Briarfield Dental Care - September/October 2020

Briarfield Dental Care - September/October 2020

Sept/Oct 2020

I Know What You Didn’t Do This Summer

A s we reach the end of summer, it’s been about six months since the COVID-19 pandemic swept through the country. Half of 2020 has been spent in the pandemic and this summer was very different from the last. Even though that means we’ve had to miss out on vacations and other fun summer outings, I’m extremely grateful that my family has been safe and healthy through this whole ordeal. This summer, Melody and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary. We were planning on making it a big to-do with a trip to the Caribbean. Any other summer, missing out on a trip like that would have been a huge bummer. However, in light of everything going on in the world right now, it’s really not that important. We cancelled the trip with the knowledge that we can plan another Caribbean vacation for our 36th wedding anniversary. Surprisingly, it hasn’t actually been changing our vacation that’s had me disappointed this summer. What I really miss are all the smaller, closer-to- home outings that we usually enjoy this time of year. I missed the outdoor social functions. Toledo usually puts on really great outdoor concerts

downtown or at the zoo. Melody and I love to go out to dinner on Friday nights on a patio and listen to live music in the summer. That’s something we missed this year. We also missed going to Mud Hens games. Really, we just missed being around other people. We’re all social animals. Not being able to do as much socializing has been a struggle. I think we took for granted how important these outings were to our mental health. We’re getting into fall, and the pandemic doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere anytime soon. I don’t know what I’m going to do if I don’t get college football this fall. That being said, things are what they are. It’s too late to prevent what’s happening right now, so we have to make the best of it. It feels like we don’t have control in our lives right now, but we do have control over the decisions we make. We can wash our hands, practice social distancing, and wear face masks when going out. People are getting more serious about their physical health. I’ve seen more people out jogging, riding bikes, walking their dogs, and getting more exercise each day. Working out won’t prevent you from getting the virus, but being physically healthy

can help you recover more quickly, should you get sick. General health is more important now than it’s ever been. We need to do everything we can to keep things from getting worse. On the positive side, I do think things are starting to get better. More people are taking the situation seriously, and I think we’ll see things turn around as people really buckle down. Summer 2020 is gone, but if we do this right, we’ll get to enjoy summer 2021 together.

“Surprisingly, it hasn’t actually been changing our vacation that’s had me disappointed this summer. What I really miss are all the smaller, closer-to-home outings that we usually enjoy this time of year.”

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Educational Tools to Improve Digital Learning STUDENT TECH SUCCESS

Kids these days face so many more distractions from academics than their parents did. It’s not as easy to focus on homework when TikTok, YouTube, and all sorts of video games beckon. Instead of trying to prevent screen time, why not allow students to engage with technology that will help promote their learning rather than distract from it? Here are three tools to help students at different age levels get the most from online learning. Beanstalk While Beanstalk is an online learning tool, the beauty of it is that the classes and videos aim to pull kids “out of the screen to do real-world physical activities.” These include science experiments, building projects, and more. Experienced teachers provide engaging lessons and learning tools, and many of them are free. EduHam What better way to learn about the history of our nation than through one of the nation’s most

popular musicals? “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda launched this learning platform in 2016 along with the show’s director and in partnership with The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. EduHam is a free digital program for students and their families that provides history lessons on the Founding Era of the United States. It also brings art into the mix — Miranda shows students how to create their own performance pieces based on primary source documents, which they can then share in the app. The program is geared toward students in sixth through 12th grade, though everyone is welcome to participate. Fiveable For high school students, the most looming challenges include the SAT and Advanced Placement (AP) exams that are so important for college. Enter Fiveable, the amazing free resource that houses thousands of livestreams, study guides, trivia games, and other resources for 15 AP subjects. Started by a former teacher, Fiveable is passionate about giving students the

resources they’ll need to be successful now and into the future.

With so many resources out there, students can use technology in plenty of ways to help them be successful. Here’s to a fall season full of learning!

Spotlight on Heather Johnston After working at Briarfield Dental Care for the past four months, I can’t tell you how happy I am with my decision to be this office’s scheduling coordinator. While that might not seem like the most exciting role to some people, I’ve been more than satisfied with the work and the people that I get to interact with on a daily basis. We’re So Glad You’re a Part of Our Team! their last) appointments at Briarfield Dental. In short, I have a number of different opportunities to get to know our patients better.

Along with the relationships I get to form with our patients, I also get to interact with our incredible team on a daily basis. Everyone here is caring and eager to help one another out. Plus, we know how to make even the most boring — or the most hectic — days seem fun. I love that I was able to find such an incredible job so close to where I live and grew up. I’m a lifelong resident of the area, and I live on our family’s farm, which has been in our family for the past 120 years. In my spare time, I love riding motorcycles with my boyfriend down south to Tennessee and north up to Michigan. I also love spending time with my daughter, son-in-law, and my 18-month-old grandson.

I was drawn to working at Briarfield Dental initially because of Dr. Stuckey’s reputation. I knew he’d been a dentist for over 30 years and that many of his patients had stuck with him for most of that time. You don’t get that kind of loyalty without providing a high standard of care to everyone that comes into your office. His work ethic and determination to help his patients in every way he can makes this a great place to work.

The part I enjoy most about my job is my interactions with patients. As the scheduling coordinator, I’m in charge of keeping Dr. Stuckey’s schedule full, rescheduling appointments, verifying patients’ insurance, and just generally getting new patients ready for their first (and definitely not

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What Is Causing Your Teeth to Stain?

