The Niverville Heritage Dental Centre Gift Guide!

It’s the most magical time of year - the holiday season! This means the hot chocolate is being poured, your tree is up, Mariah Christmas tunes are blasting and if you’re like us, endless cheesy holiday movies on repeat.

However, this also means the craziness of holiday shopping has begun. As most of us our moms, we get how crazy this time of year can be, finding kids gifts that are exciting, budget friendly, and fun.

Enter the NHDC gals.  We decided to do our first ever holiday gift guide! What if you could get your kids things they could be excited about AND promoted good oral health?! Sounds like a dream, right? Here’s some of our favourite picks for both gifts and stocking stuffers.

Kids Gift Ideas:

1. Kids Dentist Role Play Wooden Set

Who doesn’t want to play dentist? Imaginary play is so important for kids, so what’s better than pretending to be a dentist with this wooden play set.  Exposure like this also helps them become better prepared for coming to see us.  Who know, maybe your little will work here one day! Click here to buy!

2. Play-Doh Drill n’ Fill Set

We love play-doh for sensory play and this set is so fun! Sip your coffee while your kids are entertained making teeth and pretending to do some fillings.  You get a break and they aren’t bugging you.  It’s a win, win.  Click here to purchase!

Stocking Stuffer Ideas:

1.Character Battery Powered Toothbrushes

We all know the struggle of getting your little ones to brush.  Enter these Colgate, battery powered toothbrushes.  With a spinning head to reach those harder places and available in your child’s favourite character, this is an easy one.  Peppa Pig, Batman, Minions, Barbie, you name it, they got it.  Click here to buy!

2. Brushing Sand Timer

Let’s face it, none of our kids brush for two minutes straight cause it’s nearly impossible. Enter these adorable tooth, multicoloured, sand timers.  It comes in a set of 7 which means EVERYONE is getting one in their stockings! Click here to purchase!

3. Froggie Toothbrush & Toothpaste Holder

This froggie toothbrush and toothpaste holder is both so cute and practical.  It is only 6x6 inches so it’s perfect for sitting on the side of the sink.  It comes in a variety of colours and makes a great stocking stuffer! Click here to buy!

4. Unicorn Sparkle & Watermelon Toothpaste

Have a picky child when it comes to toothpaste flavours? Look no further than Hello’s unicorn sparkle fluoride that is bubble gum flavoured. Looking for a non-fluoridated toothpaste for your really young one? Try their watermelon flavoured one! Click here for unicorn sparkle and here for watermelon.

Still looking for more ideas? Lucky for you we now have an entire page on our website dedicated to oral health products we love and recommend.  We have everything on there from denture care, orthodontic products, oral hygiene products and so much more.  Everything is linkable and takes you straight to where you can purchase it! Click here for the products page!

Happy shopping!

The NHDC Gals

Dr. Sunayna's Spanish Adventure!

A little glimpse into our 9 weeks in Spain! Video edited by Madie Fraser of Made By Madie.

Hi everyone!

I am back from my 9 week family adventure to Spain and I can honestly say now it feels like I never even went! I jumped right back into the swing of things and I love seeing all of you again. Believe it or not, I really did miss this place when I was gone!

I wanted to tell you about our life changing experience in Spain. We flew into Valencia, a city close to the water which is the third largest city in Spain. We rented a small apartment and lived there for almost 7 weeks! We also visited Barcelona and the gorgeous island of Mallorca! To say we fell in love with Spain is an understatement.

We took Spanish classes as a family three times a week and I gotta say, we got pretty good towards the end! We also put the kids in art classes which they loved. The intent was to really immerse ourselves in a new country, language, and culture. We wanted to truly feel like we were living there and that’s exactly how it felt.

Every morning we would walk to the market and get fresh croissants, pastries and our produce for the day. We would walk to our local park, sit at a café and enjoy a glass of wine in the evening while our kids would play soccer with other kids they had just met on the street. It was pretty much a dream.

By the end of our 9 weeks we would be running into neighbors on the street and chatting, the owners of our favourite restaurants and cafés would smile and wave, and our favourite ice cream shop owners from Italy would see my kids playing and come out and hand them an ice cream cone on the house. It was just so lovely and the people were beyond kind.

