As we slip into the season of sweaters, gratitude, and “just one more slice” of pie, your team at Dr. Harvey Levy & Associates has wrapped up a bundle of updates to keep you informed, inspired, and smiling wide.
This month, we’re celebrating Thanksgiving and our wonderful patients and giving you a gentle nudge about those Use It or Lose It benefits that vanish faster than leftover stuffing. We’re also honoring Alzheimer’s Awareness Month with an important look at how oral health and cognitive health connect.
To sprinkle in a little festive fun, we’ve included a holiday recipe that might earn a spot at your Christmas table, plus a quick open enrollment reminder especially for patients with Delta Dental. And before you start planning your December visits, don’t miss our holiday hours so you know exactly when we’re here to take care of your smile.
So grab something warm to sip, settle in, and enjoy this month’s edition. We’re grateful for you, today and always.
In This Issue:
- Dr. Levy: A Fresh Focus, the Same Trusted Care
- Thankful for the Best of the Best: You!
- Oral Health and the Whole Body Connection: Your Mouth and Your Memory
- Use It or Lose It – Don’t let your dental benefits go to waste
- It’s Open Enrollment Season — Let’s Talk Dental Coverage!
- Honoring our Team
- Holiday Hours
- Recipe: Honey Glazed Balsamic Beets and Carrots
Dr. Levy: A Fresh Focus, the Same Trusted Care
Dr. Harvey Levy in 1976 and today. Infection control protocols were different then!
After 45 years of clinical practice in Frederick, Dr. Harvey Levy is shifting his professional focus, but not stepping away from the dental family he’s built. Beginning January 2026, Dr. Levy will be directing his time and energy toward teaching, mentoring, and writing within the dental field, as well as continuing to advocate for patients with special needs.
Most importantly, the practice is not changing hands anytime soon. Dr. Levy is still the owner of the practice, and his wife, Lena Rotenberg, continues to lead our management team. Dr. Niraj Patel and Dr. Ellen Hailemelecot, along with our caring and experienced longtime team, will continue to provide the clinical care you know and trust. Our patients with special needs will continue to be welcome in our office, with Dr. Hailemelecot providing treatment in hospital operating rooms.
While Dr. Levy will not be in the office as often, you’ll still see him around as he transitions more of his time toward teaching. If you would like to send him a note, please use the form at https://www.drhlevyassoc.com/contact-us/ . If you would like to book him as a speaker, please visit Dr. Levy’s Clinician’s Corner at https://www.drhlevy.com/speaker-engagement/ .
Thankful for the Best of the Best: You!
Thanksgiving is a season of reflection, but we don’t need November to remind us how grateful we are for the people who walk through our doors each day. At Dr. Harvey Levy & Associates, our patients are the reason we love what we do—not just during the holidays, but all year long.
This year, you gave us yet another reason to feel thankful. Thanks to your support, we placed in the Top 5 for Best of Frederick’s Best of the Best Dental Practice. While we didn’t claim the official title, we already feel like winners because to us, the real honor is knowing our community trusts us with their smiles. In our eyes (and hopefully yours!), we’re “Best of the Best” because of the people we get to care for.
Your trust, loyalty, and kindness are what keep us striving, improving, and smiling right alongside you. We’re thankful for your referrals, your stories, your patience on the extra-busy days, and even the laughter that escapes mid-appointment—we know those aren’t easy!
So as you gather with loved ones, pass the mashed potatoes, and sneak that extra slice of pie, please know that we’re celebrating you too.
Thank you for making our practice feel like family and for giving us something to be thankful for all year long.
Oral Health and the Whole Body Connection: Your Mouth and Your Memory
Sources: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10669972/ and https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2025/25_0083.htm summarized by ChatGPT
This month in our Oral Health & The Whole Body Connection series and in honor of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness, we’re looking at a powerful question:
Can taking care of your teeth help protect your brain?
Studies suggest the answer might be “yes”—or at least, that your mouth and your memory are very much connected.
Poor Oral Health and a Higher Risk of Alzheimer’s
A 2023 study using electronic medical records from over 30 million adults aged 60 and older compared people with poor oral health (things like tooth decay, tooth loss, gum disease, and other serious dental problems) to those with healthy mouths.
The results were eye-opening:
- People with poor oral health had more than double the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to those with healthy oral health.
- Conditions related to tooth loss were especially concerning—these were linked to more than a three-fold increase in Alzheimer’s risk.
- Even after researchers adjusted for age, gender, and several lab values (like cholesterol, blood sugar, and inflammation markers), poor oral health still stood out as an independent risk factor for Alzheimer’s.
The study didn’t prove that bad teeth cause Alzheimer’s, but it strongly suggests that ongoing inflammation in the mouth, untreated gum disease, and tooth loss and difficulty chewing may all contribute to changes in the brain over time.
Tooth Loss, Dental Visits, and Early Memory Problems
A more recent 2025 study, looking at more than 83,000 adults aged 45 and older across the U.S., focused on something called subjective cognitive decline (SCD)—that’s when people feel their memory or thinking is getting worse, even if they don’t yet have a formal diagnosis.
