Preventable Dental Emergency

ENAMEL CARIES

DENTIN CARIES

PULPITIS

Preventable Dental

EMERGENCY

DON’T LET IT STOP YOU IN YOUR TRACKS

by Dr. Matt Artho

One of the most innovative developments in automobiles is the tire pressure monitoring system that automatically lets you know your tire pressure. It’s very handy, of course, until you are following your child’s bus to his class field trip and get a slow leak that you anxiously watch drop one psi at a time between Fort Worth and San Antonio. Don’t worry, I made it just in time (with 20 psi to spare), but unfortunately in dentistry, our teeth and gums usually lack the ability to give us immediate warning signs to oncoming emergencies.

When making routine dental examinations, most patients are aware of the necessity to have their teeth cleaned, but it is also important that your teeth and gums are monitored for potential tooth or gum disease. Considering that even the most diligent dental patient is seen twice a year, a lot can occur within six months when it comes to oral health and catching it early can make all the difference.

When it comes to monitoring tooth decay, oftentimes the lesion is located in between the teeth, and only a dental radiograph will illustrate its presence. Small cavities on the chewing surfaces may initially appear as a stain unless checked by your dentist. Decay that is unchecked can grow resulting in a great loss of tooth structure or fracture. By the time a tooth begins to feel pain from extensive decay, it is likely close to the nerve requiring a root canal or extraction.

Gum health is also recorded during routine examinations. Periodontal disease is often called the silent dental disease, as it is unnoticeable if not monitored. Bacteria beneath the gums will cause inflammation that results in bone loss around the teeth that cannot be regained. Excessive bone loss could potentially lead to tooth loss.

Any of these conditions could quickly cause an unwanted and unexpected emergency. The best method to avoid a dental emergency is to be prepared and preventative. Make sure to keep up your homecare and don’t miss those essential dental appointments.

940.455.7645 | www.CountryLakesDental.com

CHANGING PEOPLE’S LIVES THROUGH WEIGHT LOSS

by Steve Gamel | photography by What’s That Guy’s Name? | PHOTOGRAPHY BY GUY T

WITH ZERONA, THERE’S NO DOWNTIME, NO SWELLING, NO BRUISING, NO PAIN, NO HEAT, AND NO COLD. SIMPLY BY LYING DOWN UNDER THE LASER, THE PROCEDURE MAKES TINY TEARS IN FAT CELLS, WHICH ARE NATURALLY ELIMINATED THROUGH THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM.

Laura Alexis can tell you countless feel-good stories of everyday people who struggled with being overweight but saw their lives change in the blink of an eye — all because of a laser that looks and feels like it’s not doing anything.

For example, one gentleman needed to drop a few pounds before he could be approved for long-overdue knee surgery. Within a few weeks, he went back to his doctor and was told the surgery was no longer necessary because his joints weren’t bearing the brunt of excess weight. There was also a patient who, for years, relied on a walker to get around but miraculously cast it aside, and another gentleman who always had to purchase two seats and ask for a seatbelt extender when he’d get on an airplane. They are both now living their best life.

And then you have Laura herself, who was depressed and overweight after the loss of her baby boy, Phillip. A doctor she worked for introduced her to a laser machine tucked away in a corner, and the rest is history. “There was a red, shining light hovering over my tummy area, and I remember rolling my eyes and looking down as I said, ‘Are you sure this is working? I can’t feel anything,’” Laura said. “I did this on a Monday, and when I came back two days later and saw the results, I was so excited that I couldn’t wait to get under it again and push the repeat button. When it transformed me mentally, physically, and emotionally, I knew I had to do the same for others.”

And just like that, Innovative Lasers of Houston was born — and the Zerona Laser would never be stuck in a corner again.

When we caught up with Laura earlier this month, she was smiling from ear to ear. She shared how Innovative Lasers went from a single office to six — five in Houston and one in Preston Hollow — while single-

