A new year always brings a moment to pause. Not to overhaul everything or set impossible goals—but to take a breath, look back at what we’ve built together, and ease into what’s next.
In this issue, we’re doing a bit of both. We’re reflecting on a year shaped by trust, growth, and staying true to who we are. We’re sharing insights on the connection between oral health and overall wellness. We’re spotlighting what makes our practice feel different, inviting a little fun and curiosity into the new year, and offering a peek behind the scenes at the people who make this place what it is.
You’ll also find a few practical updates—like a new way to chat with our team through the website and a small change to our office hours—along with the same thoughtful care and communication you’ve come to expect.
Here’s to starting the year with clarity, curiosity, and a little room to enjoy the ride.
In This Issue:
2025 A Year of Growth, Trust, and Staying True to Who We Are
As we look back on 2025, one pattern surfaces: improving your experience as our patient. We reaffirmed important commitments we made to you, centered around caring for you first (and your teeth second).
Making Care Easier to Access
We rolled out new payment options, including easy QR-code payments, so taking care of your oral health fits more smoothly into everyday life. We also introduced Cherry financing, giving patients more flexibility and control when planning treatment. Finances shouldn’t stand in the way of feeling confident about your care.
Trust: Choosing People Over Insurance
2025 brought a big shift when we became out-of-network with CareFirst. We know that wasn’t easy and we don’t take for granted the fact that so many of you chose to stay with us anyway. Your trust means everything.
To help ease that transition for you, we lowered our fees. We also continued to grow our Dental Health Club membership, giving many families a more predictable, accessible way to stay on top of dental care without insurance dictating what that care looks like. Because people should always come before policies.
The People Who Make This Place What It Is
This year we welcomed Carol, whose gentle presence and thoughtful care fit right in from day one. We also saw Donna step into her new role as HR Coordinator to support the team behind the scenes.
Education, Inside and Out
Education has always been at the heart of this practice, not just for dental professionals, but for the people sitting in our chairs. In 2025, we leaned into that belief even more.
Last year, we launched our Mouth–Body Connection Series, both in our newsletters and in the education section of our website, breaking down how oral health connects to the rest of the body in ways that actually make sense. No lectures. No jargon. Just clear, practical information you can use.
Our YouTube education videos continue to be a resource for patients who like to learn at their own pace—whether that’s before an appointment, after a conversation in the chair, or anytime a question pops up. They’re there as an extension of the same conversations we have in the office.
For us, education isn’t about what’s new—it’s about what’s consistent. Showing up, answering questions, and making sure you feel informed, supported, and never rushed. That commitment carries forward into everything we do.
Looking Ahead With Gratitude
In the year ahead, we’re hoping to welcome a new associate dentist with root canal and implant expertise, expanding what we can offer while keeping care personal, familiar, and conveniently under one roof. You’ll also see Dr. Harvey Levy refocusing more deeply on education and mentorship, a passion that has shaped this practice from the very beginning.
What won’t change are our services, our management, our operating room partnerships, or our commitment to compassion, patience, and trust.
Thank You for Being Part of Our Story
Whether you’ve been with us for decades or found your way here this year, please know this: you are not just a name on a schedule. You are part of this practice, part of its rhythm, part of its heart.
Thank you for trusting us with your care in 2025. We carry that trust into 2026 with appreciation and gratitude – and we can’t wait to continue supporting your long-term oral health!.
Oral Health and the Whole Body Connection: How Alcohol Affects Your Oral Health
Source: https://penndentalmedicine.org/blog/is-alcohol-bad-for-your-teeth/ summarized by ChatGPT
Occasional, moderate drinking can be part of a healthy lifestyle. But when alcohol becomes more frequent, its effects can quietly show up in places people don’t always expect—like the mouth.
As part of our Oral Health & the Whole Body Connection series, and in recognition of Dry January, we wanted to shine a light on how alcohol impacts your teeth, gums, and overall oral health—and why even a short break can be a gift to your smile.
Alcohol and Dry Mouth: The First Clue
One of the most immediate effects of alcohol is dry mouth (also called xerostomia). Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it pulls fluid from your body. Less fluid = less saliva.
Saliva is your mouth’s built-in defense system. It:
- Washes away bacteria
- Neutralizes acids
- Helps protect enamel
When saliva production drops, bacteria stick around longer, acids linger, and your risk for cavities, irritation, and bad breath increases. That sticky, parched feeling after a night out? That’s your mouth asking for backup.
