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New Installation: Conversation Peace

Have you seen the sculpture inspiring conversation at the corner of 10th and Peachtree?

Conversation Peace was installed in Midtown on November 12, 2021, in conjunction with National Origami Day in Japan. The work is a sculptural interpretation of Rock-Paper-Scissors, a game that — along with paper — dates back to approximately 200 BC. The game became popular in the United States during the early 20th century as interaction between Asia and the west increased.

While Rock-Paper-Scissors is often used to settle lighthearted conflicts, Artist Kevin Box used these objects to symbolize conflicting forces that have found balance. In the piece, “paper” wins the game by folding itself into a crane — an international symbol of peace.

Conversation Peace is the newest Heart of the Arts installation erected on property owned by the Dewberry Capital Corporation and leased to the Midtown Alliance for $1 per year. The initiative expresses Midtown’s uniquely creative atmosphere and culture. In addition to public art installations, Heart of the Arts colors empty storefronts, fills the streets with music, and sponsors the annual Parliament of Owls parade.

Be sure to drive by the sculpture next time you visit Peidmont Periodontics Midtown Atlanta office. The work also ties into Origami in the Garden, an exhibit that opens this week at Atlanta Botanical Garden.

 

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Celebrate National Administrative Professionals’ Day

Central to any business, administrative professionals keep offices organized and efficient. At Piedmont Periodontics, we know that our practice runs smoothly thanks to the hard work of Tracey White at the front desk

Patient advocacy has always been a passion — and a worthwhile challenge — for Tracey. Born in Los Angeles, her career path was heavily influenced by her first summer job at a dental practice owned by the father of her childhood best friend.

Soon after graduation from Georgia State, Tracey accepted a job in Healthcare Administration with a local dentist. She has now worked in the field for 18 years and has experience in all administrative departments.

When away from the office, Tracey likes to travel, swim, shop, and explore the burgeoning Atlanta food scene with her family.

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2022 Dental Hygienist Appreciation Week

Dental hygienists are an integral part of any dental team and spend a lot of time with patients. In addition to cleaning teeth, hygienists

  • perform initial screenings
  • take x-rays and impressions
  • do scaling and root planning
  • place sealants
  • administer local anesthetic
  • complete dental charts

Piedmont Periodontics patients are fortunate to have one of the very best hygienists in town — Van Le. Originally from Vietnam, Van has called Atlanta home since 1996. She graduated from Georgia Perimeter College in 2006 with an Associate’s Degree in Science and Dental Hygiene.

Van understands how important good oral hygiene is to periodontal patients and has been providing unsurpassed, uncompromised care to Piedmont Periodontics’ patients for more than six years. She works with each patient to ensure that they understand maintenance procedures and that they are well equipped to continue their home treatment and follow up care.

In her free time Van enjoys spending time with family, reading a good book and listening to music.

Green Market Returns to Piedmont Park

A diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals from fresh fruit and vegetables is not only good for your body but also your dental health. Without proper nutrients, your teeth and gums are more susceptible to decay and gum disease.

High calcium foods like low-fat cheese and leafy greens provide nourishment for healthy teeth. Foods high in protein like eggs, fish, meat, and poultry can help protect the enamel on your teeth and improve bone density.

Voted one of the top five farmer’s markets in Atlanta by Access Atlanta, the Green Market in Piedmont Park provides shoppers with direct access to local farmers and small businesses. Discover local produce, bakers, jams, and artisan goods every Saturday between 9 am – 1 pm, rain or shine.

The market is located steps from our Midtown office at the 12th Street and Piedmont Avenue gate to Piedmont Park.

The Phoenix Flies Returns for 2022

Atlanta’s historic buildings and neighborhoods are an integral part of the city’s culture and economy. Every March, the Atlanta Preservation Center presents The Phoenix Flies, a collection of 100+ FREE tours of local landmarks and historic sites.

At the beginning of the 20th century notable architects were hard at work in Midtown Atlanta and neighboring Ansley Park. Take advantage of the following tours near our Midtown office:

Thursday, March 10th at 10 am
Creation of Modern Midtown: An Atlanta Walking Tour
Tour Atlanta’s first commercial district built north of Downtown. Learn about the businessmen, architects, and prominent families who drove the creation of the district.

Friday, March 11th at 10 am and 2 pm
Discover a Chateauesque Gem: The Wimbish House Tour
The Wimbish House, an eclectic French Renaissance Revival-style home, has adorned the intersection of Peachtree and 14th Street since 1906. Today the home serves as the headquarters to the Atlanta Woman’s Club.

Monday, March 14th at 11 am
Preserving a City Block
Atlanta History Center Midtown occupies nearly the entire block. In the 1920s, this block was part of the vibrant Atlanta shopping scene. Learn about the people, retail, and restaurants the street has housed over time.

Saturday, March 19 at 10am
Walkin’ Peachtree Street
Learn about the historic and modern structures that line  Atlanta’s iconic Peachtree Street from one of the oldest churches in Georgia to The High Museum to WW1 memorial sites.

Saturday, March 19th at 11 am
Tour First Church of Christ, Scientist
Built in 1913 and designed by Dougherty & Robinson, The First Church of Christ, Scientist Atlanta is an outstanding example of neo-classical or Greek revival-style architecture.

Sunday, March 20th at 2 pm
Turn of the Century Oasis: Tour Ansley Park
Tour Atlanta’s first driving suburb, developed as Atlanta’s first motorcar-oriented suburb in1904. Wide, winding streets and green parks were designed to attract Atlanta’s wealthiest and most prestigious families.

