Flax Dental - August 2021

Flax Dental - August 2021

August 2021

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Smile Like It’s 2099 Introducing 2 New Technologies at Flax Dental

Dental AI Technology Another way we’re improving our service is through artificial intelligence capable of interpreting trends

My practice has gained the reputation as one of the top cosmetic dental practices in the nation for our expert care and cutting- edge technology — that hasn’t changed in 2021. I'd like to introduce you to two new technologies that we’re implementing at Flax Dental this fall, which may be very useful for you or a friend in the future. Exocad Imagine that you came into our office, and you want to have a new smile, but you want to know what it looks like first. Instead of showing you a 2D photo of yourself with a new smile, now, you can hold that smile in the palm of your hand. We have a new 3D-planning software called Exocad that can approximate all of your teeth adjustments, veneers, and other steps in your treatment plan in 3D. From there, we can 3D print your teeth, put it in your mouth, and give you a first-person experience of what it’ll look like. Although it doesn’t work for every single case, it’s a new feature that we’re extremely excited to use and show our patients so they can try out their new smile right away!

in people’s mouths and other clinical things we may see. Of course, AI isn’t intended to replace dentists because that’d be impossible. Dental-specialty AI will simply help dentists perceive changes in your mouth that’d be next to impossible for the regular person to notice. For example, let’s say the computer sees two X-rays from different visits by a patient. With an extremely high degree of certainty, the AI will be able to tell a doctor if there’s been any teeth shifting between the two photos, even if the changes are minuscule and imperceivable for the human eye. To give you an idea of how remarkable this is for the dental industry, over 63% of dentists are unsure if they read their X-rays accurately. (It’s a scary world out there, folks.) The AI will help make dentist diagnoses laser accurate, significantly decreasing their potential margin of error from making naked eye observations. If you have any questions, don’t be afraid to give us a call or ask us during your next visit. We’d love to tell you everything about how it works.

Ever dressed up as your childhood hero or have a silly summer break photo? Share your dorkiest childhood photo, and you can win a $100 gift card to Target — a shopping favorite for children and adults alike! Respond by Aug. 10, 2021, and submit your picture to our Facebook page at Facebook.com/FlaxDental.

Until next time, my friends,

—Hugh Flax

Congratulations to last month's winner, Ashley Buero!

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3 Natural Ways to Boost Your Energy Without Caffeine Don’t Reach for the Coffee

foot on the opposite side of your left knee. Keeping your hips centered, turn your torso toward your right foot so that

If you can’t start your day without your daily cup — or cups — of joe, you’re not alone. More than 450 million cups of coffee are consumed by U.S. residents every day, and unfortunately, heavy caffeine consumption may not be healthy. (It’s a big reason why celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Jim Carrey, and Kim Kardashian don’t drink it!) Moderate amounts of caffeine can improve your mental health, and some studies suggest it could even prevent some chronic conditions. However, there are major downsides to overconsumption, which equates to more than four cups of coffee each day. These can include high blood pressure, addiction symptoms, and decreased mentality. If you want to break out of the caffeine cycle and reduce how much coffee you drink, try replacing that cuppa with one of these methods! Stretch After lying in one position all night, your body may feel stiff and achy. Stretching awakens your muscles and helps you break out of that groggy morning feeling. Start with your back and do some

your right arm is on your right knee. Switch to the other side and repeat as needed. Finally, pull your head toward your shoulders to loosen your neck. Go for a Walk When you wake up in the morning, head outside! Movement stimulates your brain and improves your mood, and the act of walking is relaxing enough that it doesn’t require much effort on your part. Plus, it’s a great way to get your steps in, wake up slowly, and get outside before a busy day. Just Breathe This might sound like it will lull you to sleep, but there are actually some breathing techniques that can help you wake up! The “breath of fire” is a rapid-fire breathing technique, during which you inhale deeply, exhale deeply, inhale deeply again, and then exhale quickly. Repeat this as needed. Other practices that focus on breathing, like yoga, can be effective, too.

slow core twists. Then, sit on the floor and lay your legs out in front of you. Stretch forward, then sit back up. Next, position your right

Good News The

Waking up isn’t an exact science, but once you find a healthy method that works for you, you may never need coffee again. (Gasp!)

