Robinson Dental - November 2020

Robinson Dental - November 2020

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

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

NOV 2020

BEHIND-THE-SCENES ROCK STAR EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT AND COSPLAY EXTRAORDINAIRE

“Originally, I worked behind the desk with another dentist in town, only a couple of streets away from Robinson Dental. Then, there was a devastating fire.”

Then, two years ago, I had my first daughter and told Dr. Scott I wanted to go part time. Both Dr. Scott and Dr. Beth are huge advocates for parents and family life, so I felt very supported and understood as they allowed me to cut down to two days a week. They started looking at my role in the clinic too and evaluated what type of work I could do between the clinic and home. That’s how I became Dr. Scott and Dr. Beth’s executive assistant — the rest is history. These days, I keep up my executive assistant work at home while spending time with my two little girls and husband of 10 years. When I’m not working with Dr. Scott or Dr. Beth, I’m going on family walks or watching movies! We’re huge movie buffs. Although we haven’t done it in a while, we love to cosplay for big movie releases, like the “Star Wars” movies. It’s SO much fun. Halloween is also a huge holiday for us. My husband and I have dressed up as Beauty and the Beast and Link and Zelda (from the Legend of Zelda video games). Lately, we’ve been watching shows like “The Mandalorian,” and any movie by Ridley Scott. I’m so grateful that Dr. Scott gave me a job four years ago. We were left in complete uncertainty when our practice burnt down, but Robinson Dental was right there to help us and our patients without missing a beat. I’m very proud to be part of a team that’ll always strive to help people and patients with total compassion, no matter what happens. Thanks for reading, and I look forward to serving you behind the scenes!

This past August, I hit my four-year anniversary of working at Robinson Dental. I’m thrilled because I honestly can’t imagine anything else I’d rather be doing. It might sound odd, but, since junior high, I’ve always liked dentistry. I was one of those kids who was excited about getting braces and simply keeping my teeth in ideal condition. I’ve always noticed peoples’ smiles, and I feel lucky every day to get to do just that as Dr. Scott and Dr. Beth’s executive assistant. While I like to think that I started here through unusual circumstances, our newsletter readers won’t be shocked to hear that, in a way, the practice’s involvement in the community is exactly how I found Dr. Beth and Dr. Scott. Originally, I worked behind the desk with another dentist in town, only a couple of streets away from Robinson Dental. Then, there was a devastating fire. Unfortunately, the dentist wasn’t the owner of the building, and the owner didn’t have insurance. We were unable to rebuild or go back to work. Thankfully, Dr. Scott was kind enough to reach out, saying that Robinson Dental wanted to help in any way. He offered me a job without meeting me first, and I helped transfer all of our patients to Robinson Dental. It was equally exciting and overwhelming at first! Growing up, I only ever saw dental practices with one practitioner, but at Robinson Dental, there are four dentists and multiple hygienists. Thankfully, it engaged and challenged me in all the right ways. Since I have a background in dental assisting and dental administration, I’ve worked all over the clinic since then. I started working with insurance coordinating at the clinic, but I moved over to dental assisting when there was a need for more help by the chair.

–Sara Reyburn

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A Meal for the Changing American Home HOW A THANKSGIVING DINNER MIX-UP LED TO THE TV DINNER

Would you believe that Thanksgiving dinner — a meal dedicated to home cooking, family time, and, well, being thankful — was directly responsible for the invention of the TV dinner, the ultimate manifestation of the solitary,

idea. He suggested they package up the remaining turkey with a few sides as frozen dinners that would be ready to eat after being thawed. The twist? They would be served in compartmentalized aluminum trays, much like airplane meals, which were the inspiration for Thomas’ idea. Additionally, they would be marketed as “TV dinners,” with their packaging designed to look like a television set.

processed meal? If you are a little suspicious of that fact, you’re not alone. But, the connection is real. Those little frozen meals on trays were the result of a Turkey Day mix-up of epic proportions.

