Your Holiday Guide to Santa's Elves!

Dental Do-Gooder to Alabaster Snowball

After decades of dreaming about becoming a dentist, Hermey the Elf was named DDG (Dental Do-Gooder) in November by the president of the American Dental Association ADA)!

“Hermey’s passion for dentistry coupled with his devotion to helping others feel good about themselves inside and out, deserves recognition,”said  ADA President Maxine Feinberg, DDS. ”I know Hermey the Elf, DDG, will continue to inspire young people and those who are young at heart to follow their dreams.”

Hermey, Rudolph and some of their friends have also been honored on a postage stamp.  These stamps celebrate the 50th anniversary of the much-loved holiday classic.  Here are Five Fun Facts:

1. According to Ken Muller, brother of ‘Rudolph’ screenwriter Romeo Muller, the original name for Hermey the Elf was supposed to be “Herbie” in honor of a childhood friend. Clarice (Rudolph’s girlfriend) was named after the future bride of another friend.
2. Yukon Cornelius has a diverse dog sled team. Instead of Siberian Huskies or Alaskan Malamutes, his mixed team of pooches includes a Poodle, a Cocker Spaniel, a Saint Bernard, a Dachshund and a Collie.
3. The animators also created the character –narrator of Sam the Snowman to look like Burl Ives, who was the voice for that part.
4. In the original script, while Rudolph, Hermey and Yukon Cornelius promise to visit the Island of Misfit Toys and bring them back, they never do so. After the show first aired, Rankin-Bass, the production company, were inundated with letters from concerned kids demanding that the Misfit Toys be rescued. To console the children, they produced a short scene where Rudolph, Santa, and the rest of the reindeer arrive on the Island and deliver the Misfits to new homes. This scene has shown on TV since 1965. Kids rule!!
5. The original puppets of Santa Claus and the younger Rudolph were eventually purchased by a new owner after going on tour in 2007. Since they were in absolutely horrible condition– Santa had half of his mustache missing while Rudolph was missing his famous nose — the new owner spent $4,000 for them to be restored to mint condition by stop-motion animation studio Screen Novelties International.

Even though we are celebrating Hermey, DDG’s achievements there are other notable elves that we should visit.  Who remembers the Elf on the Shelf?

Elf on a shelf is a special “spy” elf. This elf was sent from the North Pole to help Santa Claus manage his naughty and nice lists.  After the elf arrives and is named, the scout elf receives its Christmas magic and can fly to the North Pole each night to tell Santa Claus about all of the day’s adventures. You definitely want to stay on this elf’s good side!  The next day the scout elf returns to its family and sits in a different place to watch the fun. Children love to wake up and race around the house looking for their scout elf each morning.  Some came offering candy, like a chocolate sampler box.

Finally, the serious elves.  Some believe that Santa employs six elves.  Some think that there are as many as 13 elves living with Santa to help him. Elves are the children of Gryla and Leppaludi and are very clever. They help Santa to design toys and process requests of children that are sent to them through snail mail or emails. The popular Western names of the Christmas elves helping Santa Claus are:

• Alabaster Snowball (Administrator of the Naughty & Nice list)
• Bushy Evergreen (Inventor of the magic toy-making machine).
• Pepper Minstix (Guardian of the secret of where Father Christmas’ village is located).
• Shinny Upatree (The oldest friend of Santa and the cofounder of the secret village in Lapland).
• Sugarplum Mary (Head of the Sweat Treats, she is also known as Mary Christmas. She is an assistant to Mrs. Claus and helps her in the kitchen).
• Wunorse Openslae (Designer of Father Christmas’s sleigh and responsible for its maintenance. He also looks after the reindeers and it is believed that his reindeers reach speeds faster than Christmas tree lights.).

Now, you know more than any of your family members about those mysterious elves! The ambitious Hermey.  The “Traditional”, like Elf on the Shelf and the “Real” (?), like Santa’s Helpers.  Add them to your celebrations and may you remain forever young this holiday season.

