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In times of increased everyday stress and anxiety due to work pressure, relationships, and fast-paced lifestyles, we push aside the personal time that is necessary for our minds and bodies to recharge. In turn, we become even more stressed, tired, and unhappy – and this cycle continues week to week. The good news is that there are two really simple ways to overcome the stressors of everyday life: smiling and laughing. Smiling and laughing are powerful yet simple ways to remain balanced day to day. These two actions can relieve stress, fear, pain, and conflict. When we smile and laugh, we support our physical, mental, and social health. How Laughter and Smiling Affects Your Physical Health They Release Chemicals. When we smile, the movements of our muscles send signals to our brains. These signals release serotonin and endorphins, which are known as the “feel-good” chemicals of the brain. These chemicals make us happy when they are released, and they can reduce perceptions of pain. They Relax the Body. Laughter, particularly a good hard belly laugh, can relieve built-up body tension and stress. When we laugh, the muscles we use to do so will relax, and they can stay relaxed for 30–45 minutes after that. They Reduce Stress. When endorphins are released in the brain, stress hormones, such as cortisol, are reduced. When we feel stressed, anxious, or fearful, our bodies release more cortisol. This cortisol release creates negative, unpleasant, stressful feelings. We can lower our cortisol levels by laughing and relaxing. They Support Lung Health. When we laugh, our lungs expand and become replenished with oxygen. We let a lot of air out and a lot of air in. This process is similar to deep breathing techniques used to relieve stress. Deep laughter sends more oxygen-rich nutrients and blood throughout the body. They Support Heart Health. Laughing on a regular basis lowers blood pressure, increases blood flow, and improves the function of blood vessels, which can all decrease your risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular problems. They Promote a Healthy Immune System. Laughter is a great way to reduce stress hormones and increase “feel-good” hormones. Due to these processes and changes in chemicals, our immune systems increase the numbers of white blood cells and other infection-fighting antibodies. This improves our everyday health and protects us from viruses. They Serve as Exercise. A good laugh is also good exercise. It burns calories, provides our body with movement, increases conditioning and toning, and keeps our cardio systems working.  Source: Fix.com Blog How Laughter and Smiling Affect Your Mental Health Smiling and laughter not only support our physical health but also have similar effects on our mental health. They are powerful tools for releasing difficult emotions and making us feel good. When strong emotions such as anger, sadness, or fear are present, laughing can alleviate some of that emotional distress. Smiling and laughter are great ways to reduce stress, and laughing during stressful times helps us stay focused on tasks, accomplish more in a day, and be proud of what we have done. When we remain attentive during our busy work or home lives, we can get more done and have the freedom to engage in fun activities. The ability to smile and laugh during times of stress lets us shift our perspective to something more positive. This means you can see tough or challenging situations in a new light that is less restricting and threatening. By using smiling and laughter as a strategy during tough times, you can begin to feel less overwhelmed and therefore happier. Source: Fix.com Blog When we smile, it influences not only ourselves but also those around us. Have you ever seen someone smile and smiled too? Have you seen a child laughing and started to laugh with them? This is because laughter is mediated by social interaction and contexts. Smiles and laughter are contagious because when we see someone else happy, we become happy too. The happiness we feel when we laugh or smile extends to others and helps strengthen relationships. When we are happy and playful with others, it supports emotional connections with people who are close to us. Positive relationships involve humor, play, and happiness. In team settings, humor and laughing can enhance how successful a group is. Laughter can promote group bonding and help navigate through disagreements, resentments, and conflict. When we can exhibit humor and laughter in a negative situation, it becomes light-hearted. In stressful group meetings or situations, humor is a powerful tool to encourage a strong, happy group. Sometimes, busy days do not have room for much else. We tend to push aside fun or personal activities because we have deadlines to meet, children to drive to extracurricular activities, or worries about tomorrow’s work. Here are some simple, fun ways to keep smiles and laughter a part of your everyday routine:  Source: Fix.com Blog Laughter Yoga and Exercise Laughter yoga, an technique to promote laughter and exercise, is becoming more popular across the globe. This technique focuses on the concept that there is a link between the body and the brain and that laughter can enhance that link. It’s main idea is that your body knows how to laugh even if your mind is not happy or in the mood to laugh. Therefore, you do not need to have a sense of humor or even be happy during these exercises. During these exercises, the group takes a series of breaths between laughs and facial poses that promote relaxation in the body and mind. Often, when people begin to engage in different kinds of laughter, the laughter becomes real because having many people laugh together in a group setting multiplies each laugh. Each person’s laugh promotes laughter in another, and so on. Therefore, contagious laughing occurs. The simplest way to have a happier, healthier life is to laugh and smile more. By creating more opportunities for laughter and smiling in your life, you will begin to flourish as a person, a friend, and a professional. Your day-to-day life will become more relaxed, positive, balanced, and creative. Laughter and smiling provides our bodies and minds with the necessary recharges we require in our busy lives. 
