Robinson Dental - January 2021

Robinson Dental - January 2021

Dental Digest When I Was Hired, I Found Out Why We Need to Floss WAYLAND •899 Reno Drive •Wayland, MI •49348 •269-509-4155

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

JANUARY 2022

Meet Kelly, Our Insurance Billing Specialist!

Happy New Year, everyone! I’m Kelly, an insurance billing specialist for Robinson Dental. Like the name suggests, I perform the billing to insurance for our patients. That’s pretty different from my old job, to say the least. After working for eight years in manufacturing for a pharmaceutical company, I don’t think I would’ve expected to find myself in the dental field! But a good friend of mine worked at Robinson Dental, and after she told me about her amazing workplace, she encouraged me to apply when there was an opening.

It’s been an amazing journey ever since! Because a lot of my past job dealt with clerical work, I got to learn an entirely new side to health care and, by extension, dentistry — not just in connection to my own job duties, but also in relation to my personal oral care. I used to go to the dentist every six months, just like anyone else. I’d keep up my cleanings and get cavities filled. But I did the same thing most people do and just smiled and nodded whenever I was asked whether I’d flossed or not. This job totally changed that, and it’s not because I see dentists more often than I did before! “You can fight the risk of cavities and periodontitis (a gum disease that often leads to tooth loss) by flossing, which removes plaque and bacteria from difficult-to-reach areas in your teeth and gums.”

By working at Robinson Dental, I’ve noticed how underappreciated dentistry really is. Not a lot of people take their oral health seriously and might not go to a dentist at all until they’re experiencing problems or pain. When people see a dentist only once in 20 years, it can take a serious toll on their overall body health, too, not just their oral health. That’s why I love how much Robinson Dental and our team prioritize giving back to the community whenever and however possible. Our Free Dental Day is a lot of fun, and it’s especially useful for those patients who haven’t seen a dentist in over a decade. I also love that we treat the veterans first as a way to show thanks and appreciation. When I think about it, the most rewarding part of my job is seeing how confident patients are after their cleanings or treatments, and there’s just no better feeling than watching patients get treatments they need most. Outside of work, I spend lots of time with my friends, family, and my two dogs, a corgi and a Labrador! Anytime I can be outdoors camping, kayaking, fishing, hunting, or riding on four-wheelers, I’m very happy. If you see me around, don’t be shy to say hi!

The more I learned about teeth, the more I realized that you have to floss. The health of your teeth is simply way more intricate than you’d ever think.

When I first started my job five years ago, I remember being very surprised that my teeth weren’t just teeth. Each tooth in the human mouth has a number. Including your wisdom teeth, you have 32 teeth, and you can get any number of diseases by not going to the dentist as well as transmitting those diseases. Yes, cavities are contagious! Thankfully, you can fight the risk of cavities and periodontitis (a gum disease that often leads to tooth loss) by flossing, which removes plaque and bacteria from difficult-to-reach areas in your teeth and gums.

–Kelly Cobble

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Hobbies are stress relievers. Hobbies offer a healthy escape from your busy lifestyle by keeping you engaged in something you find pleasure in. Instead of just relaxing on the couch and turning off your mind for a bit (which is totally acceptable sometimes), hobbies allow you to remain mentally productive while winding down at the same time. Hobbies also provide eustress . Believe it or not, one type of stress is deemed beneficial: eustress. If you aren’t overly stressed and are feeling a little under-stimulated, a hobby can provide activity for both your mind and body to keep you feeling excited about life and ready to take on new challenges and adventures. Hobbies offer a social outlet. Some hobbies involve group activities, such as bowling, sports teams, book clubs, and even wine tasting. Connecting with others offers the social support humans depend on to lead a healthy and fruitful life. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find some great friends who share the same passions as you! Hobbies develop patience. When you take on a new hobby, you are tasked with learning something new. Whether you’re practicing a new instrument, learning a different language, or figuring out how to make jewelry, a learning curve is involved. Building new skills takes patience, a very important attribute for success. Finding a hobby that suits you may take some exploration and trial and error, but it is all in good fun! Make it your goal to try something new or learn a new skill each month until you find something that sticks. Once you do, you’re sure to find that hobbies are both enjoyable and enriching!

Skills That Enrich Us The Importance of Having a Hobby

January is National Hobby Month, and since it falls at the beginning of the year, it’s the perfect time to try something new! Hobbies add variety to your life and ensure you aren’t just living to work, so to speak. The best way to find a hobby you enjoy is to be open to new things. Whether it’s gardening, reading, drawing, running, fishing, crafting, or even beekeeping, finding an activity you enjoy is important. Here’s why!

3D PRINTING IN DENTISTRY What You Need to Know Here at Robinson Dental, we like to see what’s new within the industry, and 3D printing has been on the rise within the dental industry! Here is everything you need to know about how this new method is changing dentistry. How It’s Used Dentists can use 3D printers to make customizable dental components and devices. Currently, they can create models for dentures, clear teeth aligners, dental crown structures, nightguards, dental models, and surgical guides. The device scans a digital impression with an intra-oral scanner and sends the scan to a lab to begin designing. The scan is then imported into a design software so designers can create the layout of what the dental product will look like. Then it’s imported and printed out so it can be used on patients (after being sanitized).

