So, the legend says that if the groundhog emerges from his burrow and does not see his shadow, winter is over. If he emerges and DOES see his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. It's a strange tradition, and where in the world does it come from? The origins are not entirely clear, but The celebration, which began as a Pennsylvania German custom in southeastern and central Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries, has its origins in ancient European weather lore, wherein a badger or sacred bear is the prognosticator as opposed to a groundhog.It also bears similarities to the Pagan festival of Imbolc, the seasonal turning point of the Celtic, which is celebrated on February 1 and also involves weather prognostication. and to St. Swithun's Day in July.
An early American reference to Groundhog Day can be found in a diary entry, dated February 4, 1841, of Berks County, Pennsylvania, storekeeper James Morris: Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate.
In Scotland the tradition may also derive from an English poem:
As the light grows longer
The cold grows stronger
If Candlemas be fair and bright
Winter will have another flight
If Candlemas be cloud and rain
Winter will be gone and not come again
A farmer should on Candlemas day
Have half his corn and half his hay
On Candlemas day if thorns hang a drop
You can be sure of a good pea crop
Whatever the origin, Groundhog Day marks the beginning of February which is National Heart Health Month and of course, Valentine's Day.
Throughout the month, we will provide information related to heart health and also some fun facts. We hope you find this information useful.
In the month of February, to express our love of our patients, we are offering a $75 incentive when you refer a friend or family member and they come in for a new patient exam with x-rays. We offer our promise that we will give your friends and family the same great care we give you. Have them call 303-422-8748, mention your name and one of our team members will be happy to help.
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJD) is characterized as acute or chronic inflammation or pain in the jaw joint. Over working (grinding or clenching your jaw ) can irritate your ear canal, cause unequal pressure, a “full” feeling in the ears or even ringing in the ears “tinnitus.” Tinnitus can range from a ringing that you are just aware of to a debilitating level that impedes work and drastically threatens the quality of life of the patient.
Other TMJD Symptoms:
- Ear, head, neck and back pain
- Dizziness (vertigo)
- Impaired hearing
- Stuffy sensations in the ears
- Double and blurred vision
- Clicking, popping or grinding of the joints
- Sinus pain
- Migraines
- Headaches
- Shoulder pain
- Locking of the joints
- Teeth do not come together correctly
More often than not, TMJ disorders can be treated non-surgically in our office. On rare occasions, surgery may be required and we have trusted surgeons we work with closely to ensure your successful outcome. A 60-90 minute exam is required to provide you with treatment options. We have appointments reserved in our office for patients who are experiencing jaw pain. Please call Dr. Ted Johnson DMD to schedule an exam if you experience any of the above symptoms. 303-422-8748.
We have helped hundreds of people experiencing the same symptoms as you.
“Our purpose is to help people achieve the highest level of well-being appropriate for them and, in doing so, enhance the quality of their lives.”
In other words, we help you become as healthy as you choose. This is a major departure from the way we were trained. Instead of telling you how healthy you ought to be, we will try to understand your choices about dental health and then let you make a free and informed decision. Your first choice, in this regard, is how you would like to begin with us. We offer five levels on which people may choose to be seen in our practice. Please check the one that is most appropriate for you at this time.
_____ Level One URGENT CARE People in crisis with pain, swelling, a cracked tooth or infection that require immediate help.
_____ Level Two REMEDIAL CARE People who choose this level want treatment only when something breaks or becomes painful. Generally, people at this level of care expect only a limited exam focusing on the obvious problem.
_____ Level Three SELF CARE Patients who choose this level of care want a thorough exam and take an active part in their treatment and prevention of past, present and future disease problems. However, they usually choose repair solutions that are short term in nature.
_____ Level Four COMPLETE DENTISTRY People at this level are similar to those described in level three, however, they decide on a MASTER PLAN to formulate a long term treatment plan for health and repair. These patients are very concerned about treating the causes of dental disease, not simply the effects. These patients want all dental treatment provided to be complete in the most lasting fashion available.
_____Level Five LOOK YOUR BEST People in this group are similar to level four, but also want to look their best at all times. They know their smile is the first thing others notice about them and want to put their best foot forward.
We hope these levels of care are a helpful tool for you. Often, people start in one level and progress to another over time. We are here to help you discover which level is appropriate for you and where you are most comfortable. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.
Please reply to our email address tedjohnsondental@gmail.com with your answer or simply let us know at your next visit what YOU want for yourself. As always, at Johnson Dental, we are looking to give you outstanding five star service.
At Johnson Dental, your health and happiness is our goal. When it comes to your health, we like to look at our patients as more than just dentistry cases. We realize the health of your whole body is dependent on all aspects of your body working in harmony. One of the greatest challenges we face in these busy times is eating correctly. The holiday season seems to be the time when we make the most bad choices and tend to overindulge.
Did you know that the average person gains seven pounds from Halloween to New Years? As we age, taking off those extra pounds can be more and more challenging. Additionally, extra weight, even a small amount is very hard on your heart. So what are some ways to combat holiday weight gain? Here are some suggestions:
- Double your workouts so you can enjoy the festivities without the added guilt, but do so in moderation.