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A dental implant replaces the root of a missing tooth and acts as an anchor point for a crown. Implants are often considered the type of restoration that closely matches the look, feel, and function of a natural tooth. However, with years of experience in caring for patients of all ages, Dr. Don Jones knows that no one solution is right for everyone. For the individual who does not want a dental implant, or for health reasons is not a good candidate, Dr. Jones may suggest a tooth bridge. Social Circle Dental patients achieve restored appearance and function with this option.  When a Tooth is Lost You may believe that, with 31 other teeth in your mouth, the loss of just one isn’t important. That is not true. A single missing tooth leaves more than a flaw in the cosmetic appearance of your smile. Your teeth rely on one another for structural support. When a tooth is missing, its neighbors gradually shift out of alignment. Now, in addition to a gap, you have crooked teeth. They create food traps that can lead to decay and gum disease, and make it more difficult to brush and floss efficiently. A full set of teeth also helps to maintain the balance of the bite. Depending on its position, a missing tooth may force you to chew on one side, causing unsual wear, and possibly triggering TMJ disorders. Bridging a Divided Smile A dental bridge is a non-removable restoration that anchors an artificial tooth into place at the site of one that is missing. Teeth on either side of the gap are shaped and prepared. Then, Dr. Jones takes digital impressions of your mouth. A robust software application uses this information to design the crowns and attached pontic (artificial tooth). The bridge is fabricated from strong, lustrous ceramic, and cemented into place. In many cases, Dr. Jones can complete a dental bridge in one visit, using CEREC technology. The ceramic material looks very natural, and the bridge is metal-free and biocompatible. Dr. Jones provides instructions on home hygiene to keep your bridge sparkling clean and your mouth healthy. With good care, the bridge will last many years.  The sooner you have a missing tooth replaced, the better for your appearance, oral health, and whole-body wellness. However, please don’t hesitate to call Dr. Jones, even if it has been awhile since you lost the tooth. He will work with you to determine if a tooth bridge is your best option. Call Social Circle Dental at 770-464-1900 to schedule a consultation.
Sometimes the health of your mouth can be judged by having clean teeth, pain-free gums, and fresh breath. However, there's more to be aware of and often you can't detect potential problems at home. That's why it's so important to have a dentist who you trust and who believes that prevention is an essential part of the dentistry practice. Dr. Don Jones of Social Circle Dental knows that keeping your mouth in its best condition is as much about preventing issues as it is about correcting problems or making cosmetic improvements. Dr. Jones offers these tips for keeping your mouth healthy.  1. WATCH WHAT YOU EAT Sugar is in many of the beverages we drink and foods we eat, and too much sugar can lead to tooth decay. Try to maintain a healthy diet of vegetables, lean meats, fruits, whole grains and legumes, while limiting highly processed foods. When you do consume foods or drinks with a high quantity of sugar, such as hard candy, cupcakes, soda, and fruit juice try to brush your teeth afterwards or rinse your mouth with water. 2. PROPER CARE AT HOME Be sure that you're brushing and flossing using the correct technique. Brush with a soft toothbrush and a brand of toothpaste that you like. Use short, circular, and gentle motions to get rid of surface bacteria without damaging the gum line. Use floss to remove plaque that settles between the teeth. In addition, be sure to replace your toothbrush every two to three months. 3. CUT THE TOBACCO PRODUCTS Smoking and chewing tobacco are not just harmful to your overall health; they damage your mouth as well. The nicotine and tar can not only discolor your teeth, they also eat away at your gums, creating the perfect environment for plaque and bacteria to develop and grow. 4. USE YOUR TEETH PROPERLY While your teeth are strong, they can break. Protect your teeth with a mouth guard when playing sports where you could be hit in the mouth. Also, don't use your teeth to open packaging or bottles and avoid chewing on hard items such as candy, pens, or ice.  5. VISIT THE DENTIST
Brushing, avoiding sugar and tobacco, and protecting your teeth at home are all essential to having a healthy mouth. Keeping up with your dental checkups is also critical. Dentists can catch potential problems before they cause bigger issues. They can also provide tips for improving your at-home care, and provide you with a professional cleaning that can't be replicated at home. Dr. Jones believes that a healthy mouth is essential to having a healthy body and sense of wellbeing. He treats every patient with gentle care, a friendly nature, and in the least-invasive manner possible. Call 770-464-1900 today to schedule an appointment. In times past, if you needed a cavity filled, you went to a dentist, and he filled the cavity. Alternatively, perhaps your gums were bleeding, so you went to a dentist to have them checked out. Dentists were concerned with the health of your mouth and offered the best care to ensure you had healthy teeth, gums, and tissue inside the mouth. In recent years, however, studies have shown that connections exist between the health of the mouth and the health of the body. Some dental problems are actually risk factors of medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, and strokes. Because there appears to be such a strong connection, Dr. Don Jones believes that the philosophy of biological dentistry is important. His skills, experience, and gentle manner have provided patients with excellent results for more than 35 years.  Biological dentistry includes several distinctions not found in general dentistry. Namely, professionals committed to biological dentistry go above and beyond current safety and health guidelines and use only the safest and most biocompatible materials and techniques to treat their patients. For example, Social Circle Dental only uses mercury-free materials. Mercury is a metal that has been used in fillings for many years. However, using these fillings exposes the patient to increased levels of mercury. Dr. Jones will not use materials that include even the smallest amount of mercury. Additionally, he is skilled at removing mercury fillings should a patient choose to replace them. Removing mercury fillings takes special steps and precision to be sure that the patient or dental team is not exposed to the mercury vapors.  If you're looking for a dentist who cares about the health of your entire body and who believes in finding the least invasive approach to your dental treatment, call Dr. Don Jones of Social Circle Dental to schedule a consultation. Dr. Jones provides a wide variety of dental services and has a wealth of experience in preventative, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry. He will work with you to ensure that you have the best treatment path to getting, or keeping, a happy and healthy smile.
