A Time and a Place for Thanks and Giving

November is our traditional time for giving thanks and sharing food with people that are close to us. But, for some people this is a luxury that is beyond their reach and means.

Many non-profit groups have been organized to help those who are less fortunate. Here on the San Francisco Peninsula, we have the Second Harvest Food Bank which is the primary source of donated, surplus, and purchased food for non-profit agencies in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.

Second Harvest operates direct service programs for seniors, families with children, and individuals, including: monthly food assistance to low-income families with children, weekly food assistance to low-income seniors, weekly food assistance to low-income Food Bank volunteers and the delivery of fresh fruits and vegetables to low-income households with limited access to community markets.

There are many ways that you can help, from volunteering your time, to organizing a drive, or by simply donating food or money. As we give thanks to those close to us, we hope you might consider others in this time of giving.

Let's Talk Turkey - The Good and Bad of it

Thanksgiving is in a few weeks and that means one thing (for us poultry eaters) -- our traditional turkey meal. There are certainly many recipes and traditions out there. However, if you watch the Food Network from time to time, you may have come across this funny and knowledgeable cook Alton Brown. He's a cross between your big brother and a nerdy scientist who happens to really know how to cook food.

If you're happy with your approach, great. But, odds are you'll likely see something from Alton that might help you with your turkey. There are two videos here. First is traditional turkey which is cooked in an oven. The second one is for those of us who elect to deep-fry out turkeys.



Some of us have deep fried our turkeys and it can taste great. But, whether you realize it or not, it can be very dangerous. Alton goes through some of those precautions here in a very humorous and enlightening way.



No matter which way you go, we of course hope that your turkey turns out as planned, but really hope that you keep safe in the process.

San Mateo Harvest Festival - Nov 12-14th

This festival is the largest arts and crafts show on the West Coast, showcasing over 24,000 handmade arts and crafts.

Unlike many shows, each vendor must go through a jury process to be chosen as a participating artist, guaranteeing a mix of high quality products. They'll be grab bag prizes and a raffle for a grand prize piece of original art.

The San Mateo Harvest Festival has selected the Peninsula Youth Ballet as the official charity of the show. The Peninsula Youth Ballet (PYB) will receive half of the proceeds from shopping bag sales and all of the donations from the parcel and bag check. The PYB will also perform a sneak peek of their acclaimed rendition of the classic "Nutcracker".

The San Mateo Harvest Festival Original Art and Craft Show takes place at the San Mateo County Event Center, 1346 Saratoga Ave in San Mateo. Hours of the show are as follows: Friday: 10 am - 6pm, Saturday: 10 am - 6pm, Sunday: 10 am - 5pm.

Adults: $9, Seniors (62+): $7, Youth (13-17): $4, Kids 12 and Under: Free. For tickets and additional information, please call 415-447-3205, or visit http://www.harvestfestival.com/

Millbrae Carnival & Monster March Costume Parade

Two big family friendly events will be happening this month.

First, this Sunday, October 10th, from 11AM-1PM, the Millbrae Rotary will be having a "Kids Carnival." It's free for all kids 10 years and younger. They'll be games, entertainment, 4-H animals, hot dogs and cotton candy. You can meet "Boswick the Clown." Call 650-588-5400 for more information.

The Millbrae Lions Monster March Parade will be happening again this year. The new date is scheduled for Saturday, October 30th, from 12-3 PM. There will be carnival games, prizes and kid's activities. Located at Kohl's Parking Lot and Magnolia Ave. The Parade starts at 2 PM. Trick or treating on Broadway follows the parade. The parade this year is sponsored by the Millbrae Lions Club and The Millbrae Chamber of Commerce.

We hope that you can take advantage of the nice weather and local events that Millbrae has to offer.

Insurance and Flex Spend - Don't Miss Out on Your Benefits

It's about this time of year, where people have settled into their work and they start to call as about open enrollment and what benefits they have remaining before they expire. If you haven't checked with us, it might a good time to do so.

Why is that? Well, if you need to take advantage of benefits that are expiring, you'll want to make an appointment as soon as possible. Many people wait until the end of the year, and with the holidays and all, it can be challenging to get everyone in. We don't want you to miss out.

