Beaumont Family Dentistry January 2020

BEAUMONT’S Beautiful Smiles

JAN 2020

BEAUMONT 3141 Beaumont Centre Circle, Suite 300 Lexington, KY 40513 (859) 554-1772 LEESTOWN 100 Trade Street, Suite 175 Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 554-1772 HAMBURG 2408 Sir Barton Way, Suite 225 Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 554-1612

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WHAT LED ME TO BEAUMONT FAMILY DENTISTRY FINDING MY CAREER PATH

I was very fortunate to have a steady source of dental experience throughout my college education. While attending Georgetown College, I worked as a dental assistant at a dental office located near campus. When I was off on summer breaks, I had the opportunity to work for a dentist in my small hometown. There, I was able to take care of people who I had known since my childhood, and it was a wonderful experience. One of the best aspects of dentistry is that I get to relate to my patients. In the digital age, many people lack personal interactions. In dentistry, my patients have to physically see me to receive the treatment they need. I get to know their lives, not just take care of their teeth. Over the years, I have had the pleasure of seeing my patients grow up, get married, and start their own families. It is fun to have my patients’ children as my new little patients. Before starting at Beaumont Family Dentistry, I knew of Dr. Takacs’ high reputation among her dental colleagues. I personally appreciate how much she does, not just for her patients but also for her staff and the community. Dr. Takacs and her team spend a lot of time as community service leaders and participate in many community events. When I was interested in continuing my dental career in Lexington, I contacted her and expressed my desire to work with her and her team. The rest is history.

Since I was a child, I always had a desire to work in the health care industry. Several of my family members who were in the medical field had strong influences on my life from an early age. During my high school years, I observed in a hospital, shadowed physicians, and worked as a pharmacy technician. I knew my personality was suitable for a job helping those in need, and I enjoyed the science curriculum. However, I still hadn’t found a niche that I was passionate about enough to pursue as a career. I began college studying biology and chemistry. I had a classmate whose father was a past president of the Kentucky Dental Association. Upon us meeting, he started asking me about my future career aspirations. I told him I wanted to pursue a career in the medical field but had not decided what exactly I wanted to do. He asked me if I had ever considered dentistry. I had never given dentistry much thought, but I am so thankful I had that conversation because I then began investigating dentistry as a career. The summer after my freshman year in college, I worked as a dental assistant. I immediately fell in love with the job and taking care of patients. It combined all the aspects I was looking for in a career: the science I had loved since my childhood, the interaction with people, and the artistic approach to the cosmetics of dentistry.

I have been a part of Beaumont Family Dentistry for almost seven years, and I look forward to a long future with them. Everyone here is dedicated to our patients’ well-being. We want to see them do well in all aspects of life. I am fortunate to work with such an amazing team. I appreciate all they do to contribute to our office and, most importantly, our patients.

–Dr. Erica Higginbotham

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GIVE YOURSELF A CONFIDENCE BOOST YOU DESERVE THE DAZZLING SMILE YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED When you smile, it’s often the first feature people notice about you, which makes it important on many occasions. Whitney Nehls, our lead assistant for teeth whitening here at Beaumont Family Dentistry, knows the significance of sparkling teeth. “A sparkling smile can help boost a person’s confidence,” she explains. Whether you’re taking a family photo, attending a job interview, or going on a date, teeth whitening gives you a smile you’re proud to show off. Whitney has been part of our team for nearly 10 years and thrives on helping people obtain their perfect smiles. But she didn’t expect her path to lead here, “I started at Beaumont Family Dentistry as a massage therapist. Working on the dental side of things was the furthest thing from my mind as a career.” However, she soon found her interest in the dentistry field growing with each passing day. “After providing hand massages for patients, I got more and more interested in the dentistry side. I spoke with Dr. Takacs and explained my interest in learning dental assisting. I traded in being a massage therapist to become an orthodontic assistant.” Since then, Whitney’s passion for dentistry has grown. Being a part of the process that enables patients to leave our office with a smile is incredibly rewarding for her. Every day, she helps every person who wants a brighter and healthier smile reach that goal. As head of teeth whitening, Whitney and her team ensure that each of our patients has the means and access to our different whitening options. “We provide take-home whitening kits, as well as in-office treatments too.” While in our offices, patients can choose the in-office whitening process, KöR Whitening. Both KöR and our take-home options are easy to apply, so our patients can choose whichever method they feel more comfortable with.

With 24/7 media exposure from TVs, computers, and smartphones, it feels like life is dominated by screens. Consider implementing a media use plan for your family so they don’t miss out on the real world. SET A CURFEW Limiting the time your children spend staring at a screen is good for their health. Try to keep screen-time usage to under two hours per day. Implement a rule for no screens at mealtimes, and keep all screens out of bedrooms at night. Keep track of the devices by having a communal charging dock in a shared area where you can make sure everything is plugged in for the night. HAVE A CHAT Don’t shy away from warning your kids about what exists in the digital world. Explain to them that certain content isn’t age-appropriate, and teach them what movie and TV ratings mean. Remind them to be careful about what they put on the internet because anything they upload never really goes away. Teach them to be smart with their decisions. Connect with them on social media if it helps you keep an eye on things. CONSTRUCT A ‘MEDIA DIET’ Take an active role in what your children watch by co-viewing programs with them. You’ll have a better sense of what they’re seeing and can point them toward the programming that’s right for them. Look for educational media choices that teach good values. There are a lot of great educational opportunities on the internet, but there’s also a lot of room for negative exposure. If this is a concern, keep the family computer in a public part of your home so you can see what they’re accessing online. It’s important to educate your children about proper media health, but it’s even more important to encourage your kids to be healthy in other ways. Beyond the tips mentioned above, encourage them to play outdoors and read physical books so they can participate more actively in the real world. SCREEN-TIME STRATEGIES HOW TO SET A FAMILY MEDIA USE PLAN

Our team at Beaumont Family Dentistry understands the significance of having sparkling teeth, and we want you to be proud of your smile. Call us today at any of our four locations to set up an appointment. You deserve a dazzling smile, and our team can help!