Laura Alexis

handedly changing the weight loss game “We don’t destroy fat cells; we shrink several thousand fat cells at a time. And them,” Laura said. “Like a magnet that is it’s all thanks to the Zerona Laser, the attracted to metal, the Zerona Laser is first non-invasive total body contouring attracted to fat cells. It creates tears in the procedure without the adverse side effects fat cells and sweeps them throughout the of surgical and other body so the content of weight loss procedures those cells naturally seep like liposuction THE ZERONA LASER IS out through bodily fluids and bariatrics. GOOD FOR ANYBODY such as urine and sweat. With Zerona, there’s no AND EVERYBODY When that happens, the downtime, no swelling, — REGARDLESS OF results are immediate.” no bruising, no pain, no WHETHER YOU WANT She added, “We literally heat, and no cold. Simply TO LOSE FIVE POUNDS change people’s lives by lying down under the laser, the procedure OR 105 POUNDS. with this procedure. I feel strongly that this makes tiny tears in procedure shouldn’t just fat cells, which are naturally eliminated be for the rich and famous but also for the through the lymphatic system. average person just like me. I’m here to Zerona is FDA approved, and patients help people and change people’s lives.” experience an average reduction of 3 to The Zerona Laser is good for anybody 11 inches in two weeks. and everybody — regardless of whether While it sounds too good to be true, you want to lose ten pounds or 115 there’s a very good reason for such a high pounds. Not only does their laser shrink success rate. the fat cells, but patients aren’t left with troublesome loose skin because the laser stimulates the collagen in your body.

“This is all we do, every single day,” Laura said. “We hire the best staff with love and compassion as the main qualification, and because we can deliver results quickly, it has made us very popular.”

She added, “These are people who have tried everything under the sun and haven’t seen results like this before. I want to share those stories with the rest of the world”

CALL NOW FOR A FREE CONSULTATION 214.484.2340

The Art of Christmas CREATING A DESIGNER TREE

by Allison Fifer, POSH Home Staging & Redesign photo courtesy of Allison Fifer

Creating a Designer Christmas Tree is fun and easy, right?! Well, actually it can be with the right planning. There is truly an art to creating a fabulous Christmas presentation in one’s home, however, there is also a “science,” shall we say, which provides a formula for excellence. Perfection is not necessary, nor the goal. While everyone has their own sense of style when it comes to decorating, one can simply follow the below formula to easily step into creating your very own Designer Christmas Tree.

Assemble, Shape, and Fluff

After finding that special location for your tree and skirting its base, an essential yet often overlooked or rushed through step centers around shaping one’s tree after unpacking and assembly. Each branch is a vital part of your Christmas presentation, providing fullness as well as niches for ornaments in which to hang. Each branch should be straightened, positioned, and fluffed individually. This step is a bit time consuming and tedious but provides a huge payoff once decorating begins.

Playing a favorite Christmas collection of songs or fun holiday movies to enjoy while meticulously attending to each branch creates a fun tradition for you and your loved ones in kicking off this allimportant first step.

Check the Bling

Now that you have your tree assembled, fluffed, and full, this is a good time to check the lights on your tree. I like to refer to this as the bling! Be sure your tree is lighting up every branch on every row. If the lights are not coming on, ensure all plugs are connected and that fuses are good. Still no bling? Check to confirm each light bulb is securely in place or search for that broken bulb.

Top that Tree

Some family traditions use the topper as the finale to the tree decorating experience. However, I like to start by creating an expression of art at the top of the tree to set the tone for how the tree’s decorations will flow down. Many toppers take on a more traditional approach with a heavenly angel, a big bow, a twinkling star, or any type of metallic finial. Others have added a special touch of creativity with oversized stuffed animals, dolls, or toy soldiers. Be sure to use filler around your centerpiece to fill in space, accentuate a special color or attribute, and have it blend with the rest of your tree.

Create Focal Points & Ribbon

Just like in your home, a Christmas tree needs focal points so that one’s eye may rest on something beautiful and peaceful. By creating focal points, you guide the eye through your tree while allowing your guests to experience its beauty as you do. To create a focal point, identify a few niches in the tree to accentuate with a chosen grouping including your theme color; i.e., flowers, ribbons, picks, oversized ornaments. Be sure to add various sizes, textures, and shapes for increased interest and dimension. Draping and looping a few strands of ribbon from the topper through a focal point to the bottom row of branches creates a nice flowing touch.

Final Touches of Ornaments

No tree is complete without the family’s traditional, heirloom, and special handpicked ornaments. Placement of solid color ornaments closer to the trunk of the tree will assist in filling in any sparse areas while also creating a feeling of balance both with color and shapes throughout. The more ornamental pieces are then placed among the tips of the tree’s branches to ensure sparkle, interest, and visibility.

And just like that, you have created your very own Designer Tree!

940.765.2684 | POSHHOMESTAGING.COM | ALLISON@POSHHOMESTAGING.COM