A+ Family Dentistry - October 2019

San Diego Location: 3780 El Cajon Blvd., Unit 1

Poway Location: 12915 Pomerado Road Poway, CA 92064 Phone: 858-748-5100

Sorrento Valley Location: 6755 Mira Mesa Blvd., Suite #218

San Diego, CA 92105 Phone: 619-265-2467

San Diego, CA 92121 Phone: 858-421-4933

The Happy Tooth

When Dr. Phil Calls

Melinda’s One-Day Transformation

“Being trusted by producers of ‘Dr. Phil’ to do something like this was huge.”

It started out like any normal day at the office. Patients were coming in for their appointments, hygienists were cleaning teeth, and I was reviewing charts when the phone rang. I didn’t pay too much attention at first because our phone rings all the time. But then someone came to tell me we had a phone call from the producers of “Dr. Phil.” If you don’t know, “Dr. Phil” is a talk show hosted by Dr. Phil McGraw, a psychologist who gives advice to guests who have found themselves in tough situations. The producers contacted us because they had a guest who needed dental work. The guest, Melinda, would be filming an episode that weekend. Her smile needed to be fixed up for the show in just one day. After doing some research, the producers were impressed by our online reviews and reached out because they believed we could get the job done. This wasn’t a call I ever expected to get, but we were more than happy to accept the opportunity to help someone. We told them to have Melinda contact us directly, and we arranged for her to come in for an appointment. The call took place on a Wednesday afternoon, and Melinda came in the very next day. When we met, it was clear that Melinda was a sweet person who was extremely self-conscious about her smile. She was very shy and always put her hand over her mouth when she talked to cover her teeth. That habit posed a problem when trying to film a show. The producers wanted to make sure she was comfortable and could speak clearly while filming her episode of “Dr. Phil”. We took a look at her teeth and determined that, in order to get the job done in the time limit we had, she needed complete veneers on her six front teeth. Normally, something like this would take two weeks to complete, so we had to work extra hard to get the job done right for our patient in the time the show was paying for. While I still saw patients and kept the schedule going that day, Dr. Janice helped Melinda. She was in our office for nearly four hours, but her mouth was numb, so she was comfortable the whole time. Dr. Janice was working with her until 7 p.m. that night. The results were incredible.

Before

After

The first time Melinda saw her new smile in the mirror, she started crying. She thanked us again and again, still covering her mouth when she spoke out of habit. We told her she didn’t have to do that anymore. Melinda could put her hand down and show the world her beautiful new smile.

Though we don’t usually have such a short deadline, we’ve done veneers for many patients over the years, and it touches my heart every time. It’s very fulfilling and satisfying to see a patient’s face light up when they see their new smile. Being a dentist and working with veneers, implants, Invisalign, or even just whitening means I’m able to help transform a patient’s life for the better. It’s a wonderful feeling.

Being trusted by producers of “Dr. Phil” to do something like this was huge. But the best part is knowing that we were able to help Melinda, not just for the filming of the show, but for the rest of her life.

–Dr. Justene Doan

October 2019 Edition

A+ Family Dentistry | 619-265-2467 | P1

Be All You Can Bee

practices, which have been deemed unethical by animal activist groups because they strip hives of their honey storage, starving the bees through the winter months. This practice, along with soil contamination and a viral infection spread by mites, led to the devastating loss of 40% of all bee colonies last year. Because most bees are pollinators, they play a crucial role in helping plants reproduce. Without the bees playing their part in this natural process, approximately 30% of the world’s crops won’t flourish. Fortunately, you can help strengthen the bee population in a few ways from your own home. First, try to avoid purchasing any commercialized honey products of questionable quality and provenance. Instead, look for raw local honey at a farmer’s market. That way, you can meet the beekeeper to determine if their honey-rendering practices are sustainable. Then, by purchasing their product, you are helping fund their hive and enrich the local bee population. You can also plant a garden full of bee-friendly plants, like honeysuckle, strawberries, sunflowers, and cosmos, to give the bees in your community more pollen sources. Additionally, if you notice dandelions growing in your garden, leave them. They are a great food source for bees, especially in early spring before other plants have started blooming. While honey has many excellent health properties, bees are far more vital to the world’s sustainability. Do your part to help their population by researching, spreading awareness, and thinking before you shop for honey. A+ Referrals We want to thank all of our patients who put so much faith in us by recommending our services to their friends and family members. Last month, our referrals came from these amazing patients:

And Give Honey a Second Thought

The health benefits of raw organic honey, which include soothing sore throats, lowering cholesterol, and treating skin wounds, have been embraced by many members of the holistic health community for decades. But with the rapid decline of the bee population in recent years, humans’ use of honey has become more controversial. According to the New York Bee Sanctuary, bees (not just honey-makers) are disappearing for several reasons, but one of the most unfortunate contributors is the honey industry. In order to mass-produce commercial honey products, many factories have resorted to industrialized beekeeping TESTIMONIAL See What Others Are Saying “I was a new patient who called the office because I was having tooth pain due to a procedure that was done by another dental office. A+ Family Dentistry was able to see me that same day, and it was a wonderful experience. The staff were all extremely friendly, and the dentist was extremely personable. They made me feel very comfortable. She took care of the problem wonderfully, and I definitely plan on going back for my routine cleanings.” –Reid Pike

Ryan L., Inez O., Amy S., Rosie S.,

Shelby M., Salvatore G., Ashley E., Leonard M., Andrea G.,

Luisito L., Abegaile S.,

Diego C., Justin L., Tony M., Isaac H.

