Sabal Dental Airline - May 2021

Sabal Dental Airline - May 2021

2222 Airline Rd., Suite A4, Corpus Christi, TX 78414 | www.SabalDental.com | (361) 853-8999 | May 2021

MEET BONNIE VANSICKLE

An Important Part of Our Dental Family

us. It’s so neat to get to see our young patients grow up and go on to have families of their own. All of that adds to the family feel of this place, which I think starts with our staff. I’ve been working with a lot of the same team members for over a decade, and it truly feels like a second family. We know each other so well that we can tell when someone needs a little extra help or support, and we’re always happy to pitch in and help out when needed. With all those years working together under our belts, the office runs like a well-oiled machine, and that allows us to focus on giving our patients a fantastic experience. As the office manager, I oversee the day-to-day business operations and our staff, as well as interact with patients. I want every patient to feel like a member of the family, so my goal is to make sure they are comfortable and astonish them with good service. I’ll admit, my job is made easier by having such great patients to begin with and an awesome staff to back me up. I look forward to continuing to do this for many years to come! Outside the office, one of my favorite things to do is kayak with my husband. We’re both originally from Missouri — I grew up in St. Louis while he was in Kansas City — but we met on the beach here in Texas, and we both love to be on the water. During our free time, you can find us paddling on the intercoastal waterways or on the Nueces River at Hazel Bazemore Park. A few years ago,

This month, we’re letting our amazing office manager, Bonnie VanSickle, introduce herself. In many ways, she needs no introduction because Bonnie has been with us since 2003, so many of our longtime patients already know her as part of their dental family. That’s one of Bonnie’s favorite things about her job. We’ll let her tell you more! It’s true that my favorite part of my job is getting to interact with our patients. I’ve been at this office since 2003, but the practice itself has been in the area for over 30 years. It has the feel of a neighborhood dental office, and I’ve loved getting to know my patients and their families over the years. We have many families with multiple generations coming to see

Bonnie and her daughter, Brianna

we started fishing from our kayaks, too. Actually, I’m not sure you can call it fishing. We’re mostly just dragging bait! It’s a great excuse to be out on the water, spend time together, and enjoy the sunshine.

I also love spending time with our kids and grandkids. There are six

“I want every patient to feel like a member of the family, so my goal is to make sure they are comfortable and astonish them with good service.”

grandchildren between my two stepsons, so I like to get in as much time as possible with them throughout the year. This summer, we’ll be helping my daughter move into her first apartment, too. I’m looking forward to helping her get settled as she continues her studies at Abilene Christian University. Whatever your favorite summertime activity is, I hope you’ve got plenty of it planned in the coming months. I look forward to hearing about it at your next appointment.

Sabal General Dentistry • (361) 853-8999 • 1 –Bonnie

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5 COVID-SAFE GIFTS FOR YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER DON’T MISS TEACHER APPRECIATION MONTH!

5. A Note From You and Your Child: According to a

When parents first came up with the idea of sending their children to school with an apple as a teacher’s gift, they weren’t counting on a pandemic. In many places, schools are still operating online or using a mix of virtual and in-person learning, and even kids attending in person don’t want to get within 6 feet of their teacher to hand over fruit! So, what are your options for Teacher Appreciation Month? There are more than you might think. If you have the resources, consider gifting one of these pandemic-friendly items that teachers will love. 1. Virtual Gift Card : These days, you can easily send gift cards by email, and your options include everything from Amazon to DoorDash. Does your child’s teacher have a coffee addiction or a passion for dinosaurs? You can find the perfect gift card with a Google search.

child’s teacher’s address, consider “gratitude bombing” their front yard with signs! You can use a professional sign company like Sign Gypsies or make your own. 3. Quarantine Kit: Teachers working in person put themselves at risk every day, and a quarantine kit is the perfect gift in case the worst happens. You can include helpful items like hand sanitizer or personalized masks along with goodies like adult coloring books, novels, and more. Simply email the teacher to find out how to get your gift to them. 4. Sanitizer and Other Learning Tools for the Classroom: Many school districts are underfunded, and the money for sanitary supplies, pencils, markers, glue sticks, and more comes out of the teacher’s pocket. Buying items like this for when they’re back at school will really brighten their day.

teacher survey done by The Strategist, handwritten notes are one of the best gifts a teacher can receive. To really make an impact, sit down with your child and write a note from both of you, thanking the teacher for their hard work. Then, send it via snail mail or scan it and email it their way!

2. Thank-You Yard Signs : If you live in a small town or have access to your

OUR PATIENTS SAY IT BEST “Sabal dental has the most amazing customer service! I had a broken tooth, and my pain was extremely severe. The whole process from setting up my appointment to having my tooth pulled was the best customer service I’ve had in a long time. The whole staff made me feel so welcome and wasted no time in doing everything they could to relieve my pain. I could tell they genuinely love their jobs and were happy to help me. Thank you so much, Sabal Dental, for turning my whole week around!!!” -Celena O.

“Was very pleased with my routine checkup. From the beginning, the office and staff follow quality safe distancing and clean patient rooms. The staff was kind and courteous. It was a great experience.” -Samantha O. “Most amazing experience ever! Staff is super friendly, and Dr. LaPoint is amazing! She goes above and beyond to make sure her patient is comfortable. Thank you, Sabal Dental, for your exceptional services!!! See you all soon.” -Kevin A.