By 1954, roughly half of American households had TVs. Over the next 10 years, that figure jumped to 92%. As the TV rose in prominence in American living rooms, the TV dinner’s popularity increased exponentially. Swanson sold nearly 10 million of them during the first year of production. By 1959, Americans spent half a billion dollars gobbling up TV dinners. Several other phenomena have been linked to the advent of the TV dinner, such as the erosion of the traditional family dinner and a preference for TV entertainment over family conversation during mealtime. It’s hard to believe it all happened because of one Thanksgiving Day with too much turkey!

The year was 1953. That fall, the frozen food company C.A. Swanson & Sons drastically overestimated how many Americans would want a turkey as the centerpiece of their Thanksgiving spread, leaving them with about 260 tons of extra turkey packed into 10 refrigerated railroad cars. They needed a way to sell this surplus quickly because they had to keep running the train cars back and forth between the East Coast and the Midwest to generate the electricity needed to keep the turkey from spoiling. The company sent out a bulletin asking if any of their employees had a solution to the problem. Swanson salesman Gerry Thomas had a winning

A SCANDAL THAT ONLY BECAME KNOWN 24 YEARS LATER The Top-Secret Presidential Oral Surgery

Election week isn’t only a great time (and the only time) to cast your presidential ballot, but it’s also a great opportunity to dive into some presidential trivia! Although this scandal might seem trivial compared to the headlines we see today, Grover Cleveland was reported to be on a fishing trip in 1893, but he was secretly getting critical oral surgery. What really happened? Cleveland is diagnosed with the ‘dread disease.’ Shortly after Cleveland took office, he noticed a small bump on the roof of his mouth, which began to grow larger. Eventually, doctors diagnosed it as a cancerous tumor. Cancer isn’t great news to anyone, even today. However, it was even more stiflingly terrifying in the late 19th and early 20th century. No diagnosis was as feared as cancer, which people began calling “the dread disease.” In his book “The President Is a Sick Man,” author Matthew Alego wrote, “It was tantamount to a death sentence ... The very word was not spoken in polite company.” Why the secrecy? The U.S. president is an important figure during an economic downturn, and Cleveland was very aware of this. Because of the fear surrounding cancer, and for his own privacy, he chose to keep both the diagnosis and subsequent treatment a secret. On June 23, 1893, Cleveland boarded a friend’s yacht where he was scheduled to have his surgery performed. This was his supposed “fishing trip.” Afterwards he was taken to his summer

home to recover. At the time, this was called a vacation “retreat.” There, he was fitted with a rubber prosthesis in his mouth to plug the hole, allowing him to speak normally.

How the secret slipped — but was covered up again. The secret actually broke out after

Philadelphia Press investigative journalist E.J. Edwards published a detailed account of the secret operation. However, he found himself discredited by the public and his White House press access was revoked. But 24 years later, Edwards’ story was corroborated by Dr. W.W. Keen’s published account of the surgery. Keen was part of the six-doctor team that had treated Cleveland. At Robinson Dental, we all agree that history is absolutely fascinating. We hope this little-known historical tidbit helps you win your next presidential dental trivia night!

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After a crazy year like 2020, there are plenty of reasons for us to look forward to an extra comforting, delicious Thanksgiving feast this year. Being surrounded by family is certainly one of the best things about the holiday season, but can it be even better by benefiting your teeth? 3 Thanksgiving Dishes TO EAT FOR BETTER ORAL HEALTH

Cobbler Cranberry Election

Football Novel Sagittarius

Thanksgiving Topaz Turkey

Veterans Voting Windy

Here are just a few dishes that, surprisingly, improve your oral hygiene and health more than you might think.

