Briarfield Dental Care - May/June 2020

Briarfield Dental Care - May/June 2020

May/June 2020

LOOKING AHEAD

The Impossible Question of What Comes Next

“There are decades where nothing happens, and there are weeks where decades happen.” –Vladimir Lenin I don’t usually find myself quoting Vladimir Lenin, but I think we can all agree that the last weeks in March were filled with decades. The COVID-19 pandemic flipped the world upside-down, and we all have had to find ways to get through it. Personally, I ’ve been spending a lot of time in the man cave listening to vinyl records. Music has always been an escape for me. When the stress and uncertainty became overwhelming, I had an interlude with Jackson Browne, Tom Petty, Spirit, or Joe Cocker. It ’s good to mentally step away from the virus and all the bad news and listen to some albums I haven’t heard in a while. Of course, I can’t spend forever in the man cave, listening to old greats. I ’ve found myself with quite a bit of free time recently, and I want to make the most of it. Melody and I have been talking about what to do during this crisis. When we find ourselves in a situation out of our control, the best thing is to focus on what we can control.

We’ve been focusing on improving the office so things will be better than ever when our patients return. Briarfield Dental Care has always followed the strict health and sanitation protocols set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When you are able to come to the office again for your next appointment, know that your dental health, as well as your overall safety and well- being, is our top priority. The time I ’ve spent at home has also been dedicated to continuing education and many webinar courses. I ’ve been studying new techniques in dentistry as well as refreshing myself on basic techniques and learning better ways of doing established procedures. I ’ve also been concentrating a lot on sleep apnea and dental sleep medicine for adults and children. The research I ’ve done has helped me create a new protocol for how we can better treat kids with sleep conditions. Telemedicine has also been something I ’ve looked into recently. Being able to provide patients care remotely would be very helpful, even when things go back to normal — if things ever get back to normal. Of course, we can’t clean teeth or fill cavities remotely, but

there are some areas of dentistry, particularly sleep health, that could benefit from having telemedicine as an option. This is something we hope to offer our patients soon. Working on these projects has allowed me to look ahead to the future, which is helpful during these uncertain times. I don’t know when we’re going to be in the office again. If I had a set date, getting through this process would be smoother. Right now, we can only take things one day at a time. I want to take a moment to thank our medical providers, first responders, police officers, and essential workers who have done so much to serve our community. These folks aren’t able to hang out and listen to records because they have to be on the front lines of this pandemic. These brave folks have done so much to help the rest of us get through this thing and look to the future.

“When we find ourselves in a situation out of our control, the best thing is to focus on what we can control.”

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Enlist Your Kids to Spread Joy and Beauty This Spring How to Plan a Flower Bombing Campaign

In 2014, a crop duster flew over a field at Cloverleaf Farm in California and dropped its payload — but it wasn’t spraying pesticide. Instead, it released an avalanche of rainbow- colored clay balls containing enough seeds to sprout 1 million wildflowers. When they bounced to earth, the term “flower bombing” was born. The original aim of this flower bomb, part of a campaign headlined by Cascadian Farm, was to save the disappearing bee population, but since 2014, the term has come to mean any unexpected gesture that leaves an explosion of flowers, joy, and beauty behind. In Ohio, Petitti Garden Centers flower bombs homes of those in need with surprise garden makeovers, and in New York City, a 2017 series of florist-led flower bombings covered construction projects in blooms and left giant bouquets on street corners. Wherever flower bombs land, they leave smiling people in their wake.

