Flax Dental - July 2021

Flax Dental - July 2021

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July 2021

Seeing Heaven’s Arches The Best Vacation I’ve Ever Been On H ave you ever been on a vacation that completely reset your mind, body, and spirit? With July pulling up around the corner, I find myself reminiscing on a once- in-a-lifetime trip I experienced as a teenager — and I only had the opportunity to relive it recently. sweeps and paints every view. I love moments when I can be

completely overwhelmed by nature’s greatness — it makes me feel incredibly small, almost like dust. What better way to be humbled by God than to see some of his most impressive work firsthand?

After I graduated high school, my parents had set up a cross-country “teen tour” as a gift to my brother and me. Not together, thankfully! With the added luxury of personal space, we were sent off on separate routes until we’d intersect in San Francisco. Although I had a tent to sleep in, I never slept in one. I spent every night out under the stars for four weeks — and it was amazing. It was the first time I had a significant amount of time being completely independent. Of course, I wasn’t alone. An amazing aspect of the trip was the fact that the type of people who ended up in my tour group were Northeasterners, including students in my future college,

I never forgot that first impression of Arches National Park, and when I went back for the first time this past year, it was just as I remembered it; well, maybe a little bit harder to hike. I went on one of the hardest hikes I’d ever done.

Some strangers even stopped to offer to hang out with me as moral support! But I did conquer it, and it was, by far, one of the most rewarding views of the Arches’ steep rock formations I’d ever seen — under a full moon.

Emory University. It really struck me how quickly my graphic musical or sports T-shirts could spark a bond between me and strangers.

"There’s no artistic masterpiece in the world that could compare to the way light sweeps and paints every view [of this national park.]”

If you ever doubt what you can achieve, or even what you have already achieved, don’t hesitate to seek something truly beautiful in nature. It’s a humbling experience that will leave behind everything else. And if you don’t know where to go, I can’t think of a better place than Arches National Park. Especially in these times, please support our national parks whenever you get a chance! Much of their financial support was lost during the pandemic due to lack of tourism. But no matter what you do this month, I hope you enjoy the arrival of summer in all its glory.

But the most amazing part of this lengthy tour wasn’t the people (sorry, people). We saw many incredible sights, but the best of them was Arches National Park in Utah. There’s nothing like it. Seeing pictures of its giant rock formations and spacious canyons just isn’t enough. There’s no artistic masterpiece in the world that could compare to the way light Been somewhere beautiful already? Share a photo from the best vacation you've been on, and you can win a $100 Southwest Airlines gift card! Respond by July 10, 2021, and submit your picture to our Facebook page at Facebook.com/FlaxDental . Congratulations to last month's winner, Gunnar Gunnar!

—Hugh Flax

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3 Ingredients That Are a Waste of Time, Money, and Taste Buds!

wine, in general, stick to regular wine that

There are several foods in just about every supermarket that aren’t what they seem. These are foods that may appear perfectly fine at a glance, but they are actually a waste of time, money, and pantry space. Here are three of those foods and their better alternatives! Beef Broth When you buy beef broth, you buy it with the expectation that it is, in fact, beef-based. However, many products that call themselves “beef broth” are actually yeast -based. All of their flavor comes from yeast and various spices, not beef, thanks to lax U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations on beef broth. The product may have just enough actual beef broth for it to be on the ingredient list and label. The next time you need beef broth for a recipe, replace it with the same amount of chicken or vegetable broth, both of which have more stringent USDA regulations. Cooking Wine This is one of the biggest scams in the culinary world. First, most products called “cooking wine” on their label are low- quality wines. Second, many manufacturers add salt to

you would serve on its own. Use white wine for lighter-in-color dishes, such as risotto, and red wine for dark, richer dishes, including sauces and gravies.

Ground Black Pepper Many spices can actually fall under this category, but

ground black pepper tends to be the most popular — and the most problematic. When spices, like pepper, are ground, they come into contact with air and begin to oxidize and lose flavor. Ground spices stored in sealed containers in a cool, dry place will lose flavor slowly, but ground pepper tends to be left out, which means it loses flavor faster. Instead, invest in a pepper mill and fill it with whole peppercorns. The flavor difference in your dishes will be noticeable!

Good News The

cooking wine. If you encounter a recipe that calls for cooking

What Veneers Are Made of Matters

The classic porcelain is feldspathic , but more modern types of porcelain include zirconia , pressed ceramic , and lithium disilicate . While these materials are constantly evolving and improving in durability and structure, the type of porcelain used really depends on the tooth structure being replaced. Where the tooth is located in the mouth and what surfaces show in the smile are important factors. For instance, veneers made from feldspathic porcelain have optical characteristics that closely match the beauty and warmth of natural teeth, so that material may be used for outside surfaces of the front teeth. However, its weaker strength is less favorable in high-stress areas of the mouth. Zirconia, meanwhile, is often the choice for a crown in the back of the mouth, where the teeth need to be stronger. Although it has a nice luster, it is not as aesthetically pleasing as lithium disilicate or feldspathic. In addition, zirconia requires more tooth reduction, 1.5–2 millimeters, which is more than necessary for a conservative veneer. As you can see, there are specific reasons why we’ll choose different materials to suit your veneer dentistry plan. If you have any questions or would like to get started on refurbishing your beautiful smile with veneers, give us a call today!

