Premier Dental - January 2022

Premier Dental - January 2022

PREMIER DENTAL N EWS L E T T E R

EDITION 35

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What College Doesn’t Teach You FILLING IMPORTANT SKILLS GAPS

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In January, high school students get busy submitting their college applications and essays. During appointments at Premier Dental, we often hear parents excitedly talking about where their children are applying. Over the years, we’ve seen how the college admissions process has turned into a highly competitive game, as the stakes and costs have escalated dramatically. (A 2018 Forbes article reported that college tuition has increased eight times faster than wages!) In the current context, the value of going to college itself has to be questioned; much depends on the field you choose and the quality of the college you attend. And yes, regardless of whether you choose college or vocational school, there are important real-world skills a school won’t teach you. You’ll have to develop and improve them on your own. In my three decades of management, here are a few skills I’ve found to be the most pressing. Communication I used to recruit engineers in the late ’80s and ’90s for a Fortune 500 firm, and our team noticed that many candidates were poor communicators. We subsequently revamped our interviewing process to include an oral presentation by the candidate! Most college graduates typically emerge from college believing they have the skills to communicate well in the workplace after years of writing papers and projects. This doesn’t always translate well to a

job, where individuals may be required to write progress and technical reports, sales forecasts, cost analysis, compliance reports, or executive summaries. Writing an executive summary is a common task and can be particularly hard. How often have you met other professionals who may be good at doing what they do but are atrocious at communicating? Unfortunately, I’ve found this reality far too common. Communicating in a clear and concise manner is difficult and challenging for most college graduates, regardless of their degree. Most people are lacking in presentation skills, and many have trouble writing the minutes of a simple team meeting! In any organization, you’ll need to work with people at all levels. To be effective on the job, you must be able to convey your thoughts or findings in a clear, well-organized fashion that people can grasp. It can’t be ambiguous, and it needs to have sufficient depth and reasoning with facts and figures. It also needs to be customized for the background of the person receiving the message. For instance, giving directions to an intern will require a different approach than a skilled engineer.

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starting or holding a conversation. This can prove to be difficult to overcome once they are in the workforce. Professional Selling Skills Even if you are not working in a sales capacity, you have to persuade others every day. Unless you can influence others, your ideas and thoughts will never see daylight — no matter how useful they may be! Through conversations, you need to identify the true problems people are confronted with, figure out the implications of not solving the problem(s), and then suggest a viable solution. That’s the selling process in brief — whether you are pitching a product, service, or idea to a customer or if it’s self-advocacy within a company. This is a crucial skill to have, no matter what career you choose. Financial Literacy and Time Management are two other important life skills that college doesn’t prepare its graduates for. These skills are not only necessary in the workplace, but they can also help you in your personal life. Colleges only get most students for four years, so you are bound to leave without a few key skills. I suggest taking self- improvement courses or workshops taught by industry experts to shore up your skills in the above areas. We can all find ways to improve, and our work and personal lives will be better for it.

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Admittedly, this is no easy task.

Corporate managers have often called Generation Z the “silent generation.” It may be a harsh assessment, but there’s some truth to this. They have grown up with texting, and many may have trouble

–Peter Gopal

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DR. HEMA GOPAL: 20+ YEARS IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Putting the ‘Wisdom’ Back in ‘Wisdom Teeth’

Though they might have “wisdom” in their name, it might seem pretty unwise for our bodies to keep producing this third set of useless molars. However, centuries

In a recent test on ferrets — who surprisingly have human-like teeth — scientists used antibodies to limit the protein production of Usag-1. In doing so, the ferrets who received the antibodies were able to grow more teeth than ferrets without Usag-1 antibodies. In other studies, like a 2014 Harvard study, lasers were used to activate gum tissue to stimulate tooth growth, much like in reptiles and sharks. If the laser technique can be improved and mass-produced, this could be a minimally invasive treatment option for tooth regeneration. While many more studies are required, the results are promising. Currently, dental implants and bridges serve to literally fill the gap left behind by missing or misaligned teeth. These procedures have become highly effective and provide patients with lasting, healthy smiles. However, if we could regenerate or grow new teeth, we could eliminate the need for these procedures. Right now, we’re still years away from the regrowth options. If you have missing or misaligned teeth, talk to your dental professional about your options. You may not have the ease or genealogical knowledge to grow a new set of pearly whites, but thanks to dental technology improvements, we can create a new smile that functions and looks just like the real thing. Now that’s wise!

ago, our ancestors relied on wisdom teeth to gnaw through tough plants and meats. Today, we have meat tenderizers and knives to do the work for us, and wisdom teeth are regularly plucked from our mouths as they grow in. Yet, some lucky humans don’t grow these “wisdom” teeth, and that evolution has scientists curious: What if humans could grow teeth to replace damaged or missing ones? Researchers have discovered that people who don’t grow wisdom teeth commonly have a gene labeled as Usag-1, or uterine sensitization- associated gene 1. (Real catchy.) This gene can control tissue growth, which means it can prohibit the generation of extra teeth by producing a protein that inhibits development.

TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO SET GOALS 4 STEPS TO SUCCESS

This new year, teach your children how to set healthy, achievable goals.

