Flax Dental May 2021

Flax Dental May 2021

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May 2021

Lessons That Are With Me – Always A Tribute To My Mentors Y ou can learn from anyone in life. We often imagine our mentors being old and wise like Yoda, but we can also learn a lot from Han Solo, Leia, even Chewbacca. (If you’re reading this on the fourth, May the Fourth be with you!)

assist the patients and fellow dentists whom I teach. One of these mentors is Dr. John Kois, who explains that the complexity of a patient's case is often like the complexity of a Rubik’s Cube — you must take into account many different sides and factors if you’re going to create a solution that aligns everything perfectly. Similarly, the late Dr. Peter Dawson taught me immensely about being a “physician of the mouth,” as he would say, and the importance of the mouth-body connection that affects us all. Dr. Ronald Goldstein was the first and one of my biggest mentors in cosmetic dentistry. Considering the “big picture” can be a big task for a cosmetic dentist. He taught me the details of how to be successful in serving my patients and creating beautiful smiles. Ultimately, I’ve never had a mentor who taught me only one thing. All of these people taught me about my future career and business, and about myself, both personally and spiritually. Don Shula, the only NFL coach in history to lead a team to a perfect season (zero losses), is one of those mentors of mine that you might not expect right away. I met him only once, but his radical attention to detail and preparation truly inspired me in every way. Tony Robbins, famous personal development speaker and author, also inspired me to dream bigger and wiser. But a major breakthrough in my life happened after reading Simon Sinek’s book, “Start with Why.” You can have all the drive to succeed in the world, but what is it all for? This book helped validate my drive to serve people, whether those people are my patients or other dentists.

In “Think and Grow Rich,” Napoleon Hill talks about having your own “board of directors” or “cabinet” of people who you can discuss things with. He doesn’t mean people should go around saying, “Want to be my personal director of finance?” Rather, Hill talks about how you should have a variety of people to trust for specific advice, such as finance or relationship advice. Thankfully, I’ve been blessed with a fantastic crowd of mentors, who have taught me a lot about every arena in life. These aren’t in any particular order except, perhaps, one. My father was certainly the first and the most important mentor for me. He helped instill in me a greater sense of morality and integrity that has guided me throughout my life. Without him, I would not have the same “moral compass” as I serve others. There are some mentors who, much like sports coaches, motivate you more than anyone else. For me, that began with Dr. George Pryles, a professor from dental school. Like a drill sergeant, he transformed my drive into overdrive by teaching me to achieve excellence in everything I do. He affirmed a philosophy I’d always believed in and gave me a mentality to call my patients after a night of difficult procedures. He embedded that habit in my career since I’ve been in dental school.

Other skilled mentors have taken complicated subjects in dentistry and turned them into simpler ones. This has helped me learn and

All of these people have given me major teaching moments in my life. I hope, this National Teachers Day, you can take a moment to

Life is full of teaching moments, even if they come from a movie! Share your favorite lesson you’ve learned from a movie. Tell us on Facebook and you can win a $100 gift card to MasterClass, for lessons from the greats, from Gordon Ramsay to Neil deGrasse Tyson. Respond by May 10, 2021, and submit your story to our Facebook page at Facebook.com/FlaxDental. Congratulations to last month’s winner, Polly Lang!

show appreciation for the mentors in your life. They prove that living by example can help others and embrace who we want to become.

—Hugh Flax

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Betty White’s Secrets of Longevity How to Live to 99 Beloved “Golden Girls” actress Betty White is still enjoying her golden years. The famed actress celebrated her 99th birthday this January. While she told People magazine that she’s “blessed with good health, so turning 99 is no different than turning 98,” she also had a few tips for folks looking to make it to their centennial birthday. Keep laughing “Don’t take yourself too seriously,” White says. “You can lie to others — not that I would — but you cannot lie to yourself.” White has undoubtedly provided many laughs to viewers over the years, but she’s not just playing it up for the camera. Laughter is part of what keeps her young. Be optimistic White says a good sense of humor also helps her keep a good attitude and look for the positive rather than “dwelling on the downside.” Avoiding negativity also gives her energy. “It takes up too much energy being negative,” she told People magazine. Stay busy With nearly eight decades of acting under her belt, six Emmys on her shelf, and over 120 screen credits to her name, White is no stranger to hard work. As she told Parade in 2018, “I just love to work, so I’ll keep working until they stop asking.”