• Material Jetting drops layers of resin onto a tray and molds them by using light. This was the most common way to 3D print, but the cost for the machine began to increase. The machine is limited to what it can create because of the cost and also the materials needed to use it. Today, SLA and DLP are more commonly used because they are more cost-efficient. The Benefits 3D printing lowers the cost of production and creates products faster and accurately. Conventional techniques create an 80% material waste. But with printing, you only use what you need. This method also creates a better patient experience because they can envision and understand the treatment they will be receiving in detail. Some dental practices may not want to make the transition to 3D printing because materials for the devices are limited. There’s still plenty of work to be done in 3D dental printing, but the progress so far is pretty fascinating!

Different Types of 3D Printing You can choose from three types of models, and the quality can vary among them.

• Stereolithography (SLA) is highly accurate and has the best surface finish. This device uses resin to create its mold and a laser to solidify areas.

• Digital Light Processing (DLP) uses a light projector to hold the resin together. It has a lower-quality finish compared to SLA.

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TIKTOK DENTAL FAILS 3 Trends to Stay Away From

OUR CLIENTS SAY IT BEST “We were new to the area and decided to try Robinson Dental simply because, from the outside, it looked new and clean. We were blown away by the wonderful staff and highly trained dentists — who all completely advocated for what the patient actually wanted! I was Welcome New Patients! completely comfortable and never felt like they were trying to force me to do any service I didn’t want to do. They even allowed me to bring my toddler with me AND gave her a cookie and balloon when we left! I highly suggest them to anyone looking for a dentist — they definitely are the perfect definition of ‘family dentistry’!” –Victoria S.

TikTok is a resource for funny videos but also tips and tricks to help your everyday life. But some trends on the app can be detrimental to your teeth. A few dental trends especially can harm your teeth. Here are three trends you DON’T want to try at home. Using Mr. Clean Magic Erasers to Whiten Teeth A video (now deleted) showed a woman using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to whiten her teeth. She stated she had been using this technique for the past two years. She claimed that since the Magic Eraser can take on tough messes around the house, it can take the stains on her teeth. But the Magic Eraser has sulfurous acid and formaldehyde on a melamine foam pad, and it’s not good for your teeth. Acid has a negative effect on tooth enamel and will demineralize it. Making Dentures With InstaMorph Beads A user created dentures by heating up and molding the polyester thermoplastic beads into the shape of her teeth in order to create dentures. Another video also shows how to use InstaMorph beads to repair chipped teeth. First, these beads are tiny and a choking hazard. Second, the beads aren’t certified food-safe by the FDA, either. This hack may seem cost-effective, but making these “dentures” could create gum disease, which will cost you a lot of money and pain in the long run. Shark Teeth Crowns This is the most destructive trend right now. People are filing down their teeth into sharp, pointy triangles so they can be fitted with crowns and veneers. It appears that some users have been misinformed about how veneers and crowns work and think they need to shave their teeth down in order to get them placed. Several dentists on TikTok have pointed out that receiving veneers or crowns doesn’t require shaving down teeth. Filing your teeth will cause damage to your nerves, and you will need a root canal treatment and/ or an extraction. Not only that, but this trend will also cause financial and physical burdens because your teeth will need a lot of expensive and painful work to restore full functionality. If you have tried these trends or have any questions about crowns, veneers, dentures, or teeth whitening, please contact Robinson Dental with any questions or concerns. We will provide you with safe, healthy tips and procedures so your beautiful smile will last!

COOPERSVILLE Ethan A. Charles B. Savannah B.

WAYLAND Kiara B. Ross B. Cody C. Richard D. Molly G.

Julia D. Anne F.

Meagan F. Timothy G. Mark J. Jeff M. Tim S.

Crystal H. Nancy H. James I. Todd K. Susan M.

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

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

Inside THIS ISSUE This Is Why We Floss

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Why Hobbies Are Important Is 3D Printing the Future of Dentistry?

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Don’t Try These TikTok Trends at Home Black Bean, Mango, and Avocado Salad

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How to Stay Warm This Winter

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You’re Not a Snowman So Don’t Feel Frosty

Winter is here, and the cold has settled in. You’ve gotten out your fuzzy slippers and put on an extra

to ensure you’re drinking enough water. But you should be wary of hot beverages like coffee and tea. Though they make for a great hand warmer and temporarily leave you feeling toasty, caffeine restricts your blood vessels and makes it harder for your body to stay warm. Similarly, alcohol feels warm going down, but it both increases perspiration and lowers your core body temperature. Keep your bed cozy. No one wants to go to sleep shivering, so your bed should ideally be the warmest place in the house. You can achieve this by layering your blankets properly: Fluffy layers go right over the sheet, and dense layers go on top to provide a thermal barrier. To up your game further, get a hot water bottle and leave it under the sheets for 20 minutes before you climb into bed. No hot water bottle available? Spend a couple minutes running a blow-dryer over the sheets instead. With these tips, you’re ready to have your warmest winter ever — without racking up your highest energy bill. Catch some rays, snuggle up, drink some water, and remember that spring will be here soon enough.

sweater, but maybe you still can’t shake that chill. Before you crank up the heat again, is there anything else you can do to keep warm? Here are a few ideas you can try!

Use the sun. While winter brings plenty of cloudy days, the sun is still known to make an appearance. When it does, open your curtains wide and let the natural heat fill the room. Just be sure to keep that warmth inside by pulling the curtains closed when the sun goes down.

Bonus tip: Park your car facing the sun! It will be warmer when you get in, and you’ll have less snow and ice on your windshield.

Stay hydrated (the right way). Did you know that your body is able to retain heat better when you’re hydrated? That’s just one more good reason

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