How Many Veneers Are Right for You?

mouth as being like a “Broadway play,” an analogy I use courtesy of my colleague, Dr. Larry Rosenthal, a "dentist to the stars.” Imagine that the teeth are the actors on the stage, and all the front teeth (especially the front two) are the stars of the show. Still, you can’t ignore the supporting actors — the teeth on the sides of the mouth. Nor can you ignore the scenery (the gums) or the curtains (the lips). So, if you have veneers only on the six upper front teeth, then your lower front teeth and all the supporting actors can be less youthful-looking. And while whitening can brighten teeth that do not have veneers, it may be a temporary solution. Plus, it may be impossible to whiten stained teeth to match the color and shine of the veneers. That’s why the best smile comes from having veneers applied to the teeth that you display in your smile — usually 8–10 teeth in the front and potentially the lower teeth. Thanks for reading, and if you’d like to learn more of Dr. Flax’s secrets, don’t hesitate to pick up his book, “A Smile Is Always in Style,” available anywhere books are sold!

When you smile, you tend to display more of your upper teeth. When talking, more of your lower teeth show. But the brain detects when there’s a difference — if you’re talking to someone who is also smiling, it can be very distracting when their upper and lower teeth don’t match. In fact, when veneers aren’t done optimally, it can create a distracting (rather than attractive) smile. Last month, we talked a little bit about different veneer materials. This month, let’s talk about a common myth about veneers — that you only need veneers on your front six teeth. Perhaps you’ve seen a celebrity with gleaming white, youthful- looking teeth in the front but stained and older-looking teeth on the sides of their smile? That’s because they only had a minimal number of teeth rejuvenated in the front, which can leave all the stained and darker teeth showing on the sides of the mouth. That can even make it appear that some back teeth are missing. YIKES!

Too often, veneers are only applied to the front six teeth, as many of us were taught in dental school in the 1980s. But I look at the

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Client Success Story

Our Best Patients Refer Our Best Patients "Faith is always great! Makes my visit relaxing and very gentle! Dr. Flax has a great team! Always a pleasure visiting Dr. Flax!" —Ros L.

How Dr. Flax Changed Nightmares to a Dreamy Smile Meet Sandy, a 20-Year Patient!

Sandy Phelps is an extremely outgoing, positive, pleasant gal, and she always took her dental health seriously. But she was having trouble living her best life due to a dentist’s poor cosmetic dentistry work. Her veneers didn’t fit correctly, and it gave her an uneven bite, jaw problems, and even headaches.

“[The poor dental work] was so visible on the front of my mouth, and I was so self-conscious,” Sandy shared with us. It even began to influence her career in sales, since her smile was often one of the first things people noticed. “It really affected my confidence.” It was a traumatic experience for Sandy, and she’s struggled with anxiety at the dentist office ever since. If she were going to see a dentist again, she had to be certain their treatment would work. “I needed someone to educate me on my problems,” she explained. As she began researching how to get her veneers fixed, she talked to a friend in the cosmetic dental community that she knew. They recommended Dr. Flax to her. Even after 20 years, Sandy still remembers her first appointment. “It was a Friday afternoon,” she recalls. “He listened very carefully to what I had to say. He was very understanding and very sympathetic about my situation. More than anything, I could tell that he cared, and that he’d be very thorough [about the journey ahead.]” Not only did Dr. Flax educate her on the problems her previous dental work gave her, but he also gave her a plan with complete pictures of her teeth, explaining the way her teeth were and the way he envisioned them in the future. It was completely customized and perfect for her. “I have a very toothy smile,” Sandy laughed. “When I smile, you can see all my teeth.” Dr. Flax came up with a plan to complement that, and she’s been thrilled to be his patient ever since. After going through the journey of her treatment, Sandy is extremely proud of her smile today. “I can walk into an airport, and people will tell me how beautiful my smile is.” And Dr. Flax takes that “stride of pride” seriously with his patients. On her birthday, Sandy’s veneer chipped, and Dr. Flax and his wife met her at the clinic to fix it the same day — just in time for Sandy’s birthday dinner. “He works with me on my anxiety and puts me at ease,” says Sandy. What’s more beautiful than a comfortable, confident smile? Thanks, Sandy, for always being such a radiant patient — we’ve truly loved serving you these past 20 years!

