Sabal Dental Rockdale June 2021

Sabal Dental Rockdale June 2021

June 2021

307 Childress Drive, Rockdale, TX 76567 | SabalDentalRockdale.com | (512) 446-5886

Paper to Digital and Darkrooms to Instant Imagining Betty Talks Changes in Dentistry

Hi, everyone! Betty here, back this month to talk about the biggest changes I’ve seen in the 25-plus I’ve worked in the dental field. Back in March, I told you a bit about how I got into the dental field. I’d trained to be a surgical tech but switched tracks and became a registered dental assistant instead because the schedule was more accommodating for my family. The hiring process and requirements to be a dental assistant have certainly changed! As I said before, when I first started in this industry, the main criteria for becoming a dental assistant were having a willingness to learn and getting picked by a doctor. Now there’s a lot of training required to get certified, and I love teaching those courses to help train the next generation — or to even mentor the new assistants we have at the office. When it comes to our day-to-day work, technology has changed so much quicker than I ever could have fathomed. That’s amounted to hours of time saved for

patients and staff. Back in the day, a root canal and crown could take up to four visits, each consisting of several hours. Nowadays, we can get it done in under two hours! Depending on your age, you may remember the days of filing cabinets full of paper dental charts. Longtime patients had thick charts, filled with the history of their past visits. That feels like such a relic now! The transition to digital wasn’t an easy one. There’s a lot to learn! I myself grew up and went to school in the time before computers and the internet. We didn’t get a computer at home until my kids got into school and needed one! But I love a challenge, and I’m usually the first to volunteer to learn something. That’s actually one of my favorite things about working in the dental field. All of these technological changes mean I get continual training, my brain stays sharp, and we can serve our patients with the best technology available. Another major shift I’ve seen is around imagining and X-rays. Believe it or not, I used to spend a fair amount of time in a little darkroom dipping our X-ray film in developer (a bath of chemicals) to develop our patients’ X-rays! Anyone who spends time in a darkroom these days is probably a serious photography hobbyist, as it’s largely gone by the wayside since digital imaging became the standard. I am grateful not to have to change out those chemicals every week, but the best part of digital imaging is that we

get nearly instantaneous results on the computer! Back in the darkroom days, if an X-ray didn’t turn out, you’d have to get the patient back in the office to take another one. Anyone who’s had X-rays in recent years knows just how quick and painless the process is now. If we don’t get what we need on the first go, we can try again in minutes. This is just another example of how technological changes have helped us save time so we can provide even better service to our patients. I’m so grateful for it! There really has been an astonishing number of changes since I first started 26 years ago. It’s hard to name them all! Invisalign has really advanced orthodontics and made the process of correcting crowding or bite issues much easier and more comfortable. Instead of spending 2–3 years in wire braces, patients can correct issues in a matter of months. Plus taking home 1–2 months’ worth of trays means patients save time by not having to come in for monthly adjustments. It’s amazing to reflect on how far we’ve come in a relatively short period of time. I’m grateful to get to work at an office that embraces these changes and welcomes new technology, knowing it will better serve our patients. And even though some of my previous skills are now obsolete, if you ever need a photo developed in a darkroom, I just may be able to help! –Betty Naranjo

“All of these technological changes mean I get continual training, my brain stays sharp, and we can serve our patients with the best technology available.”

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Before Dentists Were Doctors TOOTH WORMS, BARBERS, AND THE ROCKY ROAD TO DENTAL SCIENCE

Today, being a dentist, hygienist, or assistant

wormlike tissue emerging from a drilled tooth was, in fact, a piece of the patient! Things began to change when dental textbooks and manuals first emerged. Now, anybody who had a toolbox (and the ability to read) could claim to be a dentist — and many did, seeking a better life than farming or other trades. These traveling “barbers” were not usually educated at physicians’

business model allowed them to

requires years of schooling, training, exams, licensing, and insurance. But while experts resembling today’s dental teams have long practiced medicine, dentistry itself wasn’t always that way. In fact, many “dentists” before the 1900s were self-taught, self- proclaimed, and dubiously qualified for their work!

reach large sections of a spread-out population

— and, for the charlatans, to get out of dodge when their victims caught on! By the 19th century, the age of the barber was over in Europe, but on the ever-moving American frontier, the profession stayed alive and well until modern regulations put them out of business. It’s hard to imagine, but until the modern era, most people could expect tooth loss starting at a young age; even rich people were affected, like George Washington with his famously horrible dentures. Decay and injury were common, and letting a “barber” work on you was better than enduring the debilitating pain of having an aggravated cavity. It makes us grateful for modern flossing and brushing — and that we have access to regulated, educated dental professionals who represent the long line of brilliant, caring visionaries like Pierre Fauchard and not the charlatans who had pliers and dental wagons!

In ancient times, dentistry was limited to a few basic procedures, the most advanced of which would have been fillings of silver and gold. While common, those procedures and the physicians who offered them were not usually available to the common people. For the everyday folk, extractions were the solution to dental problems, often after already drilling into a painful tooth to “let out the tooth worm.” You see, they believed worms dug into teeth and caused pain — not realizing that the thin,

colleges (which still taught the most advanced dentistry of the time) and often traveled around to offer their services. They also cut hair and performed minor surgeries like lancing boils and removing blemishes. In the 1700s, Pierre Fauchard and others modernized dentistry with new tools and procedures, which was the beginning of a regulated dental profession based on science. The barber-dentists moved on to the New World, where their mobile

OUR PATIENTS SAY IT BEST “Great office! Dr. Beau Blankenship, Stephanie, and Allison took care of me. Office has a great feel of confidence and truly caring about my dental health.” -James L.

