Robinson Dental - August 2021

Robinson Dental - August 2021

Dental Digest WAYLAND •899 Reno Drive •Wayland, MI •49348 •269-509-4155

COOPERSVILLE •502 W. Randall St. •Coopersville, MI •49404•616-384-4129

Meet Michelle, Our Hygiene Coordinator! AUGUST 2021 I Switched From the Insurance Industry to Dentistry

Hello, everyone! I’m Michelle Davis, and I’m the hygiene coordinator at Robinson Dental! Patients interact with what I do without really knowing it — I help manage the hygiene team schedule, finding appointments for our patients, notifying waitlist patients about any last-minute openings and reaching out to patients that have past due visits. But I wasn’t always in the dental industry. In fact, Robinson Dental was my first career in the health care field. Before I became a hygiene coordinator, I worked in insurance in both sales and recruitment for more than eight years. Everyone always told me that I had a great knack for negotiating and should be in sales. Whether I was buying furniture or cars, I’d always try to renegotiate the price, and I started getting a lot of comments about how I’d be great in sales. I eventually landed a job as an insurance agent, and worked there pretty happily for a long while. But as my family grew, family became a bigger priority for me — I wanted to focus on being a stay-at-home mom with a part-time job here and there. In 2018, once my kids got older, I decided to start looking for a full-time job close to my kids’ school. The school was in Wayland, and I noticed a job opening for a hygiene coordinator at Robinson Dental in Wayland. I became very curious about it, and, surprisingly, found it wouldn’t be that big of a career shift — so I felt absolutely thrilled they wanted to have me on board. Although my ability to negotiate isn’t necessarily a key component in what I do today, I’ve discovered many new personal abilities and rewarding aspects to my job at Robinson Dental since I

started in September 2018. The leadership’s encouragement for personal and professional growth — whether through its super friendly staff or regular training — has been incredible! Today, it is always so rewarding for me when I can bring a patient into our office again and make them feel taken care of. I know it isn’t always easy to step into a dentist’s office. Whether making patients feel safe means figuring things out with their provider/ insurance, fitting an appointment into their busy lives, pairing them up with the right provider or just talking to them, it’s always so worth it. You could say that making the switch from a Fortune 500 insurance company to a dental practice was a big change, but, in many ways, it really wasn’t. What’s surprised me the most about my time at Robinson Dental is its capacity for growth and opportunities, both on a personal and

professional level. While I was an insurance agent, I always had opportunities for travel and giving back to the community. I’ve been amazed that, at our practice, that hasn’t changed at all. We get plenty of retreats or incentives to go out and enjoy time together or with our families (such as trips to Florida, or local sledding or golfing!), and we have so many community events, whether it’s for the Helen Devos Children’s Hospital, Free Dental Day, Patient Appreciation days, or other local causes. I can say that, before working at Robinson Dental, I didn’t think too much about my oral health outside of my biannual cleanings, so I was shocked to learn just how connected our dental health is to our overall health. Who knew that heart disease could be directly linked to oral periodontitis? It’s made me a lot more passionate about what we do at Robinson Dental, from fundraising to educating the community. Outside of work, I love going outdoors and being on the lake! I’m definitely a summer-type gal, so, by the time you read this newsletter, I’ll be enjoying plenty of camping, fishing, and boating. I also love to draw, and I definitely stay busy being a grandmother of two boys! Anyhoo, I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to take my career in a new direction with Robinson Dental — it’s a career that puts a smile on my face, in more than one way, and it gives me the time I need to spend with family. Thanks for reading, everyone. –Michelle Davis 1 616-384-4129

3 NOODLE HACKS YOU HAVE TO TRY AFTER POOL SEASON Don’t Throw Away Those Pool Noodles!

Stop the Pinch Pool weather may be ending, but trampoline season is still in full swing. Despite how fun trampolines can be, they can be risky. But pool noodles can help relieve some of your fears. Simply measure the length of a single spring on your trampoline and cut pool noodles into same-length sections so you

You may only have a few more weeks of great pool weather left, so soak it up while you can! Afterward, you may find yourself taking stock of the pool toys that survived this season or notice an end-of-season sale on pool noodles. Don’t scoff! These fun pool toys can also be handy tools around the home.

