We hope you had a fun and safe St. Patrick’s Day filled with all things green and no pinches!
This month, we’ve made some updates to our COVID Protocols, so please read and let us know if you have any questions. We’re also celebrating the strong women in our lives – including the women in our office! – and throughout history who have shaped America. Because this month is also Red Cross month, we hope you’ll celebrate by giving blood, donating, or taking a class – like we do! Finally, we share a new patient education article about nightguards, and another delicious recipe for you to try.
Spring has been teasing us with beautiful days in between snow flurries, but we’re almost back outside enjoying the sunshine!
In This Issue:
- Change to our COVID Protocols
- Women’s History Month
- Red Cross Month
- Continuing our Education: CPR Training
- Do I Need a Night Guard?
- Honoring our Team Members
- Recipe of the Month: Smashed Chickpea Salad Wraps
- Please Leave us a Review!
Change to our COVID Protocols
We are pleased to announce that the mask mandate inside our office has been lifted for patients. That means that you have a choice of wearing a mask or not. Likewise, the handwashing / hand sanitizer mandate has been lifted. Feel free to do what makes you feel comfortable.
We have also stopped making phone calls triaging for COVID symptoms. We trust you to be responsible and reschedule your appointments when you’re feeling sick.
For now, we will continue to take patient and team member temperatures and are planning to reinstate our waiting room soon. Currently it is difficult to hear through the waiting room plexiglas, which keeps us in compliance with HIPAA Privacy regulations. We are investigating ways to allow sound to propagate better through the barrier.
Our infection control protocols, including fogging treatment rooms and hallways with HOCl, and our clinicians wearing full PPE including N-95 masks, remain in full effect.
Women’s History Month
Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981. Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” These proclamations celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States, and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields.
To commemorate and celebrate the vital role of women in American history, we encourage you to check out the exhibits and collections organized by the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Source: https://womenshistorymonth.gov/
Red Cross Month: A Time to Honor Our Volunteer Heroes
Source: https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/2023/red-cross-recognizes-our-remarkable-volunteers.html
During Red Cross Month, the American Red Cross recognizes those who make our lifesaving mission possible — including our remarkable volunteers, who represent 90% of our workforce. When people face what can be the worst time in their lives, Red Cross volunteers step up to help people get the relief and care they need.
This annual celebration began 80 years ago when President Franklin D. Roosevelt first proclaimed March as Red Cross Month to raise awareness of the organization’s critical humanitarian mission. Our work today is powered by volunteers, financial and blood donors, community partners and people trained in vital health and safety skills.
ONE VOLUNTEER’S STORY
Harold West recently deployed to Poland on behalf of the Red Cross as a member of Team 50 — a unit of Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces personnel. He and his colleagues are deployed for three to four months to 10 Army installations around the globe.
West went into the Army right after high school. He was one of the last group of folks who had draft numbers and quickly found himself on the ground in Vietnam. West says that it was a good experience for him, but during that tour, he learned that his brother-in-law passed away.
“That’s when the Red Cross contacted me. They helped me out quite a bit and offered support. I never forgot it,” he said.
West says that he never forgot about that event in Vietnam. Now that he’s retired, he wanted to see what he could do to help the next generation of soldiers. “This has been a life-long dream of mine, to serve in this capacity,” he said.
He anticipates that emergency care messages will be a critical component of his deployment. “It’s important that we are there during the worst of times,” he said.
If a family experiences an emergency, the Red Cross will verify that emergency and work with unit commanders to notify the service member. If leave is granted from the command, the Red Cross works with military aid societies to help get the soldier home, serving as a link between home and the military.
“We keep everyone together because it really does help,” he added.
JOIN THE RED CROSS
Visit redcross.org/volunteertoday to learn how you can make a difference. Below are a few of their most critical positions:
- Disaster Action Team: These volunteers help families with their immediate needs after a home fire or other disaster, offering support during a very difficult time. As a team member, you will provide emotional support, emergency financial assistance and information to help families begin to recover.
- Blood donor ambassadors: Volunteers in this role engage with blood donors by greeting them at blood drives, helping them register, answering questions, providing information and assisting them at the refreshments table.
- Blood transportation specialists: There is a high need for volunteer transportation specialists who support hospital patients by delivering blood from our facilities to local hospitals. If you have a little free time, love driving and enjoy meeting new people, the Red Cross has a great volunteer spot waiting for you.
OTHER WAYS TO HELP
You can join the Red Cross Month celebration in other ways too:
- Give blood: Help ensure blood is available for patients who need it. Make an appointment to give blood or platelets by visiting RedCrossBlood.org.
- Donate: Support Red Cross Disaster Relief efforts at at redcross.org/givingday. Your donation will be part of our annual Giving Day on March 22. A gift of any size makes a difference to provide shelter, food, relief ítems, emotional support and other assistance.
- Take a class: Sign up redcross.org/takeaclass at to learn lifesaving skills like CPR, first aid and how to use an AED, so you can help in the moments that matter.
Continuing our Education: CPR Training
We’re dedicated to ensuring that you feel safe in our office by respecting you as a person and taking your overall (not just dental!) health seriously. Thus, all our team members are required to be CPR Certified, and we provide the training here in our office. Our most recent training took place a few weeks ago and it was one of the most informative and thorough training sessions we’ve had. A HUGE thank you to Angelo from CPR Certifiers for providing such an excellent class, and to Karey for supporting us in our purchase of a new AED unit! You can see how the LifePak CR2 works at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5j_VcFf-bo
Do I Need a Night Guard?
