Mission trip to Guatamala

Dr. Deb and her son, Tim (who will be joining his brother and starting Tufts Dental School in the Fall) went on a Christian dental mission trip to Guatemala for 10 days in January. Dr. Deb described the experience as rewarding and overwhelming. They were joined by two other dentists, a dental hygienist and a dental assistant.

Some villagers traveled 45 minutes to get to the’clinic'  



That is Dr. Deb in the blue scrubs leaning over a patient. Her job was triaging patients and administering local anesthetic so the other two dentists could extract/restore problem teeth. She even did some easy extractions and fillings.

Decay is prevalent especially because of their sugary diet (sugar cane and soda), little emphasis on dental hygiene and lack of dental care.

Memories Of Summer

It’s official… apple-picking, pumpkin-picking, cider, bales of hay… It’s Fall! It’s definitely the season I love the most being a New Englander. (If you talk to some people, I do hail from the South, but after being up here for more than ½ my life, I’m beginning to call myself a New Englander. I mean, I do root for the Pats, too – and they need all the help they can get this season – even if it is from a Southern ex-pat!)


I digress.


While I love the crisp air, and the confusion of figuring out what to wear (!), I do miss the summer, and stress about the upcoming winter. I always love the summer because I can watch my kids grow like weeds and not run on a rat wheel with them. Somehow, the busyness of the school year makes the growth less obvious.


Here they are enjoying a summer time “picking” activity - sea glass-picking in Maine, comparing notes on the colors and shapes found. Cheers to the Fall, with great memories from the summer.

Run, Run as fast as you can!

Dr. Deb, Dr. Steve (Deb's husband) and their friend, Jim once again ran the Falmouth Road Race and lived!

Way to go graying group!!

Following in his parent's footsteps

Congratulations to Dr. Deb and Dr. Steve's son, Stephen, Jr., who just graduated from Colgate University with a B.A. in Biology (Honors), Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa! He is following in his parent's footsteps and heading to Tufts Dental School in the Fall!

Celebrating a First Holy Communion

Dr. Deb and her husband, Dr. Steve were on the move again last weekend when they traveled to Woodstock, NY for their niece's First Holy Communion.

A proud and busy weekend

Dr. Deb had a busy family weekend. She was her niece's Confirmation sponsor and is pictured here with Emma and Fr. Fleming in Concord, MA on Saturday. On Sunday, she and her husband attended their nephew's graduation from New England Tech in Providence. He graduated with a degree in advanced automotive technology and is employed at Merchant's Auto in Manchester.

Spring has Sprung!

Spring has Sprung!  In addition to the warmer weather and longer days, you have weddings, baptisms, communions, and BABIES!  My youngest sister Jenny and her husband Paul just had their first child, a boy.  (Some of you may recall her gender announcement movie on our FB page - if you haven't seen it, it's a must see: https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=461203400588086&set=vb.110722118969551&type=3&theater.)  

With another boy to add to the roster of grandkids on my side of the family, my daughter continues to reign as the Queen Cousin.  I can't wait to hold the little guy as I cannot remember that my own kids were ever that small...  Congratulations to the Family Aronson!  

Dr. Deb shares her knowledge with dental school hopefuls

Dr. Deb has gone back to college! Here she is pictured with some of the members of the Holy Cross Pre-Dental Society. As you may know, Dr. Deb (and Dr. Diane) have been visiting our area schools teaching proper brushing and flossing for 24 years. Dr. Deb was invited by the society to give these dental school hopefuls pointers on the best way to present the oral hygiene message to Worcester school children.

From one parent to the next...

Dr. Deb and Dr. Diane wish you all the very best in your New Year! It's hard to believe that 2012 is behind us. A new year is beginning, and it's always a time for resolutions, and fresh starts. With all the excitement of gift-giving and receiving behind us, we wanted to share a real story from some parents to their child on receiving, responsibility, maturity, and decision-making. While you may or may not agree with this piece, it does bring us back to core values, despite the lightening speed of technology and the ever-present material world. We invite your comments!




