Ustick Dental Office - December 2021/January 2022

Ustick Dental Office - December 2021/January 2022

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DEC 2021/JAN 2022

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS

Looking Forward to 2022

Happy New Year! Like many people, I hope 2022 will allow us to return to a more normal way of doing things. I’m looking forward to spending time with family, setting new goals, and continuing to provide outstanding care to our patients. Though not everyone likes winter, I’ve always loved getting out and playing in the snow. Growing up, my father was a ski instructor, and he got all of us kids started pretty young. We’d go skiing every Saturday as a family. As a teenager, I also learned how to snowboard. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve found it’s not very forgiving — so these days, I mostly stick to skiing. I continue the tradition with my own family. My two sons enjoy snowboarding, while my wife and three daughters like to ski. Now that they’re grown — they range in age from 18 to 28 — I don’t get to see them as much as I’d like, so any time we can get together as a family is a blessing. Last summer, my oldest daughter gave birth to her second child (our second grandchild). We were lucky enough to travel to Phoenix for Thanksgiving, meet the new baby, gather as a family, and have a good time. I’m looking forward to traveling more in 2022 as it hopefully becomes safer to do so. To me, the new year always feels like a fresh start. I set New Year’s resolutions every year, but I think of them more as goals. Last year, one of my goals was to read more, and I accomplished that. I mostly enjoy nonfiction, and I’ve been reading history books — in particular, I’ve been learning about the Founding Fathers and other significant American historical figures. I like to know about people’s lives and how things used to be many years ago. I think it helps us understand where we are today, and we can apply plenty of those lessons to our modern lives.

harder and harder on my joints. I’m thinking about swimming and other activities that will be easier on my knees. Though it will look different from when I was younger, I still want to remain active and improve my fitness. Around the office, we haven’t been able to hold our patient appreciation event for the last two years, so we’re hoping to bring that back in 2022. We’re also constantly looking for new ways to improve the care and services we provide. In particular, we want to implement more 3D printing in our work. With 3D printing, we can create mouth guards and impression trays right here in the office. We can also develop a 3D image of a patient’s mouth and then turn it into a 3D-printed surgical guide. The guide helps us place implants as precisely as possible within the jaw. We appreciate all our patients for their continued faith in our care. We’ve worked hard after these past few years to maintain a safe environment for treatment, and we never stop trying to find ways to improve. Whatever 2022 holds, I’m excited to keep moving forward and seeing you all.

-Dr. Rigby

This year, I want to work more on physical goals. In the past, I used to do a lot of running. But as the years have gone by, it has gotten

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4 Secrets to Finding Time to Read as a Busy Parent Embrace Your Inner Bookworm

When you think of reading, you might conjure up an image of yourself curled up next to a cozy fireplace, sipping on coffee, and reading the day away. However, with the hustle and bustle of daily life and raising kids, it’s tough to find the time to truly dive into a good book. We know it’s important to read to our children, but we forget how valuable it is for them to see us reading, too.

their children. If this sounds like you, make time to read together — the kids read their books, and you read yours! Some days, this may last 10 minutes, but other times, they may stay captivated longer. Either way, you are creating healthy habits for your kids while getting in a chapter for yourself, too! Swap out the movies for books. Once the kids are tucked in after a long day, it sounds so nice to park yourself in front of the television with a cozy blanket and mindlessly watch a good movie or an episode of your favorite show. However, instead of watching TV for an hour, dedicate some or all of that time to reading. This way, you’re still making progress in your book. No matter how you make the time to read, you will be glad you did. Good luck and happy reading!

So, how can you fit it into your schedule?

Don’t leave the house without a book. Whether you are waiting in the pickup line at school, at the dentist’s office, for your order at the coffee shop, or at your kid’s soccer practice, this downtime could be spent reading a chapter of your book. Schedule reading time. This one sounds quite silly, but as parents know, if you don’t make time for something,

it won’t get done. Plan out 30 minutes of reading time each day to allow yourself to get comfortable and read without distractions. The trick here is to make sure you don’t cancel on yourself! Make it a family affair. Sometimes parents feel guilty when they take time for themselves that could be spent with

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Putting the ‘Wisdom’ Back in ‘Wisdom Teeth’

