Signature Smiles - April 2022

Signature Smiles - April 2022

4,390 Lives Changed Through Sedation 1,588 5-Star Reviews, and Counting 86 Years of Combined Experience

The Home of Anxiety-Free Dentistry

Last year, we did a piece on all of the pregnancies that were going on in our offices. Now the babies are born, and we want to share how the new families are doing! Signature Smiles Pregnancies Where Are They Now?

APRIL 2022

Alyssa, Streetsboro Patient Relations Coordinator — Baby Elise, 5 Months Old

How are you and your family adjusting now that baby is here? My husband, James, and I are enjoying every moment. Our dog, Kip, is still a little jealous. He tries to steal her toys and curls up in her baby blankets. Baby on time, early, or late? She was born one week before her due date. I went into labor on Thanksgiving night, which also happened to be my birthday!

Who does the baby look like more? She has my eyes but her father’s face shape. She also has her dad’s toes!

Baby’s favorite food? She’s a little too young to try food yet, so I would say milk!

Baby’s most recent milestone? She is grabbing things and can almost roll over.

Anything else you want to add? She loves ‘70s funk music!

Keylon, Streetsboro Expanded Function Dental Assistant — Baby Olive, 9 Months Old

How are you and your family adjusting now that baby is here? The family has adjusted very well with the arrival of Baby Olive. Once we both returned to work, we were blessed to have available family members to provide free child care. Baby on time, early, or late? Olive was born right on schedule July 2, 2021. No complications to both mother and child. Who does the baby look like more? Olive has more of her father’s facial features and eye color, but as she grows, her eye shape and hair are attributed to her mother.

Baby’s favorite food? Olive is a big fan of bananas, mainly in the jar, but as her primary teeth begin to form, solid banana and rice snacks are definitely top tier. Baby’s most recent milestone? Olive is just shy of 9 months in age, and I’d say her most recent milestones are her speech patterns. No fully formed syllables as of yet, but the attempts to speak are present. The greatest development she has made is the strength in her legs. Olive stands easily with the help of a structure to balance on and assist with her walking. Anything else you want to add? She’ll definitely be walking solo by her first birthday and we look forward to helping her along the way.

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HAS SPRING BROUGHT BUGS INTO YOUR HOME?

LEMON OIL The last thing we want to see in our homes is a cockroach. A popular urban legend says that cockroaches can survive a nuclear explosion, so you probably can’t keep them out of your home. Plus, many of the products you can buy to kill or deter cockroaches are extremely toxic, so setting them out is dangerous if you have pets. Instead, put a few drops of lemon oil into the water you use to mop the floor. Cockroaches hate the smell. People won’t notice the scent, and you’ll be cockroach-free before you know it. PEPPERMINT OIL Spiders are one of the more common pests we see in our homes. Even though the majority of these spiders are not harmful (and actually eat other insects), most people still do not want them in their houses. Peppermint oil is a natural repellent. It doesn’t kill spiders, but it keeps them away. Add 5–10 drops of peppermint oil into 3/4 cup water mixed with 1/4 teaspoon of liquid detergent to create a harmless mixture that will keep spiders at bay. CINNAMON Another common pest that can be a nightmare to get rid of is ants. Once you notice ants getting into your home, they appear to be endless and can be found in just about every corner of the house. Ants hate the smell of cinnamon and will avoid areas with the scent. Sprinkle some cinnamon near the areas where they are entering your house and watch them disappear.

Get Rid of Them With These Hacks

When the weather warms up, bugs infiltrate homes across the country. Once it happens, you’re often left scrambling to your local hardware store to get the necessary pesticide or bug deterrent. Unfortunately, many pesticides and traps postpone the problem rather than solve it entirely. The good news is that you can fix many insect problems without having to test random products you find at the store. Certain household items do a magnificent job at preventing, deterring, and sometimes even killing bugs. If you’re worried about bugs infesting your home this spring, give these methods a try.

the teeth as a result of dry mouth can lead to enamel erosion and cavities. The Benefits of Fluoride Varnish

Fluoride varnish is a medication we paint on the teeth. Fluoride is a natural mineral proven for decades to prevent dental cavities! It adds back all the minerals to our enamel that have been lost from eating and drinking sugary and acidic foods. Fluoride cannot remove decay, but it can prevent it from penetrating the deeper parts of the tooth. Building a nice strong enamel with fluoride treatments every six months at your dentist can drastically help reduce your chance of needing a filling!

Many prescription drugs cause dry mouth. In fact, most do! The average number of American adults on medication is 50%, and of those, at least four drugs are taken per day by the average adult! Fluoride is also excellent for adults who suffer from sensitive teeth and tooth root exposure (receded gums). Tooth roots are highly susceptible to decay, but fluoride

So, why is it important for adults to get a fluoride treatment?

treatments will protect the exposed root surfaces and minimize their sensitivity. Fluoride varnish takes one minute to apply and can be done at your six- month checkup!