- Cut the sugar in half in your recipes. Many recipes will not suffer at all if you cut way back on the amount of sugar you use. Some recipes work quite well with apple sauce or a low glycemic sweetener instead.
- Greek yogurt often works as a great substitute for sour cream in dips and dressings.
- Almonds garnished with slivered almonds and a little olive oil or butter are much healthier than the green bean casserole with the French fried onions on top. They taste great, too!
- Sweet potatoes are naturally sweet and do not need any sugar added to them. You can add spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg and achieve all of the flavor without all of the extra calories. No one will notice the difference!
- Serve a delicious green salad with a festive dressing like a cranberry vinaigrette to balance out the richness of all of the other dishes.
- You don’t have to take EVERYTHING. Take servings of only your favorite dishes. Leave the ones that don’t “wow” you behind.
- Taste everything—eat nothing. In other words, if you must have all of the foods available, take only a small amount of each.
- Serve festive roasted root vegetables. Yum!
- Use veggies for dips instead of crackers. A slice of cucumber makes a perfect cracker.
- Eat slowly. Enjoy the conversation around you and finish eating before you’re full.
- Remember that alcohol has calories, too.
- After the meal is complete, put the extra food away so that you are not tempted to graze even after you are full.
- Instead of falling asleep after thanksgiving dinner, go for a walk. You will feel better, it will help with digestion and it will help burn some of your calories.
- If you are still full, take your dessert home and eat it later! You’ll enjoy it more if you are not already bursting at the seams.
Happy Halloween from Johnson Dental! Here are some Halloween tips to keep you and your little goblins safe this year.
- Use the buddy system. Never Trick or treat alone.
- Wear reflective clothing so drivers can see you.
- Eat only factory wrapped treats.
- Avoid homemade treats unless they come from a trusted source.
- Be careful wearing masks. They can obstruct your vision.
- Tell your parents where you will be at all times.
- If you are out driving. Drive slowly and look for trick or treaters who might pop out of nowhere.
- Only allow adults to light jack-o-lanterns
- Carry a flashlight!
- Brush your teeth after eating candy!!!
If you need a new toothbrush, stop by our office anytime. We will gladly give you one.
Halloween Jokes (answers below):
1. What do you get when you cross a snowman and a vampire?
2. Why do demons and ghouls hang out together?
3. Why do demons go to the bar?
4. Why didn't the skeleton dance at the party?
1. Frostbite 2. Demons are a ghoul's best friend. 3. For the boos 4. He had no body to dance with.
Check out these wild and crazy jack-o-lanterns.
Over the last year, we have experienced many changes, but it has been our goal to provide you continually great service. Once again, we experience a twist at the office of Johnson Dental. Dr. Kasper is no longer with us. We wish her well on her new path and vow to maintain the excellent level care of care you are accustomed to having.
What does this mean for you? You will still see the rest of the happy smiling faces here that you are used to. No worries. Dr. Johnson will gladly take care of your dental needs. If you have concerns, please to not hesitate to give us a call. We are here for you. If you don't know Dr. J, let us set up a consultation with you and him so you can get to know one another.
Otherwise, the rest of us are doing quite well. I (Kristine) just celebrated my 3rd wedding anniversary. I also took up a new hobby--vinyl. I bought a 1954 Magnavox Tube Console and have been enjoying listening to albums. Sarah is counting the moments until it snows (that should be any second now according to the weather forecast. She is an avid snowboarder and is ready to get back on the slopes. Erin is on a much needed vacation in Mexico. We are all very jealous. Katy is in college and works here part time. She also likes to snowboard and will likely be hitting the slopes with Sarah. The two of them went skydiving for Sarah's birthday. Robin is still #1 in the women's division in Karate and hopes to retain that title. Molly is our social butterfly and enjoys time with friends and family. Dr. Johnson is away spending time with Tim, his son, who is a student at University of Wyoming. Sometimes you might see Joie, Dr. Johnson's beloved dog in and out of the office. She sleeps in his chair while he's working some days. She's a good girl. You would never know she was here!
Debbie Johnson, Ted Johnson's wife, recently moved her real estate company into downtown Golden. She is doing well in her new location.
You can find her at:
http://www.goldenrealestateforsale.com/
On a side note, if you have benefits to use prior to the end of 2011, please, please call me ASAP. Nothing feels worse to me than having to turn down a patient I adore at the end of the year because we have no spots left. It happens EVERY year. Please call me now to reserve your spot for your necessary work or your hygiene appointment before the reservations are all gone!
I think that's all from over here in Johnson Dental land....
We would love to hear from you and how you and your family is doing. Send us pictures and we will plaster them on Facebook and our blog! We love kid pictures and pet pictures the most. We also love to see birthday and anniversary photos!
Happy October!
