Robinson Dental - December 2020

Robinson Dental - December 2020

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

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

Meet Carolann! Dental Digest

DEC 2020

OUR WONDERFULLY KIND WOW COORDINATOR!

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved making people feel welcome.”

Hello everyone! I hope your holiday season is going wonderfully so far. I’m Carolann, the WOW Coordinator at Robinson Dental. If you’ve been into the office in the past three years, there’s a good chance we’ve met in the lobby while I offered you a drink or a blanket! I’m honestly thrilled to have an opportunity to talk about just how fulfilling this job is for me — this is truly the dream job for someone like me who’s always valued putting a smile on people’s faces. For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved making people feel welcome. The more ways I can be attentive, the better! Whether I was looking after children or working as a waitress, I loved it. Before I worked at Robinson Dental, I worked at an extended stay hotel for a couple of years and reached the highest level I could without becoming a manager. However, I felt like I wanted to learn more, and I couldn’t keep moving forward at that location.

This holiday season, I hope I’ll be in New Jersey by the time you read this! I have family up there, and we love to spend time together for both Thanksgiving and my birthday, which lands on Black Friday this year. I’m also very excited to help the Helen DeVos Children Hospital in their 2020 Radiothon! For the past two years, I’ve adored being a part of this very special fundraising event where I go to the Helen DeVos hospital and answer phones to earn money for the annual fund, which supports over 20 different programs for children. It just makes my heart flutter.

I can’t wait to continue serving you in 2021. Thank you so much for reading, and I hope you have a beautiful holiday season!

I didn’t find the hospitality job that I thought I would. Instead, I found Robinson Dental, and I’m so incredibly grateful for that.

At Robinson Dental, I can do more than just offer drinks or blankets. I also help patients celebrate birthdays and milestones with cards, sometimes even flowers. I’ve been privileged to get to know the lives and stories of hundreds of patients, and seeing our most anxious patients — whether they’re kids or adults — begin to relax in our office is one of the most rewarding parts of my job. What has impressed me most about Robinson Dental in particular is how genuinely kind and passionate the staff is toward the patients and the team as a whole. Nobody leaves anyone out. It truly feels like we’re all in this together, even with the challenges of the pandemic this year. During the lockdown, when I’m not at work, I’ve been learning how to crochet! I made a new mermaid outfit for our clinical director’s new baby (as one of my first projects, it surprised me how well it came out!) and ear savers for all of the staff so our ears won’t hurt from wearing masks all day long. In addition to that, my two pets are my world! My dog Daisy, a 5-year-old mixed breed, and my cat, Thomasina, who is 1, love to hang out together. They play with and groom each other all the time, and it’s so much fun to watch. I also love biking! I just got mountain bikes to ride through nature trails with my loved ones.

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Not Just a Corn Cob Pipe and Button Nose THE SURPRISING HISTORY OF THE SNOWMAN

The Middle Ages Snowmen were a phenomenon in the Middle Ages. They were constructed with deep thought and great skill because, during a time of limited means of expression, snow was a free art supply that literally fell from the sky. These artistic feats were popular winter attractions for well-to-do couples who wanted to get their fix of temporary art. Snowmen were often created by famous artists, including 19-year-old Michelangelo who, in 1494, was commissioned by the ruler of Florence to sculpt a snowman in his mansion’s courtyard. The Miracle of 1511 In Brussels in 1511, during six weeks of subzero temperatures called the Winter of Death, the city was miraculously adorned with hundreds of snowmen. The spectacle told stories on every street corner — some political and some demonstrating anger with the church, many too risque to speak of. For the people of Brussels, this Miracle of

Building a snowman is one of the most picturesque winter activities, which is why snowmen have become a wintertime cultural icon. A snowman appeared on the very first postcards, was the subject of some of the earliest photos, and even starred in silent movies. Frosty may be a happy snowman now, but his ancestors have a much more varied — and sometimes dark — history.

