Cove Family Dentistry - October 2019

OCTOBER 2019

First Impressions Tooth Be Told 256.534.1475

www.elizabethdulingdmd.com

GET TO KNOW MARY WEBB

It’s so important to make a good first impression. That’s why, when we hire someone who will work at our first desk, I take extra care to find exactly the right person who will make our patients feel welcome. Mary Webb is the very first person patients see when they walk through the door, and she never fails to greet them with a friendly smile. This month, I want to give her some time in the spotlight. –Dr. Elizabeth Duling Sometimes, I’m surprised to find myself working at a dentist’s office every day. I’m a very nervous person when it comes to the dentist. It’s not that I’m worried about pain, but I’ve never liked the sound of dental tools. When I walk into the dentist’s office, there’s nothing like a friendly smile to help undo all the nerves in my stomach. That’s what I try to give every patient when they walk through the door. I want to help patients feel at ease, which is a value I know everyone at the office shares. We all want to make people feel welcome and comfortable. I recognized that trait in Dr. Duling when I meet her during my first interview. She’s so bubbly and all smiles. It’s obvious she’s happy to be at work, and that’s something I was looking for. I felt like our personalities could mesh well, so I was really excited to start here last July. Before I began working at the dentist’s office, I worked in telecommunications for 13 years. Then my job was suddenly moved out of Huntsville. At the time, I had the opportunity to move to Colorado, but I couldn’t imagine leaving Alabama. My whole family is here! It was a little scary, but I left that job and decided to stay here. I took a few years off to take care of my family.

When I was ready to reenter the workforce, I took that opportunity to find a new career path. I didn’t want to spend my whole life in a cubicle. I’m happier when I get to work with the public and meet new people. Lucky for me, one of my friends was working at a dentist’s office at the time who happened to be looking for someone to work their front desk. I’d never worked in medicine before, so I wasn’t sure what the job would be like, but I applied and went in for the interview. Right away, I knew I was going to love it. I spent three years at another dentist’s office before the dentist I was working for retired. That’s when I saw Dr. Duling’s personality and came here. Every day is something different. It’s really great to meet new people and get to know patients as they come in for their appointments. Plus, it’s wonderful to work at such a fun office. I love meeting patients and working with the girls — it’s really like a little family. When I’m not at work, I love spending time with my family at home. We spend lots of time on the water when the weather’s nice, and the fall is all about college football. I love to watch football on TV with my husband and go shopping with my teenage daughter. My son has been in the Marines for the past 2 1/2 years, so any time we get to spend with him is really special. It’s really nice to work at a place where I can take time to spend with my family but still enjoy coming to work. Not everyone can say they’re happy to go to work in the morning! –Mary Webb

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SCARY MOVIES For the Whole Family!

With the spookiest day of the year fast approaching, there’s nothing like a scary movie night to get the whole family into the Halloween spirit. The only problem is most frightful films really aren’t for kids, and the ones that are often fall flat. But, if you’re looking for a flick that will have the whole family on the edge of their seats (without traumatizing anyone), consider our top three picks for scary, family- friendly movies. No. 3: ‘Ghostbusters’ “Who you gonna call” to be high on this list? The 1984 spectral classic, “Ghostbusters.” While this may be more of an action-comedy, plenty of scares and creepy imagery still get a jump out of first-time watchers young and old alike. If you’re looking for a lighthearted movie night that still captures a Halloween feel, “Ghostbusters” is a great choice.

film “Coraline” proves just that. Based on Gaiman’s book of the same name, director Henry Selick uses his signature stop-motion animation style to bring the script to life. While young children may find the doll- like imagery too unsettling, this is a great introductory thriller for preteens.

