Trailridge Family Dental - Aug/Sept 2017

Aug / Sep 2017

Happy Trails

Allan W. Stevenson, DDS General Dentist

www.trailridgefamilydental.com 205 W. Highway 95, Parma, ID 83660

208-722-7924

Drive Into Some Fun Our Upcoming Patient Appreciation Event

When I was a kid, the end of summer was all about squeezing in a few final activities before the Monday-through-Friday grind. Whether that meant one last swim, a family outing while schedules were still open, or doing some back-to-school clothes shopping, those days in August felt like racing against the clock to have as much fun as possible. Maybe those memories are part of the reason why we’ve held a patient appreciation event in mid- August for five years running. This year, we’re happy to carry on the tradition. On August 14, we’ll be holding a drive-in movie night at the Parma Motor Vu. It’s a little too early for me to be able to say with confidence what the film will be, but I can promise you it will be family-friendly. We’ll also have popcorn and soft drinks to offer. Feel free to bring your friends and loved ones. To grab tickets, all you have to do is stop by the office and ask. The Parma Motor Vu is one of our city’s coolest attractions. It originally opened in 1954, and it’s still going strong. If you’ve never been, I really hope you’ll join us. There’s nothing like watching a movie under the stars. You might even spot a few classic cars while you’re there. Honestly, the atmosphere is usually just as exciting as what’s happening on the screen.

did, would they be bored? Boy, was I wrong. It’s gotten bigger every year, and I hear a ton of good things about it from our team and patients. We think of it as a small way to say thanks to the wonderful people that make Trailridge Family Dental the practice that it is. Too often, we only see people when they’re in for a cleaning or some work. At events like these, we have the chance to kick back and have some fun together. So stop by the office and grab tickets for a few of your friends and family members. I promise it will be a great evening with a wonderful group of people, and I won’t even get on your case about enjoying a soft drink. With the summer ending sooner than you expect, I hope you take the time to enjoy it as much as you can. If the coming winter is anything like the last one, you’ll be yearning for the sun to come back as soon as possible. When you’re filling up your summer calendar, leave room for a couple of hours at the drive-in. We’d love to see you there!

I have to admit, when we first started the event, I was a little skeptical of it taking off. Would people even show up? If they

– Dr. Stevenson

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www.trailridgefamilydental.com

208-722-7924

Extracurricular Overload A s school starts up again, so do sports, and your kids’ extracurricular ambitions pile up like the falling autumn leaves. Managing their schedules can seem impossible, but don’t let yourself get burnt out. Here are some tips to stay sane in the midst of the extracurricular whirlwind.

HowTo Demystify Your Kids' Jam-Packed Schedules

who’s driving who when, but you should go further than that. Those soccer practices Jacob’s going to? There are other teammates there, and those teammates have parents shuttling them around, just like you are. Set up carpools to manage scheduling conflicts between your kids and drastically reduce the time you spend as a chauffeur. Maintain balance. This might come as a surprise, but you will have to say no to your child every now and then. Sure, simultaneous baseball, football, and soccer seasons might seem healthy and fun for your kid, but you need to consider your own needs, as well. Many parents give their children free rein over what to choose, but limit activities to one or two per season. Make sure you weigh each child’s needs equally, and keep the rules the same for each of them.

Consolidate all your scheduling, jotting, and activity-tracking strategies into one system. You can’t afford to be scrawling “Abby piano lesson rescheduled 9/21” on the first scrap of paper you come across. That doesn’t mean you have to be hyper- organized, but it does mean that you need to keep your entire calendar in one place, whether that place is Google Calendar, a fridge whiteboard, or the old-fashioned standby: a calendar with a lighthouse on every page. Whichever system you choose, keep it updated. Its word is law.