have one piece for every spring. Then, cut the noodle pieces lengthwise and fit them over the springs. You may need to replace the noodles every few months, but fingers and hair will be protected from those sturdy metal jaws. Relieve Pain As we age, life takes its toll, so why not have a little cushion? A pool noodle is an easy solution for this. You can cut a pool noodle the length of your keyboard, and then cut it in half to create a soft and

Check out these affordable life hacks that are all thanks to the common pool noodle. Protect Your Vehicle Create extra padding and prevent scratches and dings just by

manipulating a few pool noodles. If you have a tight garage space, cut pool noodles lengthwise and slide them over garage beams, work benches, or other items that are frequently hit by your car door. The noodle will take the blow, and your car won’t get dinged! Another easy way to protect your car is to attach pool noodles to the top of a vehicle’s luggage rack. This will prevent your cargo from scratching the top of your vehicle! (Just be sure to strap everything down so it doesn’t slide off.)

affordable wrist guard at your desk. Try the same method with ladder rungs to protect your knees and shins or cover handles with noodles for an easier grip!

Need a few more noodle hacks in your life? Reader’s Digest has you covered. Check out their extensive list online at RD.com.

HOW DO I CARE FOR INFANT AND TODDLER TEETH?

Taking care of your children’s teeth is important and starts before their first tooth makes its debut. Research shows that the health of baby teeth often predicts the health of adult teeth, so regular dental checkups and daily cleanings are important habits. How do I start? Parents and caregivers can use an infant gum massager, clean damp gauze, or a washcloth to wipe down their infant’s gums after each feeding. Cutting down on starchy snacks (crackers and chips) and sugary beverages can help prevent cavities and set your child up for a lifetime of healthy teeth. Once your child is able to spit on their own (around month 6 or 7), you can begin using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste to help combat cavity-causing germs. How to prevent baby bottle tooth decay Children need strong, healthy teeth to chew their food, develop proper speech, and build confidence. Despite their importance, however,

teeth are susceptible to decay as soon as they develop. Decay during infancy and toddlerhood is often referred to as baby bottle tooth decay. Despite its name, baby bottle tooth decay is caused by prolonged exposure to sugar or to a caregiver’s saliva (yes, cavities are contagious!). There are several precautions the American Dental Association suggests parents and caregivers can take to prevent decay and keep their child’s teeth healthy. • Try not to share saliva with the baby through common use of feeding spoons or licking pacifiers. After each feeding, wipe your child’s gums with a clean, damp gauze pad or washcloth. • When your child’s teeth come in, brush them gently with a child-size toothbrush and a smear (or rice-size amount) of fluoride toothpaste until the age of 3. • Brush the teeth with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste from the ages of 3 to 6.

• Supervise brushing until your child can be counted on to spit and not swallow toothpaste — usually not before the age of 6 or 7 months. • Place only formula, milk, or breast milk in bottles. Avoid filling the bottle with liquids such as sugar water, juice, or soft drinks. • Infants should finish their bedtime and naptime bottles before going to bed. • If your child uses a pacifier, provide one that is clean — don’t dip it in sugar or honey. • Encourage your child to drink from a cup by his or her first birthday. • Encourage healthy eating habits. When your child’s first tooth appears, call Robinson Dental to schedule your first visit! Start early and make sure your child has a healthy mouth!

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Hello! If you’re reading this, the tooth fairy likely passed along our newsletter to you, in order to help you get ready for your new duties as a tooth fairy assistant yourself. We’ve been working together with the Tooth Fairy Coalition for a long time — here’s some advice for you from our top trusted experts. No. 1: Always Set Reminders. As soon as a child loses their tooth, you have to set a reminder to reward them! Life can be very busy, but you don’t want kids waking up the next morning teary-eyed because the tooth fairy forgot about them. Whether it’s a Post-it note or phone reminder, set it so you don’t forget it. No. 2: Make It Fun! Not every child knows this, but every family has a different way that the tooth fairy celebrates baby teeth. So don’t try to overcomplicate things — the more fun and worry-free the process is, the more you and the child will enjoy it! No. 3: Prepare a small ‘gift list.’ Children lose up to 20 teeth, so you’ll want to make sure all of your gifts are in one, easy-to-access place. Whether it’s buying silver dollars at the bank or several trinkets or chocolate at the store, having a small stash will make it much easier to reward a child as soon as they lose their tooth! No. 4: Designate a small ‘tooth’ container. Let’s be honest: It can be really tough to grab the tooth beneath a kid’s pillow, and it’s even harder when they hide the tooth! Make it easy and give the child their very own tooth container, so they can place it in it when it’s time to get their tooth fairy reward. No. 5: Have a ‘backup’ plan. Let’s say you forgot to set a reminder, and the child is pretty distressed. Not to worry! Fly in the next morning and drop off the reward or treat somewhere unconventional. The child will often assume that the new placement was why they didn’t see it the first thing in the morning, and a crisis is averted! An Easy How-To Guide for New Tooth Fairies

