Flax Dental - September 2020

Flax Dental - September 2020

404-255-9080 | www.flaxdental.com

September 2020

The Secret to Good Timing As a Teacher, Dr. Flax Reflects on His Experiences in Learning N ear the end of my dental school experience in 1983, I couldn’t believe my luck: The father of modern cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Ronald E. Goldstein, just so happened to have a practice in Atlanta, Georgia, and he would be teaching a nightly elective every week for months. Don’t judge yourself based on how long it takes you to learn something. Instead, focus on what you learn and how you use it. Much of what I learned from Dr. Goldstein’s elective course still holds weight in my career today. When you find the right teachers in life, you can feel inspired to use your knowledge to its fullest potential. You might even feel as if you owe it to other people to give them the opportunity to reach their next mountaintop, too.

This opportunity meant everything to me. Imagine your dream is to become the world’s most famous bassist, and Paul McCartney happens to be teaching classes next door. For me, my dream was to be the world’s best cosmetic dentist. When I became extremely passionate about this field, I did everything I could to immerse myself in it. That immersion not only made me more aware of my opportunities, but it also taught me how valuable they really are. Life is a series of coincidences, but we might not be aware of all of them. What if I hadn’t realized who Dr. Goldstein was? Or if, for some reason, you didn’t recognize McCartney’s name? Absorbing what you’ve learned is one of the most important things you can do to have good timing in life. Success doesn’t have a timeline; you can start at any moment. But your timing can make a big difference. After decades of studying, working, and teaching cosmetic dentistry, I’ve learned that how much time you spend on productivity isn’t always the best measuring tool to determine the value of your day. Some people groan after spending an hour on a new skill and say, “I’ve barely made any progress on this. Why did I waste an hour doing it?” To that, I say: How do you know it was wasted? You can spend several hours studying and only learn one thing. But it was totally worth it if you can really absorb and start to master that one thing! See, we need to be more patient with ourselves. We need to give ourselves resources to triumph over obstacles and empower our new opportunities. Education is one of the best tools you can have for doing that.

That inspiration pushed me to find the American Association of Cosmetic Dentistry at its early inception. It made me dream of creating a learning environment where people feel like they can continually move forward, which is Flax Dental today. I’ve been very fortunate to mentor dentists within both the clinic and classrooms all over the country (pre-pandemic, of course). So, if you feel overwhelmed by learning a new skill lately, try narrowing your focus. The best things you can do when learning new information is to understand what you’ve learned, trust your mentors, and take as long as it takes. Don’t try to accomplish too many things in a short amount of time. Sometimes, when I have a problem, I have to hold off on responding to it until I’ve learned a couple things and can come up with a better solution. Remember, the people we trust often inspire us the most. So, allow yourself to feel good when you make time for a good friend or mentor or even when you take a lot of time to learn something new. That’s time well spent.

—Hugh Flax

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Is Stress Harming Your Memory? How to Cope With Daily Triggers

Of course, it can be easier to delete a social media app than it is to eliminate other types of stressors. Coping with a stressful coworker, for example, can be difficult. You have to figure out why they’re causing you stress and how the situation can be remedied. Dealing with a work-related confrontation can be hard, but having that difficult conversation and resolving the problem can ultimately lead to less long-term stress and improve your mental health. Another thing you can do to reduce stress is avoid multitasking. Taking on multiple projects or doing too much in too little time can leave you feeling overworked. Plus, studies have found that multitasking is not effective. You cannot deliver the same results when your attention is scattered as you can when you are focused on one thing. To make matters worse, multitasking takes a major toll on memory and cognition, according to a study from Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. If stress is impairing your memory, judgment, or cognition, take the above steps to reduce it. If you find your memory and cognition aren’t improving, consider speaking with a mental health professional to discuss your best next steps. Mental health and stress management are important, and the more we do to improve these areas of our lives, the healthier and happier we will be.

Stress can cause more than just a bad mood and low energy. Over time, mental exhaustion from stress can lead to forgetfulness and reduced cognition. This can hamper your ability to do your job and enjoy life. Though stress is unavoidable, there are steps you can take to mitigate some of the negative effects of mental exhaustion, including forgetfulness. First, consider the source of your stress. These days, a common stressor is social media. If your feeds are full of bad news and negativity, shut them down. Many researchers suggest that spending less time on the internet leads to better health. Several studies have found that constant internet use, including time spent on social media, is negatively impacting our memories. Research from Harvard, Oxford, King’s College London, and Western Sydney University all confirm this: Too much internet use is a bad thing.

A New Way to Have the Smile You’ve Always Wanted

Good News The

Without the Hassle

If you are feeling embarrassed about your smile, there is hope .

As many of you know, Dr. Flax saw his mom go through the exact same emotions, which is the main reason he became a cosmetic dentist. He wanted to help people feel confident, beautiful, attractive, charismatic, and all of those other words we all long to be. During the last few months of the COVID-19 pandemic, he has created “something new and something Hugh.” Not only is this news exciting to us, but it should be thrilling to you, too, because what we’ve done is going to make getting your dream smile so much easier! We’ve built a brand-new portal on our website, where you can learn more about the cosmetic services we offer and book a FREE “Online Perfect Smile Session” via a secure online video conference with Dr. Flax.