No. 1: ‘Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island’ Yes, a Scooby-Doo movie is at the top of this list — and it deserves to be. As the feature- length debut of Scooby, Shaggy, and the rest of the Mystery Gang, this 1998 film doesn’t pull any punches. While the hand-drawn animation and slapstick high jinks of the original Hanna- Barbera cartoon are all there, make no mistake: There are some creepy moments in this movie. Between scary zombie elements and a spooky Voodoo doll scene, this is the perfect film to get your kids into the Halloween spirit.

No. 2: ‘Coraline’ Few authors weave creepiness with coming-of-age stories together better than Neil Gaiman, and his 2009

BIRD SQUIRREL WATCH

FURRY LITTLE ACROBATS

If you have a bird feeder in your yard, you’ve likely had to learn how to safeguard your avian offerings against the local squirrel population. These sneaky, agile critters are happy to pig out on a bird feeder, leaving nothing to attract beautiful birds. In Alabama, there are three species of squirrel who will try to raid your bird feeder: the common gray squirrel, the uniquely colored fox squirrel, and the tiny southern flying squirrel. Squirrels of all breeds are extremely attentive to the other creatures around them. Different animals will listen to their neighbors for signs of danger, but recent research found that squirrels

take this one step further — they listen to birds for signs of safety. A study published in the September 2019 edition of the journal PLOS One monitored squirrel behavior in the wild. Unsurprisingly, squirrels become vigilant when they hear the cry of a red-tailed hawk. However, researchers noted that a squirrel will return to foraging more quickly when the hawk’s shriek is followed by the chatter of other birds compared to when the predator’s cry is followed by silence. Daniel Blumstein, a behavioral ecologist at the University of California, called this complex communication network “Facebook for birds.” At Cove Family Dentistry, we have one squirrel in the yard who’s a real acrobat. He’s able to climb up and dangle upside-down to reach the feeder. It’s quite the circus act! Fortunately, our birds don’t mind having him around. In fact, they kind of seem to like him. He spills quite a bit of bird seed onto the ground when he comes by, making it easier for the birds to eat. The local chipmunks and rabbits also come out to enjoy some fallen bird seed, so it’s a good time for everyone. If your birds aren’t fond of their squirrel neighbors, visit TheSpruce. com/how-to-squirrel-proof-a-birdfeeder-386581 and learn some tricks to help protect your valuable bird seed. A few strategies include setting the bird feeder in a location squirrels cannot jump to, placing a cage around the feeder, or installing a baffle to deter squirrels.

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256.534.1475

TAKE A BREAK!

The Right Fit

MOUTHGUARDS REDUCE DENTAL INJURY BY 93%

Prior to the 1960s, 50% of injuries in football were orofacial — injuries to the teeth and face. In 1962, high school and collegiate football players were required to wear face guards and mouthguards for the first time. Several studies have found that, since implementing the requirement, the percentage of orofacial injuries in football dropped to .5%. Despite this clear benefit, not all youth sports require players to wear mouthguards. At the moment, the National Federation of State High School Associations mandates mouthguards for only four sports: football, ice hockey, lacrosse, and field hockey. However, the American Dental Association recommends mouthguards for athletes in 29 popular youth sports, including:

AUTUMN CANDY CARVE COSTUME

SCARECROW HALLOWEEN

PUMPKIN FOOTBALL HARVEST LEAVES

OCTOBER ORANGE

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Volleyball Wrestling

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Softball

Basketball

Soccer

Research shows wearing a mouthguard reduces the chances of suffering tooth injuries by almost 93%. If your children plan on participating in sports this year, study up on the types of mouthguards available to you.

Standard Fit – These are mouthguards you can pick up at a sporting goods store. They’re made of thick rubber and come in small, medium, or large sizes.

Chocolate-Dipped Fruit

Inspired by Food Network

Boil-and-bite – You can purchase these mouthguards over-the-counter. As the name implies, athletes boil the mouthguard in hot water, then bite down on it while it’s still warm. This causes the mouthguard to mold roughly to the shape of their teeth.

