Sabal General Dentistry - August 2020

Sabal General Dentistry - August 2020

August 2020

2222 Airline Rd., Suite A4, Corpus Christi, TX 78414 |

www.SabalDental.com

| (361) 853-8999

An Amazing Transformation Basilio Stops Hiding His Smile

When I started my first dental practice up in northern Idaho, I learned that my patients rarely felt comfortable going to a specialist with a dental emergency. When my patients needed orthodontic treatment, they would ask if I could do it. I started taking courses so I could perform these treatments myself. I’m glad I took this path in my career. Today, instead of sending patients to four different offices, I’m able to perform most treatments all in one place. I recently treated a young man, Basilio Rodriguez, who needed extensive treatment. We removed a few of his wisdom teeth, extracted a supernumerary tooth, gave him composite fillings, and treated him with braces. I initially estimated that the treatment would take a year, but we got everything done in just nine months. The end result was spectacular. I’ve done orthodontics for most of my career, but this was something I was especially proud of. This month, I’ve invited Basilio to share his experience and what it’s like having a brand-new smile.

a pain, but I’m glad I stuck with it. The confidence I feel when I smile now is worth all that work. I don’t have to hide my smile anymore, and it feels great! I never liked my smile before, so I would always smile with my mouth closed. After getting dental work, I feel like I can smile a lot more. I didn’t realize how much my teeth impacted my self-esteem until I was smiling freely in front of my classroom. I’m

currently attending Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi as a doctoral candidate for the Counselor Education Program. Right now, I’m a graduate assistant, and my responsibilities include teaching alongside the professors. This new smile has given me more confidence when I’m teaching. I’m able to be more expressive and connect to the students without feeling self-conscious about my smile. My goal is to be authentic and genuine with my students so they feel comfortable coming to me when they have a problem or need help. Feeling confident in my smile lets me be more open when I teach so I can build that rapport. At one point I was in their shoes, so I know what my students are going through. Having a teacher you connect with can make a big difference. I’ve had this new smile for a while now and my students, friends, and colleagues are still complimenting me on it. “Make sure you see Dr. Thompson at Sabal Dental,” I tell them. “He’s really good!” Honestly, the whole staff at Sabal Dental was great. Dr. Thompson did the dental work, but the staff at the front desk always greeted me warmly, and the dental assistants were always helpful. The process was difficult at times, but I always felt comfortable and welcome there. If you’re unsure about getting braces or changing your smile, give Sabal Dental a chance. This place changes lives. –Basilio Rodriguez

–Dr. Chad Thompson

I didn’t plan on getting my teeth fixed when I first went to Sabal Dental. I was there for a dental cleaning. After the hygienist was done, Dr. Thompson came in to sign off, and he asked me if I’d ever considered getting dental work done. I hadn’t but in the spur of the moment, I thought, “Why not?” A few weeks later, I had an evaluation with Dr. Thompson, and he made his treatment recommendations. Nine months later, I can smile again. The hardest part of the treatment was the week after I got my wisdom teeth out. I had to take pain killers, my gums were bleeding, and I felt pretty miserable. In that moment, I wondered why I was putting myself through it. But after a month, once my gums started healing, I felt a lot better, and I knew that it was all going to be worth it. The treatment was a lot of work, so I followed Dr. Thompson’s directions to a T so we’d see the best results possible. Brushing and flossing with braces was

Sabal General Dentistry • 361-853-8999 • 1

Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.thenewsletterpro.com

DEPRESSED, ANXIOUS, OR ANGRY? TRY LISTENING TO ROCK ‘N’ ROLL!