That’s right! You don’t even have to leave the house to learn about how you can get the smile of your dreams. And because Dr. Flax is a perfectionist in everything that he does, you can rest easy knowing that he will give you all of the details about the options available to help you There’s no obligation or stress associated with this call. Go check out this new portal at FlaxDental.com/Smile . Book your free “Online Perfect Smile Session” with Dr. Flax today! As our VIP patient, this is a complimentary service for you or a friend.

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Meet Tracey! A Dental Assistant and Resident Noir Movie Lover Staff Spotlight:

Our Best Patients Refer Our Best Patients “Dr. Flax and the staff are so friendly, and I can really tell they have the best in mind for my dental health. They

always answer questions and give helpful recommendations. When I go in to see Faith, I’m excited to catch up with her each time — it’s really more like going to see a friend with the added bonus of getting clean teeth! I’d recommend Dr. Flax to anyone!” —Jenna Shoemaker

Tracey Griffin has been a dental assistant with Flax Dental for over 12 years, part of the dental

industry for 30 years, and we’re very lucky to have her. As the warm and caring person we all love, it’s no surprise to us that Tracey has always known that she’d work in a health care profession — although it might be surprising that she’s been in our patients’ shoes since a young age. In the summer before sixth grade, she flipped over a bike while riding downhill and landed on her chin, fracturing the root of her front tooth and losing it completely. Tracey attributes this incident to being a part of why she chose dentistry; she has great empathy for the painful journey that some patients go through when developing their beautiful smile. That empathy became a driving force in her career, and her passion for developing expertise drew her to Dr. Flax’s office. “I became familiar with his name through the American Association of Cosmetic Dentistry,” Tracey says. “I wanted to work with someone I knew I could trust. I’m no stranger to dental work. I put myself in the patient’s shoes because I’ve been there myself plenty of times.” What we love about Tracey is that she always goes the extra mile for our patients, quite literally. As a resident of Dallas, Georgia, she drives 35 miles to get to our office, and that’s just one way. She tells us that she doesn’t mind the drive. “Dr. Flax is a master at what he does. After working with him, I knew he’s the one I want working on me.” Outside of work, you can catch Tracey reading mystery books (Stephen King is a favorite!), watching horror and noir movies by the likes of Alfred Hitchcock, and spending time with her husband and cats. She’s very fun to talk to! Say hi to her the next time you’re in. Thank you, Tracey!

Easy Stuffed

Sweet Potatoes

Who says a loaded potato has to clog your arteries? In this healthy version that serves four, a sweet potato base is topped with fiber-rich bean salsa.

Ingredients

• 1 tsp coriander • 3/4 tsp salt • 1/4 cup sour cream • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

• 4 medium sweet potatoes • 1 15-oz can black beans, drained and rinsed • 2 medium tomatoes, diced • 1 tbsp olive oil • 1 tsp cumin

Directions

1. With a fork, prick each sweet potato a few times. Microwave the potatoes on high 12–15 minutes, or until cooked through. 2. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the beans, tomatoes, olive oil, cumin, coriander, and salt. When the potatoes are done, microwave the mixture on high for 2–3 minutes. 3. Cool potatoes slightly, then cut each potato open lengthwise. Pull the halves apart to create space to spoon the warm bean salsa inside. 4. Add a scoop of sour cream to each potato, garnish with cilantro, and serve!

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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.flaxdental.com/smile

Inside

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Don’t Let ‘Time’ Restrict Your Potential

Is Stress Making You Forgetful?

A New Virtual Service and Special Offer From Flax Dental!

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Meet Tracey, a Dental Assistant and Resident Noir Movie Lover!

Easy Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

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The Nutrients You Need During Physical Therapy

Foods for a Faster Recovery

The Nutrients You Need During Physical Therapy

Antioxidant-Rich Fruits and Vegetables Along with omega-3 fatty acids, the antioxidants from fruits and vegetables can also go a long way in reducing inflammation. Broccoli contains vitamins A, C, and K, as well as folic acid and several different minerals. ( Pro Tip: Cook your broccoli to maximize these nutrients!) Citrus fruits and peppers have high levels of vitamin C, and peppers have high levels of beta-carotene as well. Additionally, turmeric and garlic work wonders during the healing process. Protein-Rich Meats, Nuts, and Dairy Products When it comes to the proliferation and remodeling stages of healing, healthy sources of protein are the way to go. Lean meats like poultry and fish are easy sources of protein, but if you don’t eat meat, you can also get protein from beans, eggs, nuts, and dairy products. Protein-rich foods will help heal muscles and bones and prevent muscle atrophy. It’s incredible what the body can do with just a few intentionally consumed superfoods!

Attending your physical therapy appointments and doing your at-home exercises as instructed by your PT are crucial parts of your recovery process. However, they’re not the only important steps you should take. What you eat can affect how quickly and well you heal just as much as your dedication to your exercises. By incorporating a few of these foods into your diet, you can heal faster and come back stronger than ever before. Omega-3 Fatty Acids There are three phases to the healing process: inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. While you might think that inflammation is a bad thing, it’s actually a normal and necessary part of healing. That said, you should still try to reduce inflammation, as it can be harmful in excess. Foods containing omega-3 fatty acids do wonders to control inflammation. Plus, our bodies can’t make omega-3 fatty acids naturally, so we have to get them from what we consume. Foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids include fatty fish, olive oil, avocados, pecans, walnuts, and almonds.

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