Tooth Decay: It’s Not Just the Sugar
Alcohol itself doesn’t directly rot your teeth—but it creates the perfect environment for damage.
- Alcohol metabolizes into sugar, which feeds cavity-causing bacteria
- Many cocktails contain sugary mixers that coat teeth
- Wine, beer, cider, and cocktails are often acidic, slowly softening enamel
Over time, this combination can lead to enamel erosion, sensitivity, and cavities—especially when drinks are sipped over long periods.
Gum Health and Inflammation
Heavy or frequent alcohol use can weaken the immune system, making it harder for your body to fight inflammation and infection. This matters because gum disease isn’t just about your mouth—it’s been linked to heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and other systemic conditions.
Studies show that even people without gum disease tend to experience:
- More gum bleeding
- Increased plaque buildup
- Early signs of gum irritation
In other words: gums notice alcohol sooner than you might.
Why Dry January Helps—Even Temporarily
Taking a break from alcohol, even for a few weeks, gives your mouth a chance to reset:
- Saliva flow improves
- Gums may feel less inflamed
- Enamel gets a break from constant acid exposure
- Breath often improves (a welcome bonus)
You don’t have to quit forever to see benefits. Sometimes your body—and your smile—just appreciate the pause.
If You Do Drink: Smile-Smart Tips
We’re not here to judge—just to help you protect your teeth:
- Sip water between drinks to stay hydrated
- Avoid brushing immediately after drinking (wait about 30 minutes)
- Be mindful of sugary mixers
- Rinse with water before bed
- Keep up with regular dental cleanings
The Big Picture
Your oral health is deeply connected to your overall health. Dry January is a great reminder that small lifestyle choices can have ripple effects—from energy levels and sleep to gum health and lower cavity risk.
If you’ve noticed dry mouth, sensitivity, bleeding gums, or changes in your oral health, we’re always happy to talk about what might be contributing—and how we can help.
Because caring for your smile isn’t about being perfect. It’s about paying attention—and giving your whole body a little support when it needs it.
What Makes Us… Us
Every so often, we pause to check in with ourselves and ask a simple question: What actually makes this place different?
Not the services. Not the equipment. Not the buzzwords. Just… us.
And when we look at patient feedback, conversations in the hallway, and the way people describe their experience here, one thing comes up again and again:
We’re real.
A Down-to-Earth Feel (Very Much on Purpose)
We’re not pearl-white perfection. We’re not scripted. We’re not profit-centered. We’re not trying to be something we’re not.
What you see is what you get and most people feel that the moment they walk through the door. There’s warmth here. Laughter. Honest conversations. Sometimes it’s a little loud. Sometimes it’s a little chaotic. But it’s always human.
And that’s intentional.
Patients Are People First
Appointments aren’t just boxes on a schedule, and charts aren’t just data points.
We take the time to listen. To explain. To make sure things make sense. Because trust doesn’t come from rushing people through. Yes, real life happens and some days are tighter than others, but those days are the exception, not the rule.
Our focus stays where it belongs: on the person in the chair.
We Don’t Turn People Away for Being “Too Much”
This one matters deeply to us.
We continue to care for patients who are often told, “Sorry, we can’t help you.”
That includes anxious patients or patients with special needs.
That includes care in the hospital operating room when needed.
That includes complex, time-consuming cases that don’t fit neatly into a box.
We don’t default to “refer out” just because something is challenging or inconvenient. For many on our team, this work is especially meaningful, demanding, rewarding, and deeply human. It feels a lot like volunteering, except that it’s also our calling. Many of us have worked together for decades.
A Team That Truly Shows Up
Our staff is diverse, unique, and unapologetically themselves.
We collaborate. We communicate openly. We help each other. We adjust when life happens. We show up, not just for patients, but for one another. When you spend this much time together, that kind of support matters.
And patients feel it. That sense of “work family” carries straight through to the care we provide.
Independent by Choice
We’re not corporate. We’re not cookie-cutter.
Being independent means we get to prioritize quality over quotas, care over speed, and relationships over metrics. It means we can practice dentistry in a way that feels right when it isn’t the easiest or most profitable path.
What We’re Protecting as We Grow
As the practice continues to evolve, the most important thing we want to protect isn’t a logo or a process. It’s our culture:
- Open communication
- Teamwork
- Individualized care
- Patients first – always
We don’t think that makes us perfect. But we do think it makes us us.