Teeth whitening is among the most popular smile enhancement procedures we offer here at Social Circle Dental. It is a convenient and economical way to give your smile a boost. In our office, there are no worries about harmful UV rays from activation lights or about dangerously harsh whiteners damaging your oral health. Dr. Jones is committed to providing healthy, safe biologic dental care, and that philosophy is applied to all treatments we offer. You won't find super-fast one-visit bleaching that leaves you with zingers and dehydrated enamel. Instead, we offer a gentle, safe, wonderfully effective at-home program.  Dr. Jones calls this the slow method, even though it only takes a couple of weeks to get great results. It is slow, as in gradual, and totally controlled by the patient. Your teeth will lighten a little bit every day until the desired results are achieved. You can stop at any time, and touch-up as needed. The first step is taking impressions of upper and lower arches. We will then make your customized trays here in our lab. The bleaching trays keep the gel where it belongs – on your teeth, not on your gums. Custom trays are important because if it doesn't fit right, it is likely to leak. We have several types of whitening gel available because every patient is different. Dr. Jones will choose the best one, depending on what type of stains you have, and what you are hoping to achieve. We will explain how to use the whitening system, and ask you to call us if you have any questions or problems. With our gentle system sensitivity rarely occurs, but if it does happen, just give us a call. We have some special gels, designed for just this situation  Your brighter smile may last from several months to a year or more. This depends largely on your lifestyle and eating habits. Drinking through a straw, good oral hygiene, and regular dental visits help teeth stay bright. Things like tobacco, red wine, coffee, and tea will make your teeth darken faster. With our convenient, gentle system, you can keep your trays and gel on hand. Whenever your teeth start looking dingy, you can do a touch-up without even coming to the office.
If you want to see a healthy, sparkling white smile in the mirror every morning, call Social Circle Dental at (770) 464-1900 and schedule an appointment with Dr. Jones. The terms "mercury free," "mercury safe" and "biologic dentistry" can be confusing. What do they mean? Understanding these terms will help you make the best decision for your overall health when searching for a dentist.  BIOLOGIC DENTISTRY A century ago, if you had a cavity your dentist might have filled it with tin, lead, or iron. Of course, these materials were eventually officially classified as toxic, but it took many years and many illnesses. For example, the United States was still allowing lead fillings in the early 1900s, when three other nations banned it from even being used in house paint. Many dentists continued to use these and other frightening materials for as long as they were legal, durable, and cost effective. A few select dentists were concerned about patient health and chose to quit using these dangerous materials long before they were "officially" toxic. At the time there was no name for this practice, it was simply concern for the patient's well-being. Today, we call them biologic dentists. Dr. Jones isn't just a dentist - he is a doctor of oral health. He is concerned about the way dental materials, oral disease, and procedures affect your mouth, and the rest of your body. Any law-abiding dentist follows regulations. A biologic dentist also follows his or her own conscience and common sense. Dr. Jones only uses materials and procedures that he believes are safe. MERCURY FREE Mercury free dentistry is just that. At Social Circle Dental, we do not use any products in the office that contain mercury. Amalgam fillings are often called silver, but they contain about half mercury. By itself, mercury is one of the most toxic elements on earth. To make amalgam, it is mixed with other metals that stabilize and harden it. At this point in time, it is believed that mercury bonds with the other metals, making amalgam fillings safe to use. Although the FDA reports that no toxic effects of amalgam have been proven, there is considerable controversy about the topic. To learn more about this issue, visit http://www.dentalwellness4u.com  MERCURY SAFE
Mercury safe means that Dr. Jones has extra training in removing amalgam fillings. Despite the reported stability of amalgam when undisturbed, when heated it releases mercury vapor. If you breathe mercury vapor, 80% of it is absorbed by your body immediately. A small amount of friction, like a pencil eraser, heats the filling, releasing a small amount of vapor. Consider the amount of friction, and heat, created by drilling and cutting. The amount of mercury vapor created by removing an amalgam filling is many times the toxic level set by OSHA. Amalgam fillings can be safely removed following a protocol set by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT). Dr. Jones is a member of this organization, and received training directly from them. The protocol includes measures like filtering the air, and removing the filling in large chunks instead of grinding it up. For more information visit http://www.iaomt.org If you are looking for a dentist who will look out for your oral and overall health in every way possible, call Social Circle Dental at (770) 464-1900 and schedule an appointment with Dr. Jones.  What is CEREC? CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, or CEramic REConstruction) is a sophisticated system of designing and making high quality, metal-free dental restorations in one patient visit. It’s advanced dental technology, designed to make your life easier. With this system, we can make dental crowns right here in our office, so you don't have to wait for a lab.