At Flax Dental, we pride ourselves on educating our patients about

their treatment, because it’s crucial to making the most educated decision for themselves. Using the right strength of material can help create the longest lasting, most beautiful smile you can possibly have. Last edition, we covered the basics of veneers, which are custom- made, tooth-colored shell coverings. While the veneers themselves cover discolorations, the porcelain material they are made of is impervious to stains. That’s unlike natural tooth structure, which has properties that pick up stains from smoking and drinking wine, coffee, and other staining agents. For that reason, some of our patients like to have the bottom teeth veneered as well — with veneers top and bottom, you can eat berries and tomato sauce and drink coffee and wine without worrying about staining. Whether you’re in Napa or at Waffle House, your smile will always look great!

Keep in mind, though, different types of porcelain are used for restorative treatments such as veneers.

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An Expert Joins Our Team! Meet Diana, Our New Office Manager

Our Best Patients Refer Our Best Patients

"Chelsea is the best dental hygienist I’ve had yet! She is gentle and explains what she’s doing. She gives me lots of great tips for aftercare, and it’s always a pleasure to sit in her chair. You can’t go wrong with Dr. Flax’s office!" —Lauren W.

Diana Byrdsong didn’t always know she’d work in the dental industry — but after she got her associate degree in accounting, she started working with a pediatric dentist and loved it. Only five years later, she became an office manager for dental practices and has had over 18 years of experience prior to finding us at Flax Dental.

After her extensive experience, why did she decide to join us? “Dr. Flax is on another level,” she told us. “That’s what I was looking for — a doctor so passionate about what he does, [that he provides] a different level of care and attention to detail.” In her previous practices, patients would shy away from treatments. It was understandable, as they might not have trusted their dentists completely, and not all costs were covered by insurance. However, with Dr. Flax, patients know what to expect — the best results possible. “If you offer people quality, attention, and detail, they trust you and they’ll move forward with insurance benefits becoming an afterthought. The level of customer service here is very unique,” Diana shared. “[Patients] see Dr. Flax as a friend, someone who has their back at all times.” She loves that. Because Dr. Flax makes himself available and always checks in with patients, Flax Dental patients enjoy a closer relationship with us. That’s much harder to find at other practices. But perhaps what surprises Diana the most — and makes her work most rewarding so far at Flax Dental — are the patient reactions during the last days of their treatment. “Patients have told me, ‘People think I’m stuck up because I don’t smile, I don’t laugh. I’m so embarrassed of my teeth.’ [But during the last days of treatment,] I’ve seen people cry. It’s life-changing for the patient.” Beyond work, Diana is married and has four kids, but with all of them leaving the nest this year, she’s keeping herself busy by pampering her 5-pound Pomeranian puppy! She loves to read, considers herself an “expert napper,” and also loves trying new restaurants as part of a “foodie” family. Thanks so much for sharing your extremely kind thoughts with us, Diana! We’re so grateful that you are part of our team, and we love the work you’ve done for our patients. Keep up the great work!

Dr. Flax’s High Energy, Age-Defying Shake

Everyone has been asking Dr. Flax about his signature shake — so, he’s finally revealed all his secrets! Here are the ingredients to his morning shake, which he makes every day without exception.

Ingredients Base • 1 packet of ISAGENIX© protein shake mix 36 g protein powder • 1 scoop of Green Vibrance plant based superfood Add-ins — for more nutrition and flavor • 1 scoop of Vital Protein’s© Collagen Peptides with HA and Vitamin C

• 4 oz oatmeal • 4 oz blueberries • 1 scoop maca root powder • 1 scoop peanut butter powder • 1/2 tsp chia seeds • 1/2 tsp turmeric powder • 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder • 1 1/2–2 cups of water (depends on how thick you like your shake) • 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder

Directions

1. Into a blender or shaker (love the VitaMix), add the base ingredients and any add-ins, then blend/shake until well- incorporated! Note: When using add-ins, like oatmeal and/or blueberries, use a blender exclusively.

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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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How Arches National Park Blew Me Away

Avoid These Ingredients in Your Cooking!

What Veneers Are Made of Matters

Meet Diana, Our New Office Manager!

Dr. Flax’s High Energy, Age-Defying Shake

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Is ‘Hammocking’ a Better Way to Sleep?

(Theoretical) Benefits of Sleeping While Swinging Is ‘Hammocking’ a Better Way to Sleep?

pressure is spread more equally across all parts of the body.

Hammocking has become a popular leisure activity within the last 5–10 years, with the global hammock market growing about 17% between 2017 and 2021. As fun as it is, though, could hammocking be more than that? Could it be a better way to sleep, not just on camping trips or in the park, but in our homes, too? The short answer is that the >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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