Dear Friends!
December 2016
It is a privilege to write this 24th annual letter, to share and reflect on the year that has passed. I feel
gratefulness, appreciation and an increased awareness of the gifts that are available to us. Our learning is
enhanced with the internet, social media, along with numerous cultural events that we can attend in person. New
technologies are constantly becoming available and new is now "the new norm”.
This past June, I graduated from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto with a Global
Executive MBA, and an Executive MBA from the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland. This area of study
was in addition to my day-to-day dental practice, and involved travelling to China, India, Europe, South
America in 2015, and the Middle East in 2016. Many people have asked me why I chose to pursue this further
education. I believe that this course of study has given me more theoretical and practical knowledge to help me
make the best possible decisions for my business, today and tomorrow. I will continue working in dentistry, as
dentistry is my passion, and I have always loved working in this health field.
The last module of my schoolwork (6 out of 6) included travel to Istanbul and Dubai. Quite the contrast of
cities! Istanbul has so much history and was very charming. On a day off, I went to visit the Istanbul Museum
of Modern Art, located near the Bosphorus Strait, which separates the continents of Europe and Asia, running
through the city of Istanbul. It was memorable being at the museum, looking at the modern art of Turkey, and
also looking at the Bosphorus at the same time. I decided that one category on my bucket list would be to visit
all of the MOMAs (Museums of Modern Art) in the world. I always become so inspired by the creativity of
artists by how they express their outlook and statements about our world.
May you live until 120 and feel like 20! I especially like the back part of this last sentence. Truly our goal is to
feel young, with minimal discomforts and to enjoy life. As you are aware, my motto is that we can keep our
teeth until 120+ years, as stated in my book, ‘Your Mouth: The Gateway to a Healthier You'. Our smile ought
to be as beautiful, if not more beautiful, at 120 years of age. Dentistry knows how to help our mouth to be the
best anti-aging part of our body.
Technology and scientific advances help me to provide the most minimally invasive dentistry available, and an
easier experience for my patients/clients. Our new technology this year, in conjunction with the added
applications of ozone and laser, is a camera with a near infrared light called Carivu. It can show the location
and extent of decay between the teeth without the use of radiographs, and is case specific. If I was not involved
in dentistry, I would want to search for a dental place where my voice would be heard, where I would feel safe,
and receive minimally invasive dentistry with the aid of new technology. I hope we have created that for you. I
love innovation when it furthers our cause and dreams. I am thrilled that we can maintain healthy mouths in
Dentistry with little tooth reduction, ensuring less dental work in the future! We have added Biomats in the
office, mats with amethyst and tourmaline, which can be placed on our dental chairs, to help you relax more
when you’re with us. Please ask to try one as we always appreciate your feedback.
After I finished school, I also participated in several meditation retreats in California, Nevada and Brazil. In
addition to my schooling I have undertaken conferences with team members at the American Academy of
Cosmetic Dentistry, a symposium in Seattle and a four day Ozone course in Santa Barbara with Dr. Leyla. I was
also selected to take an advanced Invisalign course in Montreal. Dr. Leyla and Dr. Naz attended the
International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology earlier this year. Dr. Bernie continues to increase his
education in the implant and surgical world. Dr. Urusa has completed 20 years of being part of our team this
year and continues to join us every Friday. For over 20 years I have been lecturing at the Total Health Show
and Whole Life Expo in Toronto. I enjoy being with a community that searches and takes responsibility for
their health. The shows are always fun, and my team and I always enjoy seeing people from our practice outside
of our office. Congratulations to Ljiljana who received trainer of the year from Invisalign. I am blessed to have
an incredibly talented team who love to learn and are skillful in their work.
Lately the Hundredth Monkey story reappeared to me. It was published in a book by Ken Keyes in 1981. I have
enclosed the story at the end of this letter. It is amazing to me that there is a tipping point when one more person
tunes in to a new awareness, the field is strengthened and this new awareness becomes the norm. With a higher
consciousness as a goal, this will help all of us have an increased quality of life.
There is a saying - "It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived" Helen Walton. I enjoy sharing my learning experiences with others, as an exchange stimulates dialogue, and our
world becomes richer. One thought expressed can have a ripple effect, and especially as mentioned earlier,
social media can manifest change so quickly. Perhaps with this it will now be a smaller number than the 100th
monkey to make change!
For everyone, please stay away from the increasing number of dried fruit and snack health food bars, as they are
sticky, sweet and cause decay. Regardless if the sugars are natural or artificial they cause decay by resting in
nooks and crannies at the gum line. Dry mouth is now becoming common for many people that are stressed, or
are taking medications. With less saliva flow, the bacteria metabolize the sugars into acid at a greater intensity,
which creates cavities in the teeth. There are products now available to help decrease decay. We recommend
Xylitol 100% in gum or mints for daytime use and Xylimelts help increase saliva flow at night.
We are also seeing a lot of tooth erosion in the clinic. This can be caused by drinking lemon juice in water when
we wake up followed by brushing our teeth. Although it creates alkalinity, when we brush our teeth after the
juice, the acid erodes our tooth structure. Please brush first in the morning, prior to consuming lemon in water
or orange juice for breakfast, as both are very acidic. Studies now show that orange juice with calcium does not
cause damage to the teeth.
I want to acknowledge all of the wonderful people that come to visit us. Your trust and sharing creates special
days for us. We have lost a few special clients that have passed, and they are truly missed.
May you and your loved ones enjoy the holiday season. My team and I look forward to many more wonderful
visits.
With love and gratitude,
Dana and Team
The Hundredth Monkey
by Ken Keyes
The Japanese monkey, Macaca fuscata, has been observed in the wild for a period of over 30
years.
In 1952, on the island of Koshima, scientists were providing monkeys with sweet potatoes
dropped in the sand. The monkeys liked the taste of the raw sweet potatoes, but they found the
dirt unpleasant.
An 18-month-old female named Imo found she could solve the problem by washing the
potatoes in a nearby stream. She taught this trick to her mother. Her playmates also learned this
new way and they taught their mothers, too.
This cultural innovation was gradually picked up by various monkeys before the eyes of the
scientists.
Between 1953 and 1958 all of the young monkeys learned to wash the sandy sweet potatoes to
make them more palatable.
Only the adults who imitated their children learned this social improvement. Other adults kept
eating the dirty sweet potatoes.
Then something startling took place. In the autumn of 1958, a certain number of Koshima
monkeys were washing sweet potatoes – the exact number is not known.
Let us suppose that when the sun rose one morning there were 99 monkeys on Koshima Island
who had learned to wash their sweet potatoes.
Let us further suppose that later that morning the hundred monkey learned to wash potatoes.
THEN IT HAPPENED!
By that evening almost everyone in the tribe was washing sweet potatoes before eating them.
The added energy of this hundredth monkey somehow created an ideological breakthrough!
But notice.
A most surprising thing observed by these scientists was that the habit of washing sweet
potatoes then jumped over the sea –
Colonies of monkeys on other islands and the mainland troop of monkeys at Takasakiyama
began washing their sweet potatoes.