A+ Family Dentistry December 2018

San Diego Location: 3780 El Cajon Blvd., Unit 1

Poway Location: 12915 Pomerado Road Poway, CA 92064 Phone: 858-748-5100

San Diego, CA 92105 Phone: 619-265-2467

The Happy Tooth

GIVING BACK Join Us in Supporting Toys for Tots!

Once again, we are participating in the Marine Toys for Tots Program, collecting donations of new, unwrapped toys here at the office. These toys will be given to less fortunate children in our community and across the United States to ensure every child has a merry Christmas.

“I believe we have a responsibility to give back to our community when we can.”

We are thrilled to participate in Toys for Tots for our fourth year. The first year we did this, it was a bit of a struggle. We weren’t sure where to get the boxes, and we didn’t get many donations. It was disheartening. But we decided to try again the following year, and I am so glad we did. Each year since, we have been able to collect more donations thanks to our team and our patients. We’re doubling down this year by hosting a Toys for Tots Bingo Night, where patients are invited to buy tickets and play for prizes. All the money will go to Toys for Tots, along with all the toys we collect at the office. I believe we have a responsibility to give back to our community when we can. As a dentist, I have been a part of programs like Give Kids a Smile and have provided oral-health services to kids and teens whose families can’t afford dental care. A few weeks ago, my sister volunteered at the Care Harbor in Los Angeles and offered free dental care to underserved communities. I had other commitments and wasn’t able to join her that day, but Janice called me afterward and was very emotional. Working with Care Harbor reminded her what it was like after our family first moved to the United States, when we didn’t have anything. She really inspired me, and I am looking forward to getting involved with Care Harbor at the next opportunity. We love to give back, but I’ll admit that it’s not always easy to motivate yourself to take time off work or sacrifice your weekend to go out and volunteer. After long hours at the office, I would rather spend time at home with my husband. But in my heart, I know it’s important. Dentistry helped me a lot when I first came to the United States, and I want to be able to help those who might not be able to afford the care they need right now. Plus, once you’re out there and you see how much you’re able to do for

someone, it feels good. Giving back creates a sense of joy you don’t experience anywhere else. We couldn’t do any of this alone. It’s through the support of our team and our patients that we are able to work with programs like Care Harbor or Give Kids a Smile and collect donations for Toys for Tots. Thank you all so much. I want to invite everyone who can to stop by our office and drop off their Toys for Tots donations. We are collecting donations until December 15 .

Thank you to everyone who has already donated! With you help, we can make sure all the children in our community have a great Christmas.

Happy holidays!

–Dr. Justene Doan

December 2018 Edition

A+ Family Dentistry | 619-265-2467 | P1

Ugly Sweater Parties

or a drawer, now’s your chance to give it new life. Arm yourself with a hot glue gun, thread, and needle, and patch Santa, Rudolph, or Frosty on it. And let it be known that an ugly sweater isn’t complete without sparkles, beads, and sequins galore. What Exactly Is an Ugly Sweater Party? It’s rather simple — slip on your favorite Christmas sweater, gather all your friends and family members, make sure there are plenty of refreshments and games, and you’re guaranteed to have a top-tier party. A few ugly-sweater-themed games that should be on the agenda include an ugly gift exchange, which is similar to the white elephant exchange, except with the gaudiest gifts you can find; an ugly photo booth, complete with terrible, tacky props; and, of course, an ugly sweater contest.

A Fun Trend You Can Easily Follow!

It’s speculated that the first ugly sweater party took place in Vancouver, Canada, back in 2001. Since then, the trend has become one of the most popular holiday party themes. Come Thanksgiving, you’ll start to see racks in all types of clothing stores lined with hideous sweaters. If you’re ready to jump on the ugly-sweater-party bandwagon this Christmas season, here are a few things to keep in mind. Your Very Own Ugly Sweater Ugly sweaters come in all shapes, sizes, and prices. You can head to H&M or a local thrift store to pick one up. However, if you have a sweater that’s been cozied up for years in the back of your closet TESTIMONIALS See What Others Are Saying I live in Denver, CO, and was on vacation in San Diego when I experienced a terrible toothache. I was stubborn and thought I could survive the next three days without a dental visit. I was wrong but didn’t realize this until Saturday morning, when I decided I had to see a dentist. After looking through the limited dentists open on Saturday, A+ Family Dentistry had good Yelp reviews, and upon calling them, they got me in ASAP, where I met Dr. Tran. He was very kind, and between him and his awesome assistant, he quickly discovered I had a cracked tooth. He was able to use a sophisticated camera to take a photo of it and show me. Hence, I needed a root canal, which would need more time. He explained to me in detail what needed to be done, and all costs were explained too. He arranged for me to have my procedure first thing Monday morning in his office, but prior to that, he did put a temporary cap on my tooth, which worked wonderfully to get me through the remainder of the weekend without pain. Upon my root canal on Monday morning, the procedure went smoothly and easily and wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. The essentially new tooth Dr. Tran made for me is the perfect fit, and I no longer have any pain or even sensitivity to it, which is often the case after a root canal. Dr. Tran was wonderful in his work, empathy, and customer service. –John M.

This is the only time of year when slipping into a lurid red sweater with a stuffed Santa sewn

on the front is considered trendy. So adorn yourself in the frumpiest, tackiest sweater you can find, and have some fun this December!

