Team Demas Orthodontics November 2017

(860) 276-0333 | www.teamdemas.com

One Office, One Doctor, One Focus Giving You Your Smile Back

You don’t often hear sophomores in high school saying their dream job is to be an orthodontist, but at that age, I knew that was what I wanted to do. I enjoyed working with my hands and studying science, so it seemed like a good fit. Yet it took me a lot more life experience, and 16 years of being an orthodontist, to fully appreciate what we do. It was all thanks to a former patient of mine who came into our office one day with a portfolio. She had done some modeling and was offering to model her smile for before and after photos. Her smile was what every orthodontist tries to achieve, and she had straight, aligned teeth. I didn’t think much of the encounter until later that day. Some patients have two-phase orthodontic care to get the full benefits of braces, and this girl was one such patient. When I looked at her beginning photos from phase one, I could not believe it was the same girl who had been standing in front of me hours earlier. The change in her smile was almost unrecognizable.

I’ve seen this transformation in people of all ages. Patients in their 60s tell me, “I hate my smile — I always have,” and it makes me sad to think they’ve been hiding their smile their whole lives. It’s like they’re hiding part of their personality with it. When we can use orthodontics to give them a smile they like, it changes their entire personality because they smile more, and that makes them feel more confident. I’m not just giving myself a pat on the back, because success is never a solo achievement. Thanks to everyone at Team Demas, we are able to give patients the priceless gift of a smile. Sometimes you can take what you do for granted, but I’ve realized giving someone their smile back really does change their life. When kids and adults get the treatment they need, I truly believe they have improved self-esteem. I am blessed to do what I do, and I finally realize what that is: changing smiles and changing lives. Since relocating, we’ve been able to give you an even more personalized experience. When you visit our office, you’ll be able to say, “I’m going to see Dr. Demas.” Visit us in Southington, and experience the difference that is “one office, one doctor, one team, one focus: you.” From everyone at Team Demas, we look forward to giving you smile- worthy orthodontic care at all stages of life.

“That’s when it hit me: Smiles really do change lives.”

That’s when it hit me: Smiles really do change lives.

Now I am blessed to see the transformation in patients all the time, and I understand why I wanted to become an orthodontist all those years ago. Another youth came into the office recently with trauma to her teeth and a lot of discoloration, and we were able to use orthodontics to give her a new smile. After a couple months with the transformation, she came back to my office and told me, “I did not realize how I used to hide my smile until now. Now I really smile.” Can you imagine what a difference this makes not only in her own self- esteem, but in how she interacts with others?

—Dr. Demas

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(860) 276-0333 | www.teamdemas.com

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3 Family Activities for Thanksgiving

Unless you have a child auditioning for “MasterChef Junior,” you’re probably not going to let the little ones cook the turkey this Thanksgiving. Just because the kitchen might be off limits, though, doesn’t mean you can’t find a few creative ways to make the holiday extra special for your kids. Spice upThanksgiving with these fun, family-friendly activities. Coloring-Book Tablecloths If you have a big family, you are probably familiar with the Thanksgiving tradition of the kids’ table. It may be smaller than the grown-ups' seating arrangement, but it doesn’t have to be any less special. Turn your kids’ table into a canvas for a colorful, creative dining experience. To do this, use craft or art paper to cover the table. Tape everything down tightly and provide crayons and colored pencils for every place setting. If you want to add some extra holiday spirit, put the drawing supplies in

Grab some colored paper circles — or cut them out — and have your children write down things that they are thankful for. A silver Sharpie is great for this. Punch holes in the tops of the circles and run string through them. Tie the other end of the string to a coat hanger or embroidery hoop and hang it from the ceiling. Stuff the Turkey Game Want to get the kids outside so you can get to work in the kitchen? Create a Thanksgiving-themed game for them to play outside while you prep the stuffing and put the turkey in the oven.

To create a holiday-themed “Stuff the Turkey” game, all you need is a few paper bags. We’ll bet you have some left over from shopping. Use two small bags stuffed with scrap paper to create legs and glue them to a larger bag folded to look like the body of a turkey. Now that you have your

empty cranberry sauce and pumpkin cans. Gratitude Mobiles

turkey, you need some balls to stuff it with. Anything soft and baseball-sized will work, even some balled-up paper. Kids will take turns trying to toss the balls into the turkey, scoring points for every shot made.

Of course, Thanksgiving isn’t just about delicious food. It’s also about reflecting on the parts of our lives we are grateful for. Teaching kids about gratitude is the most valuable Thanksgiving lesson. Bring that concept to life with a gratitude mobile.

