Winter Newsletter
 
Brrrr...it's been cold, hasn't it!  We love our wall of big windows, but it also means it's a little colder than we'd like in our patient rooms.  We have space heaters and cozy blankets!  Don't be afraid to ask for one...we want to make sure that you are warm and comfortable.

We have met many new people in 2017.  Thank you to all those that have shared our practice with your family, friends, and co-workers.  Thank you to the new patients that took a chance and called or emailed our office after only seeing a name on the internet!  Thank you to all those patients that have been with us over the years.  Dr. Jones just celebrated her 9 year anniversary in owning the practice!

If you are new to our Newsletters, we try to make them interesting and fun.  Of course, we do add one or two dental-type things in, too.  We did not forget to add some photos, too.  Grab a water or coffee and enjoy!

Joint Replacement Surgeries & Dentistry

Did you get a new knee, shoulder, or other joint replacement?  Are you planning on doing it this year?  Please be sure to talk with your orthopedic surgeon about how having a joint replacement will affect your future dental appointments.  
 
In many cases, those that schedule surgery will not be able to have dental treatment (including cleanings) several weeks prior to surgery and a few months after surgery.  We've heard from several patients that they did not know about this restriction until after they booked their surgery.  If possible, we would love to get you in for your cleaning right before the cut-off so you stay on track for regular cleanings.
 
After surgery, you may be required to take an antibiotic (aka premed) before every dental appointment.  Some surgeons require you to do so for 2 years, while others require you to do it for the rest of your life.  We always defer to your orthopedic surgeon's protocol.
 
Online Bill Payments & Patient Portal
 
A few months ago, we changed communication companies.  We changed to a company that allows patients to make payments online because this was a request that many patients shared.  Each patient can login to a personal Patient Portal that not only allows you to submit a payment, but it also shows you past and future dental appointments.  You can also request appointments from within this area, too.

If you have any problems with the Patient Portal, please let us know.  We are still learning the ins and outs!

Dr. Jones 2018 Project

Our followers on Facebook and Instagram hopefully noticed us posting more this year.  We added a Message Board in the waitinig room and every week, someone at our office is responsible for changing the message every day.  Our messages can be inspiring, fun, or informational.  It is a fun way for us to interact with patients and we hope that some of them help, inspire or make you giggle before you go back in the chair!

Quip Electric Toothbrush!

Do you use Quip?  If so, please let us know!  Quip is an electric toothbrush company that will send you automatic toothbrush head refills every three months.  Dr. Jones and our hygienist, Courtney, just ordered their own electric toothbrushes from Quip to try out.  Dr. Jones did an unboxing last week and posted it to YouTube.  Her follow-up video with her review of this product will be up in the next week or two.  She is currently trying it and will let you know her honest opinion.

​Sisters!

Have you heard of Quip?  Some of our patients have recently brought it to our attention and Dr. Jones loved the idea of it and ordered a couple for her fiance and herself.  Check out her unboxing video below!

She will be reviewing the product and will do a follow-up video in a couple weeks.  Stay tuned!

Happy 2018 Everyone! Instead of a dental related blog today, I’ll share with you a little life perspective that I continue to learn every day.

This fall, one of my daughters was diagnosed with epilepsy and it’s so crazy to see your perfectly healthy, energetic little 7 year old go through a little health scare. But - she’s fine and we are fine and we just had to learn some new things and change a few things and be prepared for her seizures. And while I would never choose for anyone to have any health issues, things like this bring about so much perspective and gratitude for our health, and the people in our lives that love and support us. Yesterday was a “bad day” when my little girl had 2 seizures at school and they had to call 911 and we had to spend the day at Children’s Mercy while she was monitored and recovered from the seizures and sedation to stop them. But during all the craziness of it....the staff at her school, her friends and their parents, the doctors, nurses, my family, our friends, my staff at work and my patients....they make it all okay. Back at home last night with a bubble bath, a watermelon slushee and Disney channel on - you’d never know what her day had been like. Her smile and hugs seem brighter and tighter after days like these. She was just so happy to be home and go back to school today like normal. She wasn’t at all bogged down by her rough day. What a beautiful thing!

I write this blog post with an overwhelming sense of grattitude as I go into another new year. As I have gotten older and had more life experiences, I have learned that I am not only grateful for the amazing, cool, fantastic things in my life...but I am also grateful for the bad days, the hard times, the challenges and the heartbreaks. Honestly, maybe I am even a little more grateful for the latter because those experiences are the ones that have really taught me who I am, made me stronger, made me better, pushed me farther and make me love and appreciate the people in my life so much more. The bad days make me really appreciate the good ones more, and the challenges make me feel more rewarded for the successes.

I know we are all in the same boat with our lives....we have wins and losses both personally and professionally. I feel so happy that I have way more good days than bad. But, candidly, this isn't all up to chance...it's also by design. While I wouldn’t necessarily choose the hardships, I am prepared for them and know I can learn valuable lessons from them.

Of course, as they say, sh*t happens. It's unavoidable in life, that sometimes crap rains down on you and you feel like you just can't catch a break. But that's when you have to get gritty, brave and be mentally and emotionally strong. If you can't do it in that moment, allow yourelf some grace to feel bad, sulk a little, complain for a minute, shed a tear, pound a fist down in private, and then move on. From there, you need to know and believe that it's only temporary and you will come out the other side. That's when you have to find the positive using some method like humor, exercise, or something or someone in your life that lifts you up, listens, gives your perspective or can chill you the heck out. Find a way to let the bad day build a better day.

Surround yourself with good, kind, calm, smart, loving people and set yourself up to overcome the losses, the failures, the emergencies, and the heartbreaks. So many times, we plan for ways to be successful. But do we plan for our failures and our bad days? We should! Have a plan for what you'll do when that bad day comes. My pastor at my church says “the worst thing is never the last thing.” So plan for that, be mindful and prepared for that! Find gratitude in the lesson or the strength you found in your hardship.

And be THAT person for the people that you've chosen to have in your own life. Be their first emergency responder, or the person that just listens and says "you know, that really sucks, but you're handling this great and I’ve got your back.” The people we choose to invite into our lives are our most important asset so choose them wisely and take care of them back.

Remind yourself and the important people in your life that "bad days build better days” but we actually have some control by being prepared for them and responding in a way that allows us to learn and grow from those bad days.

Again, Happy New Year to all of you. I’m planning for mine. :)