The Peninsula June 2024

HHearing Aids and Happiness

appiness is a major life goal for many, and it’s no surprise that our ability to hear plays a significant role in our overall happiness. Untreated hearing loss can have a profound impact on our emotional state and quality of life. Fortunately, the use of well fit hearing aids can help turn this around and improve our overall sense of well-being.

Beyond easing everyday communication, hearing aids enable individuals to fully enjoy the sounds of life. Whether it’s listening to music, hearing the laughter of loved ones, or experiencing the sounds of nature, hearing aids can restore the richness and depth of sound that may have been lost due to hearing loss. Being able to fully engage with the auditory world can bring immense joy and enhance one’s overall happiness.

Research has shown a positive correlation between hearing aids and mental well-being. Untreated hearing loss has been linked to cognitive decline and an increased risk of depression. By addressing hearing loss with hearing aids, individuals can potentially reduce the risk of cognitive impairment and retain their mental health. Improved cognitive function and a reduced risk of depression significantly contribute to overall happiness and well-being.

Wearing hearing aids can have a positive impact on

occupational success and job satisfaction. Communication is essential in the workplace, and individuals with untreated hearing loss may face challenges in understanding instructions, participating in meetings, or engaging with colleagues. By using hearing aids, individuals can e ectively communicate in professional se ings, perform their job tasks more e ciently, and experience greater job satisfaction, which ultimately contributes to happiness.

Hearing aids play a crucial role in promoting happiness and enhancing overall well-being. By improving communication, fostering social connections, restoring the joys of sound, and positively impacting mental health and occupational success, hearing aids empower individuals to lead happier, more fulfi lling lives. If you or someone you know is experiencing hearing loss, ge ing a hearing evaluation can be a significant step towards reclaiming happiness and improving quality of life.

Donna M. Stewart Audiologist/Owner Hear Inc.

Empourium: Where Food, Art, and Music Meet

Juicy, sweet strawberries growing in lush fields, bouquets of dazzling fresh flowers at roadside stands, and e Butchart Garden’s roses in bloom: these are just a few reasons for a drive to the Saanich Peninsula! But no trip is complete without a stop at the Brentwood Bay Village Empourium.

Empourium has become a popular destination: a welcoming cafe and retail store where excellent co ee, delicious food, live music, arts and retail coexist. Relax indoors or outside under a marquis and enjoy a la e, wine, cold beer or old fashioned milkshake. Empourium’s food and

beverage features an evolving menu with a great selection of freshly baked treats such as Apple Crumble Pull-aparts, Carrot Cake, and fresh fruit mu ns, plus a delicious selection of Paninis, savoury pastries, sandwiches and fresh salads. And if you can’t make it Empourium, BBVE can can come to you! Custom catering menus can be cra ed for your special event, reunion, meeting and more. is family-owned, independent shop is also fi lled with beautiful

and unusual merchandise and art sourced from local, regional and global makers. Whether you are shopping for yourself or looking for a gi , you are sure to fi nd something amazing from the eclectic retail area.

Empourium boasts a five star ranking on Trip Advisor and other review platforms. As one recent reviewer raved, ”I absolutely love this co ee shop!! eir Malahat Mist/London Fog is so creamy and delicious and their breakfast panini are HEAVENLY! ey have a lovely range of sweets… they support local artists by carrying their art creations on their shelves and also host local musicians. I absolutely love the atmosphere!”

Do nna St ew ar t Ai sl in gS my th Martine Schlagintweit

Ask e Dentist!

by Dr. C Ross Crapo DDS

Self-Treatment, Oh My!

Q: I recently went to the dentist because I felt things in my mouth weren’t right. I hadn’t seen a dentist for eight years. He wanted to do implants and I thought he just wanted to line his pockets, so I saw another dentist and insisted he make me a partial denture instead. I must say that at the time my teeth were a bit loose but I thought the partial would strengthen them. As he was making my partial, he said the upper right molars were too loose to use for support, so I had those out. He made the partial and the teeth seemed stronger with it in, so it was a great surprise when this new dentist showed me how loose my teeth are. He gave me a mirror to see and oh my! I thought my bridge that I had

done fi een years ago was going to fall out. He showed me decay had eaten one of the supporting teeth right in two. He asked me if I’d smoked in my life, “Yes,” I said, “from about age fourteen to age fi y-five.” He said that smoking can dramatically be a factor in losing bone. He showed me that my loose teeth didn’t have any bone around them in the x-rays. He was surprised that despite all of the bone loss I could still have implants. e problem is the expense. I can’t a ord implants for the upper and lower. When I asked him about dentures, he said the upper might give me satisfaction but the lower wouldn’t because there’s no suction to hold them in.

Couldn’t I just have everything out and try the full dentures?

I can’t believe I’m in this state. I’ve done everything to keep my teeth. I just didn’t realize what was happening and no one really told me. What about my idea of dentures?

A: ere are literally dozens of reasons why things have gone terribly wrong, ranging from genetics to neglect. When bone loss is as severe as it appears from your history, genetics is o en a player in that loss. Implants support bone, so wherever you can, have them placed to support your teeth - do it, especially in the lower jaw. An ill-fi ing lower set of teeth is not only miserable but increases the rate of bone loss. e implants not only support the bone, but stop movement of the teeth thus decreasing the

forces that speed bone loss.

You might get away without implants in the upper because the bone in the palate is so stable. If you’ve got a nice high palate, you’ll get good support there, but the ridges where the teeth are now will resorb (dissolve) fairly quickly.

Careful study must be made of your mouth before you go ahead. then be “fi xed” and built up temporarily in such a way as to

harmonize with the new front teeth. As you work your way through these expenses, you’re able to permanently restore the back teeth one side at a time. Yes, this will most likely involve crowning your teeth, but replacing what you’ve destroyed is an integral part of this reconstruction. is strategy is easier on the pocketbook and provides wonderful stability, which helps prevent the breakdown you’re experiencing.

Mandibular Jaw, bone recession a er losing molars teeth. Medically accurate dental 3D illustration