“Always love seeing my hygienist. She is THE best — a true professional, efficient and all with such a friendly, caring demeanor!” -Ginger G. “I have such anxiety when it comes to going to the dentist and they are so patient and understanding with me and work with my budget as well! The staff is

just awesome!” -Jennifer A.

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4 Summer Blockbusters for the Whole Family DON’T MISS THESE FLICKS!

‘Cinderella’ — Friday, July 16 (Theaters) We’ve already had live-action versions of “The Jungle Book,” “The Lion King,” and “Beauty and the Beast,” but now, Disney

Summer is back, and, thanks to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, so are movies! This June and July, a host of family films will hit theaters and streaming services. Here are four to put on your must-watch list. ‘Vivo’ — Friday, June 4 (Theaters) If you loved “Hamilton” and your kids enjoyed the live-action “Mary Poppins,” don’t miss “Vivo”! This film tells the story of a musical Capuchin monkey who makes the journey from Cuba to Miami, Florida, to see his name in lights. It’s all about friendship and adventure and is the first-ever musical from Sony Pictures. It also features original songs from the “Hamilton” writer and star from “Mary Poppins,” Lin-Manuel Miranda. ‘Luca’ — Friday, June 18 (Disney+) “Luca” will transport you to two places: a beach town in Italy and a world where magical sea monsters walk the land! This beautifully animated film tells the coming-of-age story of a young boy with a monstrous secret who just wants to eat gelato and ride scooters with his friends. The heartwarming film is a Disney and Pixar collaboration and will premiere on Disney+ on June 18 without an additional fee for subscribers.

is at it again! The latest live-action version of “Cinderella” is a musical rom-com starring Camila Cabello, Idina Menzel, Pierce Brosnan, and John Mulaney, among others. ‘Jungle Cruise’ — Friday, July 30 (Theaters) Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt will join forces this summer in “Jungle Cruise,” a live-action Disney adventure flick. The movie follows a researcher named Dr. Lily Houghton as she travels down the Amazon river to hunt for a tree that has healing powers. Skipper Frank Wolff is her guide, but before long, things get sketchy and, as Disney puts it, “their fate — and mankind’s — hangs in the balance.” These release dates are subject to change due to COVID-19 and may be delayed or moved to streaming services. If one of the movies sticks out to you, check online for updates! Grilled Chicken Shawarma

HAVE A LAUGH!

Inspired by FeastingAtHome.com

A spice-filled marinade and time do all the work in this recipe that features Middle Eastern flavors.

Ingredients • 2 tbsp ground cumin • 2 tbsp ground coriander • 2 tsp kosher salt • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper • 2 tsp turmeric • 1 tsp ground ginger • 1 tsp ground black pepper • 2 tsp allspice • 8 garlic cloves, minced • 6 tbsp olive oil • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs

Directions 1. To create marinade, whisk all spices with the garlic and olive oil in a medium bowl. 2. Add chicken to the bowl, coat well with marinade, cover, and let sit in the fridge for at least 20 minutes — or up to 48 hours. Strain off excess marinade before cooking. 3. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Grill thighs for 10–12 minutes on each side, or until a meat thermometer reads 165 F. 4. Serve with rice, vegetables, or pita bread with tzatziki.

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307 Childress Drive Rockdale, TX 76567 SabalDentalRockdale.com (512) 446-5886 Hours: M–F 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Inside This Issue What’s Changed in Dentistry in the Last 25 Years? PAGE 1 Dentists Weren’t Always Doctors PAGE 2 Hear From Our Happy Patients! PAGE 2 4 Summer Blockbusters for the Whole Family PAGE 3 Grilled Chicken Shawarma PAGE 3 Pro Tips for a Motivating Workout Playlist PAGE 4

Pro Tips to Create a Motivating Playlist Orchestrate Your Workout

Mix It Up Instructor Leanne Hainsby is known for the eclectic, feel-good songs that keep people pedaling hard in her cycling classes. Hainsby credits her vast musical tastes to her time as a dancer, which expanded her playlist for workout music. Which songs make the cut? Ones that inspire. “I think people will be so surprised by how much they will push themselves when they’re moved by the feeling of a song or how the music makes them feel,” she says. It doesn’t matter if it’s ambient electronic music or a lilting Johnny Cash tune, both of which can be found routinely on Hainby’s cycling playlists.

Make It Themed Whether you’re obsessed with ‘90s pop, classic rock jams, or David Bowie, you can use a theme to create workout playlists you’ll love. This is a great trick pros like Peloton instructor Christine D’Ercole use. D’Ercole is beloved by many for her themed classes, which range from an indie rock beginners’ ride to a fan-favorite all ‘90s ride. She also has holiday-themed playlists, like the one for her Women’s History Month ride in March that featured only female artists. You can always hop onto Spotify and check out the Peloton page to see all of their instructors’ recent playlists. Use this for inspiration to create your own list or stream whichever compilation catches your attention for your next workout.

Whether summer temperatures drive you to work outside or simply make you want to move indoors where the air conditioner is blasting, having an upbeat playlist can help you quickly pass the time and feel good, too.

There’s no better way to learn how to put together a motivational playlist than to ask a pro. Peloton’s bikes and treadmills are wildly popular, but now, users are working out through their app because of the

high-energy instructors, many of whom have become known for their amazing playlists. Here are two instructors’ tips to put together a killer playlist.

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