2021 Fall Newsletter

Dr. Jones loves a good pumpkin spiced latte, but she loves summer more.  Let's keep her mind off the cooler temperatures by keeping her busy!


New Faces

In our Spring Newsletter, we let you know that we hired a Chairside Assistant.  Please welcome Janette!  She joined us in May and has been a fast learner!  She is caring, funny, and can entertain you during Dr. Jones' exam breaks with her knowledge of TV shows, and good food! 

Also new to the office is Elizabeth!  She is working alongside Courtney as an additional hygienist on Mondays and Tuesdays.  These two-hygiene days means that we will soon be able to offer more efficient scheduling for families*.  She is a sweet addition, and we are so thankful to have found her.

*We highly suggest booking family appointments in advance.
 
If your college student is headed home for winter break, please be sure to make their appointments soon!  There are appointments available, but those may not last long.

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On the Calendar
 
November 24th - 8 AM to Noon
November 25th - CLOSED Thanksgiving
December 23rd - 8 AM to Noon
Week after Christmas - Normal Hours
Week after New Year's - Normal Hours
 
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Custom Sports Mouth Guard
 
If you or your child plays a sport (football, baseball, soccer, basketball, etc.), we encourage getting a custom sports mouth guard.

Research has shown that some custom sports mouth guards can improve athletic performance by allowing more of your energy and muscle force to be directed to your intended motion, rather than spent on muscles of the head and neck that clench jaws.  More importantly, they protect dentition and decrease the risk of concussion and other dangers associated with a blow to the face, like jaw fractures.

If you have more questions, or would like to make an appointment, please call, text, or email us.
 
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Breathing is Important
 
Dr. Jones is interested in knowing how you and your family are breathing.  Did you know that the way you breathe during the day and night can affect your overall health, and even shape your face?

The next time you are scheduled for an appointment, I encourage you to arrive a little early and read a book that we have in the Waiting Room called Always Breathe Correctly by Patrick McKeown.  While it looks like it was written for our younger patients, it is an easy read that covers how to unblock your nose, stop mouth breathing, control asthma and more. 

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Maximize Your Benefits

It is time to remind you to maximize your dental benefits.  We know that you (and your employer) spend a lot on your premiums, so make sure that you are getting the most out of your benefits!  If you've put off fillings, a crown, or dental cleaning, be sure to give us a call.  We can even check to see how much your portion will be before scheduling.
 
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Speaking of Benefits...

This is a reminder that we are in-network providers for Delta Dental PPO and Premier Plans only.  We will file claims for all patients, regardless of your plan, though.  Some people think that they HAVE to see in-network providers.  While this is true for a select group of people, we believe that your dental care should be your choice and that your dental treatment is a discussion between you and Dr. Jones.
 
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Are you stressed?

I am sure the answer is YES!  Is the stress that you experience affecting your jaw, mouth or teeth?  Possibly!

Daily stress (work, traffic, kids) can cause you to clench your teeth.  Take a deep breath, reset, and rest that jaw! 
 
Resting Tongue Position
 
1.  Lips closed.
2.  Tongue gently resting on the roof of the mouth behind the front teeth.
3.  Teeth are slightly parted.

We added helpful jaw exercise documents to our website.  However, please be sure to talk with Dr. Jones if your problem continues.
 
TIP from book mentioned above:  Nose feel blocked?  Take a small breath and gently plug your nose so no air gets in.  While holding your nose, nod your head up and down for as long as you can.  Let go of your nose and slowly breathe through your nose.  You may need to repeat a couple of times.

​Homecoming, Halloween, and Horror

Here is a photo bomb covering all the fall happenings.  Dr. Jones' oldest was able to go to Homescoming this year!  Our children trick-or-treated with the best of them and leveled up in the spooky costumes.  And...beware of some news from Dr. Jones' recent surgery (not a Halloween trick...below is a full explanation).

Dr. Jones wants to encourage everyone to wear sunscreen, and to see a dermatologist.  In 2020, she was diagnosed with pigmented basal cell carcinoma on her nose.  After having to reschedule her Mohs surgery FOUR times due to scheduling conflicts, Dr. Jones completed surgery in October and is healing.  They were able to get everything!

Dr. Jones was also recently diagnosed with narrow angle glaucoma in both eyes, which needed immediate laser eye surgery.  While still healing from Mohs, she went to get that repaired in two separate appointments.  Thankfully, this type of glaucoma is treatable.  We appreciate all the hygiene patients' understanding when Dr. Jones was away and not able to see them for exams.

Lessons?  Keep seeing all your doctors!  Your physician, your eye doctor, your dermatologist, your dentist! Prevention and early detection is crucial.  Being able to treat things when they are small/minor is always optimal.