Kristine
Office Manager
Johnson Dental
303-422-8748
The number one concern I hear when I answer the phone in our office is that the patient on the other end of the line has had a scary or uncomfortable dental experience in the past. I often wonder what happened to cause people to have so many negative experiences in dentistry. Growing up in the business, with my mom as a dental assistant and then Dr. Johnson as my step father, I have never really known the side of dentistry that creates this sense of fear in people. After seven years on the job and countless hours hearing the stories of many of our patients (many in tears), I have developed a deep sense of compassion toward people who have had these types of experiences.
The number one cause of fear is because the patient has experienced pain in the past. Most often in childhood, patients complain of not being numb enough or even instances as bad as being held down for a procedure. Many of these patients have not been to the dentist in years. as you know, if you ignore your health, the problems you have begin to snowball. Ignoring them won't make them go away. Because of this, about six years ago we began offering sedation dentistry.
But it starts way before we sedate a patient.
You care begins with the very first telephone call to our office. We ask what may seem like some strange questions, for example: What is your favorite thing about the dentist? What hobbies do you have?
These questions are so that we can discover your interests and likes for the simple purpose of being able to treat you more personally and kindly. We truly do want to give individualized service because true customer care is such a rare thing these days. Wouldn't you agree? Since we will be taking care of an especially personal part of you (your mouth) it makes sense that we would spend some time finding out what treatment you like.
Next we ask you what you want. We don't TELL you what we want you to have. That's really not our place. We will share with you anything we see that we think might need your attention, but ultimately the decision is yours. We are happy to provide the care that YOU feel is most important.
Then, when your big day finally rolls around and your appointment time is here, if you have opted for sedation, you will have a team member from our office by your side the entire time. You will not be alone. You will be wrapped in some blankets to keep you warm as you drift of to a comfortable place. Your vital signed will be constantly monitored and you will be completely comfortable.
If this sounds like the way you might like to esperience dentistry, if you have a hard time getting numb, or if you just want to be able to get as much work done as possible them please let us know. We are happy to help you have the most pleasant experience possible.
Many people experience jaw pain and do not even realize that it has worsened over time. We have a checklist we go through with new patients in our office as we provide them with a thorough exam. One of the checklist items we discuss is common symptoms for TMJD (temporomandibular joint dysfunction).
- Face, Jaw, Neck and Shoulder pain
- Clicking or Popping jaw
- Headaches and Migraines
- Tooth Wear
- Locking jaw
- Teeth Not Coming Together
Special Offer for TMJ Patients
Do you have these symptoms or does someone you know suffer from these symptoms? If so, we can help. Dr. Johnson has helped hundreds of individuals recover from these symptoms and 95% of the time, he can do it without surgery.
Our entire team has gone through extra training and education on the proper care of individuals suffering from sudden jaw pain or chronic jaw pain.
TMJ Dysfunction can seriously damage your quality of life. People who suffer from chronic pain are often exhausted and sometimes suffer from depression, are at a higher risk for other illnesses such as sleep apnea as well as suicide and divorce.
The good news is that most treatment is non-invasive and available right in our office. Many people report improvement within the first few weeks.
Special $50 Savings Offer for a TMJ Evaluation
I receive at least one call a day from a patient who is concerned because they find themselves clenching or grinding their teeth. Simply put, that's what bruxism means, the clenching or grinding of teeth.
Bruxism can cause pain, broken teeth, jaw pain, neck pain, head pain, headaches and numerous other complications. Bruxism is such a serious condition because our jaw muscles are so strong, it is like having a vice grinding on your head all day.
Sometimes bruxism can be exacerbated by stressful situations, but it is important to note that often an underlying problem exists. It could be some malfunction of the jaw joint or how your teeth come together. Treating the underlying problem will ultimately serve you better than treating the symptoms alone.
We treat each patient with bruxism as an individual, addressing their chief concerns whether it is headaches or other head or neck pain, we will ask questions about your levels of pain and do an exam to identify any broken teeth, sensitive teeth or jaw damage that the patient has.
Our office specializes in the treatment of bruxism and we look forward to helping you be comfortable and healthy. You don't have to live with headaches or jaw pain. We look forward to finding a treatment that suits your individual needs.
TMJ therapy in our office is treated non-surgically in a non-invasive and therapeutic way. Most patients that come to our office for relief of TMJ dysfunction experience improvement within the first two weeks of the beginning of their treatment. Ninety five percent of the time, we are able to treat the patient in our office without surgery. Occasionally, a patient may require surgery and we work with a team of oral surgeons we know and trust.
Dr. Johnson's passion in dentistry is occlusion (how the teeth fit together) and it is directly related to the TMJ (temporomandibular joint) and how well it functions. If you experience clicking, popping, or pain in your jaw, please contact us for an evaluation. Other symptoms of TMJ dysfunction include teeth grinding, clenching, headache, shoulder pain, cranial pain, back pain, neck and jaw pain. We also have some patients who have reported tinnitus.
TMJ dysfunction doesn't fix itself on its own and it is degenerative. Seeking treatment before it worsens is a great idea.
At your first appointment:
We take a panoramic xray and comoplete a thorough exam of your jaw joints, the biting surfaces of your teeth, your facial muscles and we also ask questions regarding your symptoms so that we are able to make the best recommendation for you.
Please call us at 303-422-8748 for your initial exam.