Elkins Dental - December 2020

Elkins Dental - December 2020

FOR A BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY SMILE

ELKINSDENTAL.COM DECEMBER 2020

MEGADETH AND THE JOURNEY OF SELF-DISCOVERY

As a kid, I was much like a lot of other kids: eager to rebel against my parents. To be fair, though, I didn’t go out of my way to rebel, and most of my rebellion was against my parents’musical tastes. They listened to classical music, and that just wasn’t my style. By the time I was in middle school,‘80s rock bands were very popular, so I started listening to them, but I didn’t stop there. When I got to high school, I started listening to a lot of hard rock and heavy metal. This led me to find my favorite band, Megadeth. The journey to find my preferred music genres was just one part of a much longer journey that was influenced by other aspects of my life, too. Many of you know that I play the guitar, which played a role in my finding and appreciating Megadeth and other bands like them. If a band had a good guitarist, chances are I liked them. This has been just one part of finding who I truly am.

Not too long ago, I had a conversation with a friend who’d made a big life change. My friend said,“I’m really trying hard to find out who I am. My past normal is no longer normal, and I’m trying to find a new normal.” This reminded me of a philosophy that I’ve adopted over the last few years: Finding yourself isn’t going to be easy or quick. In fact, it should take you years, decades, or even your whole life to discover. What’s more, you should enjoy the process of learning new things about yourself and enjoy the journey that takes you there. This journey might include discovering if you prefer Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi or whether you like hot sauce on your food. Or, like me, it might lead you to see that you prefer heavy metal over classical music. While these examples are just simple things, there are plenty of other things, both great and small, to discover about ourselves. There are always going to be more intricate and difficult parts of self-discovery, and that’s what life is about. No matter how long this process takes, we should enjoy every step. When I think about everything that happened this year in the U.S. and how we continue to move forward despite it, I can’t help but also think about how the world keeps adapting in the face of tremendous challenges. Despite difficulties, from wars to pandemics, people have been able to find a new normal in their lives while adjusting to each situation. Many people have found some comfort and joy in life again, knowing that things are always changing and hoping they’ll change for the better in the future. With the COVID-19 pandemic, all of us have had to learn to adapt. I know many people took the challenges of 2020 head-on, and as we address these and other challenges, we learn more about who we are. I’m hopeful that we can take the good things we’ve learned during this crazy year to move forward on the path of self-discovery.

–Dr. Elkins

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BE A BETTER LISTENER FOR SOMEONE Who Needs to ‘Get It All Out’

It’s not always easy to share feelings of frustration, anger,

position. While in this position, maintain eye contact. It’s okay to look down or away occasionally, but try to keep steady eye contact. Billikopf also notes that, as a listener, it’s important to avoid interjecting. Don’t offer input, suggestions, or guidance to the person venting until after the person has had the chance to get it all out.“During this venting process, there is still too much pressure for a person to consider other perspectives,” Billikopf says. While you don’t want to interject, you do want to be an active listener. This means you don’t want to be completely silent. This is where“reflective listening”comes in. Occasionally repeat what the speaker says — but don’t use their exact phrasing. Reword slightly in a sympathetic manner. Don’t spin their words or mistakenly interject an opinion, as it may not be the opinion they’re interested in hearing. Alternatively, listening cues like“mm”or“hm”and nods are always welcome. One last thing to keep in mind:You do not need to offer a solution to the person’s problem or concerns. They may just be venting to get their negative emotions out, not looking for answers or explanations. If they are looking for answers or guidance, wait for them to ask. In the meantime, lend your ear and let them know you’re there for them going forward.

sadness, or other strong emotions — but it’s healthy to share them. Sometimes, we need to vent and get it all out.Venting gives us an opportunity to release these emotions, which often leads to mental clarity.

However, when someone comes to you to vent and share their heavy emotional burden, listening can be just as challenging as sharing.You want to be supportive, but you don’t want to interfere. Strong feelings and tough situations may be involved. What can you do to be the listener they really need? It starts with your body language. Open yourself to their emotional needs. Gregorio Billikopf, an interpersonal relationship expert at the University of California, Berkeley says if you begin the conversation standing, invite the person to have a seat with you. Another thing you can do as a listener is position yourself below their eye line. This puts the person venting in a more active“storyteller”position and you in a better“listener”

Kalie and Cheyenne: A Word on Dental Health Deep-Cleaning and Laser Therapy

This month, we’d like to feature one of the many services we offer at Elkins Dental: laser therapy. Our team uses laser therapy for our scaling and root planing (SRP) patients who are suffering from periodontal or gum disease. Laser therapy is used after a deep-cleaning to stimulate gum healing. The laser itself goes underneath the gum line, killing harmful bacteria and improving the tissue’s healing process. In addition to recommending this for our SRP patients, we also recommend the treatment for patients who haven’t had a routine cleaning for several years, who’ve never had a deep-cleaning, or who have persistent problem areas in their mouth. Laser therapy is especially beneficial for any individual who is suffering from bone loss, has deep pockets in the gums, or has excess buildup in the gum lines. Before we decide laser therapy is the appropriate treatment, our team will first perform a thorough exam. Once we confirm that a patient needs a deep-cleaning and laser therapy, we will schedule

an appointment. Deep-cleaning and laser therapy are both one-time treatments of the entire mouth, wherever the patient needs it most.