There are several reasons, but the most crucial reason is dry mouth. Dry mouth causes tooth decay because it allows harmful acids, plaque, and food to stay on the teeth. Our saliva helps buffer these acids to a neutral pH and coat and protect our teeth. Without enough saliva, acids left on

–Tiffany Crocker, RDH

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Ciara, Elyria Expanded Function Dental Assistant Baby Lucas, 8 months old

How are you and your family adjusting now that baby is here? Gage is the boss of the house. His older brothers love him and will do anything he asks. Baby on time, early, or late? Gage was induced three days early on June 9, 2021. He was 8 pounds, 11 ounces, and 21 inches long. Jackie, Elyria Treatment Coordinator — Baby Gage, 10 Months Old

How are you and your family adjusting now that baby is here? We are adjusting very well. Lucas is an overall easy baby and goes with the flow of our lives! Baby on time, early, or late? He was a bit earlier than the expected due date but also planned for the day he arrived.

Who does the baby look like more? He looks just like his older brother Carson.

Baby’s favorite food? He loooves ALL food. Doesn’t matter what, he wants a bite. Baby’s most recent milestone? He is officially crawling and pulling himself up on things. He also learned to give kisses. Anything else you want to add? He is the happiest, most smiley, sweetest baby! We love him very much.

Who does the baby look like more? Lucas is a blend of both Brandon and me but definitely looks like me as a baby with minor differences.

Baby’s favorite food? Lucas loves carrots and green beans!

Baby’s most recent milestone? Lucas’ most recent milestone is sitting up and being very vocal. He likes to copy the sounds his sister Delilah and his doggy Cammie make.

Crostini With Ricotta, Peas, and Mint INGREDIENTS

OUR PATIENTS SAY IT BEST

DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. On a large baking sheet, place baguette slices. Drizzle with 2 tbsp olive oil and sprinkle with 1 tbsp of salt. Bake for about 7 minutes, but do not brown. 3. In a medium pot, add water and 1 tsp salt, then bring to a boil. Add peas and cook for 3 minutes. Drain peas and place them in ice bath. Cool for several minutes before draining. • 1 French baguette, sliced • 4 tbsp olive oil, divided • 1 tbsp and 1 tsp salt, divided • 1 lb English peas, fresh or frozen

4. In a medium skillet, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium- high heat. Sauté drained peas with garlic until cooked through. The peas should still be firm, not mushy. 5. On a large platter, layer crostini with ricotta, peas, and a few slices of fresh mint. 6. Season each crostini with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. • 2 garlic cloves, smashed • 1 lb fresh ricotta cheese • Fresh mint leaves, sliced • Sea salt, to taste • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Inspired by AheadOfThyme.com

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

9519 State Route 14 Streetsboro, OH 44241 330-423-6779

Also Serving Elyria! Elyria, OH 44035 440-281-8031

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Signature Smiles Pregnancies: Where Are They Now?

1

Get Rid of Bugs in Your Home With These Hacks

2

The Benefits of Fluoride Varnish

2

Crostini With Ricotta, Peas, and Mint

3

A Heroic Dog Saves Her Owner

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On Jan. 3, 2022, New Hampshire State Police responded to a call about a lone dog wandering around on the interstate near Veterans Memorial Bridge. When they got there, the pup — a Shiloh shepherd named Tinsley — led the officers on what seemed to be a wild goose chase.

“This was almost like a real-life Lassie situation,” one lieutenant told CNN. “It’s really quite remarkable. This dog definitely saved their lives. I don’t think they would have survived the night given the temperatures.”

Tinsley is a real hero on four legs, just like Lassie, a fictional pup who saved two little boys from dying

“When Trooper Sandberg and the Lebanon police officers attempted to get close to the canine, it continued to run northbound on Interstate 89,

of hypothermia in the snow. Fortunately, Tinsley’s grateful owner, Cam, made a full recovery. He also knows just how special his pup is.

crossing into Vermont,” the police department wrote in a Facebook post. “A short time later, Trooper Sandberg and the Lebanon police officers located a damaged section of guardrail near the Interstate 91 and Interstate 89 junction.”

“She gets spoiled all the time,” he told the WPTZ news station. “She’ll get some venison, probably [a] burger tonight, and probably some back scratches with it.”

Tinsley is not the only dog who has saved a human from the cold. In the winter of 2017, a rescue pooch named

It turns out Tinsley had a destination in mind: an upside-down pickup truck that had crashed through that very guardrail.

Peanut saved the life of a 3-year-old girl in Michigan who had wandered away from home, and a golden retriever named Kelsey saved her owner after he slipped in the snow and broke his neck. She kept him warm for 19 hours and barked until help came. To read the full story of Tinsley’s roadside rescue, visit CNN.com and search “real-life Lassie.”

The truck had rolled off the highway, and the people who were inside — including Tinsley’s owner, Cam Laundry — were on the ground, badly hurt and hypothermic! Thanks to Tinsley’s bravery, the cops called an ambulance that rushed them to the hospital.

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