Sierra Crest Dental - Spring 2021

Sierra Crest Dental - Spring 2021

530-562-4089 SierraCrestDental.com Newsletter SPRING 2021 Sierra Crest Dental

Guess What ’s Ending ...

WINTER GOES, AND WE BREATHE EASY AGAIN

community. As mentioned, this year’s event is virtual, so you count your own steps as the Humane Society tries to meet its goal of 10,000 total miles moved and $20,000 in donations for the cause. You can register from May 10 through July 5, and everyone who does gets an awesome pair of themed wool socks!

This year, winter’s end felt even more momentous than usual. It’s always wonderful to see the sun poke through the gray clouds, and who doesn’t get excited when the weather finally starts warming up? And we’ve got more to look forward to in the next few months than we normally would in spring, because all signs indicate that the weather isn’t the only thing thawing — the end of the COVID-19 pandemic appears to be in sight at last. Does that mean it’s time to throw caution to the wind and abandon our safety and health measures? Not quite. We still have a responsibility to be safe and promote that same safety in others. But as we at Sierra Crest Dental hang up the skis and dig out the hiking shoes and mountain bikes, we do so with a feeling of hope for the future that we’ve not felt in a while, and it seems to be spreading through society at large. One of the things we hope to return to soon is the training and continuing education that is so critical to staying sharp and giving our patients the best experience possible. Both our doctors and our hygienists are now signed up for multiple socially distanced continuing education seminars throughout the rest of 2021. We are quite eager to have in- person classes once more; at Sierra Crest Dental, we always strive to expand and update our knowledge as techniques, technology, and best practices change over time. As you know, this passion for health extends past our work in the dental office. In May, we celebrate National Health and Fitness Month, and these months are always good reasons to connect with our community while promoting healthy living. For 2021, we’re doing that by participating in the “virtual” Trails for Tails fundraiser on behalf of the Truckee/Tahoe Humane Society. Few places in California love their dogs as much as we do here in the Tahoe area, and this just seemed like a great way to get involved with a good cause while also getting in some good exercise! Of course, it is a team effort, and we want you to be a part of our team! For only $25, you can register at HSTT.org/events/ trails-tails-virtual-race . Just be sure to register for the Sierra Crest Dental team! You’ll be supporting a worthy cause when you do so, as Trails for Tails is all about resources for homeless pets in our

As you can tell, there’s a lot to be excited about this time of year, and last but certainly not least is celebrating Sierra Crest Dental’s January through April Employee of the Quarter: the one-of-a-kind Sue! Patients will recognize Sue as the office manager who keeps things moving along, but not many realize just how many hats she wears on a daily basis. It’s a hugely important job to the practice, and Sue is a leader who motivates the team as well as a pro-level organizer and office wizard.

Sue’s focus is often on helping team members meet their personal and professional goals. These can range from finding training opportunities, like the ones we discussed earlier, to supporting them as they pursue fitness goals. She sees all of these as beneficial to the practice, and we’re so lucky to have her! Sue is a truly dedicated, loving person, and her kindness and enthusiasm are infectious — but not as infectious as her laugh! She cares deeply about the people around her, and that’s why she’s this edition's Employee of the Quarter! Well, those are a few of the things we’re excited for this season. But what about you? We’d love to hear about them. Together, we’re all heading for a brighter future. –The SCD Team

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5Best Recipe Apps for a Healthier Mind

Whether you’re a vegetarian, vegan, or a plant-based omnivore, you’ll love Forks Over Knives’ creative and simple dishes that blend perfectly with your needs. For only $5, you can easily find something to suit your tastes and health needs in the over 400 high-quality recipes from 50 celebrated chefs. You may even stave off heart disease and Type 2 diabetes while you’re at it. BBC Good Food With over 10,000 recipes accessible from BBC’s cooking history, this app brings together both user-submitted recipes and tested recipes from the BBC Good Food team and celebrity chefs — for free. Create an account and save all your favorites! Paprika You might already have your favorite go-to recipe blogs and websites, such as BudgetBytes and Bon Appetit. How do you

If you're always in a rush, it's quite possible that food delivery apps have been your best friend during the pandemic. But they may also make it difficult to stay healthy! Save yourself both time and money by replacing your food delivery apps with these top- rated healthy recipe and recipe management apps, instead. Tasty You’ve likely seen a Tasty food recipe video on Facebook or social media somewhere. Their beautifully simplistic editing style makes it easy to understand and follow recipes, and you can access their whole library for free with their app! It even includes a grocery list function when you want to take on multiple recipes. Forks Over Knives In recent years, nutritionists and doctors alike have started recommending a plant-based diet for its health benefits.