Click here to color with Hermey!

Dr. Mark Davies

Ye Olde Village Dentist

1664 Village Green

Crofton, MD 21114

Phone: (301) 261-3800

Common Dental Myths Debunked

Facts About Dental Myths

With the magnitude of information available to us these days, it’s harder than ever to separate facts from myths; especially when it comes to your health. There are a million dental related myths that might steer you in the wrong direction when it comes to a healthy smile. It’s important to be informed and know the facts. Here are a few common dental myths, followed by the facts.

Oral Hygiene Only Affects Your Teeth

Many people hear the phrase “oral hygiene” and they think of the simple act of brushing or flossing. While oral hygiene is important for keeping your teeth healthy, poor oral hygiene can be linked to several other health problems- including heart disease. Taking care of your mouth actually means taking care of a lot of things within your body. Untreated periodontaldisease contributes to more low birth weight babies than both drinking and smoking combined.  Having poor oral hygiene can cause a multitude of problems- not all of them related to your teeth.

You Shouldn’t Get Your Wisdom Teeth Out Until They Start to Hurt

Typically, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, and your dentist will generally advise you of the same. If you wait for your wisdom teeth to become painful, they might have already done other damage to your gums or teeth. Many people believe that as long as they have no pain, there’s no reason to have an unnecessary surgery. In rare cases, wisdom teeth can stay intact as long as they are not interfering or causing damage. One of the most common reasons to remove wisdom teeth is because they are so difficult to keep clean and rather than incurring costly repairs to those teeth many dentists will suggest having them removed.  Frequent exams are necessary in this case to monitor and maintain your health. It’s generally better to have your wisdom teeth removed before any pain, rather than take the gamble.

White Teeth Are Healthier Teeth

Teeth are actually not meant to be pure white. Tooth color can vary widely, for example, depending on your race, pigmentation varies greatly.  Also, as you get older, your teeth will naturally take on a more faded color as things do with time, however they can still be perfectly healthy. A color beyond a light yellow could be cause for concern, but generally the pinkness of your gums is a better indication of oral health as opposed to how white your teeth are.

If Teeth Look Healthy, and Are Not Hurting, There is No Reason to Visit a Dentist

The most common mistake people make regarding their dental health is skipping regular preventive visits because they do not see or feel any problems. Even in the absence of a visible problem or discomfort, regular visits for x-ray exams, cleaning and necessary restorative care are necessary to maintain your teeth and gums for life. Discovering diseases in the mouth earlier rather than later will typically reduce cost, recovery time and severity of dental treatment that may need to be performed.

It’s important to educate yourself on the facts surrounding whole body health and well-being. Muddled information and common misperceptions can leave people confused. The best way to combat myths and augment dental health is to see and speak with your dentist regularly. Have open dialogue and productive conversations about what is and is not true. Being informed, savvy and educated will keep you and your dentist smiling.

Dr. Mark Davies

Ye Olde Village Dentist

1664 Village Green

Crofton, MD 21114

Phone: (301) 261-3800

5 Candy Alternatives That Will Keep Trick-or-Treaters Smiling

Treat Trick-or-Treaters to a Healthy Treat This Season

The fall season brings an amazing amount of fun activities for you and your family. From the excitement of Halloween, to school fall festivals, kids and parents alike look forward to the cool weather and family memories. Unfortunately, Halloween and fall festivals can also do a number on your child’s teeth. Hard candies, sweet treats and sugary snacks can be cavities waiting to happen. Handing out Halloween candy doesn’t mean you have to hand out oral health disasters. There are a number of healthy alternatives to the candy bars and licorice- some that trick-or-treaters might even enjoy more than the sugar rush. The days of handing out apple slices and pennies to avoid contributing to tooth destruction are gone! Take a look at some of these creative trick-or-treat alternatives that will leave all the little ghosts and ghouls smiling throughout the year.