Form parent alliances. It’s vital that you and your partner coordinate availability and

Where to Watch the Great American Eclipse On August 21, 2017, the greatest show of the summer will take place in the United States: a total solar eclipse! This eclipse will be visible across North America, but the path of totality — the area where the moon completely covers the sun — will only fall in the continental U.S., leading this cosmic event to be called the Great American Eclipse. Lucky for us, Idaho is one of the best places in the entire country to take in this spectacular event. The Gem State is expecting record visitors for the event, so make plans soon if you plan on traveling. You won’t have to go far, however, to get some Here in Parma, the sky will go dark at 11:26 a.m., with a 99.8 percent view of the eclipse. The Patricia Romanko Public Library is giving away free glasses for the event. Once you snag a pair, we recommend heading to Old Fort Boise Park to share the experience with fellow locals. WEISER, IDAHO If nothing less than 100 percent will do, you can take a short drive to Weiser, which is located in what’s known as the “path of totality” for the eclipse. A 10:10 a.m. Weiser will get more than two full View of a Lifetime incredible views. PARMA, IDAHO

minutes of the moon blocking out the sun. Be warned, though, that any area within the path will probably be full of visitors. THE MUSEUM OF IDAHO, IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO The Museum of Idaho has been designated an Official NASA Observation Site, and the museum is hosting four days of awesome events to celebrate. Enjoy live presentations, technology demonstrations, and special exhibits as you prepare to watch the total eclipse with NASA scientists. Visit the official website of the Great American Eclipse at greatamericaneclipse.com for everything you need to know about this once-in-a-lifetime sight!

www.trailridgefamilydental.com

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208-722-7924

Know Your Enemy DNA Tests Pinpoint Periodontal Bacteria

T reating gum disease can be a tricky process. While prevention and deep cleaning are often effective ways to avoid extreme cases of periodontal disease, things get more complicated once tartar begins to work its way into the deep structures of the gums. But new technologies enable dentists to pinpoint the cause of gum disease and eliminate it at the source. Periodontal disease arises as swarms of bacteria begin to eat away at the gums. Over 350 discrete species of bacteria participate in the deterioration of human gums, and each of them is utterly unique. Each of these microscopic species carries its own distinct genetic blueprint embedded within its DNA. If you’ve ever seen a picture of DNA, you know that it is composed of two separate, twisting strands, connected by a series of “ladder rungs.” These rungs are made up of two separate nitrogen bases, bonded together at the center. Each base only connects to a specific other base — adenine pairs with thymine, and cytosine pairs with guanine.

Though the way in which these bases bond is particular, the order in which each pair appears as you move down the “ladder” has

an infinite number of permutations. When we investigate this arrangement within the cells of a particular organism, we learn its unique genetic blueprint. Dentists are now able to extract a sample of the bacteria afflicting your gums with a cotton swab of saliva. Then, the sample is sent to a lab and run through a DNA analysis. The results of the test detail the specific strains of bacteria that are present in the gums, giving the dentist a much clearer picture of the problem.

The first step in combating the enemy under our gums is to know what we’re up against, and DNA testing enables us to do just that.

Wilder 4th of July Parade where we got 1st place

Old Fort Boise Parade

Part of our team at the Fun Run at Old Fort Boise Days

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www.trailridgefamilydental.com

208-722-7924

Return Service Requested

205 W. Highway 95 Parma, ID 83660 208-722-7924

Inside This Issue

Drive Into Some Fun

Page 1

Extracurricular Overload

Page 2

View of a Lifetime

Page 2

Know Your Enemy

Page 3

Ritz Cracker Ice Cream Sandwiches

Page 4

Make the most of these last few summer weeks and gather the kids for this fun, easy dessert! You can even save the leftovers in the freezer for those busy back-to-school nights. Ritz Cracker Ice Cream Sandwiches

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pint your favorite ice cream

• 24 Ritz (or

• 4 ounces dark chocolate pieces, melted

generic butter round) crackers

DIRECTIONS

center of 12 crackers. Press remaining crackers, chocolate side down, onto the ice cream scoop.

1. Melt chocolate pieces in a double boiler or in the microwave. Stir until smooth and drippy. 2. Arrange crackers, bottom side up, on a cookie sheet. Use fork to drizzle melted chocolate over

4. Freeze at least 4 hours before serving. Wrap individual sandwiches in plastic wrap to store in freezer for up to 7 days — but they’ll never last that long.

crackers, then place them in freezer to cool quickly.

3. Remove crackers from freezer and place small ice cream scoop in the

Recipe inspired by joythebaker.com.

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www.trailridgefamilydental.com

208-722-7924