We Are Family

Often times we spend more of our waking hours at work than at home, so our coworkers and bosses become a family of sorts.  Much like a real family, we work together as a team with our occasional disagreements only making us stronger.  Dr. Hashimoto finds it important to therefore celebrate the holidays and end of the year with his work family.  This year he treated us (and our significant others) to a lovely dinner at Dawson’s.  Being able to set aside the hustle and bustle of work to enjoy good food, good drinks, and good company is a great way to ring in the New Year.

With 2014 around the corner, I know Michele, one of our hygienists, looks forward to seeing our patients, whom we also look upon as family.  Michele will be returning from a long hiatus with plenty of newborn stories to share!  For those who do not know, she had a baby girl named Bailey who is now about three months old!  Time certainly flies.  I’m sure the rest of the staff would agree with Michele – We can’t wait to see your familiar faces in our office… and for the new faces we encounter this year, we can’t wait to get to know you and treat you as part of our family!

Best wishes to a Happy Holiday and New Years!
Tracie

Just like eating a homebaked cookie

"I'm so glad I'm not a dentist.  How many times does someone say, 'Oh doc, it felt so good when you were drilling my teeth'?  Never.  But when you give someone a wonderful cookie, you put a little of yourself in, and you see someone's face light up - that's immediate approval."  -- Paula Deen

I honestly do understand what her intent was with this quote.. however, it's just not the most well thought out.  Comparing a part of a process (drilling) to an end product (cookie) is not a fair comparison.  Maybe she should compare drilling to watching raw egg and sugar swirl in the mixer. :P

Truth: people don't enjoy a tooth being drilled. 
Truth: people usually don't like getting shots by their dentist. 
Truth: The two prior truths are dramatically alleviated with a competent dentist.  I've heard so many patients remark how surprisingly painless it is when Dr. Hashimoto administers shots.  He's got the magic touch, he can shoot once, he can shoot twice, he numbs the baddest mouths.. :P
Truth:  When patients see the end product, they are as happy, if not happier, as when they receive a warm, home-baked cookie.  Patients that previously avoided smiling with their teeth are now proud to show off their pearly whites.  And you know what?  We put ourselves into making your smile better and we live off seeing your face light up as well. 

Here are a few such examples...

Before

After

Before

After with veneers

Before

After - Porcelain laminates

Here's the last truth:  Home-baked cookies are so good... That's my failed attempt to bring this blog full circle and back to Paula Deen. hah

Toodles
Tracie

I'm so glad I'm not a dentist. How many times does someone say, 'Oh, Doc, it felt so good when you were drilling my teeth'? Never. But when you give someone a wonderful cookie, you put a little of yourself in, and you see someone's face light up - that's immediate approval.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/teeth.html#yoD8b7lb3BmfOK2p.99

I'm so glad I'm not a dentist. How many times does someone say, 'Oh, Doc, it felt so good when you were drilling my teeth'? Never. But when you give someone a wonderful cookie, you put a little of yourself in, and you see someone's face light up - that's immediate approval.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/teeth.html#yoD8b7lb3BmfOK2p.99

I'm so glad I'm not a dentist. How many times does someone say, 'Oh, Doc, it felt so good when you were drilling my teeth'? Never. But when you give someone a wonderful cookie, you put a little of yourself in, and you see someone's face light up - that's immediate approval.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/teeth.html#yoD8b7lb3BmfOK2p.99

I'm so glad I'm not a dentist. How many times does someone say, 'Oh, Doc, it felt so good when you were drilling my teeth'? Never. But when you give someone a wonderful cookie, you put a little of yourself in, and you see someone's face light up - that's immediate approval.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/teeth.html#yoD8b7lb3BmfOK2p.99

Become a MacGyver of floss

We've already done toothbrushes, so now it's time to give you alternative uses for floss.  Here's ten ways:

1.  Use (unflavored) floss to cut a cake horizontally.  And when you do, bring me some. 

2.  Use (unflavored) floss to cut the cheese … And I mean real cheese, not the metaphorical cheese, thank you.  Certain cheeses really stick to knives, so floss works wonders in these situations.

3.  Use (unflavored & unwaxed) floss as twine to tie down the wings and legs of a turkey before cooking.

4.  Use floss to hang items, such as pictures.  

5.  Use floss to separate your stack of photos stuck together.  Gently slide the floss between the photos – much better than peeling with my hand and bending photos.

6.  Use floss to help train plants to grow vertically (example: morning glories) or to support a plant (example: tomatoes).

7.  Use floss as an emergency shoelace if you’re on the go and yours breaks.  Perhaps make a fashion statement while you’re at it.

8.  Use floss as an emergency thread to sew something.

9.  Use floss to silence a leaky faucet.  Definitely not a permanent solution, but if you can’t get a plumber right away, it’s a next best solution.  Tie a piece of floss at the spout and make sure the other end is long enough to reach the sink.  Water will drip along the floss instead of making the irritating, eye-twitching drip noise.