Here’s what they found:
- Adults with poor oral health (at least one tooth lost due to decay or gum disease) had almost double the rate of memory complaints compared with those who hadn’t lost teeth.
- The more teeth people had lost, the higher their chances of reporting cognitive issues.
- For adults 45–64, those who had seen a dentist within the last year were less likely to report memory decline.
- Tooth loss was also linked with cognitive complaints in those 65+, but regular dental visits didn’t show as strong a protective effect in that older group.
Taken together, this suggests that midlife—your 40s, 50s, and early 60s—may be a crucial time to protect both your smile and your brain.
So what’s the take-away?
Together, these studies form a compelling narrative: the health of your mouth is deeply connected to the health of your mind. Tooth loss, gum disease, and chronic oral inflammation are not just local problems, they may be part of the complex web of factors that influence cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s risk.
The encouraging news is that oral health is one of the most modifiable parts of this web. Brushing, flossing, treating gum disease early, replacing missing teeth when appropriate, and keeping up with regular dental visits—especially during midlife—may not only preserve your smile but also support long-term cognitive well-being.
As researchers continue to explore this connection, one message is becoming increasingly clear: caring for your mouth is an important part of caring for your whole self. If you have questions about your oral health or how it relates to Alzheimer’s risk, our team is always here to help guide you.
Use It or Lose It – Don’t let your dental benefits go to waste!
It’s that time of year again—when calendars fill up, holidays sneak in, and dental benefits quietly expire on December 31. Most insurance plans don’t roll over unused benefits, which means if you don’t use them… you lose them.
If you’ve been putting off that crown, filling, or other dental treatment, now’s the time to schedule! Getting it done before year’s end ensures you make the most of the benefits you’ve already paid for.
And here’s another tip: if you haven’t had your second cleaning for the year, give us a call! We’ll check your insurance frequency limits and help you get in before your benefits reset.
Don’t let your dental insurance keep the money you’ve earned—put it toward keeping your smile healthy and bright. Call us today to grab one of the remaining year-end appointments before they’re gone!
It’s Open Enrollment Season — Let’s Talk Dental Coverage!
Open Enrollment is here! From November 1, 2025 through January 15, 2026, it’s your chance to review your health and dental insurance coverage and make any needed changes for the new year.
This year, there’s one important update to keep in mind: Starting January 1, 2026, Dr. Harvey Levy & Associates will no longer be in-network with Delta Dental.
The good news? You can absolutely keep seeing us! Here’s how:
- Out-of-network benefits: Many Delta Dental plans still cover visits to our office, and we’ll continue to file claims on your behalf.
- Flexible payment options: We work with Cherry and CareCredit to help make dental care affordable and accessible.
- Our Dental Health Club: An easy, cost-saving alternative to traditional insurance—perfect for patients looking for simplicity and value.
As you review your coverage during open enrollment—especially if you’re using the Maryland Health Exchange (marylandhealthconnection.gov)—be sure to check that Dr. Harvey Levy is listed as a provider under your chosen plan.
Insurance can be tricky, but don’t stress—we’re happy to help you review your options and find the best fit for your dental care needs. Your smile deserves the best start to 2026!
Honoring Our Team Members
To learn more about our team members, visit Our Team page on our website.
MVP – Kat
In the month of October, the team all voted for Kat as MVP. When the front desk was short, she stepped in, smiled, and handled it like she’d been doing it forever. Chairside, she’s steady, thoughtful, and genuinely cares about the people in her hands. Kat brings a can-do energy that lifts everyone around her. Congratulations, you earned it!
Team Moments We Love
It’s a joy to celebrate the seasons together with our dental family, including our patients. Thank you to our team members for sharing snapshots of their special fall moments and reminding us how connected we are beyond the office!
Recipe of the Month: Honey Glazed Balsamic Beets and Carrots
Source: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025812-roasted-beets-with-hazelnuts-and-honey
Ingredients
- 3 large beets, tops trimmed
- 4 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
- Olive or canola oil
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
Directions
- Wrap the beets in foil and roast them in the oven at 350°F for 1 1/2 hours. Set them aside until cool enough to handle.
- Meanwhile, peel and chop the carrots and toss with a drizzle of oil in a 15×10-inch baking pan. Roast for about 30 minutes, turning once or twice, until soft and carrots start to turn golden.
- Combine the balsamic vinegar and honey in a large skillet, add the carrots to the skillet along with any oil that has accumulated in the bottom of the pan.
- When the beets are cool enough to handle, peel them with your fingers. Slice beets into wedges and place in skillet with carrots.
- Heat vegetables over medium-high heat and cook until the glaze bubbles and thickens, coating the carrots and beets with a sticky glaze. Serve immediately, or cool and serve over a salad.
Notes:
- Substitute maple syrup for honey for a vegan alternative
- Top with goat cheese for a little tang and creaminess