Draft assisted by ChatGPT and reviewed for accuracy by the Dentists of Dr. Harvey Levy & Associates
Whether or not you need a night guard is something to discuss with your dentist at your next visit, but what is a night guard anyway? Read on for more information and if you have some of the symptoms as described below, you may want to come in for a consultation sooner.
What are night guards and why are they important?
Night Guards are dental devices that are worn during sleep to protect teeth and jaws from the damaging effects of bruxism, which is the habit of grinding or clenching teeth.
Here are some reasons why people should wear night guards:
- Prevents damage to teeth: Bruxism can cause excessive wear and tear on teeth, leading to chipping, cracking, or even fracturing of teeth. Wearing a nightguard can prevent this damage by providing a barrier between the upper and lower teeth, cushioning the impact of grinding or clenching.
- Relieves jaw pain: Bruxism can also cause pain and discomfort in the jaw and temporomandibular joint (TMJ). A night guard can help to alleviate this pain by reducing the amount of pressure exerted on the jaw during sleep.
- Improves sleep quality: Bruxism can also disrupt sleep by causing frequent awakenings or restless sleep. Wearing a nightguard can help to improve sleep quality by reducing the frequency and intensity of teeth grinding or clenching.
- Reduces headaches: Bruxism can cause tension headaches, which can be debilitating and impact daily activities. Wearing a nightguard can help to reduce the frequency and severity of tension headaches by alleviating the underlying cause of bruxism.
Overall, wearing a nightguard can help to protect teeth, alleviate jaw pain, improve sleep quality, and reduce headaches. It is important to consult your dentist to determine if a nightguard is the right treatment option for your specific needs.
What different kinds of night guards are there?
There are several different kinds of night guards that can be used to treat bruxism, depending on an individual’s specific needs and preferences. Here are some of the most common types of nightguards:
- Soft Night Guards: Soft night guards are made of a pliable, rubber-like material that is comfortable to wear and provides a cushioning effect for the teeth. They are often recommended for individuals with mild to moderate bruxism.
- Dual Laminate Night Guards: Dual laminate night guards are made of two layers of material, with a hard outer layer and a soft inner layer. They provide a balance of durability and comfort, and are often recommended for individuals with moderate to severe bruxism.
- Hard Acrylic Night Guards: Hard acrylic night guards are made of a rigid, durable material that is designed to withstand the force of heavy grinding or clenching. They are often recommended for individuals with severe bruxism.
- Custom-Fitted Nightguards: Custom-fitted night guards are made specifically for an individual’s mouth, based on impressions taken by a dentist. They provide a comfortable, snug fit and are often recommended for individuals with any level of bruxism.
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms listed above and are interested in chatting with your dentist about a night guard, give us a call at 301-663-8300 to schedule a consultation. We will determine which type of nightguard is most appropriate for your specific needs and level of bruxism. A properly fitting night guard can provide effective protection and relief from the damaging effects of teeth grinding and clenching.
Honoring our Team Members
To learn more about our team members, visit Our Team page on our website.
MVP – March
Every month we recognize a team member who has gone above and beyond, for our patients or other team members.
In March, we recognized Chelsea as our go-to person at the front desk. Chelsea is consistently stepping up when we need her so that other team members can prioritize time on their projects. She is always on top of the front desk duties and there when she is needed the most. Chelsea is an excellent team player and manages to keep our schedule full when we have last minute cancellations and provides exceptional customer service to our patients.
Invisible Worker Recognition
Every month at our All-Teams meetings we recognize a team member who makes our day-to-day operations run smoothly, despite their contribution not being obvious to many of us.
In March, we recognized Brandon for handling technical issues experienced in our operatories and assisting with the training of our new hygienists. We appreciate his dependable work ethic and go-getter attitude.
Smashed Chickpea Salad Wraps
Perfect vegan lunch or quick dinner – these Smashed Chickpea Salad Wraps require no cooking and are totally delicious. Easy to make and even easier to eat.
Source: https://www.thissavoryvegan.com/smashed-chickpea-salad-wraps/#recipe
Ingredients
- 15 oz can chickpeas drained, rinsed & skins removed
- 1 avocado
- 2 tablespoon vegan mayo
- 2 teaspoon yellow mustard
- ¼ red onion diced
- 1 small jalapeño diced
- pinch of garlic salt
- pepper to taste
- hot sauce to taste, I used tabasco
- spinach
- 2 large tortillas
Instructions
- Combine chickpeas and avocado in a bowl. Smash with a fork until desired consistency is reached – I personally like it to be mostly creamy with a few chickpea chunks. (You can also pulse in a food processor)
- Add mayo, mustard, red onion, jalapeño, garlic salt, pepper and tabasco to the bowl and stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- To assemble, spread half of the chickpea mixture down the center of each tortilla. Top with spinach and wrap up like a burrito.
- Cut in half and serve.*
Notes
- *If meal prepping, make chickpea mixture ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the fridge. Assemble the wraps the day you plan on eating them.
- If you’re not vegan, regular mayo works just as well
- If wraps aren’t your thing – the chickpea salad is great by itself, eaten as a dip with your favorite shuttle, or serve it on regular sandwich bread