2020 has been a difficult year. If you’re feeling frustrated, angry, or depressed right now, you’re not alone! All over the world, people have been trying different strategies to cope with their feelings, including yoga, meditation, exercise, binge-watching their favorite TV

“During any given year, depression affects approximately

5%–8% of Americans,” FCR reports. “According to our survey participants, the vast majority — around 89% — turn to music in order to feel better. The top genre for depressed listeners is rock, followed closely by alternative, pop, and hip-hop/rap.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, the blues came in last on the list.

shows, and even baking banana bread. But perhaps the most universal outlet and cure for pent-up emotions is music. Do you remember the clip that went viral in March of Italians in quarantine, singing together from their balconies? If you do, that’s probably because it made

you smile. TIME heralded it as proof that “the country’s spirits are still strong,” and it’s just one small example of how music uplifts people. This isn’t just an anecdotal effect, either. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, music can help us process emotions and fight mental health conditions like anxiety, dysregulation, depression, trauma, sleep disorders, schizophrenia, and more. So, how can you take advantage of music’s power to turn your mood around? One option is to create music of your own, but another is simply to listen. When it comes to flipping a bad mood on its head, a survey conducted by the Family Center for Recovery (FCR) suggests that rock is the genre of choice.

To put the power of music to work, create playlists for each mood that you want to turn around, like “Anger,” “Frustration,” “Sadness,” “Anxiety,” or “Grief,”

and fill them with songs from genres associated with fighting that feeling. According to FCR, rock is the most popular antidote to sadness and anxiety, and it’s also high on the list for anger, along with pop and country. Frustrated people opt for variations of rock, pop, punk, and heavy metal, and those stricken by grief turn to soft rock or soul. The artists are up to you, so fill up your lists, press play, and let the music do its work.

OUR PATIENTS SAY IT BEST

“I typically don’t leave reviews but find myself looking for them when I need them ... So here it goes ... Staff is so amazing. I usually dread going to the dentist more than anything, but I loved the amazing service I received here. I was beyond impressed with Dr. LaPointe and Dr. Thompson because of how soft spoken and patient they and their incredible staff are! They answered every question I had, and I didn’t feel I was getting rushed. If you are looking for a dentist, look no further!” – Diana P. “Great staff. They were able to get me in quickly to resolve some needed dental work. Dr. Thompson did a fantastic job with very little discomfort. He is great with conversation to make the procedure go by quickly. I also had a great

experience with my cleaning the week before. Rebecca is amazing! My teeth felt so clean afterward, and she is very thorough. I always look forward to my appointments with her!” – Cory C. “Best Dental office ever. Staff are wonderful, very considerate, and professional.” – Zulema C.

2 • www.SabalDental.com

Another serious issue nail biters may encounter is root resorption, when the jawbone actually reabsorbs the roots of the teeth, weakening them and leaving them vulnerable to

SAY ‘NO!’ TO NAIL BITING

Be Kinder to Your Teeth

falling out. If you have braces and bite your nails, you’re even more susceptible to resorption. All this, and we haven’t even talked about bacteria yet! Dirt and germs get trapped

Nail biting is a widespread habit. Researchers estimate that one-third of the world’s population, including nearly half of all teenagers, bites their nails. Many believe this compulsive behavior arises from stress or boredom, but even though it’s been studied extensively, there are no concrete explanations for why so many humans do it regularly. What we do know, however, are plenty of concrete reasons why it’s important to break this habit. It might seem like your teeth are much stronger than your fingernails. In the short term, this is true because your teeth easily chomp and tear through your nails. But over time, your teeth will fall victim to the habit as the friction results in chipping, cracking, and gradual erosion. That means excessive biting can wear enamel away, leaving your teeth vulnerable to decay. Biting your nails can also force your teeth to move. Repeated pushing and pressure causes teeth to shift, resulting in problems with your bite or gaps in your teeth.

under our fingernails no matter how clean we try to keep them. So when we put our fingers in our mouth, that bacteria transfers to our teeth and gums and may cause periodontal disease or other illnesses. If you’re a nail biter trying to break the habit, there are some simple solutions. Try trimming your nails regularly so there’s nothing to bite. You can also paint your nails with polish or coat them with bitter substances to deter yourself from biting. If you think stress is causing you to engage in this vice, keep a stress ball nearby and grab it instead of giving in to the biting urge. Keep your teeth and nails healthy by keeping them away from each other. You’ll avoid potentially expensive damage, and breaking the habit will help you find more productive reactions to stress and boredom.