Summer Vegetable Greek Salad

This healthy summer dish is the perfect way to use up extra zucchini!

Ingredients For the vinaigrette: • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar • 1 tsp Dijon mustard • 1 garlic clove, minced • 1 tsp dried oregano • 1/2 tsp honey • 1/2 tsp salt • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil For the salad: • 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped • 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved • 1 small cucumber, seeded and chopped

• 1 cup yellow bell pepper, chopped • 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped • 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved • 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled • Optional protein choices: 1 cup cooked chickpeas or 6 oz Genoa salami

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together vinegar, mustard, garlic, oregano, honey, and salt. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, whisking until well combined. 2. In a large serving bowl, toss together the romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, parsley, olives, and feta (as well as the chickpeas or salami, if desired). 3. If you plan to serve all the salad at once, drizzle the dressing over the salad to lightly coat, then toss to combine. Otherwise, store the vinaigrette and salad separately, then dress each portion before serving.

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

5673 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd. Ste. 430, Atlanta, GA 30342 404-255-9080 www.flaxdental.com

Want a Brighter, More Confident Smile? Don’t Know Where to Start? Send in Your Pictures and Have a Personalized Zoom Call With Dr. Flax With a FREE Virtual Smile Consultation! Visit: www.beautifulsmileforyou.net

Inside

Remember: Whether you have dental insurance benefits remaining, or leftover funds in your flexible spending account (FSA) or health care saving account (HSA), nearly all plans won’t allow you to roll them over to the following year. Schedule an appointment at Flax Dental today.

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See Your Future Smile — Today

Wake Up Without Coffee — Really!

How Many Veneers Are Right for You?

An Anxious Patient Is Transformed at Flax Dental Summer Vegetable Greek Salad

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Want to Save on Your Next Vacation?

5 Tips for Your Next Affordable Getaway

around $33 per person. Plus, you will create some amazing memories together! 4. Plan your meal budget ahead of time. Looking forward to eating

Are you excited to explore the world again? Or maybe you've just gotten back from your latest vacation! In either case, the economic challenges of the pandemic might require travelers to plan their trips a little smarter. Here are five tricks to do just that. 1. Consider your budget while choosing your destination. Any destination heavily impacted by tourists is going to be more expensive to visit. So, consider taking a tour through various French countryside towns instead of Paris! Not only could it be more culturally immersing, but it may even be more relaxing and less stressful than visiting a dense area. 2. Sign up for Scott’s Cheap Flights. One of the most important parts of booking an affordable vacation is booking it at the right time. Scott’s Cheap Flights will track all the cheapest flights at an airport of your choice — you’ll get over 50%–75% savings on highly rated airlines. This will get you stress-free travel for a much lower price! 3. Travel in a group. If you travel with friends, your expenses become a lot more manageable. Let’s say you and a partner travel with two other couples — renting a swanky cabin at $200 a night will only cost

certain dishes? Find local menus and prices to ensure you don’t spend more than you planned. If you

want an authentic and homestyle culinary experience, consider signing up for a peer-to-peer dining experience through Traveling Spoon or Bon Appetour, which is tax-free as well! 5. Consider volunteering for vacation. Want to go on a self-discovery trip? Why not cut your expenses in half by volunteering? For example, Habitat for Humanity offers a nine-day Mexico trip for $1,200 with lodging, food, and activities included. You’ll get to build structures and create something permanent for the local community.

Traveling on a dime is no sweat with the right tools. Best of luck, traveler!

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