The best news about flower bombing is that you don’t need to own a floral business or a garden center to get in on the fun, and May is the perfect time to start! The May Day tradition of dropping baskets of flowers on neighbors’ stoops — a ritual dating back to an ancient Roman festival of flowers — makes this the ideal time to gather your kids and plot a colorful campaign. First, choose a target. Do you have a family friend who has fallen on hard times or a neighbor dealing with a loss who could use some cheering up? Plot a way to surprise them with flowers. Maybe you could deck out their front porch with tulips or cover their car in daffodil and hyacinth blooms. Whatever your choice, just make sure your gift will be a delight and not an inconvenience.

family daytrip to pick your own wildflowers or explaining your mission to a local florist and asking if they’d like to donate day-old blooms. Their generosity might surprise you! Last but not least, execute your plan when you won’t get caught. There’s nothing quite like waking up to an unexpected flower windfall, and your kids will love spreading joy on the sly! To learn more about the original flower bomb drop, visit Bee-Friendlier.com/ flower-bombing.

Next, acquire the flowers. You could buy a few bouquets, but other options include taking a

Stop Ignoring the Signs “My snoring is so bad that my wife has to sleep on the couch.”

Health Risks of Sleep Apnea

conditions, obesity, and diabetes. These conditions put you at a higher risk of severe illness, including COVID-19. Dr. Stuckey has over a decade of experience in dental sleep medicine and successfully treating sleep apnea. In addition to being a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, Dr. Stuckey is also a certified provider with HealthyStart and works with children who have sleep disorders. To better treat our sleep apnea patients, Dr. Stuckey has founded Northwest Ohio Sleep Solutions, a new branch of the practice dedicated to dental sleep medicine. Getting a good night’s sleep isn’t just important for feeling alert during the day. Managing your sleep apnea is vital to living a full, healthy life. If you suspect that you or someone in your family may be suffering from undiagnosed sleep apnea, then call 419-867-6673 (419-86-SNORE) or visit our website at NorthwestOhioSleepSolutions. com. Don’t wait! Schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Stuckey today.

“I went to bed early last night, but I still feel exhausted!”

“I’m tired all the time. I almost dozed off at work today.”

Do these complaints sound familiar? Maybe you have a friend who never seems to get enough rest, or maybe your snoring keeps your partner up at night. Every living thing needs enough sleep to stay healthy. If you’re struggling to get good sleep, this might be a sign of undiagnosed sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a condition in which a person’s airways become blocked while they sleep. They aren’t able to get enough oxygen and stop breathing for 10 seconds or more. Individuals with undiagnosed sleep apnea will wake dozens, sometimes hundreds, of times throughout the night, struggling to breathe. Plus, sleep apnea doesn’t just leave you feeling tired during the day. The constant episodes of oxygen deprivation are extremely harmful to the body and can negatively affect your overall health. This level of poor health is incredibly dangerous, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

There is no evidence to suggest that having sleep apnea puts you at a higher risk of getting COVID-19. However, untreated sleep apnea can lead to certain medical conditions, like heart

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Say ‘No!’ to Nail Biting

Be Kinder to Your Teeth

N ail biting is a widespread habit. Researchers estimate that one- third of the world’s population, including nearly half of all teenagers, bites their nails. Many believe this compulsive behavior arises from stress or boredom, but even though it’s been studied extensively, there are no concrete explanations for why so many humans do it regularly. What we do know, however, are plenty of concrete reasons why it’s important to break this habit. It might seem like your teeth are much stronger than your fingernails. In the short term, this is true because your teeth easily chomp and tear through your nails, but over time, your teeth will fall victim to the habit as the friction results in chipping, cracking, and gradual erosion. That means excessive biting can wear enamel away, leaving your teeth vulnerable to decay. Don’t Miss Kids’ Day Have you heard about Kids’ Day? Once a month, Briarfield Dental Care throws a special celebration focused exclusively on our youngest patients. The office is transformed with fun decorations, the whole team gets dressed up, and there are lots of prizes for kids who come in to join the fun. Plus, we have special spin brushes and offers on sealants and mouthguards only available during Kids’ Day.