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DON’T BE AFRAID TO SMILE FOR 2020 NEW YEAR, NEW SMILE

FILL IN THE GAPS: A person with missing teeth might feel too self-conscious to smile. Luckily, with a dental implant, you won’t give smiling a second thought. The natural-looking implant gives your mouth the stability it needs and restores your confidence in the process. GET A PERMANENT COVER: Veneers enhance the overall aesthetic of your teeth by placing a porcelain cover on top of the tooth. This will help fix gaps between teeth and mask cracks, stains, chips, or misshapen teeth. STRAIGHTEN YOUR SMILE: If you’re suffering from misaligned teeth, then consider starting Invisalign this year. This gentle and easy to use method moves your teeth to their proper positions, and the custom-made, clear trays make it hard for anyone to know your using them. Whether you’re looking for a healthier smile, a more beautiful smile, or both, Beaumont Family Dentistry is here for you. Reach out to one of our locations today to schedule an appointment. Your new smile is waiting for you!

2020 is finally here, bringing with it a new year, plenty of new goals, and a fresh new start. While you’re thinking of the personal goals you want to accomplish this year, why not add a smile you can be proud of? A sparkling smile is a fantastic way to start the year right, and there are plenty of methods to achieve that goal. Take a look at how you can boost your confidence with a better and brighter smile! FLASH THOSE PEARLY WHITES: Over time, our teeth start to yellow. Even if we regularly brush and floss, the foods and beverages we consume will stain and darken our teeth. Bring your dazzling smile to the surface through teeth whitening. After only a few hours, you’ll have the bright white smile you’ve always wanted. FIX BROKEN OR CRACKED TEETH: Fillings can boost the health and aesthetics of your smile. When a filling is used, it prevents the cracked or broken tooth from getting worse and restores any part of your teeth that have had cavities. Tooth- colored fillings, rather than gold or silver, ensure a more natural smile.

INSPIRATION

VEGAN FRIED RICE

Inspired by TheLazyBroccoli.com

INGREDIENTS

• •

2 tsp soy sauce

• • •

1 block tofu, extra firm 2 tsp vegetable oil 1 tsp mirin, optional

• • •

2/3 cup brown rice

Salt, to taste

1 cup water

2/3 cup chives, chopped

DIRECTIONS

5. Crumble tofu into the hot pan, cooking until brown. 6. Add chives and cook for 1 minute longer. 7. Add cooked rice and mirin, cooking until rice is dry. (You can make rice one day in advance to dry it out even more.) 8. Turn off the heat and add soy sauce, tossing until fully incorporated. 9. Add salt to taste and serve.

1. Rinse rice until water runs clear. Cook rice as instructed on package with 1 cup water. 2. While rice is cooking, prepare chives. Set aside. 3. Also while rice cooks, crumble tofu over a fine strainer. As you crumble tofu, press it into the strainer to release as much water as possible. Let drain. Press and drain again. 4. Once rice is cooked, set aside. In a nonstick pan, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat.

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

3141 BEAUMONT CENTRE CIRCLE STE. 300 LEXINGTON, KY 40513

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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What Led Me to Beaumont Family Dentistry

Tips to Establish a Family Media Use Plan

Don’t Feel Self-Conscious About Your Smile

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Smile Proudly for 2020

Vegan Fried Rice

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Meet the World’s First Airport Therapy Pig

MEET THE WORLD’S FIRST AIRPORT THERAPY PIG

HOW LILOU AND ANIMALS LIKE HER CALM STRESSED-OUT TRAVELERS

passengers the chance to play with miniature horses before boarding their flights.

If you answered “yes” to any of the above, then you can sympathize with the passengers, pilots, flight attendants, and staff at the San Francisco International Airport. They get to enjoy visits from Lilou, the world’s first airport therapy pig, on a regular basis! As part of the Wag Brigade, the airport’s cadre of (mostly canine) therapy animals, Lilou wanders the airport with her humans, bringing joy, peace, and calm to everyone she meets. Lilou may be the only pig of her kind, but airport therapy animals have been a growing trend for the last few years. According to NPR, as of 2017, more than 30 airports across the U.S. employed therapy dogs, and these days, estimates land closer to 60. The San Jose and Denver airports have therapy cats, and the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport even offers

Therapy dogs started appearing in U.S. airports after the 9/11 terror attacks, which changed American attitudes about flying. They did so well at helping passengers calm down that airports began implementing permanent programs. Some have pets on hand 24/7 to assist passengers, while others host animal visits every few weeks or months. These days, regular travelers have fallen hard for their local therapy animals, many of whom even have their own Instagram accounts and hashtags. So, the next time you’re traveling, keep an eye out for a friendly pup, cat, pig, or horse to pet. A bit of love from an animal just might improve your trip!

Imagine you’re navigating a vast airport on a busy Saturday, shouldering your way through crowds and struggling to hear the PA system over the clatter of 1,000 wheeled suitcases. Suddenly, you see a pig wearing a hot pink sweater waddling toward you on a leash. Do you stop in your tracks? Does your stress level drop? Do you laugh out loud when you see its pink nail polish?

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