1511 was a defining moment of artistic freedom. But when spring came and the snow thawed, the Belgians were left with damaging floods. The Schenectady Massacre Not all snowmen have an innocent history. In 1690, former Fort Schenectady in upstate New York was home to a remote Dutch settlement, which was under the constant threat of attack. Soldiers guarded the gates at all times because they were frozen open, but during a blizzard, they left a pair of snowmen to protect the gates while they sought shelter. That’s when 200 French Canadian soldiers and Native Americans approached. Naturally, they were unfazed by the snowmen and ruthlessly invaded the settlement. Building a snowman seems like a simple and charming activity, but after learning about its surprising history, you might find those piles of snow seem a little more complicated and a lot more meaningful than before.

A Trusted Clinic Approved by Robinson Dental Meet Spectrum Health!

In 2001, a Coopersville family practice with Michigan Medical became an incredible neighbor. Their team members would come to our office for service, and vice versa! In 2009, that same neighbor became Spectrum Health Medical Group Coopersville Family Medicine — sadly, they moved down the street, but we were happy to see that they continue to be run by the same amazing people. It’s incredible to think of how far our clinics have grown since then. Today, Spectrum Health has grown to six providers and 12 support staff. They even have an in-location lab, at the express wish of the Coopersville community. That’s not the only way they’ve tuned into our local community either. When Dr. Gadbois first arrived, he was active in the Rotary and the office participated in the first Outhouse 500 Race. Since then, Spectrum Health has offered free yearly sports physicals at Coopersville High School and participated in the Turkey Trot. (Dr. Brown won first in her category.) They support the first aid tent for the Beat the Train 5K and had a float in the Santa Parade.

You’ll be amazed by how friendly their team is. When you arrive, you will be greeted like family. We hear stories all the time about how patients drop off treats in support of their office. “It’s always very much appreciated,” Chris Sterenberg, the practice manager at Spectrum Health, told us fondly. We asked about how they’ve been handling the pandemic. In the beginning, when little was known about the disease, Spectrum Health quickly trained staff to do virtual visits and began offering curbside services. Providers performed throat swabs and injections for patients while they remained in their cars. Although they had to consolidate their offices in the initial months, Coopersville was reopened by May, and they began offering a virtual waiting room so patients could get checked in without leaving their vehicle. Even during the winter months, curbside services will be open. The Spectrum team has been provided with coats, snow pants, rain gear, and hand warmers. With a rigorous cleaning schedule and proper personal protective equipment, they’ve managed to keep their staff and patients safe all year long. If you’re looking for an amazing clinic for treatment, we couldn’t recommend Spectrum Health more! Give them a call at 616-267-7860 or find them at 25 Conran Dr., Ste. B.

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Our Core Values

WORD SEARCH

5 Best Stocking Stuffers for Happier Teeth!

Getting small presents to fill your family members’ stockings can be tough. You may want to have some fun presents as well as a few that are practical or useful. At Robinson Dental, we have a few ideas for stocking stuffers that’ll keep your loved ones’ teeth healthy all year long. Travel-Size Toiletries Travel-size toothpaste and mouthwash are always great to have on hand for any potential safe travel or sleepovers. Make your loved one’s life easier by saving them a trip to the store! You

CAROL CHEER COCOA

FAMILY GIFT HOLIDAY

HOLLY PEACE SHOVEL

SLEDDING SNOW TURQUOISE

Not Your Grandma’s FRUITCAKE

can also encourage a family member to pamper themselves with a few small bath bombs.

Flavored Toothpaste and Floss The best toothpaste and floss for your kids are the ones they’ll actually use every day and night. Don’t hesitate to try out a flavored toothpaste and floss to make brushing even more fun for your kids!

