Dentaltown February 2016 - (Page 112)

dentally incorrect feature An open letter to people, the weather,, and a rodent A As we wade deeper into the waters of 2016, it seems that more and more offends more people more often than not. But unlike many of our contemporaries who are afraid of controversial topics and issues, we here at Dentaltown Magazine take pride in pushing the envelope of social commentary, and the discussion of current events. Which is why for this issue of Dentally Incorrect, we're going face to face with a topic that is surely on the minds of many in this short but sweet month of February. Not a groundhog but kind of close. Groundhogs To be exact, we are referring to the maramota monax, of the sciuridae family, which hails from the order rodentia, which belongs to the mammalia class, one level below the phylum chordata in the great kingdom animalia. In other words, it's almost a squirrel and not nearly a beaver. These lovably lazy land otters are famous, arguably, for two reasons. First, every February, despite the terrific onset of Photo by Arselia L. Gales modern-day science and the proclivity with which we turn to the Weather Channel, we still cling to the cuddly superstition that this little critter will tell us if we're in for more winter. The second reason we are familiar with these critters is Bill Murray. Early spring or six more weeks of winter According to the all-knowing Internet, the meteorological accuracy of the groundhog, whom we leave in charge of telling countless masses whether winter will quickly turn to spring, or if we're in for loads more ice and snow, is only 39 percent. To quote the National Climactic Data Center: "The groundhog has shown no talent for predicting the arrival of spring, especially in recent years." A rushed conclusion (because the writer should be doing more important work) FREE FACTS, circle 19 on card 112 FEBRUARY 2016 // dentaltown.com It would be unfair to blame the groundhog, who has no formal training in meteorology. The blame lands in all of our laps. We should not ask the groundhog whether winter's end is near. There is only one question that we as a society have any right to ask the "red monk" of the rodent world. And that is, how much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? We should ask, even though chucking wood is not good for dental health. From now on, we here at Dentaltown Magazine will be making the winter-time predications. You're off the hook, varmint. We got this. We hereby predict, in the year 2016, there will be an early spring! ■ http://www.dentaltown.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown February 2016

On Dentaltown.com
HOWARD SPEAKS: There Ain’t No Silver Bullet in Business
PROFESSIONAL COURTESY: A Magical Meeting Experience
Continuing Education Update
Reverse Prep
An Overview of Sinus Augmentation Procedures
Figuring Out This Marketing Thing
OFFICE VISIT: Doing Dentistry in the Desert
Make Work-Life Balance Work for You
Pulpotomy Materials: An Update
Diligence: How to Successfully Purchase a Dental Practice
Parents Who Fool Themselves About Sugar in Kids’ Diets
Seven Easy Ways to Boost Treatment Compliance
You Should Know: ZendyHealth
Product Profile: DENTSPLY Caulk
Poll
Intraoral Scanning: A Great Resource in Today’s Dentistry
Must Haves for 2016
Product Profile: GC America
Simplifying Everyday Direct Posterior Restorations
Augmentation of Keratinized Gingiva
Industry News
Ad Index
Product Profile: United Business Funding
New Products
Product Profile: TCS
Top Three Strategies to Triple New Patient Numbers
Oral Diseases Associated with Women
Dentally Incorrect

Dentaltown February 2016