Start by sharing your goals. Without even realizing it, children often mimic the actions of the adults around them. So, share your goals with your child, and explain how you plan to achieve these goals. Then ask your child to do the same. It can be as big as moving up three grade levels in reading or as small as beating a video game. Foster these ideas within your child so they will set one of their goals and have a positive experience when they achieve it. Create next steps together. If you want to have more energy in the new year, what steps will you take to achieve that goal? Ask your child to consider the same question in regard to their objectives. If their goal is to finish a certain video game, how will they improve their current game play? What can they do to earn more video game time? Are there learning tools that can help them accomplish this? Teach them that achieving a goal is about so much more than desire; you have to put in the work to accomplish it, too! Focus on keeping it small. If you want to encourage your child to achieve their goals, then create smaller tasks that teach them the value of finishing something. For example, start and complete an arts and crafts project or game together to show your little one the value

of finishing what they start. Then, slowly work your way up to the big goal. Maybe that’s cleaning their room without unnecessary detours or finishing their homework on time. Finally, celebrate! This is important. Acknowledge the wins that both you and your child have throughout the year. For example, if they want to be a better reader, celebrate whenever they finish a book. This will encourage them to keep going. And even if they do fail, honor their effort. Remind them that putting in the effort, regardless of the outcome, is powerful, too.

For more tips on how to teach your children to set and keep goals, visit Parents.com.

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Did you know the American Dental Association recommends taking your child to the dentist for the first time before their very first birthday? Ideally, you should make an appointment as soon as your baby’s first tooth appears. This means that if you’ve recently welcomed a child into your family, it’s not too early to find them a dentist. (And if they’re older than 1, it’s not too late!) But where do you start your search? The Perks of a Pediatric Dentist DOES YOUR CHILD NEED ONE?

Chicken With Lemon Herb Sauce

Inspired by FoodNetwork.com

Ingredients

Pediatric vs. General Dentistry

• 1/3 cup and 2 tbsp olive oil, divided • 4 boneless chicken breasts • 1 clove of garlic, minced • 1/4 tsp salt

• 1/2 cup parsley, chopped • 1/3 cup mint, chopped • 1 1/2 tsp pepper • 1 lemon, for juice and zest

Many parents default to taking their children to the same dentist they visit. This isn’t a bad idea, but general dentists who serve adults aren’t the only option out there for children’s oral care. Pediatric dentists are another great resource! Pediatric dentistry is a subcategory of the dental field focused specifically on kids 18 or younger.

Directions

The Perks of Pediatric

1. Preheat oven to 450 F. 2. In a large ovenproof skillet, heat 2 tbsp olive oil.

Like general dentists, pediatric dentists have to graduate from dental school to earn their titles. However, they also attend another 2–3 years of specialty training after dental school to learn more about the oral health issues that impact kids and how to treat them. While a general dentist will have general knowledge of those problems, a pediatric dentist will have more specific knowledge. They’ll also have tools and decor in their offices tailored to kids (think bright colors and tiny appliances) and the training needed to put nervous children at ease. A pediatric dentist could be the best fit for your family if your child is scared of the dentist or struggles with a rare oral health problem. To find one near you, visit MyChildrensTeeth.org and scroll down to the search field.

3. Season chicken with salt and pepper if desired and sear it in the skillet for 3 minutes on each side. Bake chicken until its internal temperature is 165 F. 4. In a blender, add 1/3 cup olive oil, garlic, salt, parsley, mint, pepper, and lemon zest and juice and blend ingredients until coarsely mixed. 5. Top chicken with sauce and serve!

Take a Break

When in Doubt, Go General First

If you don’t have access to a pediatric dentist or can’t fit two different dental visits in different parts of town into your schedule, there’s nothing wrong with booking an appointment with a general dentist. The most important thing is that they see a dentist! Just remember to double-check whether your dentist sees kids. A good general dentist should know if a particular children’s oral health problem is outside of their expertise, and they can refer you to a pediatric dentist if needed.

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DR. HEMA GOPAL: 20+ YEARS IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

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DR. HEMA GOPAL: 20+ YEARS IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

This Issue

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Why College Graduates Need to Keep Learning What If We Could Regenerate Our Teeth?! 4 Steps to Setting Better Goals With Your Children Does Your Child Need a Pediatric Dentist? Chicken With Lemon Herb Sauce 3 Ways to Make MLK Day More Meaningful

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3 Meaningful Ways to Teach Children About MLK Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day — colloquially called MLK Day — is recognized on the third Monday of January. It commemorates a social justice

Take action together.

Many municipalities honor MLK Day with an event, march, or demonstration. This kind of civic engagement can be powerful for children of all ages to attend! Some families may choose to participate, while others may find online viewing options more applicable to their needs. Regardless, these offer valuable lessons about civic duties and opportunities. If there isn’t an event near you, consider hosting an educational viewing party with your neighbors! Watch one of the many documentaries on MLK Jr. together for an informative and interactive movie night.

advocate whose nonviolent approach to fight racism and discrimination garnered him respect during the civil rights movement. For many families, MLK Day is a holiday steeped in tradition and education; others only know it as a day off. This year, engage your children and family in the teachings of MLK Jr., his legacy, and the values this holiday espouses.

Read together. Reading is one of the best and easiest ways to introduce your children to complicated histories and new concepts. This January, make reading about Martin Luther King Jr. part of your bedtime reading routine. Books like “I am Martin Luther King Jr.” by Brad Meltzer and “My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” by Martin Luther King III offer historical and personal insights into the man that this holiday celebrates. This can also be a great opportunity to check out children’s books on the civil rights movement and other prominent figures from this era.

Change the world together. In honor of King’s legacy, create something memorable with your child. Ask your child to write about their own dreams beyond what they want for their birthday or what they want to be when they grow up. How do they hope to change the world so they can make a positive impact? Discuss these ideas together, and you just might discover a new passion you had no idea your child was harboring. It can be a great way to help them grow!

To learn more about MLK Day and other events, please visit TheKingCenter.org.

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DR. HEMA GOPAL: 20+ YEARS IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE