Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all Savon Dental Plan members, vendors, providers and associates - we wish you wealth, health and happiness

Having trouble understanding dental language??

Check out Savon's Tooth-o-Pedia! This convenient dental dictionary helps if you are trying to understand your bill, your treatment plan, or even understand the dentist as he speaks to you!

This is a GREAT tool that I have found very useful at home and at work!!! I've even surprised my friends with how much I know about dental! I recommend bookmarking this page to anyone!

Here is Savon's Tooth-o-Pedia

Want to see a movie on Christmas?

Here are the new releases coming out on Christmas day...

Bedtime Stories ~ Adam Sandler / Keri Russell
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ~ Brad Pitt / Cate Blanchett
Hurricane Season ~ Forest Whitaker
Marley and Me ~ Owen Wilson / Jennifer Aniston
Shanghai ~ John Cusack / Ken Watanabe
The Class ~ François Bégaudeau / Franck Keita
The Spirit ~ Gabriel Macht / Samuel L. Jackson

I am planning on seeing Bedtime Stories so I will comment on how I thought it was after we see it. (:
Have a wonderful Holiday!

Holiday Flu Bug is at it again!

It's flu season so I thought I'd post a few tips for staying healthy over the Holidays. Remember, this is the time of year when everyone is out and about (sick or not) out of necessity....it seems during the holidays there is just so much to do, so, in the interest of wellness here are a few tips to keeping the flu bug at bay:

• Wash, wash, wash your hands!!! You can't do it often enough, especially if you're out shopping. You're touching surfaces that others have touched and unwittingly exposing yourself.
• Carry hand sanitizer in your purse or pocket and use it if there isn't a place to wash your hands.
• Use your own pen to sign a credit card receipt or check, don't accept the "community pen" that most clerks keep handy at the checkout stand.
• Take advantage of the disinfectant wipes that many grocery stores are putting out and take a minute to wipe down the handle of the grocery cart or basket before you shop. This minimizes the risk of picking up the germs left by someone who might have been sick.
• At a restaurant, avoid setting your silverware down directly on the surface of the table. Place them on a napkin instead. Often the people bussing tables fail to wash them properly in their hurry to ready the table for new guests.

These are just a few that I came up with. Feel free to add your own tips if you know of something helpful that I might have missed!

Have a happy, healthy and safe Holiday Season!!!

Diabetic-Friendly Holiday Cookie Recipes

Do you have a diabetic in the family? Maybe you're just looking to enjoy the traditional holiday treats without suffering the consequences. Here is a recipe for traditional holiday sugar cookies that won't leave you feeling guilty:

Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:
1/2 cup stick butter
1 cup Equal Sugar Lite
1 med. egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 pkg. Sugar Free Fruit Flavored Gelatin

Preparation:
Beat butter and Equal in medium-sized bowl on medium speed of mixer until well combined. Mix in egg and vanilla until blended. Add combined flour, baking powder and salt. Mix until blended. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons onto cookie sheets sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Flatten slightly using a spoon. Sprinkle with sugar-free fruit flavored gelatin.
Bake in preheated 350 degrees F oven 10-12 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet and cool completely on wire rack. Store in tightly covered container at room temperature.
For rolled sugar cookies: wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate several hours or overnight. Work with half of the dough at a time, keep the remaining dough in the refrigerator. Roll on lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with desired cookie cutters. Sprinkle with sugar-free gelatin. Bake in preheated 350 F oven 8-10 minutes. Proceed as recipe directs.

Nutrition information:
Per serving:
Calories 87
Total fat 4 g
Saturated fat 1 g
Cholesterol 21 mg
Sodium 50 mg
Total carbohydrate 10 g
Dietary fiber 0 g
Sugars 2 g
Protein 1 g

My retainer…

So I finally got my braces off Dec 1st and went in expecting the metal retainer, however I was given this clear plastic thing that goes over all your teeth. Wasn't sure what I thought about it at first, but it is kinda nice not having a metal bar across my teeth as the other one would do. I find them easy to put in and take out for the most part. They also are not that visible unless you are up close, then you notice my teeth are shiny. (:
You can go here to view a picture of them and a little information on caring for them.

Hold on to your Dental Coverage!

Working in the dental industry, I've noticed the downtrend caused by the failing economy with respect to dental insurance, dental plans and even dental appointments. While dental health may not be on everyone's mind at the moment, you should still hold on to your dental coverage if you can. Unfortunately, prices for dental procedures have not gone down to match the economy, so it's as important as ever to make sure that your family is covered in the event that treatment is needed! Also, remember that a good dental plan is an excellent way to help keep the cost of dentistry down, and in most cases can be used as a supplement to dental insurance. Your dental insurance plan has limitations, and a good dental plan doesn't.

Here's a link to the best one out there (in my opinion, of course!)

Cookies In A Jar Recipes

Looking for an inexpensive gift that everyone will LOVE? Check this out:

COOKIES IN A JAR (10 recipes)

Layer ingredients as listed in a quart jar, attach directions shown below.

CRUNCHY TOFFEE COOKIES

2/3 cup toffee chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted and cooled completely
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup buttermilk biscuit and baking mix
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup buttermilk biscuit and baking mix

CHOCOLATE LOVER'S COOKIES

1/3 cup milk chocolate chips
1/3 cup white chocolate or vanilla milk chips
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup buttermilk biscuit and baking mix
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup buttermilk biscuit and baking mix

HUSTLE-BUSTLE BUTTERSCOTCH- OATMEAL COOKIES

1/2 cup butterscotch chips
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1 cup buttermilk biscuit and baking mix
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup buttermilk biscuit and baking mix

OUTRAGEOUS OATMEAL-RAISIN COOKIES

1/3 cup raisins
1/3 cup chopped walnuts, toasted and cooled completely
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1 cup buttermilk biscuit and baking mix
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup buttermilk biscuit and baking mix

WONDERFUL WHITE CHOCOLATE-MACADAMIA NUT COOKIES

1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts
1/2 cup white chocolate or vanilla milk chips
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup buttermilk biscuit and baking mix
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup buttermilk biscuit and baking mix

CHUNKY CHOCOLATE COOKIES

1 cup chocolate chunks
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup biscuit and baking mix
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup buttermilk biscuit and baking mix

HOLIDAY HAZELNUT COOKIES

1 cup chopped hazelnuts, toasted and cooled completely
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup buttermilk biscuit and baking mix
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup buttermilk biscuit and baking mix

CRAZY FOR CRAISINS COOKIES

2/3 cup sweetened dried cranberries (Craisins)
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted and cooled completely
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup buttermilk biscuit and baking mix
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup buttermilk biscuit and baking mix

CHOCOLATE-COVERED RAISIN COOKIES

1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
2/3 cup chocolate-covered raisins
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup buttermilk biscuit and baking mix
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup buttermilk biscuit and baking mix

CHEWY COCONUT-ALMOND COOKIES

1 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted and cooled completely
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup buttermilk biscuit and baking mix
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup buttermilk biscuit and baking mix

Instructions for layering ingredients:
In 1-quart wide-mouth glass jar, gently layer and pack ingredients in the order listed. If there is any space left after adding the last ingredient, add more baking chips, dried fruits or nuts to fill the jar

Place lid on top. Cut an 8-inch circle of fabric to cover lid. Place fabric over lid; secure in place with a rubber band, then ribbon or raffia. Decorate as desired.

Note: When measuring brown sugar, crumble it between your fingers for uniform texture. Be sure to pack the brown sugar firmly in the jar to prevent the baking mix from sifting down through it.

Make a gift card to attach as follows: "Empty contents of jar into medium bowl. Stir in 1 stick of butter or margarine, melted; 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla until well combined. Shape into 1-inch balls. Place on baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375 degrees for 1! 0 to 12 minutes or until cookies are light golden brown.

Makes 2-1/2 dozen cookies

Substitute almond extract for vanilla in cookies containing almonds.

"To make cookies as bars: Empty contents of jar into medium bowl. Stir in 1 stick of butter or margarine, melted; 1 large egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla until well combined. Press into an 8x8-inch baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 24 minutes or until bars are light golden brown and center is almost set

Makes 16 bar cookies."


These are fun to make and are enjoyed by everyone! Happy Holidays!

Can an eating disorder harm your teeth?

Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder that harms your overall health and is particularly destructive to teeth. The digestive system contains strong acids that break down food. When vomiting is used to purge food from the body, these acids attack tooth enamel. Vomiting often can severely erode tooth enamel and over time, teeth will become worn and translucent.
I found the article here.