Life there runs at a different pace. People work hard but what really got me is how everyone seems to truly and genuinely enjoy life there. I never saw anyone on their phone or even have their phone out at a restaurant or café once. Not one single time!

If there’s anything I learnt is how different the world can be, but how similar we all are at the end of the day. I hope to have taken with me their love for life and the ability to really be in the moment. It’s a lot harder than you would think!

I could not have had this experience without the girls here who held down the fort while I was gone and to all of you, my patients for being so supportive. Your well wishes, gifts, and messages were so incredibly encouraging.

As we gear up for the end of yet another Summer and the beginning of another school year, I hope you will take the time to enjoy the little things in life.

See you at the office!

Dr. Sunayna

How to Prepare Your Child for a Filling

Despite our best effort as parents, cavities happen in children that may require a filling.  Us gals here at Niverville Heritage Dental are mostly moms so we know how you feel – anxious for your child (and yourself) and feeling the need to ensure they are prepared.  We’ve gathered a few tips to help you and your child prepare for your appointment to ensure the most positive outcome!

 1.       Be calm.

We know, easier said than done, but as we all know children are extremely smart and pick up on feelings very easily.  If you are nervous, your child will be as well! Stay calm and be positive while speaking about coming to see us at home.

Miss Hadley after she rocked her filling appointment! We even gave her friend that she brought a bib too so they could do it together!

 2.       Words matter.

You know how we always tell our kids, “Words matter.” Same thing here! We want you to be honest with your kids, we are when we see them, but avoid using words such as “pain” and “needle.” Instead use words such as “uncomfortable” and “small pinch.” This goes without being said, but please don’t tell them, “It’s going to hurt A LOT!” Haha. No but seriously, don’t do that. 😊

 3.        Make them comfortable.

Let them know it’s 100% okay to feel nervous! Let them wear their favourite outfit, or bring along their cherished blankie or stuffy.  We love when kids come in with their favourite stuffed friend, we even put a bib around their stuffed animal/doll to include them!

 4.       Let us do the hard work.

Kids are so curious and inquisitive. We love questions! When at home ease their feelings by letting them know we will explain EVERYTHING to them before we do it. We prefer you let us do all the explaining!

 5.       Be patient.

Amanda with Maddex! Note: This picture was taken pre-Covid.

Oh my goodness as moms this is a hard one! Sometimes your child may not have their procedure completed at the first appointment. If we feel the child is very anxious, we may just take the time to explain everything to them and have them come back to try again and that’s okay!

 6.       Sometimes it just doesn’t work out.

It’s our job to ensure your child has the most positive experience possible.  The last thing we want to do is create an experience that will cause the child to fear coming to the dentist that carries with them into adulthood.  Sometimes despite our (and your) best efforts a child may not be cooperative.  We will never force a child to have their procedure done.  The mental aspect of their experience is just as important to us and we may feel your child will be best taken care of at a pediatric dental specialist office.  If this is the case a referral will be made.

We absolutely adore seeing kids here at Niverville Heritage Dental Centre and pride ourselves on knowing the latest on Paw Patrol, Peppa Pig, and all that other stuff to win some brownie points! Haha! Know that when you bring your child(ren) here we feel honoured that you are choosing us to trust and we don’t take that lightly.  Plus, why is it so much easier to be way more patient when it’s not your own kids, right? 😊 See you soon!

 Dr. Sunayna

P.S. Don’t forget to have your kids enter our colouring contest of Dr. Sunayna! Just click here, print out the sheet and have your kids colour it and tag us on Instagram or Facebook! Your child(ren) will be entered to win a $100 gift card to Toys R Us! Yay! Contest closes Sunday, April 18th for ages 8 and under. Good luck!

So You Think You Don't Need a Teeth Cleaning......

We hear it all the time with patients, “Nah, I brush and floss my teeth so I don’t need to get my teeth cleaned” or “It’s okay, I’ll just get the filling for my cavity but pass on the cleaning.” What you don’t see is how every time we hear that we are literally trying our best not to scream, haha. Our job is to educate you and ensure we are taking care of your ENTIRE oral health. This includes the foundation of your mouth which includes your bone and gums.