Cinnamon-Spiced Candied Sweet Potatoes These candied sweet potatoes will make your family beg for more! INGREDIENTS • 4 lbs orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, peeled and cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces, then cut lengthwise into 1-inch wedges • 1 cup light brown sugar, packed • 1 tbsp kosher salt • 1/4 tsp ground cloves • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cubed • 4 (2-inch) cinnamon sticks

No. 1: Roasted Brussels Sprouts According to the American Dental Association, any high-fiber fruits or vegetables can help keep your teeth and gums healthy. Fiber keeps your saliva flowing, which is especially important if you’re eating a lot of sweet and starchy food during your Thanksgiving feast. Saliva is the first line of defense against acids and enzymes that attack your teeth from sugars and starches. Brussels sprouts as well as broccoli and raspberries can give you a surprisingly big boost of fiber. No. 2: A Cheese Platter Whether accompanied by meats, crackers, or fruits, a cheese platter’s namesake ingredient is what’s beneficial for your teeth. Cheese helps with saliva production, and the calcium in the beloved dairy product can help put back minerals in your teeth that might’ve been lost from consuming other foods. Cheese also contains casein proteins, which stabilize and repair enamel.

Not all cheeses are high in calcium, however! Make sure to read the label to compare the actual amounts of calcium.

DIRECTIONS

No. 3: Matcha Tea Latte Replace the traditional hot chocolate with a warm, deliciously milky matcha tea latte. Swirl in some honey and even kids will love it! The benefits of green tea have been well researched. One such benefit is its powerful antioxidants, which fight bacteria, diseases, and even plaque by preventing it from sticking to your teeth. Matcha is an even more powerful form of green tea, and it can be prepared very sweet and mild with cream and your favorite sweetener. Although chowing down on comfort foods is what we all love about Thanksgiving, it’s never a bad idea to plan some dishes to lessen the impact these favorites can have on our teeth. We hope you have a delicious Thanksgiving!

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. Place sweet potato wedges in a 4-quart baking dish. 3. Sprinkle sugar, salt, and cloves over sweet potatoes.

4. Dot with butter and place cinnamon sticks around sweet potatoes. 5. Bake, turning every 15 minutes, until sweet potatoes are tender and the liquid is syrupy, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. 6. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes. 7. Discard cinnamon sticks and serve.

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Inside THIS ISSUE Meet Our Executive Assistant Sara! How a Thanksgiving Dinner Mix-Up Led to the TV Dinner The Top-Secret Presidential Oral Surgery

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The Best Thanksgiving Dishes for Your Teeth! Cinnamon-Spiced Candied Sweet Potatoes

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Black Friday: COVID-19 Edition

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HOW TO TURN THE SHOPPING HOL IDAY INTO A STAY-AT-HOME FAMI LY EVENT Black Friday: COV ID-19 Edition

A string of retail stores, including JCPenney, Bed Bath & Beyond, Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, and Dick’s Sporting Goods, have declared they won’t be open for the traditional Thanksgiving and/or Black Friday shopping this year. But that doesn’t mean the annual shopping holiday is canceled! If you’re an avid Black Friday shopper, you can keep the tradition going and involve the whole family by using the day to shop online. Here are a few tips to get everyone involved in the fun and turn the holiday into an overnight party. Divide and conquer. Does your whole family love shopping? If they do, it’s time to break out the laptops, cellphones, and tablets. Take the list of items you’re hoping to snag and divide them up so that each person has things to browse for. Then choose a start time — midnight is always good — and let everyone loose to bargain hunt. While you’re shopping, remember to use store apps, websites like RetailMeNot and Groupon, money-saving browser extensions like Honey, and price- comparison apps like Flipp to score the best deals. Refuel with caffeine. No all-night shopping spree is complete without a coffee run. To keep your family fueled, make sure to stock up on your favorite coffee in advance and set a time for a coffee break. It’s not quite the same as taking a break at the mall’s Starbucks, but it will help you power through the night. For an extra bit

of fun, you can even try to recreate your favorite Starbucks drinks at home. ChowHound.com is a great resource for DIY recipes and has hacks for the caramel frappuccino, pumpkin spice latte, and more. Celebrate with a big breakfast. When you’ve finally dropped the last item into your virtual cart, it’s time to celebrate! Depending on how long your spree

took, it might be 3 a.m., or you might be able to see the sunlight peeking through your blinds. Either way, you deserve to reward yourself with breakfast. Try cooking your favorite breakfast foods as a family or, if it’s late enough, order home- delivered pancakes and hashbrowns from your favorite local restaurant. Once you’re stuffed, you can crawl into bed knowing that you had a fantastic family night.

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