Kelly

Kelly is one of our orthodontic assistants. While she is newer to Connecticut, she has been helping patients with their smiles for over 10 years. She moved to Connecticut after living in Los Angeles for 15 years. Kelly has always loved working with people, especially kids. In fact, she has an early-childhood education certificate. After beginning her work in that field, she found she wanted a change when she started her family. She liked going to her dentist, so she went back to school for dental assisting and became a Registered Dental Assistant. But her favorite work is orthodontics, as it is truly life changing for patients to get the smile they desire. She loves the experiences shared with patients. For adults, the successes can go beyond just straight teeth. Kelly worked with one 25-year-old adult who had a thumb habit and severe bite alignment concerns. A year after she was done with treatment, she came in for a routine visit. Her thumb habit was broken and her smile was perfect. She was radiant, because the confidence she gained after breaking a longstanding habit and achieving a great smile was priceless. Kelly and her husband, Ray, have a young daughter and a son. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, biking, and spending time with family. She is also a member of the Hartford Portuguese Club, and her goal is to be on the board.

“I love being in the orthodontic field as it allows me to help provide patients with the smile they deserve.”

A PARENT’S GUIDE TO ORTHODONTICS “Hurray for new braces!” said no child ever. While getting new braces can be exciting at first, the novelty soon wears off as kids try to adjust to the drawbacks. Luckily, there are a lot of things parents can do to make the process a little easier. Just check out our list! 1 SERVE SOFT FOOD FOR THE FIRST WEEK Braces can make it difficult to chew certain foods. Help your kids during the first week by taking sticky, sweet, or hard foods off the menu, and serve soup or yogurt to soothe their sore mouths.

4 Use Orthodontic Wax 5 Offer Ice Cream 6 Use Mouthguards

It’s not uncommon for the metal brackets and wires to cause irritation of a child’s lips, gums, or inner cheeks. Put orthodontic wax over the metal to help prevent irritation and to remedy your child’s pain.

Sugary ice cream shouldn’t be part of your child’s everyday diet. However, the cool food can help soreness. After the application procedure is finished, ice cream is the perfect celebratory treat to combat the pain.

2 Have Them Gargle Saline

If your child experiences a lot of mouth pain, gargling with saline can help reduce soreness. Mix half a glass of warm water with two pinches of salt for an effective home remedy.

Mouthguards can prevent tenderness caused by the brackets or wires rubbing against the inside of your child’s mouth. Your child should always wear a mouthguard while playing sports to prevent damage to their teeth or braces. New braces are the first step in improving your child’s oral health. They probably won’t love them right away, but your child will surely thank you in the long run. Until then, these tips can help you make the experience a little less terrible.

3 Take Advantage of Pain Relievers

If your child experiences extreme mouth pain, over-the-counter ibuprofen can help. Check with your child’s doctor to determine the right dosage.

Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Soup

Take a Break

Ingredients •

• • • •

1 tablespoon garlic, minced 5 cups chicken or vegetable stock

3 pounds sweet potatoes, roughly chopped

• • •

1 onion, chopped 2 stalks celery, sliced

1 cup coconut milk

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

2medium carrots, chopped

Directions 1. Place all the ingredients except for the coconut milk in a slow cooker. 2. Season everything to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. 3. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 4 hours. 4. Puree everything until smooth, using a blender or an immersion blender. 5. Add the coconut milk, give everything a good stir, and cook for another 30minutes. 6. Adjust the seasoning and serve warm.

Recipe courtesy of PaeloLeap.com

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Team Demas Orthodontics 27 Meriden Ave #2A Southington, CT 06489

3 2 1 INS I DE TH I S ISSUE

How We Became Team Dema s

3 Fami l y Ac t i v i t i e s fo r Thanksg i v i ng

Can Pa r en t s He l p Make Wea r i ng Brace s Ea s i e r ?

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Team Demas Orthodontics

ICONIC MACY’S Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons Thanksgiving is a holiday full of traditions, from turkey and stuffing to football and naps. Since 1924, theMacy’s Parade has grown to become not only a Thanksgiving staple but also the world’s largest parade. Over 3.5 million people attended the parade last year, with another 20 million tuning in fromhome. The main attraction is always the massive character balloons, which first graced the skies in 1927. Over the decades, some of these balloons have become nearly as famous as the character they depict. FELIXTHE CAT When the Felix the Cat balloon appeared in 1931, it set the standard for all characters to follow. Sadly, the original balloon got tangled in wires and caught on fire, so it has been lost to history. Felix’s influence on the parade is so immense, however, that whenMacy’s brought him back in 2016 for the parade’s 90th anniversary, they recreated his original design. Without Felix's debut, the parade might look a lot different today. SNOOPY When it comes to balloon characters, none is more famous than the classic “Peanuts” beagle. His first balloon floated through the sky in 1968, and he’s been a regular fixture ever since. Charles Schultz’s famous pooch holds the record for

most variations in a parade (eight) and most total appearances (40). Though Snoopy doesn’t come out every year, he usually closes the showwhen he does. PIKACHU The Pokémonmascot didn’t appear until 2001, but he’s become a star attraction, showing up every year since. Bright, expressive, and impossible to miss, Pikachu checks off all the boxes for a successful balloon character. For 16 years, those who predicted that Pokémon was just a fad have gotten a big, yellow reminder of just howwrong they were.

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(860) 276-0333 | www.teamdemas.com

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