SCIENTISTS TOY WITH TEETH REGENERATION

Though they might have “wisdom” in their name, it might seem pretty unwise for our bodies to keep producing this third set of useless molars. However, centuries ago, our ancestors relied on wisdom teeth to gnaw through tough plants and meats. Today, we have meat tenderizers and knives to do the work for us, and wisdom teeth are regularly plucked from our mouths as they grow in. Yet, some lucky humans don’t grow these “wisdom” teeth, and that evolution has scientists curious: What if humans could grow teeth to replace damaged or missing ones? Researchers have discovered that people who don’t grow wisdom teeth commonly have a gene labeled as Usag-1, or uterine sensitization-associated gene 1. (Real catchy.) This gene can control tissue growth, which means it can prohibit the generation of extra teeth by producing a protein that inhibits development. In a recent test on ferrets — who surprisingly have human-like teeth — scientists used antibodies to limit the protein production of Usag-1. In doing so, the ferrets who received the antibodies were able to grow more teeth than ferrets without Usag-1 antibodies.

In other studies, like a 2014 Harvard study, lasers were used to activate gum tissue to stimulate tooth growth, much like in reptiles and sharks. If the laser technique can be improved and mass-produced, this could be a minimally invasive treatment option for tooth regeneration. While many more studies are required, the results are promising. Currently, dental implants and bridges serve to literally fill the gap left behind by missing or misaligned teeth. These procedures have become highly effective and provide

patients with lasting, healthy smiles. However, if we could regenerate or grow new teeth, we could eliminate the need for these procedures.

Right now, we’re still years away from the regrowth options. If you have missing or misaligned teeth, talk to your dental professional about your options. You may not have the ease or genealogical knowledge to grow a new set of pearly whites, but thanks to dental technology improvements, we can create a new smile that functions and looks just like the real thing. Now that’s wise!

TAKE A BREAK

Inspired by MennoniteGirlsCanCook.ca Ingredients Deep-Fried New Year’s ‘Cookies’

• 2 tbsp yeast • 1/2 cup water, warmed • 1/2 cup and 1 tsp sugar, divided • 5 eggs, beaten • 1/4 cup butter, softened

• 2 1/2 cups milk, warmed • 1 1/2 tsp salt • 4 cups raisins • 7 cups flour • 4 cups canola oil

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine yeast, water, and 1 tsp sugar. Wait 10 minutes. 2. Stir in remaining sugar, eggs, butter, milk, and salt. 3. Fold in the raisins and flour. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise for an hour. 4. In a high-sided pot or deep fryer, heat canola oil to 340 F. Line a plate with paper towels. 5. Drop a rounded tablespoon of dough into the oil. Fry until golden brown, then set aside on the plate. Poke the cookie with a toothpick. If the toothpick comes out clean, it’s cooked through! 6. Repeat until the batter is gone.

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inside this ISSUE Dr. Rigby Reflects on the New Year PAGE 1 Make More Time for Reading PAGE 2 What if We Could Regenerate Our Teeth?! PAGE 3 Local Activities to Shake the Winter Blues PAGE 4

HAVE SOME WINTER FUN WITH THESE LOCAL ACTIVITIES

Once the holiday decorations have been put away and the kids are back at school, it can feel like there’s not a lot to look forward to until spring. Luckily, that’s not true — Boise has plenty to do year round. Here are some ideas to get you out of the house this January. Idaho IceWorld IceWorld is always a safe bet for winter family fun. If you don’t own skates or have no idea what to do once you’re out on the ice, have no fear — the venue offers both ice skate rentals and ice skating lessons. For those who enjoy hockey, there are both adult and children’s leagues as well as pickup games available. Just make sure to check the calendar before you head out — various activities on the ice are available on different days and times. Get the information you need to plan your visit at IdahoIceWorld.com . Idaho Remodeling & Design Show If you’re thinking of doing some work on your home in 2022, the Idaho Remodeling & Design Show is the event you need to attend. Taking place at the Boise Center on Jan. 29–30, the show will

include educational seminars, expert advice, and the chance to meet reputable local contractors and vendors. There are over 100 exhibits, so plan to make a day of it. While kids are welcome, this event is more likely to please the adults. Buy advance tickets or find out more at IBLEvents.com/remodeling-design-show . Edwards Green House Looking to forget about the weather? Edwards Green House is just the place for you. You’ll get to take in the beautiful sights and smells of the flowers while also enjoying warm, tropical temperatures. To help kids with cabin fever, they also run a Pop-Up Park every year around the end of January. A temporary playground is installed, and families are encouraged to bring picnic lunches. The dates of this year’s Pop-Up Park have not yet been announced, so stay tuned to EdwardsGreenhouse.com/ events for the details. Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone and try something new this winter. If we can’t fast-forward through the cold, we might as well make the most of it!

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