Inspired by SimplyRecipes.com

INGREDIENTS

Teeth-Friendly Snacks Chocolate and gum — without excess sugar! — are some of the best snacks you can get for your teeth. If you can get a dark chocolate bar without xylitol, even better. That’ll keep extra sugar from eating the exterior of your teeth and won’t stain them at all. A Fun Toothbrush What makes a toothbrush fun? It totally depends on the user! If it’s for a child, consider a toothbrush with cartoon characters on it. If it’s for an adult, consider a luxurious, sleek toothbrush like those from Quip. If people actually like their toothbrush, they’re more likely to use it!

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1 tsp baking soda 1 cup sour cream

2 cups all-purpose flour, divided

1 stick butter 1 cup sugar

3 1/2 cups mixed dried fruit of your choice, chopped

1 egg, room temperature

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1 cup nuts of your choice, chopped

Zest of 1 orange

1 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 325 F. Line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with greased baking paper. Ensure the piece running the length of the pan stands 1 inch above each side to form “handles.” 2. In a small bowl, mix baking soda and sour cream. 3. In a second bowl, combine fruit, nuts, and 1/4 cup flour. 4. In a third bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg, zest,

and sour cream mixture. Then, add remaining flour and salt. Mix, then add fruit mixture. 5. Pour batter into lined pan. Fill up a separate loaf pan halfway with water. Bake both pans in oven for 1 1/2–2 hours or until a skewer leaves the cake clean. 6. Use “handles” to remove cake from pan and cool completely on a rack before serving.

Tools to Open Presents Scissors or box openers can be great tools all year long! But wait. Why are we suggesting this? Well, some people will use their teeth to open packaging, which is not only dangerous for your teeth and gums but can also cause facial lacerations. Please be careful!

We hope these ideas help inspire you when you’re shopping for your family’s presents this year. Don’t worry, we’re sending Santa a copy of this newsletter too!

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

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Inside THIS ISSUE Meet Carolann!

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The Surprising History of the Snowman Meet Spectrum Health!

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5 Best Stocking Stuffers for Happier Teeth! Not Your Grandma’s Fruitcake

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Meet Kismet, a Dentist’s Toothless Therapy Dog

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Meet Kismet, a Dentist’s Toothless Therapy Dog

Therapy pets can have a powerful impact on dental patients, especially if those patients have anxiety.

Cameron Garrett told CNN, “Quite honestly, as a dentist, I’m as much a psychiatrist or psychologist as anything else. Kismet has allowed us to have another tool in our toolbox.” They can even use the toothless pup’s story to teach patients about the effects of periodontal disease.

“The studies are very clear: People who sit and pet animals have lower blood pressure, and that’s what it’s all about,” Dr. Cameron Garrett told TODAY when the world found out about Kismet. Garrett’s dental practice employs the adorable 13-year-old Chihuahua rescue as a therapy animal that patients can hold and pet while they get dental work done. Kismet’s life has not been easy. The Muttville Senior Dog Rescue has invested thousands of dollars into Kismet’s health — they diagnosed her with heart disease, removed a cancerous tumor, treated a hernia, and removed all of her teeth due to periodontal disease. Yet, Kismet remains a very sweet dog. She never barks and loves back scratches and being held. It’s especially amazing that the toothless Kismet found such a perfect new home with dental professionals! This past July, Cameron Garrett and his wife, Debra Garrett (a hygienist), adopted Kismet into their home as well as their dental practice. The serene dog has provided a special experience for patients who come for exams, cleanings, and even root canals. Of course, some patients are scared of dogs. In those cases, Kismet relaxes behind a closed gate. But over 98% of patients happily take Kismet on their laps while they undergo their dental procedure.

Getting love from patients also helps Kismet. “She just wants to be with us,” Debra Garrett explained. The new owners suspect that she was abused in the past and is still recovering from that trauma. “When she is on a patient’s lap, she’s providing them comfort, but she’s also getting comfort. It’s hard for me to describe how nice it is for me to be looking at her while I’m working. It’s just a win-win all the way around.” Our hearts are officially melted. It’s only fitting for a pet hero to have heroic owners, too!

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