And that’s something worth holding onto.
Not a Resolution – Just a Little Fun
January has a way of showing up loud. New year, new you. Big goals. Big promises. Big pressure.
So we’d like to offer a quieter idea for 2026. One that doesn’t involve fixing yourself, optimizing your life, or committing to something you’ll feel guilty about by February. Not everything needs to turn into a hobby. Not everything needs to stick. Sometimes the goal is simply to do something once, laugh a little, and have fun.
Here are a few ideas to spark some curiosity.
Try a Class
- You don’t have to sign up for a semester or buy supplies. One class counts.
- Pottery or ceramics
- A paint-and-sip night (talent optional)
- A cooking or baking class where you’ve never made the dish before
- Floral arranging or candle making
Try a New Way to Move
- This isn’t about fitness goals—it’s about novelty.
- Pickleball or paddle tennis
- Line dancing or swing dancing
- A rock-climbing gym
- Yoga on the beach, in a park, or somewhere unexpected
Try a One-Time Experience
- Perfect for people who love the idea of something… once.
- Axe throwing, archery, or an escape room
- A trivia night with friends
- A ghost tour or historical walking tour
- A cold plunge (or at least putting your face in very cold water)
Try a Tiny Change to the Everyday
New doesn’t have to be big.
- A new walking route
- A different beverage order
- A new restaurant you’ve never tried
- Saying yes to something you’d usually decline
If It Sticks, Great. If Not, Also Great.
You don’t have to be good at it. You don’t have to keep doing it. You don’t have to turn it into a “thing.”
Try something new this month. Or next month. Or once all year. Then try something else.
No resolutions. No pressure.
A Peek Behind the Scenes
Our team was kind enough to share a few photos of their lives outside the office—and we couldn’t resist passing along the smiles. Pets, people, cozy moments, celebrations big and small… It’s a fun reminder that we clean teeth by day, but we’re also very real humans the rest of the time.
These snapshots make us smile, and we hope they do the same for you.
Starting this January, we’ve made a couple of changes to our office hours:
- We will close at 4:00 PM on Fridays
- We will no longer offer Saturday cleaning appointments
These changes help us keep schedules consistent and continue providing focused, high-quality care during the week.
Our team is always happy to help you find a weekday appointment that works for you. Thank you for your understanding!
Guardians of children with special needs – also have special needs.
They need to know more than the average guardian.
They need to do more than the average guardian.
They need more patience than the average guardian.
And so much more.
Recipe of the Month: High Protein Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowl
Source: https://cleananddelicious.com/high-protein-cottage-cheese-pizza-bowls-27g/#recipe
Cottage cheese pizza bowls are a healthy, high-protein lunch (or dip!) that delivers 27 grams of protein per serving. These cheesy pizza bowls have gone viral on TikTok (you will soon see why!) and are a low-calorie alternative to pizza night. They’re quick, easy, delicious, and perfect for meal prep.
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups low-fat cottage cheese
- 1/3 cup marinara sauce (divided),
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 cup chopped black olives, divided
- 1/4 cup diced bell pepper, divided
- 1/4 cup diced onion, divided
- 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- pinch red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Combine cottage cheese, parmesan, 1/4 cup marinara sauce, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Stir in half of the black olives, chopped bell pepper, and chopped onions.
- Divide the mixture amongst two oven-safe containers (I use this one). Top each container with one tablespoon of marinara sauce and sprinkle two tablespoons of shredded mozzarella over the top of each.
- Divide the remaining olives, peppers, and onions and sprinkle over the top of each bowl. Add an extra sprinkle of Italian seasoning over the top and red pepper flakes.
- Bake at 425 F for 10-12 minutes. If you’d like to, brown the top, you can finish it under the broiler for an extra minute. Alternatively, you and microwave the pizza bowl for 1 1/2-2 minutes.
- Serve with crackers, pita chips, or fresh chopped veggies for dipping.
Notes
- Add anything that you normally enjoy on your pizza – diced pepperoni, crumbled sausage, ham and pineapple
- Make Ahead: You can prep the ingredients ahead of time and store them in the fridge for up to a day, making it easy for busy nights.
- Refrigeration: Allow the pizza bowls to cool completely before storing. Place a top on the container or cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in the microwave for about 1-2 minutes or in the oven at 350°F until the cheese is melted and bubbly again (about 20 minutes).