10.  Use floss to escape out of jail, assuming you have a window cell.  Obviously kidding, although there IS a report of a prisoner climbing out of his cell by braiding floss.  It worked!  He just didn’t get too far afterwards…

If you have other suggestions for handy ways to use floss, be sure and comment!  Don't forget to use floss for it's original purpose too -- your teeth!

Toodles,

Tracie

Nothin' But Father's Day Smiles!

In honor of Father's Day, I thought I'd share this video courtesy of Oral-B, The Power of Dad (to make us smile).  Perhaps I'm always an emotional blob, but I thought it was a touching video.

People have told me, "Tracie, you're always laughing or smiling!  It's so nice!" ...those people don't know me well, huh? Hahaha just kidding.  But more often, I'm complimented on my smile itself.  Got me thinking, my parents fostered this love and need to smile and laugh in life.  Time to get personal! haha .. Here's a few simple ways my dad has made me smile over the years...

As a young child, on early morning drives, Dad would put a hot mug of coffee up to the car windshield, which would then cause the windshield to steam.  I lOved this; I thought it was some awesome magic trick of his.

We used to take trips to Eureka and to make the trails more exciting for us, he'd get my sister and me a rubber ducky or a toy sailboat. We'd have a contest of whose goes further in the shallow creeks, as we ran alongside.  I don't think my dad and grandpa enjoyed fishing it out whenever it got stuck though haha ...  :P

Fast forward to today, I just enjoy the time spent together -- happy hour at my parent's after work, going out, laughing at his absurd jokes, etc.  I even smile seeing how proud he is of his little "farm" in the backyard -- tomatoes, potatoes, melons, onions, green beans, etc.  I also laugh at his inability to sit still (which suits him well at work).  One time, family came over for dinner and next thing I knew he's outside cleaning my pool.  I won't argue with that hah.

All of these simple things and more have given me many reasons to smile.  Oral-B is right; Dads are powerful!  How has your dad or father-figure made you smile?  Go ahead and share with us on here or Facebook a favorite story of yours.


Have a Happy Father's Day weekend!

Tracie

Safety what?

A few weeks ago our office had our annual Cal-OSHA course on Infection Control Regulations. Being relatively new to the office, I just assumed we'd get some dry facts, be told we're doing well with all the standards, and be done with it. With plenty of humor and scary but informative facts by Tom Terry, I actually learned some stuff.

I'd like you to know that we do adhere to all standards and made the Exceptional Dental Offices List again this year. Despite making the list and passing the standards, the course was a definite reminder in work and in life that we cannot let ourselves become complacent with mediocrity or cutting corners. Mr. Terry informed us only 2% of dental offices he visits are compliant with all standards -- scary, in my opinion. Luckily, we are in that 2%.  I take it back.  It's not luck, but through diligence and desire for perfection.  Do YOU trust your loved ones visiting a dental office that doesn't take all measures possible to ensure their safety?  That's the mentality we take; don't do anything we wouldn't want for our family.  All of our patients are family to us.  In fact, if you ever question or are just curious, we will gladly give you a tour of our office to show you where and how we sanitize equipment and answer any other questions you may have.

Here's to continued efforts in making your safety our priority!

Let the old toothbrush have a second or third crack at life!

Everyone knows to replace their toothbrush "every so often", right?  More specifically, according to the American Dental Association, "every so often" is every 3-4 months.  Sonicare actually recommends every three months, so it's easy to remember with each season to get a new brush.  My question is -- do you throw that old toothbrush in the trash, or do you give it a new life by giving it a new purpose??

Here are some of my favorite ways to make your old toothbrush feel useful:

1.  Clean things, duh!  Obviously separate the old toothbrush from any you currently use for your mouth... but old brushes are awesome at getting into any of those hard to reach spots.  Examples?  Tile grout, kitchen gadgets like a cheese grater, grooves or treads in shoes, cups or appliances that are too narrow for your hand to reach with a sponge, fish tanks, window edges, computer keyboards, toilets, lint buildup from hairdryers (I do this all the time), jewelery...this list can go on and on if you're creative.

2.  Artwork.  Toothbrush bristles can give you or your child some different patterns on paper or canvas.  If you can control the potential mess, some people use toothbrushes for the "splatter" effect in artwork.  **If you do make artwork with your toothbrush, be sure to take a picture (a picture of a picture?? haha) and post it on our Facebook!!  We'd absolutely love to see your inner Picasso!**

3.  Lookin' sexy.  Got your attention on this one, huh?  If you don't have non-existent eyebrows like I do, then toothbrushes are great at brushing and taming the eyebrows.  Much cheaper and just as effective as the brow brushes you can buy at your local makeup counter.  The other awesome use is to help exfoliate your luscious lips.  Sometimes we just can't help the chapped lips, so use some warm water and gently brush your lips to slough the dead skin off (not sexy).  You may also use a toothbrush to help clean out the crud (technical term hah) from under your nails.  (I sure am not eager to share chips with someone who has dark crud under the nails, no thank you.) 