The Breakdown

Your teeth are held in your mouth by the bone that surrounds them. You gums lie over your bone. When bacteria enters your gums and is not removed, your gum begins to tear away from your tooth. The presence of bacteria under your gums is called gingivitis (aka gum disease). If you’ve ever brushed or flossed and have noticed your gums are bleeding, congratulations, you have gingivitis. 

Now if the bacteria under your gums is not removed professionally by a hygienist because you aren’t coming in for a teeth cleaning, guess what? That bacteria then enters the bone surrounding your teeth and now you have periodontitis (aka bone disease). Over time the presence of bacteria in the bone will cause bone loss around the tooth therefore causing the tooth to become mobile which can lead to eventual tooth loss! Say what?!

What people don’t realize is that you can lose a tooth that has NOTHING wrong with it! No cavity, no infection, NOTHING. What happened is that you lost the bone holding it in because you had periodontitis which is 100% PREVENTABLE by brushing, flossing and wait for it - coming in for regular cleaning appointments! 

 The Low-down on Oral Bacteria

Now this bacteria I speak of also has fancy names. Plaque is a sticky biofilm that builds up on your teeth and is made of up of your saliva and the foods and drinks you have.  If the plaque is not removed from your teeth and under your gums (from lack of brushing/flossing and coming in for cleaning appointments) it hardens into calculus (aka tartar).  

Plaque can harden into tartar in as little as 24 hours! Once plaque has turned into tartar it can only be removed by a dental professional due to it’s hardness and strong bond to enamel. Tartar can be found both above and below the gums. Don’t believe me when I say you can’t remove tartar yourself? Just check out the before and after pictures above of a patient who presented with heavy tartar build up and how it looks after once our magical hygienists removed it! Remember, plaque and tartar can lead to decay (ie. cavities), bad breath, and as already mentioned, tooth loss!

Let’s Get Brutally Honest

The truth is you wouldn’t build your house on a crappy foundation, right? Well, same thing here. The health of your bone and gums make up the foundation of your mouth and if you don’t have a strong foundation to build upon, everything else will fail. This means the longevity of any fillings, crowns, bridges, dental implants or any dental work are directly related to the health of your bone and gums. Morale of the story? Book your hygiene appointment with us! Don’t make us stalk you, even though you know we will. :) Any questions? Just hollar at us (or just call and book and appointment).

Dr. Sunayna

Back to School – Snacks, Lunches & More Snacks!

Here we go, another school year.  Whether you are sending your kids to school or are homeschooling, we can all agree this year will look and feel very different .  Although the masks are new, guess what’s not? The dreaded making of lunches and snacks.

Snacks, snacks, and more snacks!

Don’t fret, as usual the Niverville Heritage Dental Gals have got your back.  We are all mostly moms so we get it – the frustration of finding healthy snacks that your kids will actually eat, finding time to pack them, and the worst one – loving something one day and then literally not eating it the next.  How is that even possible?!

Let’s start off by giving you some ideas for snacks and lunches that are good for both the teeth (obviously) AND for your kiddos overall health!

• Cheese – Not only is cheese delicious, but its calcium properties help make teeth strong and some studies have shown that it can neutralize the dental plaque in your mouth!

  Mom tip: Buy the portioned cheese from Costco so that you don’t have to spend time cutting it.  We all know every second counts!

• Fruit, Veggies & Dip – Did you know that antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin C and other nutrients from fruits and vegetables help protect the gums? Plus items such as apples, carrots and celery can help clean plaque off of teeth. It’s a win, win.

  Mom tip: We like to add a different dip to make it more interesting for kids.  Our favorites are hummus (make ahead and freeze) and tzatziki.

• Nuts & Seeds – Keeping in mind your child’s age, nuts & seeds are full of benefits for your teeth since they are packed full of important elements such as calcium, phosphorus, and even fiber, potassium and zinc which can help stimulate saliva.

  Mom tip: Try adding nuts into a smoothie (sneaky, sneaky) or even nut butters are a great way get your picky eater to try some!