WORD SEARCH

BEACH FISHING FRIENDSHIP GARDEN

HEAT OUTDOORS POOL RAINY

RHUBARB SARDONYX SCHOOLING VACATION

Tomato and Watermelon Salad (Yes, Really!)

Inspired by BonAppetit.com

Bon Appétit magazine calls tomato and watermelon “soul mates,” and they’re right! This surprising gourmet salad will be a hit at your next barbecue.

That’s it for our tips for new tooth fairy assistants. Good luck out there, and have a happy National Tooth Fairy Day this August 22!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tsp peppercorns, coarsely crushed • 1 tsp coriander seeds, coarsely crushed • 1/2 tsp cumin seeds • 1/2 tsp turmeric • 1/4 cup coconut oil

• 4 cups seedless watermelon, rind removed and cut into 1/2- inch cubes • 2 heirloom tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes • 8 oz feta cheese, cut into 1/2- inch cubes • Sea salt, to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small saucepan, sauté spices and herbs in the coconut oil for 3 minutes over medium heat to create turmeric oil. Take the pan off of the heat, then let it cool. 2. Combine the watermelon, tomatoes, and feta on a large platter or in a bowl. Drizzle with cooled turmeric oil. Now, simply sprinkle with sea salt and enjoy!

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502 W. Randall St. Coopersville, MI 49404 RobinsonDental.org

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Inside THIS ISSUE Michelle’s Story: From the Insurance Industry to Dentistry

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Save Your Pool Noodles for an Easier Life Little-Known Infant and Toddler Oral Care

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An Easy Guide for New Tooth Fairies Tomato and Watermelon Salad (Yes, Really!)

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Meet Odin, the Fireproof Dog

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Odin belonged to Ariel and Roland Hendel, two farmers in Sonoma County. When the Tubbs Fire threatened to char their home, they packed up as many of their animals and precious items as they could. Unfortunately, their flock of goats wouldn’t fit in the getaway vehicle — and their goat-herding dog, Odin, refused to abandon them. Great Pyrenees are prized livestock guardian dogs that will do anything to protect their charges, and Odin lived up to his breed.

Meet Odin, the Fireproof Dog THIS GREAT PYRENEES GUIDED HIS GOATS THROUGH A WILDFIRE

“I said, ‘Okay, Odin, take care of the goats. You’ll be fine,’” Roland Hendel told ABC News.

Both Hendels were sure they were seeing their dog for the last time. Their hearts sank even further when they heard their home had burned down completely. But on a trip back to examine the ashes, something amazing happened.

“In the distance, I saw Odin’s tail,” Roland told ABC. “Sure enough, there was Odin coming at the head of all his goats.”

Not only did Odin survive the fire and run right up to the Hendels for belly rubs, but he also kept every single one of his goats safe! A few wild deer even joined the goats, and he shepherded them through unscathed. The incredible story made the news, and Odin became a local legend. Unfortunately, even legends don’t live forever. This April, Odin passed away after a long life of tail-wagging, treat-eating, and goat-saving. In his honor, Great Pyrenees Rescue of Missouri gifted the Hendels two new Great Pyrenees pups: Buddy and Snowflake. They’re following in Odin’s pawsteps, protecting the goats he loved so much.

In October 2017, California was in flames. One of those blazes was the Tubbs Fire, which charred its way through 36,800 miles of forests and vineyards in both Napa and Sonoma County. More than 5,600 buildings were destroyed, and 22 people were killed. But when the flames finally died, a four-legged hero emerged from the ashes: Odin, the Great Pyrenees dog.

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