Applesauce Pouches                                                                                     

Applesauce is still a sweet treat, and not nearly as hard on the teeth. Not only that, they’re portable, affordable and a great way to avoid the mess of some other treats. You can get a pack of 48 pouches for about 35 dollars on Amazon, which is enough to give all the trick-or-treaters something healthy to smile about.

Mini LaraBars                                                                                     

Larabars are gluten free, vegan, kosher and only have about 8-11 grams of sugar per bar. They also come in mini form, making them perfect to hand out on Halloween. The great thing about these treats is that the kids won’t even know they’re healthy! LaraBars have flavors such as cherry pie, apple pie and cashew cookie and are just as delicious as the other mini candy bars that will be weighing down their bag. If you can’t find LaraBars, or they’re a little too pricey for you, granola bars of any kind will be a better choice than chocolate.

Vegan Rice Crispy Treats

Rice crispy treats are a delicious sweet treat for trick-or-treaters, but you don’t have to use all the sugary marshmallow to make them amazing. There are a number of recipes you can follow which swap out a few classic ingredients for something a little healthier in order to create the perfect Halloween snack. By using brown rice syrup instead of marshmallow, brown rice crisps instead of white rice and coconut oil instead of butter- you can make delicious, healthy treats that many claim are better than the original. Check out one the recipes here. 

Sugar Free Gum

While sugar free gum may not be the most exciting item in your child’s bag, it’s still a quality alternative to all the junk they’ll be getting. You can get tasty sugar free gum such as Dubble Bubble and throw a few pieces in along with other healthy treats. Parents will appreciate the lack of sugar, and the kids (especially those kids who love their chewing gum) will be happy with a full bag of “candy.”

Toys

If you want to skip the food items altogether, many parents have opted to hand out toys instead. There are a number of items you can get in bulk for cheap such as pencils, erasers, stickers, mini water guns, temporary tattoos, mini play dough, sidewalk chalk, bouncing balls, bubbles and more. The possibilities are endless and none of these things will land your child in the dentist’s chair. If you’re thinking of skipping the candy and handing out toys, head to your local dollar store to find amazing deals on bulk items.

There’s also the option of handing out pre-made veggie and fruit snacks, however this may only be a good idea if you’re close with the surrounding neighbors. Parents are often a little leery of pre-prepared snacks and the time and money you spent might simply end up in the trash. These days there really are dozens of candy alternatives that don’t skimp on the flavor. Do your own research to find what works best for you and your family, have fun with it, and get everyone involved. Keep in mind that most trick-or-treaters will be over-flowing with the sugary stuff- so its good practice as a parent and oral health advocate to provide something that will keep their smiles healthy throughout the year.

Dr. Mark Davies

Ye Olde Village Dentist

1664 Village Green

Crofton, MD 21114

Phone: (301) 261-3800

The Dentist with the Coolest Patients!

Meet one of our most amazing patients, Pastor Russell Fink, who competes nationally in tennis. This year, Pastor Fink was ranked NUMBER 2 in the National Men's Individuals for those 85 and over! He's ranked at number ONE for the National Men's 85 and Over Individual Doubles. He travels to tournaments all over the world and recently took home the bronze medal at the Nationals in California. He also earned a championship this year in West Virginia.

Pastor Fink is a multifaceted tennis player, competing on hard courts, clay and grass. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his wife Barbara, leading his weekly men's Bible study, and even filling in for other Pastors on Sundays. Root for him this August and September when he competes in the Nationals on Grass and Nationals on clay. Russel Fink is an amazing inspiration for us all!

You can read more about his accomplishments in the Capital Gazette: http://www.capitalgazette.com/sports/other_sports/tennis-annapolis-fink-draws-top-usta-national-ranking/article_f19cfb40-0d9a-5bf4-bd8b-8a31f6f69b72.html

Ye Olde Village Dentist
1664 Village Green, Crofton, MD 21114
www.drmarkdavies.com
(301) 261-3800
(410) 721-8688

Community is Happening at the Dentist

A serendipitous meeting of friends is normal at our office!
Sly (in the chair) and Kris.