Biting your nails can also force your teeth to move. Repeated pushing and pressure causes teeth to shift, resulting in problems with your bite or gaps in your teeth. Another serious issue nail biters may encounter is root resorption, when the jawbone actually reabsorbs the roots of the teeth, weakening them and leaving them vulnerable to falling out. If you have braces and bite your nails, you’re even more susceptible to resorption. All this, and we haven’t even talked about bacteria yet! Dirt and germs get trapped under our fingernails no matter how clean we try to keep them. So when we put our fingers in our mouth, that bacteria transfers to our teeth and gums and may cause periodontal disease or other illnesses. If you’re a nail biter trying to break the habit, there are some simple solutions. Try trimming your nails regularly so there’s nothing to bite. You can also paint your nails with polish or coat

them with bitter substances to deter yourself from biting. If you think stress is causing you to engage in this vice, keep a stress ball nearby and grab it instead of giving in to the biting urge. Keep your teeth and nails healthy by keeping them away from each other. You’ll avoid potentially expensive damage, and breaking the habit will help you find more productive reactions to stress and boredom.

‘Come Dancing With The Kinks’ Dr. Stuckey’s Playlist When I think about the history of my love of

popularity as The Beatles or The Rolling Stones. This might have been partially due to them being banned from performing in the United States for several years in the ‘60s. There was a lot of

music, few bands from my early days of listening stand out quite like The Kinks. That is, they stand out to me. Despite The Kinks being a major part of the British Invasion, I’ve found that most people can’t name many songs by this group. “Lola” and “You Really Got Me” are two of their biggest

tension in the band, especially between the Davies brothers. Onstage fights and behind- the-scenes brawls eventually led the American Federation of Musicians to deny The Kinks permits to perform in the U.S. Despite this, when The Kinks came back to the U.S. during the Vietnam War, the band became pretty popular with anti-war activists.

hits, and I’d be surprised if many people remember that these songs are by The Kinks.

The Kinks were very influential on other bands of the 1960s. Formed in North London by brothers Ray and Dave Davies, The Kinks created an original sound, mixing rock ‘n’ roll with blues. I took a real liking to them as a kid and still enjoy their music today. They performed for over 30 years before breaking up in 1997. The Davies brothers did start performing together again in 2018.

A few of my favorites songs by The Kinks are “Apeman,” “Better Things,” “A Well Respected Man,” and “Sunny Afternoon.” You might not be familiar with any of these titles, but if you listen to any of their greatest hits albums, “Come Dancing With The Kinks” for example, I’ll bet you’ll recognize the songs right away. At least, you will if you’re part of my generation.

May 21 - Shark Day June 18 - Pirate Day July 23 - Dinosaur Day Aug. 20 - Baseball Day

Despite being incredibly influential on music of the era, The Kinks never gained the same level of

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3550 Briarfield Blvd, Suite 100 Maumee, OH 43537

What We Can Control

How to Plan a Flower Bombing Campaign Sleep Apnea and COVID-19 Why You Should Quit Biting Your Nails Dr. Stuckey’s Playlist

Win a Brand-New FitBit!

Now in Network for Paramount Dental, an Affiliate of ProMedica

Your Health MADE EASY Refer a Friend and Win a FitBit Versa!

The holidays are over, and it’s time to put away the sweets, get back to the gym, and make our health a priority again. The question is, what’s the best way to do that? A brief online search reveals a lot of articles with people boasting about what worked for them. This year, don’t take one-size-fits-all health advice. Learn what works best for you! To help our patients take control of their health, we’re giving away a brand-new FitBit Versa. Celebrated for its innovative, easy-to-use software, the FitBit Versa can build healthy eating habits, create exercise accountability, and teach you how to make the best health choices for your

body. Make 2020 the year you become your healthiest self!

How can I win? Enter to win your new FitBit by helping your friends and family improve their oral health! Any time a new patient gives your name at their first appointment, you’ll be entered to win the grand prize. The more people you refer, the more entries you’ll get and the better your chances of winning!

Make your health a priority and help your friends and family do the same!

Winner will be drawn on Monday, Aug. 31.

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