Hi, I’m Izzy, a 9-month-old schipperke-corgi mix — 21 lbs of love and muscle! My moms, Tammy and Denise, rescued me in January 2021. You know Tammy, from Sierra Crest Dental? She has been a dental assistant there for almost 10 years. Boy, does she love that job and the amazing team she works with. I heard her say once that when Dr. Colpitts retired, she would find a job in Reno so she didn’t have to commute, but then Dr. Delaney bought the practice and eventually brought in Dr. Mier, and that makes for two amazing dentists! Tammy and Denise are my moms, but I also have a new brother, Jax. He’s 2 years old, and he’s a schipperke-terrier mix — which is kind of like me! Mom rescued him when he was 5 months old. They found him living all alone on the streets. He gets pretty nervous when he meets new people; I guess he sure has come a long way! My family also had Jazzy, another schipperke, who passed away at 15 years old. That was where I came in. I heard them once call me “mostly lovable, with a twist of ‘devil dog.’” I’m sure I don’t know what they mean ... I can be a bit moody, but I have them both wrapped around my little paw! Jax, however, is on to my shenanigans and is having none of it. Oh, well — you can’t put a price on love, right? IZZY IN THE HOUSE

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d and Body

AN ANCIENT PRACTICE WITH MODERN BENEFITS

manage your cluttered bookmark folders of recipes? Easy! Get a recipe manager app like Paprika! It’s only $5, and you can input all your recipe URLs and easily organize your favorite recipes from the internet. BigOven Only have a few ingredients but need to cook a meal? Just type in three ingredients, and BigOven will search its 350,000-recipe bank to find the perfect options for free. BigOven also makes it easy to follow your favorite food bloggers while staying on top of your food supply!

GIVE TAI CHI A TRY

Martial artist and actor, Li Lianjie — aka Jet Li — is best known for his roles in the films “Fist of Legend,” “Shaolin Temple,” “Fearless,” and “Hero.” He has over 30 years of experience as a tai chi practitioner and is an advocate for the traditional Chinese martial art form. That’s because it comes with a long history that shows its many benefits. Origins While the exact age of this martial art form is unknown, tai chi can be dated back to as far as 2,500 years ago. Tai chi, also known as tai chi chuan or qi gong, was originally created and used as a form of self-defense. However, practitioners adapted it over the centuries, and many began using it as a form of meditation and exercise. Today, tai chi includes a focus on the mind, breathing practices, body awareness, and motion through slow and deliberate movements. Practicing this discipline brings calm and balance into the mind and body, which can be integrated into every aspect of life. Forms Tai chi consists of several different forms, including Yang, Chen, Wu Hao, Wu, and Sun styles. The most commonly practiced form is Yang, which places an emphasis on slow and exaggerated movements accompanied with slow, deep breaths. Because it includes gentle movements, Yang tai chi can be practiced by many individuals, regardless of their age or mobility. Tai chi is also a perfect way for anyone recovering from an injury to exercise without straining their bodies. Benefits For aging adults, tai chi offers many benefits, including balance, strength, and flexibility, which begin to fade with age but are necessary to help people stay active and reduce the risks of falling or developing arthritis. Because tai chi also focuses on the mind and breathing, it also improves mental and emotional well-being. Learning tai chi is easy, and it starts with attending the right class. Ethan Indigo, at For Goodness Sake in downtown Truckee, is an author and longtime Tai Chi practitioner. He shares Tai Chi classes focused on principles and practices of healing and strengthening of mind, body and spirit. The class will focus on Wu Tai Chi and related movements, philosophy for all levels. Beginners welcome. Contact Ethan to sign up and receive Zoom information [email protected] (530) 550-8981

We hope these apps will help you cook and eat simpler, healthier, and faster than ever!

ZUCCHINI PIZZA BITES

Ingredients

• 2 large zucchini, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing • 1/4 cup low carbohydrate marinara or pizza sauce

• 1 1/2 oz shredded part skim mozzarella • 1 1/2 oz mini turkey pepperoni • Dried oregano, for sprinkling

Directions 1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Place sliced zucchini on a baking sheet and brush with olive oil. 2. Bake until slightly tender, about 5 minutes. 3. Spoon a thin layer of sauce over each slice, then top with mozzarella and mini pepperoni. Sprinkle with dried oregano and bake until zucchini is tender and cheese is melted, about 10 more minutes.

Through this ancient form, you can bring peace, balance, and health into your life.

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Inside This Issue

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Guess What’s Ending ...

5 Best Recipe Apps for a Healthier Mind and Body Izzy in the House

Zucchini Pizza Bites

Bring Peace and Balance Into Your Life

Head for Ward Creek Park

Head for Ward Creek Park Ward Creek Park is one of our favorite places to enjoy late spring and early summer, so this month, we wanted to share this little secret place with all of you, too. Whether you like to hike, bike, or trail run, there are multiple footpaths accessible just south of the Ward Creek Bridge — such as the Sanford Rock Loop, which actually crosses the Tahoe Rim Trail.

As with any park, show up ready to pack out your trash. Because COVID-19 restrictions are still a factor, be prepared to sanitize and stay 6 feet away from other park visitors. Some people have been comparing notes lately about some of the birds to be found in this area, and it’s always a favorite with local birders, so be sure to bring your binoculars, too. As spring edges into summer and the weather steadily improves, expect to see a variety of bird species, slowly changing with the months. Ward Creek Park remains dog-friendly as long as you restrict your animals to the developed area of the park.

One of the things we love most about Ward Creek, however, is how quiet and protected it is at the moment. You cannot drive there at this time; it doesn’t have parking facilities, and they don’t want anybody parking on the roads. We’ve been walking or biking and getting there just fine, or parking a good distance away, but walking is a great option!

What do you love to do? Perhaps we’ll see you out and about!

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