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Better Ways to Eat Chips — Courtesy of TikTok

The Classy Dipper Are you frustrated by the lack of chip space you have left when you plop dip in the middle of your plate? @thelifebath on TikTok has the solution. Grab a martini glass and fill it with your dip of choice, then set it down in the middle of a bowl. Now when you add the chips, they can cover the base of the glass, stabilizing it and allowing for maximum chip storage. The Staleness Solution If you’re out of binder and bag clips, never fear — there’s a clip-free way to keep your half-eaten bags of chips fresh. @abrigail23 has mastered the art of folding her bags closed origami-style. To follow her lead, simply roll down the top of the bag, then fold both ends of the roll inward, tucking them under as you roll down another layer. Presto! Sealed chips.

Few things are more satisfying and exciting after a long day than the woosh and crackle as you’re opening a fresh bag of chips. Ah, salty bliss! Culinary legend says Americans have been eating potato chips since 1853, when the aptly named chef George Crum first popped slivered tubers into the fryer in Saratoga Springs, New York. In reality, the provenance of the chip is unknown, but Crum’s sister, Kate Wicks, may be the real genius behind it! (Read up on the controversy at ThoughtCo.com.) After all those decades of chip-eating, you may have thought we’d perfected the art, but it turns out the TikTok generation has a few hacks to improve the experience. Here are just a few new ways to eat chips, popularized by videos on the app.

The Bag-to-Bowl Thanks to their tapered bottoms, most chip bags are inherently unstable. But if you don’t have a couch cushion to prop your bag against (or a bowl at hand), @ kennamox has your back. Once you open your chips, push the bottom of the bag up from the center and fold the pointed corners in. Then, pinch around the edges to create a concave bottom. Now your chips will stand upright, no bowl needed!

Check out Buzzfeed.com or the TikTok app for more clever hacks.

Have a Laugh!

Thai Minced Pork Salad

Inspired by EatingThaiFood.com

Ingredients • 5 tbsp uncooked Thai sticky rice

• Juice of 1–2 limes, to taste • 4 small shallots, thinly sliced • 4 green onions, thinly sliced • Cilantro leaves, to taste • Mint leaves, to taste

• 1 lb ground pork • 1/2 tbsp chili flakes • 1/8 tsp sugar • 1/2 tbsp fish sauce Directions 1. First, make toasted rice

3. In a medium frying pan over medium-high heat, fry pork, breaking it into small pieces as you go, until fully cooked. 4. Remove from heat and add 1 heaping tbsp of toasted rice powder along with all other ingredients. Stir to combine. 5. Taste and adjust, adding more

powder: In a frying pan over low heat, dry-roast the rice, stirring continuously until it turns golden brown and smells fragrant, about 15 minutes.

2. Let toasted rice cool, then grind into a coarse powder using a mortar and pestle, blender, or food processor. Set aside.

lime juice and herbs to suit your palate. Serve with rice.

Sabal General Dentistry • (361) 853-8999 • 3

2222 Airline Road, Suite A4 Corpus Christi, TX 78414

Hours: M–F 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Inside This Issue

Meet Bonnie VanSickle PAGE 1 5 COVID-Safe Gifts for Your Child’s Teacherk PAGE 2 Hear From Our Happy Patients! PAGE 2 New, Better Ways to Eat Chips PAGE 3 Thai Minced Pork Salad PAGE 3 99-Year-Old Betty White’s Secrets of Longevity PAGE 4

Betty White’s Secrets of Longevity HOW TO LIVE TO 99

Beloved “Golden Girls” actress Betty White is still enjoying her golden years. The famed actress celebrated her 99th birthday this January. While she told People magazine that she’s “blessed with good health, so turning 99 is no different than turning 98,” she also had a few tips for folks looking to make it to their centennial birthday. Keep Laughing “Don’t take yourself too seriously,” White says. “You can lie to others — not that I would — but you cannot lie to yourself.” White has undoubtedly provided many laughs to viewers over the years, but she’s not just playing it up for the camera. Laughter is part of what keeps her young. Be Optimistic White says a good sense of humor also helps her keep a good attitude and look for the positive rather than “dwelling on the downside.” Avoiding negativity also gives her energy. “It takes up too much energy being negative,” she told People magazine. Stay Busy With nearly eight decades of acting under her belt, six Emmys on her shelf, and over 120 screen credits to her name, White is no

stranger to hard work. As she told Parade in 2018, “I just love to work, so I’ll keep working until they stop asking.”

Exercise Your Mind In addition to her busy work schedule, what keeps Betty White sharp? Crossword puzzles! She told Katie Couric in an interview, “I’m addicted. An admitted addict. I just can’t put ’em down.” Find a Cause White is a lifelong animal lover. She calls her golden retriever, Pontiac, “the star of the house.” While pet ownership itself comes with proven health benefits, White has channeled her love for animals in bigger causes. She’s been a trustee and board member of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association for over 40 years and has done work to help protect endangered species in the wild. Funds raised from White’s official fan club, Bet’s Pets, all go to support animal charities. Embrace Your Vices White told Parade she loves vodka and hot dogs “probably in that order,” which just goes to show that you don’t have to forgo your treats to live to 99.

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