This super easy and fun way to create homemade treats provides your kids with a healthier and more delicious alternative to packaged industrial candy. As a bonus, making it is an awesome Halloween activity for your family to enjoy. INGREDIENTS

Custom-made – These are mouthguards made by your dentist using a full impression of an athlete’s teeth. They shape perfectly to an athlete’s teeth and gums for a better fit.

Which mouthguard is best for my child?

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1 package melting chocolate

There are certainly pros and cons to each kind of mouthguard, but the best mouthguard is the one your child will actually wear. If your athlete is perfectly happy with their over- the-counter mouthguard, great! Let them keep wearing it. But many young athletes who have access to mouthguards admit to not wearing them because the mouthguard makes it hard to breathe, hard to talk, or is just uncomfortable. If your child isn’t wearing their mouthguard, we can help! Custom-fit mouthguards made by your dentist are smaller, fit perfectly, and are more comfortable than other types of mouthguards. Athletes are more likely to wear a comfortable mouthguard, helping to avoid the need for expensive emergency dentistry after an injury.

• Assorted dried fruit, including apricots and mangoes

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large saucepan, bring 1 inch of water to a boil. 2. Place a large, heatproof mixing bowl on top of saucepan so that no steam can escape. Place melting chocolate in mixing bowl and double boil until melted. 3. Dip half of each piece of fruit in chocolate before transferring to a parchment-lined baking sheet to rest. 4. Let cool for 10 minutes until chocolate solidifies. 5. Place in school lunches, serve at parties, and indulge in a few for yourself.

Call 256.534.1475 now through Jan. 1 to take advantage of our buy one, get one 50% off deal on custom-fit mouthguards. You can help protect your child’s teeth all year long.

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www.elizabethdulingdmd.com

210 Sutton RD. SE Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763 256.534.1475 www.elizabethdulingdmd.com

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Inside

Always a Friendly Smile

Frightful Films for Families

Keep Squirrels Off Your Bird Feeder

Which Mouthguard Is Right for My Child?

Chocolate-Dipped Fruit

The Real Legend of Sleepy Hollow

HAYRIDES AND HEADLESS HORSEMEN

Halloween Celebrations in Sleepy Hollow

In 1790, a school teacher named Ichabod Crane was riding home alone from a harvest festival in the village of Sleepy Hollow when he encountered a mysterious rider on horseback. Crane, horrified by the horseman’s missing head, turned and ran in the opposite direction. The Headless Horseman gave chase, hurling his own decapitated head at the terrified teacher. Ichabod Crane was never heard from again ... or so goes “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving. This story, first published in 1820, has become a Halloween favorite. The legend is so beloved that in 1997, the village of North Tarrytown, New York, where many events of the story take place, officially changed its name to Sleepy Hollow. Today, the town becomes one big Halloween party during the month of October. Sleepy Hollow is home to many historic landmarks, including the Headless Horseman Bridge and the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where Washington Irving himself was laid to rest. Evening lantern tours of the cemetery are a popular attraction, and Irving isn’t the only spooky celebrity buried there. Fans of the Gothic soap opera “Dark Shadows” will be delighted to enter the crypt of famed vampire Barnabas Collins.

faint of heart. During the event, the 300-year-old Philipsburg Manor is transformed into a living nightmare, where vampires, witches, ghouls, and undead soldiers lurk in the shadows. They all serve the dreaded Headless Horseman and are determined to make sure guests don’t leave alive! But it’s not all scares in Sleepy Hollow. There’s plenty of Halloween fun for all ages. Sleepy Hollow boasts relaxing hayrides, tours of Irving’s home, live readings of famous Halloween stories, performances of a brand-new musical based on Irving’s spooky tale, and the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, an incredible exhibition of over 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins.

Another highly anticipated stop for many guests is Sleepy Hollow’s premier annual attraction, Horseman’s Hollow, an experience not for the

If you want a real Halloween experience, you can’t go wrong in Sleepy Hollow. Just be careful not to lose your head!

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256.534.1475