We want to thank all of our patients who put so much faith in us by recommending our services to their friends and family members. Last month, our referrals came from these amazing patients: A+ Referrals

Millie A. Julie A. Dennis C. Jeremy E.

Thy G. Maureen M. Brooke S. Michael S.

Erin S. Tiffany S.

And the winner of November’s referral prize of $50 in A+ Bucks: Michael S. Thank you to all of our patients who continue to support us. Check back next month when we will announce the winner of our next referral prize.

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THE FINAL COUNTDOWN Is There Time for One Last Dentist’s Appointment?

Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, there are countless things on the to-do list: presents to buy, holiday movies to watch, donations to make, and many other traditions that make the season wonderful. It’s a busy time, which is why most people put off visiting the dentist until January. Unfortunately, this understandable decision can backfire big-time. If you aren’t sure if you need to visit the dentist before the end of the year, here are a few questions you should ask. Have you been putting off going to the dentist? If you bit into an ice cream cone back in July and experienced sudden pain when the cold touched your teeth, you probably thought, “Uh-oh. I should get that checked out.” Then you blinked,

and suddenly you’re shopping for Christmas presents! It’s easy to let the year get away from you, but dental problems only get worse the longer you put them off. A small cavity today can become a root canal in a few weeks. Is dental pain distracting you from enjoying the holidays? Did you have to pass on a candy cane because the hard, sticky treat threatened to pull out a loose filling? Have you been thinking about an aching tooth when you should have been watching your kids open presents? Worrying about your teeth can really take you out of the moment when you’re spending time with loved ones. Do you have dental benefits left over from 2018? For many people, getting dental treatment in January will cost more than getting

treatment in December. This is because their premium payments reset in the new year, meaning their out-of-pocket costs go up again. If this wasn’t frustrating enough, all those benefits you are entitled to will expire soon! It doesn’t matter if you paid more into your insurance than you got out of it. Letting benefits expire without using them is as good as wasting money. If you have decided you need to make one more trip to the dentist, keep in mind that our offices will be closed a number of days during the month of December. This includes Monday, Dec. 24, and Tuesday, Dec. 25, so our team can celebrate the holidays with their families. Call 619-265-2467 to schedule your appointment soon so that we can get you in before the new year!

Inspired by Good Housekeeping

Word Search

30-Minute Cauliflower Soup This hearty soup is a quick, easy, healthy addition to your holiday table. It can also be made vegetarian by substituting chicken broth with vegetable broth. Ingredients

•

1 small head cauliflower (about 2 pounds), cored and sliced

•

4 cups low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth

• • •

1 leek, chopped

• • • •

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 medium onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 tablespoon unsalted butter 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

1. In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter into warm oil. Add onion and leek, season with salt and pepper, and cook until tender, about 10–12 minutes. 2. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add cauliflower, broth, and cream.

Simmer until cauliflower is tender, about 15 minutes. 3. Using a blender, purée in batches until smooth. 4. Top servings with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of pepper.

CANDLE COOKIES DECORATIONS FAMILY

GRATITUDE HOLIDAYS SNOWFLAKE SNOWMAN

SNOWSTORM TRADITION

TRAVEL WINTER

A+ Family Dentistry | 619-265-2467 | P3

Office Hours: Mondays: Closed

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

Tuesdays: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Wednesdays: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Thursdays: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Fridays: 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturdays: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

How Do You Give Back? Page 1 Everything You’ll Need for an Ugly Sweater Christmas Page 2 What Some of Our Patients Are Saying Page 2 Can My Filling Wait Until January? Page 3 30-Minute Cauliflower Soup Page 3 Local Events Page 4 Inside This Issue Aplusfamilydentistry.com 619-265-2467 3780 El Cajon Blvd., Unit 1 San Diego, CA 92105

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Make Your Holiday Season One of a Kind!

It doesn’t matter if you have fur, scales, feathers, or an ugly sweater; everyone is invited to this annual holiday parade! Sign up to participate in the parade with your pet, and compete for prizes in nine different costume categories. Or hang out and watch these crazy characters pass by. This is a fantastic time for animal lovers and their pets to gather together and celebrate the holiday season. An Elegant Affair: NewYear’s Eve Celebration Where: Humphreys Half Moon Inn When: Monday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m.

Seas ‘n’ Greetings Holiday Celebration Where: Birch Aquarium at Scripps, San Diego When: Daily, Dec. 1-31, 2018 Admission: See website for admission Website: Aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/2018/seas-n-greetings

Winter wonderlands aren’t all ice and snow. The Birch Aquarium is excited to celebrate the sea son in style! Get ready to deck the halls of fishes with fun activities, crafts, and live holiday music on the weekends. Santa Claus himself will be making special appearances, scuba diving among our aquatic friends. All holiday activities are included with admission, so bring out the whole family to experience this underwater wonderland. The Vet + Pet West Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade Where: K Street, Downtown San Diego When: Sunday, Dec. 16, 12:30 p.m. Admission: $20 to register for parade, free to view Website: HolidayPetParade.com

Admission: See website for pricing Website: HumphreysRestaurant.com

Looking for a special way to spend New Year’s Eve? Enjoy a classy evening at Humphreys Half Moon Inn. The event includes a four-course dinner, gifts, dancing, and a champagne toast at midnight. Whether you are flying solo, spending the night with a group, or reconnecting with that special someone, there’s no better place to ring in the new year.

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