• Yogurt – This is usually a pretty easy one for kids to have which is great cause it’s full of calcium and probiotics that can protect teeth from cavities, gum disease, and even bad breath. Perfect!

  Mom tip: To up the ante a bit, try sprinkling some granola and a dash of cinnamon.

• Water – Yup, just plain and simple water.  Water helps wash away bacteria that may be sitting on your teeth, especially after you’ve eaten. Try to avoid juices, pops, and sports drinks as much as possible.

  Mom tip: Make them want to drink water by getting a fun water bottle! We find the flashier and uglier it is, the better, hahaha.  Just ask Dr. Sunayna who cringes every time at the sight of her daughter’s Paw Patrol glittery water bottle. 

Now that we’ve covered some snack ideas, here’s some expert tips to make your life a bit easier from our favourite dietician, momma of 2, Nita Sharda of Carrots & Cake, and teacher, momma of 4, and meal prep extraordinaire, Shawna Lapointe of Too Busy Livin’:

We love registered dietician Nita Sharda of Carrots & Cake’s recipe for Tropical Green Smoothie. Find it here.

1. As Nita says, “food fatigue” is a real thing when it comes to kids.  One day they’re into it, the next they’re acting like it’s the worst thing ever.  The key is to have variety.  How do we do this? Well, Dr. Sunayna found these snack containers on Amazon that she is using for her kids this year.  It’s great for offering a variety of things in a small amount.  She packs all of them for the week on Sunday and then you are good to go!

2. Shawna is a huge fan of, “make more once, save time later.” Take for instance her take on shredded chicken.  Make more of it once in the slow cooker, freeze, use for tortilla soup, quesadillas, taquitos, and also on pizzas, or in sandwiches. Bam. Click here to see her ways.

3. Nita is a huge fan of smoothies and always tells us how it’s a great way to keep your kiddos and yourself fueled.  We love her genius tip on making smoothie packs in advance and throwing them in the freezer.  This way when you are rushing in the morning no need to get a million ingredients! Just grab that smoothie pack from the freezer, dump contents into the blender, and add your milk of choice! Voila! Our fave is Nita’s tropical green smoothie which you can find here. Happy blending!

As mothers ourselves, we get it.  We know we are all feeling so many things. Just know we are all in this together, and we can and will get through it.  As always, we are here for all our oral care needs! Happy prepping and packing!

Love,

The Niverville Heritage Dental Gals

A letter to you.

I truly love what I do. Yes, I really do laugh like this ALL the time at work.

I struggled a lot about whether to write this or not. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’m sweating as we speak (how’s that for a lovely image for you). Here’s why I decided to try to put into words what I’m feeling right now. I think, or at least hope, the reason you come to our office is not only the quality of work we do, but more importantly, because of how we make you feel.  What you see is what you get.  We are REAL. Real women who love what they do and are having a blast while doing it. This is why this crazy situation we are all in has been so difficult - mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially. 

I am one of those lucky few who truly loves what they do. Loves teeth? What a weirdo. Yup, this weirdo loves teeth.  But what I also love and feed off of is the human connection. I love chatting (I think all of you can agree with that one), laughing extremely loudly (shocker), and just being with my patients. Not being able to come to work is devastating. Not being able to help my patients by offering them to come in so I can take them out of pain leaves me feeling completely helpless.  Basically not being able to do what I love feels like a piece of me is missing.

The best team a girl could ever wish for.

Then there’s the girls. In the dental field, there tends to a pretty regular turnover of team members.  Not mine.  I hit the absolute dental jackpot when it comes to my team of gals (knocking on wood as we speak).  Having to lay them off for the time being, knowing the stress that puts on them, and not being able to see them has literally kept me up at night.  I feed off of them and when that’s missing, things just don’t seem whole.

Now a bit more about what’s going with me. Holy smokes how do stay at home moms do it?! Being at home with both kids all day, homeschooling, meals, snacks, trying to get some work done, I can’t even! (Shout out to my super sweet patient who waited as my kids barged into my room and began singing at the top of their lungs while I was on the phone with her trying to figure out what happened to her tooth). Anyone feel like they are more exhausted now than before this whole thing happened?! I literally thought I would have time to do the things I never had time for before like organizing the closets, cleaning out the basement, reading that book I never started.  Nope! How is it that I am forced not to work and be at home but still don’t have time?! 

