Your Holiday Guide to Santa’s Helpers!

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. Terry Hunt | River Dental Arts
1690 Wright Ave
Rocky River, OH 44116
Phone: (440) 331-7380

PERIODONTAL DISEASE OVERALL HEALTH

I am becoming more and more aware and concerned with the link between oral health and overall health.  Taking care of your oral health positively contributes to your overall health and well-being.  Researchers have established links between gum disease and other health ailments.  While it is not perfectly clear whether there is a cause and effect relationship, we do know that there are links between gum disease and many other health conditions.  We know that gum disease can be prevented, treated and sometimes reversed, which indicates that patients may be able to influence their overall health by actively managing their oral health.

Prevention is the key.  Good oral home care routines combined with regular dental visits is the best way to prevent gum disease.  Brushing, flossing and rinsing at home helps reduce the build up of plaque.  By maintaining regular dental visits we can remove additional plaque and monitor gum disease warning signs.  We will discuss any evidence of gum disease with you so that you can also manage any changes in your overall health.  Here are some links that have been demonstrated between oral health and overall health.

• Heart Disease & Stroke: People with gum disease are almost TWICE as likely to suffer coronary artery disease as those without gum disease.
• Pulmonary Infection: Harmful bacteria from gum infections has been linked with pneumonia, bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Osteoporosis: Women with osteoporosis may be at higher risk for gum disease and people with gum disease may be at a higher risk of underlying osteoporosis.
• Diabetes: People with diabetes are more susceptible to gum disease, which in turn can make it more difficult to control blood sugar.
• Oral Cancer: An association has been found between serious periodontal disease and pre-cancerous lesions and oral tumors.
• Pregnancy: Periodontal disease during pregnancy has been linked with toxemia, pre-term delivery and babies with lower birth weights.

Periodontal disease is a condition that can be successfully treated and managed.  Remember to brush, floss and rinse your teeth.  Never share your toothbrush and replace it regularly.  It really doesn’t matter what brand of toothbrush you use, as long as it has soft or medium strength bristles.  The best toothbrush to use is the one that you will use!

Dr. Terry Hunt
River Dental Arts
1690 Wright Ave
Rocky River, OH 44116
Phone: (440) 331-7380

CEREC 3D – CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY

Did you know CEREC 3D restoration services are a cutting edge technology?  This is a superior method of creating precisely-designed, color-matched and highly durable ceramic restoration, made right in the dental office. I am so proud to be using cutting edge technology to manufacture lifelike porcelain crowns, veneers, inlays and onlays right in our office.

Though this technology can’t be used for every restoration, when CEREC 3D can be used, it allows us to create strong, customized, tooth-colored ceramic restorations right here in our office, usually within a single appointment

Here is how it works.  After examining the tooth and determining the course of treatment, I will prepare your tooth for restoration, similar to traditional treatment methods. CEREC then uses a state-of-the-art 3D camera to create an optical impression.  This digital image replaces the physical “goopy” impression required in traditional procedures.  You don’t have to wait while a tray of impression goop hardens in your mouth.

I then use state-of-the-art software to design every precise detail of your restoration with the accuracy you’ve come to expect from us.  The software allows me to customize the shape of the restoration to exactly fit your specific clinical needs.

While you wait, exact design specifications are sent to our on-site milling machine to create your restoration.  About 15 minutes later, your all-ceramic color-matched restoration is ready for placement.  Your new restoration is then fitted, polished and bonded for permanence.  Your tooth is restored back to its natural form, function and beauty.

Dr. Terry Hunt
River Dental Arts
1690 Wright Ave
Rocky River, OH 44116
Phone: (440) 331-7380