Exercise your mind In addition to her busy work schedule, what keeps Betty White sharp?

Crossword puzzles! She told Katie Couric in an interview, “I’m addicted. An admitted addict. I just can’t put ’em down.”

Find a cause White is a lifelong animal lover. She calls her golden retriever, Pontiac, “the star of the house.” While pet ownership itself comes with proven health benefits, White has channeled her love for animals in bigger causes. She’s been a trustee and board member of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association for over 40 years and has done work to help protect endangered species in the wild. Funds raised from White’s official fan club, Bet’s Pets, all go to support animal charities. Embrace your vices White told Parade she loves vodka and hot dogs “probably in that order,” which just goes to show that you don’t have to forgo your treats to live to 99.

Good News The

What Is Bonding Exactly?

When it comes to determining treatment for a patient, we look at their overall, long-term goals. They might ask about having one tooth

called bonding agents allows them to become sticky enough to hold tooth-colored materials of varying strengths and colors.

The goal of bonding is to replace lost or missing tooth structure. By using different colors and densities of material, bonding rebuilds the shapes, contours, shades, and stratification of the tooth to make it look as natural as possible. Bonding replaces enamel that has been worn away due to factors such as damage or aging. However, when a lot of enamel is worn away and the dentin is exposed, then porcelain veneers or crowns may be a better option. When done right, bonding can last a long time; it’s reasonable for bonding to last up to 8–10 years — occasionally longer. Too often, bonding gets a bad rap because the patient has other problems that are not addressed first, so they have a shaky foundation to start with. "Form follows function," so treatment should begin by managing the risk factors, such as a good bite and healthy teeth, bone, and gums. Thanks for reading, everyone. Try out Dr. Flax’s book, “A Smile Is Always in Style,” and learn more about your teeth and potential procedures as a patient!

treated, but by talking with them and listening, we may find that they are unhappy with other teeth as well. Yes, we can fix one broken front tooth, but we have a lot of technologies today that can deliver a better smile than they ever imagined. At the same time, we don’t want to just put a menu of options before a patient and ask them to choose. We want to help them understand that they have options, what those options are, and what the consequences of their choices might be. Bonding and contouring are two cosmetic dentistry procedures that can deliver big results with minimal changes and cost. This month, we’ll cover bonding! If you have worn or chipped teeth, small spaces between teeth (no more than 3mm), or areas of decay in the front or back of the mouth, you could consider bonding. Bonding is an additive process that beautifies and strengthens tooth structure. Your teeth have natural porosities in the outer enamel and inner dentin. Cleaning these tubules and impregnating them with resin liquids

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'You Must Be Married to a Dentist’ Sarah’s Flax Dental Success Story Client Success Story

Our Best Patients Refer Our Best Patients "Flax Dental offers quality, professional services that you will not receive anywhere else. Faith always goes an extra mile to make me feel very comfortable. She is by far the best dental hygienist I’ve ever encountered. She makes sure that I leave satisfied and well taken care of. Dr. Flax and his entire team offer professional and personalized care. Thank you, guys, so much for all that you do." — Latasha D.