My family. Love these humans, but boy being with them 24 hours a day really does test your love!

Now to the part that is seen as a definite faux pas that no one really talks about - the financial stress.  Let’s be real, no one is going to feel sorry for a dentist.  Am I extremely lucky to be well compensated to do something that I love? Absoutely, without a shadow of a doubt.  Are there well established dentists out there who have been practicing and owned their practice for decades, with savings who this situation will be easier for? Yup.  Am I one of those dentists? Nope. I wish, I would love a new bag, hahahahaha. Just kidding.  Sort of.

The hard truth is I’m still a young practicing dentist who is a new business owner.  I have dental school debt, a business loan for buying into this practice that I love with all my soul, and then to top it all off, a renovation that is still continuing on with no revenue coming in for the foreseeable future. I have zero income that my family relies on and due to the nature of my work when we do go back, we are one of the highest risk as we work in the mouth.  

Now, please know this is not meant to be a “Feel sorry for Sunayna and let’s throw her a pity party” post, but if you want to, I’m happy to join the party you throw for me virtually! I like Beyonce FYI.  But seriously here’s what I know after a lot of soul searching:

Miss you all everyday. I can’t wait to see your smiles again soon.

EVERYONE is struggling, not just me.  EVERYONE is hurting.  EVERYONE is trying their best to navigate this.

GRATITUDE.  Despite what I may be going through right now, I know others have it worse.  I have gratitude for the time my family has together - bedtimes that I miss sometimes due to work, meals together, and all the playing.  I have gratitude for the shelter I have, food we eat, and the ability and option to stay home while others risk their lives for us.

JOY. I refuse to let this bring me down.  From the moment I walked into Niverville Heritage Dental Centre I just knew I was meant to be here.  I work so dang hard.  The girls work so hard.  So we are going to continue with the renovation. I will not let it be a source of stress when it was always meant to be a source of excitement, pride, and pure joy.  Whenever we open, I promise you it will be a space that the girls and I deserve to work in and a space that you deserve to be treated in.  In the end, I choose JOY.

If you read this far, gosh, I owe you a complimentary exam when we open.  Just joking, I’m broke remember? Hahaha.  But seriously thank you.  Know that I dream every night of coming back and seeing all of you again.  I honestly can’t wait.  Stay safe.  Miss you.

Much love,

Sunayna

Crowns - What, Why, How

So we’ve told you that you need a crown on your tooth.  Congratulations! You are now royalty, haha.  That’s such a lame dental joke, but you can’t blame me for trying! All lame joking aside I’m going to chat about what a dental crown is, why you may need one, and how the process works.

Can you guess which tooth has the crown that Dr. Sunayna did on this patient?

WHAT IS A CROWN?

A crown is essentially a cap that provides full coverage over your existing tooth to prevent it from fracturing.  It is cemented (ie. glued) to your tooth permanently.

Crowns can be made of a variety of materials such as gold, porcelain, and porcelain fused to metal to name a few.  The right material for you will be discussed and decided upon between you and your dentist and is dependent on the situation. However, in 99% of cases a material is used that can be matched to the shade of the rest of your teeth therefore providing a natural look.

WHY DO YOU NEED A CROWN?

Here is a patient who presented with a fractured premolar.

There are many different situations that can warrant the recommendation of a crown.  The first is a broken tooth.  A tooth can break for multiple reasons such as a crack present in the tooth, the way your teeth meet together, grinding or clenching, or accidental just to name a few.  When this happens, a filling must be done in order to fill the broken or missing part of the tooth.  If the tooth ends up being more filling than actual tooth, the tooth is prone to fracture again especially when subjected to the natural forces of chewing and grinding, therefore a crown is recommended.

Another reason a tooth may need a crown is because the tooth has had a root canal.  When a root canal is done, the tooth must be filled in order to replace the amount of tooth lost.  Again, in most situations this means the tooth will be more filling than actual tooth, therefore being at risk for fracture.