The process starts with digital impressions. Many patients don't like the gooey material that impressions are made of, or they find the trays uncomfortable. For CEREC crowns, all we have to do is take some pictures! The crown is designed on the computer, using special software and three-dimensional images of your teeth. This design is sent to a milling machine, right here in our office – not to an outside laboratory. The crown is made from a solid block of high quality porcelain material. The digital process is very accurate, for a great fitting, long-lasting restoration. With CEREC, you can get a crown placed, start-to-finish, in just one appointment. This single visit dentistry approach is convenient for you in several ways. Obviously, it saves you the time of making a second (and sometimes third) office visit, but it also means that you won't have to wear temporary crowns. Many people say that temporaries are uncomfortable, and you have to be especially careful with them. Because they are designed for easy removal, they can come off when you don't want them to. CEREC negates the need for a temporary crown by giving you a great quality, permanent crown in one office visit. Is CEREC right for everyone, every time? No. While we can make a great looking, great quality crown for any tooth using this machine, there may be some instances when it is necessary to send out impressions to a laboratory. Dr. Jones will help you decide which option is right for you. Call (770) 464-1900 and schedule your appointment with Dr. Jones today! As a twenty-something, your mind is on college and social activities. You are just discovering the freedoms of adulthood in a young body that makes you feel invincible. In your thirties you are embarking on a meaningful career path, starting a family, and buying a home. Taking steps to preserve your health for a long, comfortable life probably doesn’t cross your mind too often, but it is important. Decisions made at this stage in have a tremendous impact on the level of healthy you’ll enjoy into your middle age and senior years. Partnering with a mercury safe dentist now pays big dividends later in oral health and whole body wellness. Dr. Don Jones brings biological dentistry to savvy young adults in the state of Georgia. Located in Social Circle, Dr. Jones serves patients from Atlanta to Augusta, and Dalton to Perry.  Mercury free Mercury is a toxic element. Traditional “silver” amalgam dental fillings contain mercury, placing it within inches of your brain 24/7/365. Mercury free dentistry is the approach of using more biocompatible materials for fillings. These fillings are typically made of a strong composite resin. The technique for placing resin fillings conserves more tooth structure, and the material is strong and durable. It contains no mercury, and as an added benefit, blends beautifully with your natural teeth so you don’t advertise to the world that you have had a cavity. Social Circle Dental, Dr. Jones’ practice, is mercury free - he places no amalgam fillings. Mercury safe Mercury safe takes that philosophy of patient care a step further. Dr. Jones has invested in training and equipment for the safest possible removal of amalgam fillings, when a patient requests that or it becomes necessary because of breakage or other dental issues. This technique involves breaking the filling into chunks and carefully removing the pieces, rather than excessive drilling which releases mercury vapor and sprays particles. Other precautions include a special ventilation system to ensure air quality, a filtration unit to keep mercury out of wastewater, masks, and other protections for the patient and dental team.  Mercury free and mercury safe methods are examples of the biological approach Dr. Jones applies to patient care. His work respects the relationship of the mouth (and everything that goes into it) with the rest of your body.