Recently, while in the ladies’ room in a restaurant, a woman stopped Sarah Blauser and said, “Wow! You must be married to a dentist — your teeth are beautiful!” Amazing compliments like this might’ve been hard to predict before. Over 14 years ago, after a lifelong struggle with grinding

her teeth, Sarah’s front teeth were getting thin. Her regular dentist recommended finding a specialist to implement veneers. She interviewed two other cosmetic dentists before arriving at Flax Dental. Not long after she came into our office, she knew Dr. Flax was the one she wanted. Sarah was so impressed by the familiar energy that the staff had. When her calls were answered, it wasn’t by “the usual receptionist” you get from dental practices — it felt like her long lost friend was picking up the phone, she told us recently. Another reason she had such a good feeling about Dr. Flax was because of the comprehensive exam she received at the very start. “I’ve never had an exam by a dentist like this before,” Sarah explained. Dr. Flax and his team went through everything that could be done, versus what needed to be done (which was different, for a change!). Then, they gave a price. This blew Sarah’s mind. Other dentists would look at her mouth but never give a concise price. “The professionalism of Dr. Flax’s office and the staff is just incredible. It’s as if they’ve known you for years.” He’s been Sarah’s dentist ever since! Although she remembers a time when dentists wouldn’t numb her gums — and it’d be just the drilling — there’s nothing that makes her anxious about going to Flax Dental. “Dr. Hugh has cosmetic dentistry down to a fine art. I feel very comfortable going in there,” she tells us. She loves that Dr. Flax invests so much into his staff and practice. “He’s up to date on the latest techniques, equipment, treatment, everything. He’s always going to seminars, and he takes his staff with him. That tells me a lot right there.” Today, Sarah is still in love with her smile, and so is everyone around her! Thank you so much, Sarah! Your support and beautiful laughter over the years has meant so much to us. We can’t wait to see you in again soon.

Shaved Asparagus Salad

Ingredients • 1 lb asparagus spears • 1 tbsp lemon juice • 1 tsp Dijon mustard • 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

• 1/2 tsp kosher salt • 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

1. With a vegetable peeler, shave each asparagus spear from tip to base. This is easiest to do if the asparagus is on a flat surface. 2. Place shaved asparagus in a bowl and blot off excess moisture with a paper towel. 3. In a separate bowl, make a vinaigrette by whisking together lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and olive oil. 4. Pour vinaigrette over shaved asparagus and add Parmesan cheese, salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings.

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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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A Tribute To My Mentors

What is Bonding Exactly?

99-Year-Old Betty White’s Secrets of Longevity

‘You Must Be Married to a Dentist’

Shaved Asparagus Salad

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Could Vaccine Passports Open Doors for Travel?

Could Vaccine Passports Open Doors for Travel?

Concerns About Vaccination Verification

Are you hoping to travel this summer? Not like how you “traveled” from your bedroom to your living room couch all this past year, but really travel — get out and see the world beyond your hometown.

Now, you might be sitting on the same couch you’ve sat on for the past year, thinking, “Well, I would like to travel internationally after I get vaccinated!” However, this proposal is not without concerns. Firstly, health care officials still don’t know if vaccinated people can transmit the virus. So, even if they’re vaccinated, they could still spread it to unvaccinated people around the world. Another concern is a vaccine passport’s potential to create classes of “haves” and “have nots” among travelers. Many developing countries won’t receive the vaccine for another few years. Should they be barred from returning to normal? Similarly, could the vaccine passport be abused domestically, enabling private businesses to bar customers from their spaces without proof of vaccination? Finally, what form would these passports take if they were to exist? Would they be on a smartphone app? A laminated card? A verified doctor’s note? So, while the prospect of traveling far andwide this summer after getting vaccinated is exciting, it might be better to temper your expectations for now and hope for clearer guidelines in the near future.

With the COVID-19 vaccines finally available, millions of people are becoming immune to the virus that has ravaged the global economy, especially in the areas of tourism and hospitality. Industry leaders in these sectors are understandably eager for the vaccine to bring back tourism. Some are hoping vaccine passports will play a part in jump- starting tourism around the world. Vaccine passports are a means by which someone can prove they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and are, therefore, free to travel internationally. Some countries are eager for the sort

of verification these passports could bring, should they exist. The Seychelles, Cyprus, Romania, and other countries have all said they would welcome tourists who could prove they were vaccinated.

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