Greg H is a kid who just got an iPhone from his parents. His mom, Janell, wrote these [slightly edited] rules for its use:



1. It is my phone. I bought it. I pay for it. I am loaning it to you. Aren't I the greatest?

2. I will always know the password.

3. If it rings, answer it. It is a phone. Say hello, use your manners. Do not ever ignore a phone call if the screen reads "Mom" or "Dad". Not ever.

4. Hand the phone to one of your parents promptly at 7:30 pm every school night & every weekend night at 9:00 pm. It will be shut off for the night and turned on again at 7:30 am. If you would not make a call to someone's land line, wherein their parents may answer first, then do not call or text. Listen to those instincts and respect other families like we would like to be respected.

5. It does not go to school with you. Have a conversation with the people you text in person. It's a life skill.

6. If it falls into the toilet, smashes on the ground, or vanishes into thin air, you are responsible for the replacement costs or repairs.

7. Do not use this technology to lie, fool, or deceive another human being. Do not involve yourself in conversations that are hurtful to others. Be a good friend first or stay out of the crossfire.

8-9. Do not text, email, or say anything through this device you would not say in person.

10. No porn.

11. Turn it off, silence it, put it away in public. Especially in a restaurant, at the movies, or while speaking with another human being. You are not a rude person; do not allow the iPhone to change that.

12. Do not send or receive pictures of your private parts or anyone else's private parts. Don't laugh. Someday you will be tempted to do this despite your high intelligence. It is risky and could ruin your teenage/college/adult life. It is always a bad idea. Cyberspace is vast and more powerful than you. And it is hard to make anything of this magnitude disappear -- including a bad reputation.

13. Don't take a zillion pictures and videos. There is no need to document everything. Live your experiences. They will be stored in your memory for eternity.

14. Leave your phone home sometimes and feel safe and secure in that decision. It is not alive or an extension of you. Learn to live without it. Be bigger and more powerful than FOMO -- fear of missing out.

15. Download music that is new or classic or different than the millions of your peers that listen to the same exact stuff. Your generation has access to music like never before in history. Take advantage of that gift. Expand your horizons.

16. Play a game with words or puzzles or brain teasers every now and then.

17. Keep your eyes up. See the world happening around you. Stare out a window. Listen to the birds. Take a walk. Talk to a stranger. Wonder without googling.

18. You will mess up. I will take away your phone. We will sit down and talk about it. We will start over again. You & I, we are always learning. I am on your team. We are in this together.

HSU primate migration

They’re BAAACCCK! My three Homo studentus universitatus (HSU) primates have migrated back to their parental nest for Christmas and once again have infiltrated and taken over my neat and ordered homestead. With non-verbal communication (texting), they have alerted other HSU primates that the winter break meeting ritual has begun at our house. Their social structure seems to have evolved though. There are more female sightings and the males don’t seem so alpha-like. I think they even brush their teeth more!! Their strange sleeping habits have remained the same. They continue to be nocturnal and they seem to prefer sleeping on couches with the TV on rather than in their comfy beds. Maybe it is because they can’t see their beds under all the clothes, books and papers that are strewn about their dens. But truthfully, this is my happiest time. Having my monkeys back home, asking what’s for dinner, and giving me big hugs daily is my greatest joy. I thank God everyday for the good in my life. May God bless your families this new year and let’s remember that many are in need of our prayers. God Bless Us Everyone! ~Deb

Big fans of Santa!

I had heard from patients that Santa had begun showing himself in the malls just after Halloween. In my mind, that's still Halloween and that meant that Santa was an imposter. But, we had to go see for ourselves. As you can see from the photos, it's official! My favorite thing about getting these photos with Santa is to watch the progression my kids have made over the years - from shear, abject horror the first year, to modest apprehension the second year, half cheery smiles in the third, to full board happiness. If they still let me do this annually, I can't wait for the ones with him as teenagers! Should be a framer!

Happy Holidays to everyone! Hold on tight! Here comes 2013!

Empty Nest

It is official...Dr. Deb is an 'empty nester'.

All three of her kids are in college!

 

Here is Alyse, with her list in hand, loading up her cart at WalMart

...and 24 hours later settling into the little corner of her new world!

                                    

 

Nostalgia...

