Dr. Robyn Abramczyk and the team at Smile Ranch Dentistry are excited to offer our first frenectomy focused day featuring new technology on September 26, 2018. Light Scalpel CO2 Laser is an FDA approved soft tissue laser that offers the benefits of both tissue ablation (precise cutting) and coagulation (blood clotting) of the surgical site. A recent study showed patients experienced less post-operative pain and discomfort as well as “Decreased wound contraction combined with minimal lateral tissue damage, less traumatic surgery, precise control over the depth of incision, and excellent hemostatic ability make the SuperPulse CO2 laser a safe and efficient alternative to scalpel, electrosurgery, electrocautery, diodes and erbium lasers.” (Tongue-Tie Functional Release. Paula Fabbie, Leonard Kundel, Peter Vitruk. Dental Sleep Practice, Winter 2016.)

We are also formally introducing our full-time Certified Oral Myology Specialist, Brandy Franklin Patterson, BS, RDH, COMS (Certified Oral Myology Specialist), CHHC

2007 Graduate of Midwestern State University Bachelors of Science in Dental Hygiene

Heath, TX 06/25/2018 - The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is pleased to announce that Dr. Crystal Robyn Abramczyk, DDS, MS, FAGD, NMD, IBDM, AIAMOT, of Heath, Texas received the prestigious Fellowship Award during the AGD’s convocation ceremony, a commencement celebration that recognizes AGD member’s commitment to excellence in dental education. Held at the AGD’s scientific session on June 9, 2018 in New Orleans, L.A., Dr. Abramczyk accepted this award along with more than 267other recipients.

The Fellowship Award is presented to dentists looking to provide the highest quality of dental care by remaining current in their profession. In order to receive this award, Dr. Abramczyk completed 500 hours of continuing dental education, passed a comprehensive written exam and fulfilled three years of continuing membership with the AGD. As a recipient of this award, Dr. Abramczyk has joined an elite group of more than 16,839 members of the dental community who understand that great smiles and good oral health for their patients are the result of going above and beyond basic requirements. The Fellowship Award symbolizes excellence in the dental profession and a commitment to providing exceptional patient care.

The use of essential oils has created a more savvy consumer who can create their own beauty experience self-tailored to their personal choices.

Here are some great tips and recipes to make your own beauty products; you can adjust the oils to your preference:

• Make your own shampoo by combining a few drops of lavender oil and rosemary oil to one tablespoon of aloe Vera gel and a ¼ cup of coconut milk.
• Use a drop of peppermint oil rubbed on your teeth and gums for a natural way to freshen breath.
• Natural deodorant can be made by combining 1 tablespoon coconut oil, 1 tablespoon beeswax and a few drops of your favorite essential oil (cedar wood, clove for men and lavender and tea tree oil for women)
• Need thicker hair? Add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to shampoo.
• Fade age spots with frankincense oil 3 x a day directly applied to skin.
• Make your own sugar scrub by adding a few drops of essential oil with almond oil or rock salt/sugar.
• Natural perfume is easily made by blending 1-2 drops of your favorite essential oils and applying to wrists and pulse points.

Essential oils are frequently used in diffusers and on the skin for holistic treatment for physical, emotional and mental health. However, there are many other organic ways to utilize these healing plant oils in your home. Read on to learn some of our favorite safe and organic ways to clean and manage your household with essential oils:

• Be ready for the spring onset of mosquitos by combining one drop each of lemongrass, citronella oil, and eucalyptus oil with one tablespoon of coconut oil to make a natural bug repellant and rub onto exposed skin.
• Add 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil in your washing machine per load.
• Need to clean smelly sports gear? Try adding two drops each of tea tree oil and lemon essential oil to one quart of water then add 4 tablespoons of baking soda and mix. Use mixture to clean sports gear.
• Kill insects by spraying orange essential oil and clove oil on contact.
• Freshen your kitchen smell by adding a few drops of clove, cinnamon or citrus essential oil to a simmering pan of water.
• Freshen the bathroom smell by placing a cotton ball soaked in lime or lemon oil behind the toilet.
• To achieve cleaner dishes-- add a few drops of essential lemon oil to the dishwasher.

Do you suffer from excessive hair loss? Are you investing time and money into hair extensions and specialty hair products to try to achieve that full and healthy look for your hair?

You may want to look at some common health conditions that affect hair loss.

Blood sugar

Both high and low blood sugar levels can cause hair loss and hair breakage. Many practitioners recommend limiting carbohydrates in your diet to help stabilize blood sugar levels. Even healthy fruits and juices may have too much sugar if they are not balanced with high mineral vegetables. Consider using a ketogenic type diet plan to decrease carbohydrate intake and balance blood sugar levels.

Antioxidants

Increasing antioxidants in your diet can also help prevent hair loss and stimulate hair growth. Foods high in antioxidants include Goji berries, wild blueberries, dark chocolate (no sugar added), pecans, and elderberries.

Supplements

Most supplements that are sold for hair health contain B vitamins such as biotin, B5, and B12, Omega 3 fatty acids, and various antioxidants. If the cause of your hair loss is a nutritional deficiency, you should consider adding in foods such as walnuts, flax seeds, salmon, avocados and lots of green leafy vegetables.

Skin disorders and sensitivities are a daily and ongoing occurrence for millions of people. These conditions are not only unsightly, but can cause significant discomfort. Common skin conditions such as Acne, Dry skin, Eczema, and Psoriasis can be caused by specific triggers and can, therefore, be minimized or altogether, avoided.