As you can see, the fractured tooth has been filled resulting in a tooth that is more filling than actual tooth. Therefore, a crown is recommended to prevent it from fracturing again.

If a tooth has a large cavity, it will require a filling in order to remove the decay present.  If the size of the resulting filling is also large, a crown may be recommended in order to protect the tooth.

If a tooth is left without the protection of a crown for too long, the tooth can fracture beyond pair requiring the tooth to be extracted!

Finally, sometimes, a crown is done for esthetic purposes to mask the discolouration of a tooth or to cover a misshapen tooth.

HOW IS A CROWN DONE?

1. At your first appointment, we will pick a shade for your crown and have you approve it.  Local anesthetic is given and the tooth is filed down to a smaller version of itself.

2. An impression of the tooth is taken so that the lab can fabricate your crown.

A back molar has been prepared for a crown.

3. We will make you a temporary crown to cover your tooth until your permanent crown is ready. Your temporary crown will NOT be the same colour or shape as your permanent crown, so don’t worry when you see it!

4. At your second appointment the temporary crown is removed and the permanent crown is placed.  We ensure the fit, shade, shape and colour are correct.  The crown is then permanently cemented to your tooth.

It is important to note that in some circumstances your tooth may need special procedures prior to doing a crown such as orthodontics, gum, or root canal treatment.

Don’t forget, you must treat a crown like a regular tooth! A crown can get a cavity underneath if it is not being taken care of properly! Be sure to brush, floss, and come for regular hygiene appointments in order to increase the longevity of your crown.

Well, you are officially a dental crown expert! If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to come by the office and ask me. See you at the office! -Dr. Sunayna

Fun at the Niverville Fair & Parade!

Photo by Meghan Corbett

Everyone here knows the second weekend in June can only mean one thing – time for the Niverville Fair & Parade! Every year we all gather to eat candy apples, scream our faces off on rides, sway to the music, and enjoy the Summer weather.

It’s become an annual tradition for us gals from Niverville Heritage Dental to take part in the parade.  We bring our kids along and sometimes even our husbands (thanks Stan for always being our driver!) as we set out to meet and greet all the people who have lined the streets and giveaway our toothbrushes! After all, you need to brush your teeth after all that cotton candy you eat at the Fair, right?

Photo by Meghan Corbett

For the past three years we have loved being apart of the parade and people have asked why we do it.  Here’s the real reason – we believe in COMMUNITY.  We don’t want to be just a regular dental office in town.  We want to be apart of the community.  We loved saying hi to all those familiar faces along the parade route, as well as being stopped and even photo bombed by some patients while we were taking photos at the Fair!

Whether it is sponsoring your child’s sports team or field trip, donating to your wedding social, or speaking at the Elementary school, we want be known as a community staple here in Niverville and in the surrounding areas. 

We’ve got some big plans in the works and we can’t wait to share with you what we have planned! In the meantime, check out this video by the super talented Onairam Studios of us doing what we do best – laughing and having a ball at the Fair this year.  Enjoy!

Being a Mama - Mother's Day

As Mother’s Day approaches and since we are an all female team compromised mostly of Mamas, we decided to give you our take on motherhood, both the good and the challenges! Basically we are trying to keep it real! We hope that all you Mamas out there can relate to our experiences because as we know, when Mamas support Mamas amazing things happen. Happy Mother’s Day!

Kaitlin with Natasha and Baby Max!

KAITLIN

Hi everyone! As of March 13th we added a new little one to our family, Natasha got a baby brother named Max! I am now back in the newborn stage and I must say it is much easier the second time around for me (not for everyone I know) but there are still many struggles. I didn’t really remember how waking up multiple times during the night for feedings can affect me, I need my sleep! I go to bed around 8pm or whenever he falls asleep so I can function knowing I’ll be up a few times at night. I am also always worried about stuff like is he getting enough food, sleeping enough, sleeping too long in between feedings, should I wake him or let him sleep, etc. The worrying never ends!