Cheryl H., Israel M., Claudia B.,

Teri H., Cali T.,

And the winner of August’s referral prize of a $50 Visa gift card: Diego C. Thank you to all of our patients who continue to support us. Check back next month when we will announce the winner of our next referral prize.

P2 | A+ Family Dentistry | Aplusfamilydentistry.com

The Truth About Dental Insurance Companies

For many patients, dental insurance is the key to being able to afford treatment and maintain a healthy, beautiful smile. That said, patients who get feedback from their dental insurance on treatment options should always take these recommendations with a grain of salt. Patients often wonder why their dental insurance and dentists sometimes recommend different treatment paths. It’s important to remember that insurance companies rarely meet their clients, and they certainly never look into a patient’s mouth. Insurance companies don’t exist to help people stay healthy — they exist to make a profit.

The truth is your dental insurance makes more money when you don’t take care of your teeth. It’s more profitable for insurance companies when their clients pay a premium and never seek treatment because that means the insurance company gets to keep your money and never pay anything out for your care. When patients do need treatment, insurance companies tend to recommend the cheapest option (for them). That way, they pay as little as possible. None of this is to say you should take your dentist’s recommendation on blind faith either. The great thing about dentistry is that you can

usually rely on your common sense. Unlike other areas of medicine, where you can’t see what’s going on with your internal organs, you can see your teeth and gums. You can look at a picture of your mouth and see a cavity or inflammation. The time to enroll in dental insurance is coming up, so make sure you’re covered for next year. But make sure you’re proactive: When you need to use your dental insurance, take a look at your treatment options and decide what makes the most sense to you. October is also the time to set up and renew your Flex spending account, which will help with dental copay.

Inspired by Food Network

Word Search

Chocolate-Dipped Fruit

This super easy and fun way to create homemade treats provides your kids with a healthier and more delicious alternative to packaged industrial candy. As a bonus, making it is an awesome Halloween activity for your family to enjoy. Ingredients

•

1 package melting chocolate

•

Assorted dried fruit, including apricots and mangoes

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, bring 1 inch of water to a boil. 2. Place a large, heatproof mixing bowl on top of saucepan so that no steam can escape. Place melting chocolate in mixing bowl and double boil until melted.

3. Dip half of each piece of fruit in chocolate before transferring to a

parchment-lined baking sheet to rest.

AUTUMN CANDY CARVE COSTUME

SCARECROW HALLOWEEN OCTOBER ORANGE

PUMPKIN FOOTBALL HARVEST LEAVES

4. Let cool for 10 minutes until chocolate solidifies. 5. Place in school lunches, serve at parties, and indulge in a few for yourself.

A+ Family Dentistry | 619-265-2467 | P3

Office Hours: Mondays: Closed

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

Tuesdays: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Inside This Issue Aplusfamilydentistry.com 619-265-2467 3780 El Cajon Blvd., Unit 1 San Diego, CA 92105

We Got a Call From Dr. Phil

Page 1

Be All You Can Bee Page 2

What Some of Our Patients Are Saying

Page 2

Why Insurance Companies Give Bad Dental Advice Page 3

Chocolate-Dipped Fruit

Page 3

Local Events

Page 4

Something Sweet LOCAL EVENTS THAT ARE SO FUN, IT’S SCARY

Time for some family-friendly Halloween fun! Co-presented by the City of San Diego Parks and Recreation and the Balboa Park Conservancy, Balboa Park Halloween Family Day is the region’s largest free Halloween carnival. Come dressed in your favorite costumes and enjoy a spooktacular day of parades, free crafts, dance performances, trick-or-treating, prizes, and more! It’s the best Halloween party in San Diego. Donut Fest San Diego Where: Iron Fist Brewing San Diego, San Diego When: Sunday, Nov. 2; 1–5 p.m. Admission: $10–$25 Website: IronFistBrewing.com/pages/events When’s the best time for a donut? If you answered “Anytime!” then Donut Fest San Diego is for you! A dozen or so vendors are coming together to share some sweet treats and hot coffee. This is an all-ages event, though only adults age 21 and over will be able to enjoy one of the many great drinks from Iron Fist Brewing. Bring your sweet tooth and leave with some sweet memories.

The Haunted Trail Where: Balboa Drive & Juniper, Balboa Park, San Diego When: Select nights from Sept. 27 to Nov. 2 Admission: $28 Website: HauntedTrail.net

Do you have what it takes to survive The Haunted Trail? Not for the faint of heart, San Diego’s favorite horror experience is back for another year of screams. Venture into the dark and come face to face with Freddy, Jason, Pennywise, and countless other horror icons that will have you running scared. This is one walk in the park you’ll never forget. Balboa Park Halloween Family Day Where: Balboa Park, San Diego When: Saturday, Oct. 26; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: Free Website: BalboaParkConservancy.org/project/halloween

P4 | A+ Family Dentistry | Aplusfamilydentistry.com