ACNE

Blackheads or pimples and redness? Common triggers include sugar, refined carbohydrates (which are turned into sugar in your body), fried foods, and hormones in processed dairy products. Sugars and carbohydrates stimulate an insulin surge in your body – which is known to cause increased sebum production from sebaceous glands. Sebum is the oily secretion on your skin. Excess sebum contributes to acne. Dairy products frequently contain hormones that cause dysfunction of the sebaceous glands which results in acne.

Skin care specialists recommend using an elimination diet to step by step cut out sugars and diary to identify your specific triggers and improve skin condition.

DRY SKIN

Scaly or dull skin? Common causes include dehydration, hormone imbalances, and thyroid disorders. As simple as it sounds, drinking enough water should be the first step to maintaining healthy skin. Most people don’t drink enough water and/or ingest high levels of caffeine each day and can experience skin conditions due to lack of sufficient hydration. The average individual needs at least 64 ounces of purified water to maintain healthy skin. Each cup of a caffeinated beverage should be replaced with 1-2 cups of water. Hormone imbalances can also cause dry skin. Estrogen, progesterone and testosterone should be kept in appropriate ratios for optimal health. Dry skin can also be an early symptom of thyroid imbalances.

In our society today, many are juggling their life and obligations, and experiencing increased stress levels. How do we step back, learn to take a breath, and look for healthy solutions to ease our stress levels?

Professionals recommend that we look at the following to help reduce stress:

• Techniques to calm mood and promote positive attitude. Mediation, prayer, and breathing exercises all are cited as positive examples that can benefit an individual's stress levels.
• Lifestyle factors. Are there changes or modifications in your life, sleep patterns, work schedules etc. that can be adjusted to decrease your stress levels?
• Exercise. Increasing your exercise is shown to decrease stress as well as aid in overall health. Even adding 30 minutes a day can be beneficial.
• Diet and Supplements can benefit and aid in overall health improvement. Vitamin C, vitamin B6, zinc, magnesium, and B5 all aid in the decrease in the adrenals, thus aiding in the reduction of stress.
• Supervised stress management programs lead by professionals can target your areas for improvement.
• Biomedical medicine that has been shown to improve or reduce stress and support the adrenal function are: Chinese ginseng, Siberian ginseng, Rhodiola, and Ashwagandha; Each of these supplements enhance the resistance to stress. Siberian ginseng is recommended for those suffering mild to moderate stress to reduce the symptoms significantly.
• Changes in your diet like elimination of alcohol and caffeine, and refined carbohydrates aid to better health. Eating healthy planned meals establishes a healthy diet routine.

A swish a day to keep the doctor away? Well, at the very least a swishing of organic oil (coconut, sesame, or sunflower) daily--also know as oil pulling can provide many healthy benefits.

Oil pulling, also known as "kavala" or "gundusha" is an ancient Ayurvedic technique started in India thousands of years ago. It was reintroduced in the 1990's by Dr. F. Karach. This dental technique involves swishing a tablespoon of organic coconut oil in your mouth for 20 minutes daily. When swishing, the oil draws out toxins and cuts through the plaque and removes toxins. The oil pulling is considered safe and does not harm or destroy teeth or gums.

Those who practice this technique claim many benefits of this daily routine including, help with skin conditions, whiter teeth, arthritis, asthma, headaches, hormonal imbalance, infections, liver problems, etc.

Consider swishing each day to increase your oral health and aid your overall health. This ancient method is still beneficial today and a simple routine to add to your day. Contact your provider if you have questions on the benefits to your own personal health.

CANNABIDIOL OIL

If you have been researching natural cures, you have seen the buzz about Cannabidiol oil. It has been gaining much attention for the multitude of medical benefits that have been attributed to using the oil. Read on to learn more about cannabidiol oil and its many uses.

What is Cannabidiol oil? Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is a natural substance that is often mixed with hemp oil. This oil has been claimed to remedy numerous medical conditions such as: social anxiety, depression, epilepsy, muscle and vascular relaxant, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis PTSD, and more.

Studies have shown that cannabidiol (CBD) oil has a naturally calming effect on the body Many confuse it with THC -the recreational drug marijuana. CBD is extracted and separated from hemp and does not get an individual "high". When you use the oil on parts of the body, the cannobinoid receptor sites in our body absorb the oil and it calms the state of the mind.

It's legal in all 50 states and has many looking at this natural alternative as an aid to treat their medical conditions. It is a safe, non-addictive natural aid. Below are examples of conditions that many claim the oil has helped with or reduced the severity of. As with any treatment, always speak to your health professional and see if this may be a natural aid that can be effective for you.

Spring is upon us, and so are the runny noses - a common result of seasonal allergies. What should you do? Many are now finding out that our Grandmothers were right about how to treat allergies naturally. Natural remedies seem as effective, or aid in conjunction with other remedies to relieve the seasonal sniffles.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

One product I keep on hand is Apple Cider Vinegar, along with Organic Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar. For a sore throat, mix warm water with the vinegar 1/2 to 1/2 and gargle; it's a great way to ease the pain and length of allergy symptoms. This easy remedy is always my go to, and is my favorite recommendation to others. Another great use of Apple Cider Vinegar is to mix 1 teaspoon of organic unfiltered apple cider into a glass of water and drink 3 times a day. This use will aid in reducing the mucous production and cleanse the lymphatic system.

NETI POTS

Neti Pots are another great way to clean the sinuses; These are available in kits at your local stores and can be found pre-made for easy convenience.

NETTLELEAF

Nettle leaf is a natural antihistamine that blocks the body's ability to produce histamine. You can find capsule made from dried nettle leaves or you can also use nettle leaf with other herbs to make an herbal tea for allergy relief.