In 2014, most of the businesses we visit on a day-to-day basis are dominated by large corporations; where profit trumps personal relationships, and community sensibilities have been forgotten. In a time when busy schedules may get in the way of offering up a simple "hello" to your neighbor,  we believe it's important to offer a dentist's office that feels a little bit more like home.

In the last few months we've had the pleasure of noticing something unique and wonderful in our reception areas and even in the doctor's chair. Everyone knows everyone, and we absolutely love it. We've watched our patients have sudden reunions with old friends in the waiting area, and had the pleasure of seeing friends spot their co-workers, neighbors and even relatives right there in our office.  We realized that being a genuine "neighborhood dentist" helps put our patients at ease, adds an element of warm intimacy, and keeps filling the office with hearty laughs and friendly sightings.

Visiting a dentist is never going to be a "fun" experience. But by creating a community environment, a real "everyone knows everyone" atmosphere, our office has really become a special place.  And we’re truly grateful for every individual that has chosen to call Ye Olde Village Dentist home. With this in mind we hope that folks will keep running into old acquaintances, students will keep seeing their teachers, and each patient will leave with a brighter smile (and maybe even plans for coffee with an old friend)!

Help us build a community around our practice by following us on Facebook, checking in when you're here, and sharing your experience with your friends and family!

Ye Olde Village Dentist
1664 Village Green, Crofton, MD 21114
www.drmarkdavies.com
(301) 261-3800
(410) 721-8688

Meet the Team: Dr. Mark Davies

Dr. Davies was raised in Cranbury, NJ and moved to the Maryland area when he was in his late teens. He
attended Roanoke College in Salem, VA, where he attained a B.S. in Chemistry. Dr. Davies graduated from Howard University, College of Dentistry in 1983.

Dr. Davies has had additional continuing education in occlusion (the way you bite as it relates to the jaw joint) and his primary focus is on restorative dentistry (fillings, crown, and bridge work). He has also had further training in restoring implants (placing crowns over the already embedded implant) for missing teeth and dentures. He is a member of the American Dental Association, Maryland State Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry.

Dr. Davies relocated his practice to the Village Green in Crofton after practicing nineteen years in Bowie. He is married to Kris and has one son, Bryn, who is pursuing a career in Computer Science.

Dr. Davies hobbies include continuing education, reading, traveling, gardening, self-improvement, investing, and golf.

Ye Olde Village Dentist
1664 Village Green, Crofton, MD 21114
www.drmarkdavies.com
(301) 261-3800
(410) 721-8688

Meet the Team: Susie

Susie graduated from the University of Maryland Hygiene School in 1996 and has worked in dental hygiene ever since. She chose dental hygiene because she loves to work with her hands and with people. The flexibility of dental hygiene was also appealing. Susie began at Ye Olde Village Dentist in 2009 to cover a maternity leave...we were lucky - she stayed!

Originally from Odenton, Maryland, Susie is an Arundel High graduate and has lived in the Crofton area for most of her life (with the exception of 4 years in Durham, North Carolina). She values time spent with her husband of 15 years Jon, and her two daughters. She loves Duke basketball and gardening during the nicer weather.  When she’s not working, she keeps healthy by participating in 5k and 10k runs (she used to be a triathlete too!) as well as cooking gluten free meals for her and her family.

Like many of our other staff members, Susie stays up-to-date in her profession by taking 15 hours of CE courses per year, making her privy to all of the latest technology. What Susie enjoys most about her job is working with people and motivating them to improve their health. In addition, Susie always enjoys being surrounded by a quality staff. “They’re a pleasure to work with,” she says. “It doesn't even feel like work to me!”