Natasha is in love with her baby brother and likes to help where she can. This is definitely one of the highs about being a parent, seeing Natasha love on her little brother! It also melts my heart when she tells me “You’re beautiful” in her adorable 2 year old voice randomly, or after I’ve combed my hair (yes I rock the mom bun ALL THE TIME!), and all I’m thinking is I’m 1 month postpartum looking 6 months pregnant still and nothing in my closet fits!

Being a mom is a lot of work, and you are on 24/7.  Even when you go away you are still thinking of them. It is hard work but it is such rewarding work. I wasn’t a girl who dreamt of being a mom growing up, but I am so happy that I was able to become a mom to our two littles. I will take the waking up multiple times during the night, the throwing up (which always happens in the middle of the night, in bed) and the tantrums, for the random “you’re beautiful”, the hugs and kisses, and seeing the joy in their faces and the laughter they bring.

SUNAYNA

Being a mother and all it entails is almost impossible to describe, but let’s start with what people don’t tell you!  No one tells you that labour is not like the movies where a gush of water comes out and out pops a baby, no problem!  No one tells you that you will leave the hospital essentially wearing a diaper.  No one tells you that you will NOT look like Kate Middleton in a perfect outfit with perfect hair and in heels leaving the hospital (I totally thought I would).  In fact, I could barely walk out of the hospital the first time around.  Finally, no one tells you how overwhelmed you may feel staring at this baby, not really sure how you’re going to keep this human (and yourself) alive.

Dr. Sunayna with Niam and Samaya!

But no one can also explain to you the feeling you get when your child(ren) smile at you for the first time.  No one can explain the joy you feel when they say “Mama” for the first time (especially if it’s their first word, haha).  No one can explain how you just know what every coo, groan, or cry means.  No one can explain the secret elation you feel when they come into your bed in the middle of the night and you pretend to be upset but you’re not because you know one day it will stop.  No one can explain how you can feel like you’re going to lose your mind one second because your toddler is having a meltdown over the way you spread his peanut butter, but then the pure love you feel the next second when they tell you they love you. Finally, no one can explain the strength that you just naturally possess the second you become a mother. 

I’ve only been a mother of two children who are the loves of my life for five years now but here’s what I’ve realized.  Whether you are a working mom, a stay at home mom, or a mom whose kids are all grown up, GUILT and BALANCE are always a constant struggle.  I want all of us moms or mother like figures out there to know that it’s okay to take care of ourselves too.  Taking care of ourselves only makes us more available and better to be able to mother our kids.  So my hope is that this Mother’s Day you get a chance to either get your nails done, grab a coffee, sleep in, or just be alone with your thoughts for a bit.  Now I’m going to try to take my own advice! Happy Mother’s Day!

Nikki with her girls Tierzah, Daisy, and Nyah!

NIKKI

For those of you who don’t know, my husband and I have 3 teenage daughters ages 16, and 15 year old twins. Yup twins! Daisy, our daughter, was 19 months when the twins were born. We were overjoyed, excited and super scared!

It has been quite the roller coaster ride though out. The first couple of years were the toughest. I’m the type of person that makes sure everything is perfect. Our girls would arrive to church (because that’s the only day we really got out of the house!) all dressed well, hair done, looking all cute, and I would look all put together as well. But inside I was stressed out and grumpy because it was so much work!

There definitely were more good days than hard days! Nothing like seeing your kids after a day at work and them being so excited to see you and wrapping their little arms around you! Though I don’t get that response anymore, our girls still give us hugs and exchange “I love you’s” always! Motherhood is the most challenging yet rewarding time! Enjoy your time with your kids this Mother’s Day!

Amanda with her kids Ethan and Hayley!

AMANDA

My high of being a mom is very simple, watching my kids succeed.  My biggest challenge is seeing my kids struggle.  But by far, the greatest high is seeing them succeed over their struggles.

One of my favourite quotes is, "One of the greatest gifts a parent can give their child is their presence." I find in today's society there are so many distractions around us that I have to be conscientious on what's really important and that is the giving of your own time.  I try to remind myself to cherish the little things, and also to not sweat the small stuff.  I also remind myself to keep my head up as there is so much joy in the exchange of a smile. Happy Mother’s Day!