-Kalie and Caryn Often, within those six weeks, we see a drastic improvement for our patients. Our team is always so excited to see these smiles and humbled to hear how much we have helped our community. If you think a deep-cleaning and laser therapy can help you, call our office to schedule an examination today. – Kalie and Cheyenne Afterward, we schedule a follow-up appointment in six weeks to check in and assess how the patient is healing. From there, the patient will enter into a maintenance schedule, which means they will be coming into our office a little more regularly than a normal cleaning would require. We want to make sure there are no drastic changes in their oral health while recovering.

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NOT YOUR GRANDMA’S FRUITCAKE

Ingredients

Inspired by SimplyRecipes.com

MOUNTAIN RANGES Surrounded by the Rocky Mountains, we don’t have to go far to find mountaintop winter activities. If skiing or tubing is your idea of winter fun, Bogus Basin is just a short drive away, and heading to McCall makes a fun weekend getaway. ... AND RIVERS Not only are we surrounded by the Payette and Boise rivers, Idaho is also home to the deepest gorge in North America: Hells Canyon. Take that, Arizona! • 1 tsp baking soda • 1 cup sour cream • 3 1/2 cups mixed dried fruit of your choice, chopped

GOOD CHEER Beer lovers, rejoice! Idaho is the world’s largest hop producer, and more and more people are taking advantage of our agricultural bounty by opening breweries in the Treasure Valley. Share a few of these treasures with visiting family members and their only question will be “How did we not come here sooner?” and sour cream mixture. Then, add remaining flour and salt. Mix, then add fruit mixture. 5. Pour batter into lined pan. Fill up a separate loaf pan halfway with water. Bake both pans in oven for 1 1/2–2 hours or until a skewer leaves the cake clean. 6. Use“handles”to remove cake from pan and cool completely on a rack before serving. • 1 cup nuts of your choice, chopped • 2 cups all-purpose flour, divided • 1 stick butter • 1 cup sugar • 1 egg, room temperature • Zest of 1 orange • 1 tsp salt

Out-of-town relatives who are visiting for the holidays might wonder what makes Emmett so special. But we already know the Treasure Valley is full of gems — and we don’t just mean the rocks. Here are some additional reasons Emmett and The Gem State are great. WE’VE GOT SUNSHINE On average, we have 210 sunny days per year. Compare that to 144 rainy days in Portland and we can feel pretty happy about all our free vitamin D. Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 F. Line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with greased baking paper. Ensure the piece running the length of the pan stands 1 inch above each side to form“handles ” 2. In a small bowl, mix baking soda and sour cream. 3. In a second bowl, combine fruit, nuts, and 1/4 cup flour. 4. In a third bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg, zest, JOKES DAD

What is Santa’s favorite state? Ida-ho-ho-ho

What do you call a child who doesn’t believe in Santa? A rebel without a Claus.

DID YOU KNOW?

IT’S TIME TO GIVE

The holidays are a time for family, good food, Christmas lights, and, of course, presents. Whether Santa Claus delivers or you receive a gift from a friend, presents can be a highlight of the Christmas holiday. However, the most important part of gifts is giving them. Dec. 3 is Giving Tuesday, a holiday that takes place on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving each year. This is a time where people don’t just give back to the people in their lives but also to their communities. Giving Tuesday encourages and inspires individuals across the country to celebrate the act of giving. We don’t have to wait until Giving Tuesday or worry about whether or not the holiday has passed to celebrate it. Use the holiday this year as a starting point! Let it be the inspiration that leads to giving year-round.

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. Dr. Elkins’ Journey of Self-Discovery Started With Megadeth 2. How to Be a Better Listener for Someone in Need A Word on Dental Health

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

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4. The Surprising History of the Snowman

Not Your Grandma’s Fruitcake

1110 S. Washington Ave. Emmett, ID 83617

Did You Know?

9TH ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE

Save $25 with a donation of 10

nonperishable items. Come in between now and Dec. 18

208-369-4532 Elkinsdental.com

NOT JUST A CORN COB PIPE AND BUTTON NOSE The Surprising History of the Snowman

Building a snowman is one of the most picturesque winter activities, which is why snowmen have become a wintertime cultural icon. A snowman appeared on the very first postcards, was the subject of some of the earliest photos, and even starred in silent movies. Frosty may be a happy snowman now, but his ancestors have a much more varied — and sometimes dark — history. THE MIDDLE AGES Snowmen were a phenomenon in the Middle Ages. They were constructed with deep thought and great skill because, during a time of limited means of expression, snow was a free art supply that literally fell from the sky. These artistic feats were popular winter attractions for well-to-do couples who wanted to get their fix of temporary art. Snowmen were often created by famous artists, including 19-year-old Michelangelo who, in 1494, was commissioned by the ruler of Florence to sculpt a snowman in his mansion’s courtyard. THE MIRACLE OF 1511 In Brussels in 1511, during six weeks of subzero temperatures called the Winter of Death, the city was miraculously adorned with hundreds of snowmen. The spectacle told stories on every street corner — some political and some demonstrating anger with the

church, many too risque to speak of. For the people of Brussels, this Miracle of 1511 was a defining moment of artistic freedom. But when spring came and the snow thawed, the Belgians were left with damaging floods. THE SCHENECTADY MASSACRE Not all snowmen have an innocent history. In 1690, former Fort Schenectady in upstate NewYork was home to a remote Dutch settlement, which was under the constant threat of

attack. Soldiers guarded the gates at all times because they were frozen open, but during a blizzard, they left a pair of snowmen to protect the gates while they sought shelter. That's when 200 French Canadian soldiers and Native Americans approached. Naturally, they were unfazed by the snowmen and ruthlessly invaded the settlement. Building a snowman seems like a simple and charming activity, but after learning about its surprising history, you might find those piles of snow seem a little more complicated and a lot more meaningful than before.

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