Avoiding Discoloration and Keeping Your Teeth White

E veryone enjoys having a bright, white smile, but it can be difficult to maintain. Foods and drinks can affect the color of your teeth, even with regular brushing and whitening. Knowing what stains your teeth will help you take steps to avoid or prevent future discoloration. Why Foods Stain Teeth Three main substances alter the color of teeth: chromogens, tannins, and acids. Chromogens are strong pigments that cling to tooth enamel and often create more stubborn stains if they mix with other stain-enhancing factors like tannins, which are chemicals commonly found in black teas. Acidic foods or drinks, such as berries and soft drinks, soften and erode enamel, making it easier for the tooth to stain. 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. Don’t Miss Kids’ Day

How to Avoid Staining Your Teeth One of the easiest ways to prevent liquids from staining teeth is to drink from a straw. This ensures coffee, tea, soda, or alcohol will have less contact with teeth. Another good habit is to drink water or brush your teeth directly after a meal so staining substances aren’t left on your teeth unchecked for the rest of the day. Biannual dental visits are also a great way to remove or prevent stains. When dentists polish the surface of teeth, they can fill in rough parts or fine cracks that make staining more likely.

Simple Methods to Keep Teeth Bright Using whitening products, such as toothpaste and mouthwash, are a great way to whiten your teeth at home. Both of these options not only remove surface stains on the enamel but also prevent cavities, fight off gum disease, and freshen breath. You can also use whitening strips at home, which are quick, easy, and cost-effective. We also recommend joining our Brite4Life Program. For $99, you can get custom trays made and receive whitening gel. Then at each six-month recare appointment, you will receive free whitening gel for as long as you remain an active patient!

To keep your teeth pearly white, you don’t have to give up foods that are more likely to stain your teeth. By practicing and maintaining healthy oral hygiene habits, your teeth can remain as white as ever!

Collective Soul Plays Us Into Fall Dr. Stuckey’s Playlist

The seasons are slowly shifting from summer to fall, and all too soon we’ll find ourselves back in the cold winter months. I think that’s why I’ve been listening to the more sober sounds of Collective Soul. They’re an alternative rock band from Georgia that first formed in 1992. Given the era, it’s no surprise their songs have that hard guitar sound inspired by ‘90s grunge. Even their newer songs have a hard guitar, which I enjoy, though it’s not for everybody. The band’s first album, “Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid,” was released on an indie label in 1993. One of the songs on the album, “Shine” became a radio hit and an anthem of the ‘90s alt-rock era. The success of “Shine” transformed Collective Soul from an obscure group to a popular band. Collective Soul was then signed by Atlantic Records, a major label. In 1995, they released a self-titled album that went triple- platinum and is still the band’s best-selling album. I was able to see Collective Soul live several years ago at an outdoor concert — back when those were still a thing — and had a lot of fun. A few of my favorite Collective Soul songs are

“The World I Know,” “She Said,” and, of course, “Shine.” If you’re not into the hard guitar sound, I recommend checking out their album “From the Ground Up.” This a collection of acoustic versions of some of their most popular songs. There’s even a hidden track after the last song! Their sound isn’t super poppy or upbeat, but that doesn’t mean it’s all down and morose. It’s appropriate music for everything we’ve gone through this year as we get ready for fall and winter.

Sept. 17 It’s a surprise! Oct. 15 Halloween Fun Nov. 19 Football/Border Battle Dec. 28 New Year’s Party

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3550 Briarfield Blvd, Suite 100 Maumee, OH 43537

A Summer Lost

The Best Educational Tools to Help Students Succeed Spotlight on Heather Johnston

Maintaining a Beautiful Smile

Dr. Stuckey’s Playlist

How You Can Win a Free Family Membership to the Toledo Zoo!

Now In-Network for Paramount Dental, an Affiliate of ProMedica.

And Win a Free Family Membership to the Toledo Zoo! admission to after-hours events, zoo-wide savings, and more. When you add the experience package to that, you also get unlimited rides, unlimited giraffe feeds, unlimited barnyard feeds, free Little Boo and Pumpkin Patch admission, and more.

Refer Your Friends and Family to Our Practice

Normally, the Family Zoo Membership costs $116 for Lucas County residents ($124 for non-Lucas County residents), and the Experience Package costs $99 on top of that! That’s over $200 worth of fun, educational activities for you and your family to enjoy if you win our referral contest! How do I win? If you want to enter our referral contest to win the Family Zoo Membership and Experience Package, get your friends and family interested in their oral health, and refer them to Briarfield Dental Care. Any time a new patient gives us your name, it will be entered in the drawing for the prize. The more people you refer, the better your chances of winning the contest! Make your oral health a priority, and help your friends and family do the same. The contest starts on September 1, and we’ll draw the name of the winner on December 21.

Who doesn’t love a trip to the zoo? You get

to see potentially thousands of animals you wouldn’t see anywhere else right in your own city. We’re lucky to have the Toledo Zoo, which boasts more than 10,000 individual animals, representing over 720 different species. You can see animals from all over the world when you visit — and if you win our next referral contest, you and your family could see all of it for free for the next year! That’s right — the winner of our latest referral contest will win a family membership to the Toledo Zoo and Aquarium, as well as the Experience Package. There is a lot of value between these combined packages that you don’t want to miss out on.f The Family Zoo Membership includes free admission, free parking,

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