RACHELE

 Mom/Mommy/Mother/Mama [Noun, verb]

1.       A person who does the work of many for free.

See also; chef, taxi, cheerleader, teacher, nurse, multi-tasker, crazy, saint

No matter what your child(ren) call you, I am sure you can relate to the above!! Me too!! I am usually known as Mommy or Mom, and absolutely love it! I dreamt about being a mom since I was just a little girl playing with my dolls, and as I grew old enough to babysit, I spent most of my weekends doing so. I have always loved children!

Rachele with her daughters Jaidyn and Brynlee!

I think we can all agree that being a mom is one of the most rewarding, yet challenging jobs around. Some may disagree, but when my girls were younger, those were the easy days for me. Yes, they couldn’t always communicate what was wrong or what they needed, but life seemed simpler for me. They were likely some of the most easygoing babies/toddlers I have seen. It felt so rewarding to see what I made, what was a part of me and how they grew up throughout the years. How can a Mom not be proud?!

As they grow older, have their own opinions and are self-minded, this is where I find motherhood challenging! Bodies start to change, emotions and hormones play more and more into their everyday lives. I find the challenges can be teaching them both how to be strong during difficult times yet letting them figure out how to get out of it themselves. Also, teaching them that there will be plenty of challenges as they grow up, life isn’t all unicorns and rainbows is another aspect of motherhood I find challenging. As the years go by, I realize that tough love is such a thing! We are just entering pre-teen years for my oldest, and I am beginning to believe that payback definitely is such a thing! (Sorry Mom!). But all said and done, I would not change a single thing. My girls make me so proud each and every day! It’s amazing how they can brighten my day! Happy Mother’s Day!

Use It or Lose It - Getting the Most Of Your Dental Benefits

Hi! This is Ainsley, and I'm the office manager here at Niverville Heritage Dental Centre.  I'm going to be talking to you about your dental insurance and how you can get the most of your dental insurance plan, especially since the end of the year is drawing near!

Hi! I’m Ainsley, our office manager!

Dental insurance is often renewed on a yearly basis, understanding your plan is the first step to making the most out of the benefits you could be receiving. 

Dental insurance, simply put, can take some or all of the cost associated with most dental treatments off of the patient and into the hands of the Insurance provider.  You pay a monthly premium to have these benefits at your disposal, why not make the most of them?!

The best way to ensure you are getting the most from your benefits is to schedule and keep your routine recare appointments (i.e. dental cleanings and exam).  During these appointments a full hygiene cleaning is done, as well as a thorough check up by your dentist. Having routine check ups with your dentist allows us to find any problems while they are small and address them right away before they have a chance to turn into larger problems.  With most insurance companies, routine maintenance and cavity treatments are often covered at a higher percentage compared to major dental work such as crowns, bridges, dentures, etc.  Most of the time, major work is needed when a small problem wasn’t dealt with and left to grow, so catching problems early on is key to making the most of your benefits!

You’ve all heard the saying “Use it or lose it.”  Well, the same applies for your benefits!  Each year every family member covered on any dental insurance plan has their very own limit to use and if you don’t use it, it is not carried over to the next year. Taking this into consideration when planning any routine or more extensive treatment needing done will help you use the benefits you are entitled to each year and ensuring you have the maximum funds allotted for the following year should you need them. 

We know dental insurance policies can be confusing, we can help with that!  If you are unsure what your plan entails we can help set you on the right track to deciphering it.  We can let you know who to call and even what to ask in order to help you better understand your coverage.  Once we are provided with the details of your personal plan we can even help track your coverage to make sure you stay within the limits and are aware of what portion you would need to pay if any for any treatment or preventative maintenance you may need.

The time of year when insurance benefits are resetting is drawing near!  Most dental insurance plans go by calendar year, which means your plan likely expires on December 31st, and renews for the new year on January 1st. This means if you have any pending treatment to do, make the most of your benefits and use it up before you lose that money by December 31st. Remember, this is the busiest time of year for us as everyone is trying to get in to make the most of their benefits! Don’t get left out! Book now to save your spot! Remember, help us help you make the most of the dental benefits you are entitled to!