Biological materials and techniques help to maintain your oral health, internal systems, and emotional balance. Biological dentistry alone can't eliminate your risk of cancer, neurological disease, or other ailments that cause discomfort and rob quality of life. However, because of the intimate link between your mouth and the rest of your body, biological dentistry improves your chances of living a longer, healthier life. It's never too early or too late to start on this path. Call Social Circle Dental today at 770-464-1900 to become Dr. Jones' newest patient. Biology is defined as, "the science that deals with all forms of life, including their classification, physiology, chemistry, and interactions." A biological dentist is typically concerned about the effects dental materials, techniques, and procedures can have on the whole body. Patients from Atlanta to Athens often ask, "Is there a biological dentist near me who provides cosmetic and restorative treatments?" They can find Dr. Jones at his mercury free and mercury safe dental practice near their hometown.  Using safe, effective dental materials From cosmetic to restorative treatments, Dr. Jones takes extra precautions by using the safest, most effective dental materials. He provides an at-home teeth whitening program that includes bleaching gel best suited for your needs. The program includes customized whitening trays to ensure precise fit, protecting the gums from the bleaching agent. Dr. Jones opts for this program over in-office bleaching treatments, which use powerful chemicals than can irritate the gums. For restorations, he avoids amalgam, composed of about half mercury as well as other metals. Instead, he uses a porcelain material, which is strong, durable, and blends nicely with teeth. For dental crowns and veneers, he will only minimally file the affected tooth for the restoration. When possible, he will provide the most conservative veneer therapy to patients. Utilizing technology to educate patients Dr. Jones can utilize an intraoral camera to identify issues that may not be visible with the unassisted eye during an examination. He uses the camera to capture detailed images inside of your mouth that you can view on the computer screen. Dr. Jones uses this technology to help educate you about a condition and the recommended treatment.  Taking time to prescribe the right diagnosis and treatment
Dr. Jones has operated a mercury free dental practice since 2002 and has the training required to remove and dispose of amalgam fillings safely. As a biological dentist, he recognizes gum disease can lead to other health issues such as heart conditions. He prescribes treatments with your health and wellbeing in mind. He cares about your diet and lifestyle and provides advice so you can look and feel your best, from head to toe. Do you want to visit a dentist who makes your overall health a top priority? If so, then Dr. Jones may the right choice for you. Schedule a consultation appointment with him by calling 770-464-1900 today. Tooth restorations can enhance the beauty of the smile. They can brighten a dull smile or restore missing teeth. However, one of the most important features of tooth restorations is their dental materials. Many patients near Social Circle seek a holistic dentist who uses mercury-free dental materials. They will find well-respected and well-known dentist Dr. Jones in Social Circle at Brookstone Place.  Composite resin fillings add natural beauty to the smile. There are many metal-free restorations in dentistry today. They include composite resin and porcelain. It is important to understand how each dental material is used and how it adds natural beauty to the smile. Composite resin is a tooth-colored material used for dental fillings. It is safer and more effective than amalgam fillings composed of about half mercury and other metals. Since amalgam can pose danger to patients and the environment, Dr. Jones has chosen to keep it out of his office. He also practices mercury safe dentistry and can remove and safely dispose of amalgam fillings upon request. In doing so, he follows strict protocol set forth by the International Academy of Medicine and Toxicology.  Porcelain tooth restorations prove to be strong and durable. Another metal-free dental material is porcelain, which is widely used by dentists. The material is strong and durable. Although it is stain resistant, it is important to maintain your oral health to avoid tooth decay and gum disease. A porcelain tooth restoration can last up to a decade when there are excellent oral hygiene habits including brushing at least twice a day, flossing before bedtime, and visiting Dr. Jones at least biannually. Porcelain tooth restorations at Dr. Jones' office include dental crowns and veneers. Dental crowns are placed over weak teeth to protect them. They are used in dental bridges and dental implant treatments. Veneers are wafer-thin shells that cosmetically enhance the smile. They can provide the appearance of straight teeth or fill spaces between teeth. Porcelain tooth restorations blend nicely with the natural teeth. Dr. Jones cares about your overall health and wellbeing. He understands you want the safest treatment possible. Dental treatment can have long lasting effects on your overall health and wellbeing so Dr. Jones ensures he uses the safest and most effective dental materials. If you would like to explore dental care with Dr. Jones, call 770-464-1900 to schedule a consultation appointment. |
AuthorSocial Circle Dental is a holistic dental practice devoted to restoring and enhancing the natural beauty of your smile using conservative, state-of-the-art procedures, while focusing on your overall health and well-being. Archives
December 2018
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