one time that they may need.
WHAT IS BRUXISM?
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? Sometimes there are no noticeable
You may not have heard the term bruxism before, though it’s a very common condition. Our Streetsboro hygienist, Therese, is here to answer all your questions about bruxism and how we can treat it as well as help relieve your headaches and jaw pain. WHAT IS BRUXISM? Bruxism is a condition in which you grind and/ or clench your teeth. If you have bruxism, you may unconsciously clench your teeth when you’re awake (awake bruxism) or clench or grind them during sleep (sleep bruxism). Bruxism is sometimes referred to as TMJ because it is directly related to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which is responsible for the movements of the jaw. Frequent clenching and grinding can stress the whole system and cause the joint to be aggravated and out of place.
become apparent that this is not the best treatment. At Signature Smiles, we make a custom deprogrammer, which differs from an occlusal guard in many ways. It is smaller and stronger, so it lasts much longer than a typical guard. It is also a more custom fit to ensure the most optimal bite as you sleep. Another advantage is that the user wears it from canine to canine. Since it does not cover all the teeth, it is more comfortable. A deprogrammer protects your muscles, joints, and teeth from the trauma of clenching and grinding. Over time, you are less likely to attempt to clench or grind. Many people notice a huge improvement in headaches and neck tension as well as the other symptoms listed above. We believe in using the latest
symptoms, but often, wear marks are visible on your teeth. When symptoms do occur, they can include headaches, tension in the back of the neck, clicking and popping of the joint, limited opening, pain when chewing or with extended opening, and sensitive teeth (due to gum recession, which can be caused by the trauma of grinding and clenching). Worn-down enamel on the teeth can also cause sensitive teeth. DOES IT GO AWAY? There may be times in life where you clench or grind your teeth less often, but it usually does not go away without intervention. As you continue to stress the muscles and joints, your bite actually gets stronger over time and grinding becomes more destructive to the teeth and TMJ.
technology and providing our patients with the best care possible! Please call the office to schedule a consultation if you think you may be clenching and grinding.
HOW COMMON IS IT? It is very common. As many as 1 in 3 adults suffer from TMJ- related issues on a consistent basis. It can become a problem at any age.
HOW DO I TREAT IT? Many people think of an occlusal guard, aka a nightguard, because traditionally that is what dentists have used over the years. In recent years, it has
–Therese Bleiweiss, RDH
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Michelle Takes Her Family to Disneyland! Get Ready to Make Some Magic Michelle’s husband has been fighting to go back to the beach for a while now, but unfortunately, they just haven’t made the beach a priority in the last couple of years. Neither Michelle nor her husband has ever traveled to California, and they did take a trip back in 2018 to Disney World, but it’s been a while since they had a good vacation with the whole family.
So, they decided to take a trip out to California to check out Disneyland and LEGOLAND before the kids got too old to truly enjoy it.
Disney World has four parks — Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios, and Disneyland has two parks — Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. They are both very similar, they both have the same building setups, rides, hot weather, and humidity! Michelle’s son’s favorite part of the whole trip was building his own lightsaber! Disneyland Adventure Park has done a lot of things with “Star Wars,” so he was really looking forward to that. His lightsaber was green, and he was able to get a secondary color so that it could turn yellow! Michelle knows the colors mean something according to “Star Wars,” but she’s not too familiar with the franchise; however, seeing her son excited about it was all that truly mattered.
Her daughter’s favorite part was the stuffed animal she picked out! It is the elephant from Disney’s “Inside Out,” and his name is Bing Bong. He’s pink and covered in cute patches all over. She was so attached to it that she would carry it everywhere they went during the rest of their trip. Michelle and her husband Josh’s favorite part of the trip was actually neither of the parks — instead, it was the beaches! They had two different beach days at Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach. Josh’s favorite beach was Huntington Beach and Michelle’s was Laguna Beach, and both beaches were absolutely gorgeous! Michelle wishes she could’ve had more time there, so they’re definitely going back for sure! NO-FUSS CHICKEN AND RICE SOUP Inspired by RecipeTinEats.com
OUR PATIENTS SAY IT BEST
INGREDIENTS • 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 onion, chopped • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 3 carrots, sliced • 3 celery ribs, sliced • 2 chicken bouillon cubes • 1/2 tsp dried parsley
• 1/4 tsp pepper • 4 cups chicken broth • 4 cups water • 1 1/4 lbs bone-in, skinless chicken thighs • 1 cup uncooked white rice • Salt, to taste
DIRECTIONS 1. In a large pot over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for 5 minutes. Add the carrots and celery, then sauté for 1 more minute. 2. Add the bouillon, parsley, pepper, chicken broth, and water. Stir, then add the chicken thighs. 3. Cover and simmer on medium-low for 30 minutes, then add the rice. Stir, cover, and simmer for 15 more minutes. 4. Remove the pot from the heat and transfer the chicken to a large bowl. Shred the meat and add it back to the soup. Discard the bones. 5. Stir, salt, and serve!
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
9519 State Route 14 Streetsboro, OH 44241 330-423-6779
Also Serving Elyria and Brunswick! Elyria, OH 44035 440-281-8031
The Home of Anxiety-Free Dentistry
Brunswick, OH 44212 330-460-6540
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SignatureSmilesOH.com
Signature Smiles Goes Golfing!
Is Your Teen’s Self-Esteem Dropping?
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What Is Bruxism?
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Michelle’s Favorite Parts of Their Family Vacation
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Our Patients Say It Best
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No-Fuss Chicken and Rice Soup
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Introduce Dogs and Cats Like a Pro
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Everyone knows that cats and dogs don’t get along ... or do they? There are a few ways you can help encourage your pets to get along, but it starts during the early, crucial moments of your pets’ introduction.
each other without direct interaction can help them become accustomed to one another.
FOR A QUICK START, TRY A FACE-TO- FACE INTRODUCTION. Many people will try a face-to-face introduction first, but you can do this after desensitization as well. Before the introduction proceeds, both animals must be calm. One person should hold your dog on a loose lead, and pay attention to the dog’s body language while approaching the cat. If your dog has been taught commands, have it sit or lie down. Dogs that are too fixated on the cat — such as staring at the cat, displaying stiff body language, and not listening when its name is called — may try to lunge and chase your cat. In that case, a desensitizing introduction will be needed. However, if the dog is relaxed, try to allow the cat to approach. Another person should watch your cat’s body language. If the cat is calm — isn’t raising its back or hissing at the dog — it can be allowed to approach the dog. A dog training technique known as Look at That (LAT) can be viewed on YouTube, which may aid in teaching your dog to remain calm when meeting new animals and people. No matter the method, we hope this guide provides important starter tips to turn your furry housemates into best buddies for years to come!
FOR A GENTLE START, TRY DESENSITIZATION.
Let’s face it: Your dog is way more excited to meet your cat than vice versa! However, your dog may react dangerously to your cat, especially if it is still a kitten. The dog’s prey drive may kick in, causing overexcitement, and even seemingly harmless playtime can lead to fatal injury. One way to solve this is to “desensitize” your dog and get it accustomed to your cat’s presence. To do this, separate your cat and dog and only allow them to view each other at specific times. You could set up a room for your dog or cat (which includes food, toys, and, if a cat, litter box), and a tall gate that your pets cannot climb or get past. Allowing them to view
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