Ye Olde Village Dentist
1664 Village Green, Crofton, MD 21114
www.drmarkdavies.com
(301) 261-3800
(410) 721-8688

Meet the Team: Sari

Originally from Elizabeth, New Jersey; Sari has been a Certified Dental Hygienist at Ye Old Village Dentist since 2010. She is married with three girls, including 17 year old twins! Sari was drawn to dental hygiene due to the flexible hours and her interest in preventative health care. She continues to hold that interest and takes two CE courses a month in order to stay current on new trends and products within her field.

Besides remaining up-to-date and savvy in her field, Sari enjoys the social part of her job as well. “I love being able to interact with and form relationships with a variety of people,” she says.  When she’s not working, she enjoys biking, cooking, jogging and yoga.  Her favorite book is The Hunger Games and her favorite place to visit is Rocky Mountain National Park.  A lover of healthful living as a whole, Sari continues to put sincerity and professionalism into her work.  “I love making a positive impact on the health of people that come to our office,” she says.

Ye Olde Village Dentist
1664 Village Green, Crofton, MD 21114
www.drmarkdavies.com
(301) 261-3800
(410) 721-8688

Meet the Team: Mary

A Jack of all trades, this Roving Assistant spent 15 years as a beautician before settling into her position at Dr. Davies' office in 2009. In addition to that, she worked as a caterer for five years, a receptionist for a while, and “has always been a mom.” Married for an impressive 44 years and originally from Baltimore, Mary has two grown daughters and two grandsons. Mary was also a patient before an employee and says that being a part of Dr. Davies’ staff has been like “living with family.” 

While Mary is dedicated to both her personal and professional family, she also makes time to relax.  She enjoys reading Nora Roberts and Daniel Steele novels, crocheting, knitting and hiking. She loves short haired cats, chocolate meringue pie and the color green. More than anything though, Mary is a lover of the work she does with Dr. Davies and his patients. “I am always meeting new people and staying busy.”

Ye Olde Village Dentist
1664 Village Green, Crofton, MD 21114
www.drmarkdavies.com
(301) 261-3800
(410) 721-8688

Meet the Team: Kris

A former fourth grade teacher and regional sales manager, Kris has worked as a practice administrator at Dr. Davies’ office since 1998.  X-ray certified, current with CPR and a lover of cross stitching, Kris took over when Dr. Davies’ former office manager retired.   Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota but raised in Clearwater, Florida. Kris is married with one grown son working in the computer field.

As with all of Davies’ staff her favorite part of the job is the people that surround her. “I love the social part of my job” she says, “talking to all the patients and getting to know them along with their families, following the events in their lives.”  Of course, Kris likes to take some time to relax outside of the job as well. When she’s not brightening the days of her patients she loves to travel, read, swim and listen to classic Bruce Springsteen.

Ye Olde Village Dentist
1664 Village Green, Crofton, MD 21114
www.drmarkdavies.com
(301) 261-3800

(410) 721-8688

Meet the Team: Denise

With 31 years of General Dentistry experience, Denise from Aurora, Colorado is a Certified Dental Hygienist at Dr. Davies’ office.  Licensed in Colorado, Maryland and California, Denise decided to pursue a career in dentistry after experiencing extensive dental work as a child.  “Not always good,” she admits. “I wanted to work in dentistry but be nice to the people.” Since December of 2009 Denise has been doing just that at Dr. Davies’office.

A member of the Hygiene Study Club and an active participate in continuing education on dentistry, what Denise seems to like most about her job is the quality of care she’s a part of. “I love the health field, I enjoy helping and education patients and Dr. Davies' office is outstanding.”  It’s clear that after 30 years in the industry Denise knows a quality practice when she sees one. “I've worked in so many offices so I can appreciate the quality of care, treatment, cleanliness and true concern for the patients.”

Ye Olde Village Dentist
1664 Village Green, Crofton, MD 21114
www.drmarkdavies.com
(301) 261-3800

(410) 721-8688