4.  I have never tried this tip, but someone I met through work recently swore it works -- to get a splinter out, use hot water and soap on the toothbrush, then gentle rub over the splinter.

5.  Butt scratcher... just kidding!!  And no, I have not tried that either.  If you find you hate all the above tips, you may be able to just recycle your toothbrush, depending on what it's made of (not all plastics are recyclable).  I'm a kid of the 90's, so I have Recycle Rex in my head singing, "Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, and close the loop..."  Lame, I know. 

Any of these tips sound good?  Do you have any tips I didn't mention?  Feel free to post them on this blog or go to our Facebook!  I'd love to hear from you.

Happy Brushing
Tracie

JUST a dentist...

"Oh. ...... a dEntist. I hate going to the dentist. I don't clean my teeth before going either; that's their job." - some comedian I saw at Tommy T's

I hate cliche jokes.  I know the comedian is just trying to get a laugh, and he got the obligatory laugh from me.  I wasn't offended by his jokes about dentists, but I've grown tired of them over the years.  Knocking dentists is as old as ... those yellow Sports Walkmans (click here if you don't know what I'm referring to).  I know, Walkmans are not that old, but it's my way of saying the jokes were once funny, but times have changed, even in a short period of time.  Technology has given dentists more to do, and jokes could perhaps evolve as well -- if you're a good comedian, at least.

You know what comedians put a really good spin on the Dentists Suck attitude?  Seinfeld and Larry David when they wrote for the sitcom, "Seinfeld".  Watch This Clip from the episode I'm referring to.  Basically, Kramer refers to Seinfeld as an Anti-Dentite after Seinfeld reasons, "He's jUst a dentist!"  Obviously, this is an old show, but the joke still feels refreshing.  (I actually encourage you to call Dr. Hashimoto "Denty" haha) 

All the cliches say dentists are medical school rejects, love to inflict pain, glorified teeth cleaners, and supposedly have the highest rate of suicide.  My humble opinion -- if your dentist actually fits the above cliches (particularly the suicidal one), you need a new one STAT.  Dentists actually have to do 1-5 years of residency depending on their specialty, not to mention the continuing education with the new techonlogy.  New technology gives dentists waaay more to do than clean teeth.  Hygienists clean the teeth anyway; one can even argue a good hygienist does more than just clean as well, but I digress.  Technology has given Dr. Hashimoto the ability to use laser technology that catches cavities at an earlier stage so that fillings can be done without anesthetic (no pain!).  Technology has also given us the only FDA approved oral cancer screening, so they basically use a scope with a special light that can detect early stages of cancer.  Cosmetically, technology has allowed Dr. Hashimoto to use a computer aided machine that designs an all porcelain crown that can be completed in one visit and is stronger and more asthetically pleasing than traditional crowns.  Phew... that's a lot.

I repeat that I welcome dental jokes.  Just be relevant or different.  Now, are you an anti-dentite or pro-dentite?  ;)

Toodles,
Pro-Dentite Tracie

Brushing your teeth

Have you noticed in television, film, and even cartoons people tend to brush rather vigorously?  Sure, they're probably just trying to emphasize the fact they're being clean and doing the daily routines...but if it were real life, I'd tell them, "Freeze! Drop the brush, and slowly back away."  Okay, I wouldn't really say that, but people need to know that's not how we should brush.  Gentle is key.

Actually, if I had my way, everyone would be using a Sonicare electric toothbrush.  No disclosures, just an honest recommendation from knowledge and experience.  Some people ask if they should brush the same with Sonicare as they would a manual brush, and the answer is NO.  Akin to society these days, we can mostly kick back and let the machine do the work.  All you need to do is hold your Sonicare at approximately 45 degree angle and slowly, gently move the brush across your teeth, pausing to let the vibrating bristles take away the plaque.  The angling of the brush is what aids in cleaning the plaque away from the gums. 

Why do you need to be gentle?  Brushing too vigorously at the gums will actually contribute to a receding gum line.  The soft tissue of the gums become damaged with poor brushing, which leads to the gum receding.  Not hot.  ;)

So let your children learn the habit of brushing from TV/movies...but you show them the proper way!

Heeelloooooo

So we are joining the blogosphere world!  For those who don't know, we are a dental office consisting of an awesome dentist, Dr. Hashimoto, and a really great team (Alley, Cheryl, Liz, Michele, and Valerie).  You can find us at hashimotodental.net ... or Google us by looking up his office, Kenneth B. Hashimoto, D.M.D. (because honestly, who doesn't Google any and everything these days??). 

The weekend is coming to an end, which means we're back to what we do best on Monday!  The week's end also means Liz survived her first week as a dental assistant on our team (haha) ...and Michele's week off in Hawaii has come to an end.  So if you come into the office this coming week and Michele's more tanned than usual, that's why.  If you come into the office after this coming week, she'll look like normal; she doesn't tan well.  Don't tell her I said that. haha

We hope everyone enjoyed their weekend (which surely involved brushing and flossing daily, right?)!  Be sure to check back for updates!  (Cannot promise ramblings such as this post will not reoccur.)