Have a Laugh

Rhubarb Cake

Nature’s favorite tart vegetable — yes, rhubarb is a vegetable! — is in season once again. Celebrate rhubarb season with this simple, delicious cake.

Ingredients • 2 1/4 cups white sugar, divided • 1 tsp baking soda • 1/2 tsp salt • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided

• 2 eggs, beaten • 1 cup sour cream • 3 cups rhubarb stalks, diced • 1/4 cup butter, softened

Directions 1. Heat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking dish. 2. In a large bowl, combine 1 1/4 cups sugar, baking soda, salt, and 2 cups flour. 3. Stir in eggs and sour cream until smooth. 4. Fold in rhubarb and add mixture to the prepared baking dish. 5. In a small bowl, combine 1 cup sugar and butter until smooth. 6. Stir in 1/4 cup flour until mixture is crumbly. 7. Sprinkle mixture on top of cake batter and bake for 45 minutes. 8. Let cake cool for 5–10 minutes and serve.

Inspired by AllRecipes.com

Sabal General Dentistry • 361-853-8999 • 3

Hours: M–F 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

2222 Airline Road, Suite A4 Corpus Christi, TX 78414

Inside This Issue

No More Hiding Page 1 The Best Genre of Music to Combat Depression Page 2 Hear From Our Happy Patients! Page 2 Why You Should Quit Biting Your Nails Page 3 Rhubarb Cake Page 3 The Best Grandfather a Kitten Could Have Page 4

How a Feral Cat Came to Care for Orphaned Kittens THE STORY OF GRANDPA MASON

When cats are orphaned as kittens, they don’t get the chance to develop all the skills needed to become successful cats. Just like human children, kittens need older role models too. The most famous cat role model had a rough start in life but became an inspiration for kittens and humans alike. His name was Grandpa Mason, and during the last years of his life, he stepped up and gave love, care, and guidance to the orphaned kittens that lived with him. The Canadian animal rescue group TinyKittens rescued Grandpa Mason in 2016 from a property that was scheduled to be bulldozed. The poor feral tabby was suffering from many health problems, including severe dental issues, a badly injured paw, and advanced kidney disease. Since TinyKittens is a no-kill rescue organization, euthanization was out of the question. Given his health conditions, veterinarians predicted the battle-scarred Grandpa Mason didn’t have long to live, so TinyKittens’ founder, Shelly Roche, took him in and provided him with a comfortable place to sleep, plenty of food, and time to relax in the last months of his life. Grandpa Mason had a hard time adjusting to domestic life and would often shy away from being petted. In an interview with The Dodo,

Roche described him as “an elderly gentleman [who] lived his whole life a certain way, and then, all of a sudden, [was] forced to live completely differently.” After Grandpa Mason grew accustomed to his home, Roche took in several foster kittens, and those new roommates completely altered Grandpa Mason’s behavior. Roche expected him to hiss, swat, or growl at the kittens when they invaded his space, but he didn’t. Instead, he allowed them to crawl all over him and appeared to enjoy it when they licked his ear. Suddenly a playful, affectionate, and gentle personality came out of Grandpa Mason as he played with, bathed, taught, and cared for the orphaned kittens that Roche welcomed into her home. Potentially due to the kittens’ influence, Grandpa Mason surpassed his prognosis by more than two years. During the last few years of his life, Grandpa Mason passed on important lessons and good manners to the kittens he looked after and adored, as a true grandfather should. He passed last September, but he spent his last night in his ultimate happy place: snuggling in his bed surrounded by kittens.

4 • www.SabalDental.com

Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.thenewsletterpro.com