If you think you might want to change your flex spending amount, give us a call. If we know of a procedure that you are due for, or have put off in the past, this would be a good time to take advantage of open enrollment changes. If your company is changing providers or giving you a variety of choices, you can always check out our website or call us to see if we are in network.

In the end, its about us helping you get the best smile you can. That's something worth smiling about.

A Child with Influence

Someone alerted us to this video clip. It's a cute video, just under 2 minutes long of a young girl who has a "catchy dance." It was actually produced by a cell phone company, but we still love as everyone in it seems to be having a lot of fun. Especially the young little girl who doesn't realize what she's created.

The Meaning of Life - in Under 3 Minutes

A patient of ours brought this clip to our attention. It contains a number of sketches and words that are put to music. The messages here are the things that you can count on your friends for.

If your having a down day, need to be reminded about how to live or just need some perspective, this is a great video. We hope that you can take the time to view it. It's worth it.

Need Help Understanding Dental Insurance?

For many patients, dental insurance is a benefit that they receive from their employer. Like health insurance, it's intended to ensure that patients receive the proper medical care that they require at more a more affordable cost. We couldn't agree more strongly with this purpose. But, given the many different plans and options that are available from providers, sometimes this can get VERY confusing.

If you have the time, take a look at your coverage and what you're entitled to. If you don't have time or can't make heads or tails of things, get some help from your dentist. They can help wade through all the details of your plan; from co-pays to deductibles and limitations.

By working with a dentist that takes the time to go through your insurance coverage BEFORE your visit has two three significant advantages.

1. It can save you time!
2. Patients can avoid costly surprises!
3. Patients can maximize their benefits!

If you'd like to read more, we've put together a small article which you can read by clicking on the link: Understanding Dental Insurance & Dental Plans.

The Millbrae Art & Wine Festival - 40th Anniversary

Labor Day is a sign for many of us that change is about to happen. Cooler temperatures, the unofficial end of summer and the start of school. But, one thing we can count on is our festival. More than 200 artists and craft vendors from all over the western United States exhibit at the festival.

From the art and food, to the entertainment, it's an easy and fun way to enjoy the holiday. We hope to see you there!

Days: September 4th and 5th, 10 AM - 5 PM right on Broadway Avenue.

From more information on the event, visit the Millbrae Chamber of Commerce.

What's all This Talk about Dental Sealants for Kids?

We all want to keep our children happy and healthy. This goes for their teeth as well.

As much as we can keep after them to brush and floss, there are many other things that can help to ensure that their teeth stay cavity-free. A easy procedure to consider is the use of Dental Sealants.

Dental Sealants are a protective layer that is applied to teeth. It acts as a barrier against decay. Much like a protective clear paint layer, it can't be seen but is there simply to protect teeth from the natural decay that occurs from sugary foods and spots that are missed from ordinary brushing.

The great news is that many dental insurance companies cover dental sealants up to a certain age. If you haven't heard or looked into Dental Sealants before, click here to read more about Dental Sealants.

Walk Across America - In 2 Minutes

A very creative video put together by a group of guys and sponsored by Levi's.

Only 2 minutes long, but the images and effect are amazing. The actual trip consisted of a director, producer, photographer, and actor that traveled via RV for two weeks. Stops included American landmarks like Washington, D.C., Chicago, Mt. Rushmore and Las Vegas.

Rather then shooting it with a movie projector, the team pieced together still photos taken on the actual, 14-day cross country trip, from New York to San Francisco — no green screens involved. When all was said and done, it took over 2,700 images to complete.

So if you don't have a chance to travel this summer, take a couple of minutes to check this out.

Art and Tastes of San Bruno in August

The San Bruno Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring two events this month.

Art comes back to the San Bruno Farmer's Market, Sunday, Aug 29. In conjunction with the Chamber’s Weekly Farmers’ Market, the San Bruno Culture & Arts Commission will have art vendors all around. The market runs from 9AM - 1 PM. There were over 2,000 visitors when the market opened up this past May. The location: the 400 block of San Mateo Avenue, 1 block east of El Camino, cross street @ Jenevein Ave, San Bruno, CA.

On Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at San Bruno Senior Center 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., enjoy the Tastes of San Bruno. Tickets are $20 if purchase before August 13th. For More information, visit the San Bruno Chamber of Commerce for more information and details.

Support Your Local Farmer's Markets

One of the best things about summer is the abundance of fresh and locally grown foods.

We're fortunate to be in an area with such a great variety of foods. If you haven't been a market recently, we would encourage you to go. It's not just fruits and vegetables!

Here's a listing of the Farmer's Market's close by:
Millbrae: Year round, 8:00am - 1:00pm Saturdays in the City Parking Lot on Broadway between La Cruz and Victoria Avenue.

San Bruno: Sunday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, San Mateo Avenue between Jenevein and Sylvan.

Burlingame: May - Nov only; 9:00am - 1:30pm Sundays; Howard Avenue between Park and Primrose

San Mateo: College of San Mateo parking lot; Year round, 9:00am - 1:00pm Wednesdays;
Year round, 9:00am - 1:00pm Saturdays

Our Monthly Contest: Your Best Farmer's Market Picture

Do you enjoy going to local farmer's markets? We do.

Our contest this month is simple. Have a picture taken of you at any of the local farmer's markets in town. Send it to us via E-mail at info (at) millbraedental.com. We'll choose a winner at the end of the month. The prize? $50.00 to spend at the market the next week (or on whatever you like).

How many people will take the time to take a picture and E-mail it to us? Probably not that many. So, here's your chance to win.

Oh, one more thing -- be sure you're smiling!

Carol Burnett Show - Tim Conway as the Dentist

Whether you're old enough to have seen this sketch when it was broadcast on TV for the first time, or you're just seeing it today, it's one funny scene.

Tim Conway (the dentist) and Harvey Korman (the patient) were actors on a comedy variety show - The Carol Burnett Show. This is one of their classic sketches where Tim Conway is the very inexperienced dentist that needs to read the instructions on how to do a procedure. Things spiral out of control though when the Novocaine comes out.

You Can do it with The Home Depot

June is the official month of Father's Day. Of course, every other month is a time for fathers. But, for this month, we're giving away a gift certificate to The Home Depot to help celebrate. This isn't just for fathers, it's for everyone that is part of our Let's Keep Smiling Newsletter. If you're in it, you can win it.

Whether you're planting, seeding or just need some new tools, we hope that this gift certificate that we're giving away will help.

Thank you to all those people who have contacted us, from past winners to people who simply enjoy being reminded to smile each month!

Dental Implants with Dr. Tsai - Millbrae Dental Care

Many of my patients are surprised to learn you don't need to see a specialist to have a dental implant or mini implant placed. Dentists like me, who have gone on to take post graduate implant training, are able to place dental implants as well as mini implants right in our office.

This is great news to our patients since they can have their implants from start to finish in one office. Also, dental implant costs are significantly lower when placed by a dentist versus an oral surgeon; making dental implants a more affordable treatment. We can also offer lower cost bone grafts and extractions if needed. For more involved cases we work closely with a specialist.

Many patients are concerned about the process or procedure to place a dental implant. Once they find out how common and well understood the treatment is they are able to relax. Most dental implants can be placed in an hour or so. Once placed you will return to our office for a followup visit to make sure everything is healing properly. Then about four to six months later we will place the final crown and abutment. Below I have posted a video on YouTube that illustrates the implant process.

Another Fatherly Video Worth Watching

Being a parent, a friend or simply a caring person often demands that we step outside our comfort zone. Do things we otherwise might not do for a better cause or affect. However innocent these good deeds might be, sometimes a simple explanation is in order, but gets lost through it all. We couldn't resist posting this second video clip of a father spending time with his daughter. We're not endorsing the soda product, but do appreciate the theme of this heart-warming and funny commercial.

Just Another Fatherly Day - Funny Video

Father's Day is this month. Whether you're a father, a prospective one or just enjoy watching a funny video of one, this video is worth it. Enjoy!

Our Favorite Mother's Day Video

This is one of our favorite Mother's Day Video clips. About two minutes long, it was done by a couple of friends, Luke Barats and Joe Berata. Posing as brothers, Tucker and Brad look to show their love for their mother by taking a 'simple' Mother's Day photo.