My kids and parents were able to enjoy the beauty of New England's Fall - the mums, the pumpkins, the crisp air!   There's something about the fall that makes you nostalgic, and having family here strengthens that feeling.  It was great having my folks come and visit.  My mom still goes into hyperdrive cooking, like she did when there were us 4 girls growing up, and I never tire of eating her cooking.  My dad goes into handy helper mode - trying to fix things here and there; and we jokingly call him 'Photo Frank' as he is constantly making movies of the kids - much like when I was growing up.  Seeing my kids together with them brings back memories of growing up.  But a big smile creeps on my face seeing how much my kids look like my parents.  It makes me happy to know I'll always have my parents with me in my kids.

Mother and Son bonding time

Dr. Deb and her oldest son, Steve, again participated in the 40th Annual running of the Falmouth Road Race. Steve ran and Deb survived. This is a picture of Steve propping her up after the race!

Top Dentists 2012

Dr. Deb & Dr. Diane have been recognized again this year in the NH Magazine August issue as Top Dentists 2012.  Thousands of dentists were polled and asked who they feel the top specialists are, taking into account overall patient care, years of experience, board certification, continuing education, use of new technologies, and of course the best final result.  The Amherst Orthodontics team would like to congratulate their doctors, Dr. Deb and Dr. Diane. You rock!

Big Apple Circus

 Big Apple Circus came to Boston! This was the first time for the kids, who left with a million dollars worth of concessions in their bellies ($4 M & M's!!!).  They had such a blast, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to anyone with little kids.  It is such a family friendly event, 1 ring, easy on the clowns, and big on the performance arts.  My kids were on the edge of their seats for the whole 2 hours, and even got a photo with "Grandma" the clown on her last tour!  

The scary and exciting age of multimedia!

Infinite Bandwidth

By Eugene Gan

I want to share with you is an incredible book that I think every parent should read. We are in a scary and exciting age of multimedia and we must embrace it (sorry, you can get the girl out of orthodontics but you can’t get orthodontics out of the girl!). BUT I’m so concerned about our children.. Here are some hard facts discussed in the book:

                                                              i.      The average person spends 5+ hours a day in front of a screen

                                                           ii.      Teens and college students are never “in one place” at a time

                                                         iii.      Constant media use breaks down silence and powers of concentration; creates narcissistic bubbles (ie. only voices of those of my peer group); fosters distraction and superficiality…. YIKES

This book is easy reading and will give you suggestions on how to guide our children to use media in the best and healthiest way possible. It is written from a Catholic perspective but it is not about religion. Don’t let this stop you from reading it…I know you will not be disappointed. I only wish I had read it sooner!

National Facial Protection Month!

April is National Facial Protection Month. Dr. Deb and Dr. Diane want to remind parents, coaches and athletes to wear mouth guards in order to prevent recreation-related mouth and face injuries. In a survey commissioned by the American Association of Orthodontics (AAO), 67 percent of parents admitted that their children do not wear mouth guards during organized sports. Last year, The National Youth Sports Safety Foundation predicted that more than 3 million teeth would be knocked out in youth sporting events! Yikes!!
Amherst Orthodontics provides orthodontic mouth guards, made specifically to fit over braces, please let us know if you need one!
Check out this hilarious video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mMTTXbdwT4&feature=g-upl&context=G258365bAUAAAAAAAAAA

22 years of little growing reminders...

February is National Children’s Health Month and for the past 22 out of 25 years, I have been going to area schools teaching the virtues of brushing and flossing. (Di has been sharing this mission with me for 11 years). During my recent visit to Wilkins, I again visited Barb Piotrowski’s classroom. I love chiding her about the fact that she was my 21 year old son’s 1st grade teacher. This year, she proudly informed me that her son, who I started caring for when he was 8 years old, is getting married. He is now almost 28!…touché!... So here is a pic of two ‘old’ ladies who don’t feel old (or look old for that matter!) but have the kids to prove it!

Oh the weather outside...

It wouldn’t be New England without all of these weather changes! Just a few weeks ago we had enough snow to dust off the ol’ sled to be taken on the maiden voyage! Now, here we are mid February and still no more snow! As much as we enjoy not shoveling, we sure would love more sledding! Alas, Spring will be here before we know it and we’ll find more ways to enjoy being outside!