Pre-registration is required for some events. Visit The The Phoenix Flies for more information about events and registration.

 

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month

Each February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Their 2022 theme is “Sealants Make Sense.”

Sealants are a fast and easy way to protect teeth in cavity-prone areas like the molars. They are usually applied to the chewing surfaces and sometimes cover deep pits and grooves. According to Irene Hilton, D.D.S. and chair of the ADA Council on Advocacy for Access and Prevention’s advisory committee, “Sealants on permanent molars reduce the risk of cavities by 80%”

Dental sealants are not just for kids! They help healthy teeth withstand pressure regardless of age.

Celebrate Black History Month in Midtown Atlanta

In the 1920s scholar Carter G. Woodson founded a movement to celebrate Black heritage and achievements. February was named Black History Month in 1976, primarily because the second week of the month — this week! — coincides with the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Lincoln was influential in the emancipation of slaves. Douglass, a former slave, was a prominent leader of the abolitionist movement that fought to end slavery.

Home to intellectual leaders like Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, Booker T. Washington, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Atlanta has played a pivotal role in black history. All year long locals and tourists flock to historic sites like the Martin Luther King, Jr. Visitors Center, the Sweet Auburn Historic District, and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

Celebrate Black History Month this February at these special events near our Midtown Atlanta office:

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Feb 10-13 | Fox Theatre
Celebrate Artistic Director Robert Battle’s 10th anniversary season with new works, audience favorites, and beloved classics, including the timeless Revelations.

Night of Rhythm & Blues with Crissy Collins and PURE
Feb 19 at 7 pm | Center Stage Atlanta
Actress and singer Crissy Collins partners up with PURE to reach hearts through soulful and honest musical storytelling.

For the Love of Black Art 
Feb 22 from 6-8 pm | Bellyard Boutique Hotel
Head to West Midtown to enjoy incredible art from local Black artists Melissa Mitchell, Marryam Moma, Craig Singleton, Golden Aurelian and Ashley Dopson. Guests can also indulge in light bites and champagne while listening to live music.

Black Joy: A Night of Comedy with Sampson McCormick
Feb 22 at 7 pm | Mixx Atlanta
Laugh along with award winning comedian and LGBTQ icon Sampson McCormick.

Have You Brushed Your Tongue?

Your parents may have forced you to brush your teeth twice a day when you were little. Extra points if they encouraged you to floss nightly as well. But did your mom or dad ever teach you to brush your tongue?

Since you can’t get cavities there, tongues are often overlooked in oral health routines. Throughout the day bacteria accumulates in crevices allowing microorganisms to stick together on the surface of the tongue. Unfortunately, mouth rinses only destroy the outer cells of this biofilm.

Kill more bacteria in your mouth by brushing your tongue every time you brush your teeth. The steps are simple:

  • brush back and forth
  • brush side to side
  • rinse your mouth with water

Some people prefer to use a tongue scraper from their local drugstore.

Whether you are fighting bad breath or cavities, tongue brushing is an easy addition to your daily dental routine. Make it a regular habit!

Street Art in Midtown Atlanta

Midtown Atlanta is the cultural epicenter of Atlanta in addition to being home to Piedmont Periodontics. Beyond the curated museum galleries, vivid murals dot the landscape where talented local and international artists have covered everything from crosswalks to high rises.

Next time you visit our office, enjoy some of Atlanta’s best street art as you walk down 10th Street. Get your smartphone ready to capture the following:

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Stay Strong ATL @ 10th & Piedmont
Tes Arlette is a dynamic local designer often seen drinking coffee and kerning type. She is an art director by day, mural artist by night, and beekeeper in the wee hours of morning.

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Rainbow Crosswalk
@ 10th & Piedmont
Midtown’s colorful rainbow crosswalk serves as a symbol of unity and acceptance. It honors the victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting while playfully marking the area as the hub for Atlanta’s thriving LGBTQ culture.

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Kai Aspire @ 130 10th St NE
After attending L’école des Beaux Arts in Paris and the California Institute of Arts, Kai Aspire created his signature character “if” which stands for imaginary friend. “If” is a character of no color, sex or race, no physical/distinguishable traits that breaks all societal stereotypes and cultural divides.

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Trav @1021 Peachtree St NE
Los Angeles-based artist Trav explores the shifting role of the physical space as consumers are driven further into their devices. His dynamic collages pull together artifacts and inspirations from the golden era of retail and entertainment, paying homage to the stylized iconography of a bygone era.

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It’s a Living
 @130 10th St NE
“It’s a Living” is not just a statement but it is also a life philosophy for Ricardo Gonzalez, a designer and artist from Durango México currently living in Brooklyn. His signature script style can be easily recognized from large scale murals to commercial work for some of the biggest brands to a simple sticker in the streets.

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Mister E
@1029 Peachtree St NE
Miami-based Mister E is known for his creative use of rainbow-colored 100 hundred dollar bills. His goal is to bridge the gap between the 1% and the 99%.

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Greg Mike
@1029 Peachtree St NE
Born and raised in Connecticut, “Greg Mike” Mensching is known for pieces that incorporate vivid explosions of incandescent color filtered through a Surrealist Pop Art perspective. In 2015, he founded the OuterSpace Project, an event series that merges public art, live music, design, action sports and culture that has produced over 85+ murals throughout the city of Atlanta.

If you have time Midtown’s public art scene is well-worth exploring further. Follow the Atlanta Street Art Map to discover murals by well-known painters like Dr. Dax, HENSE, Yoyo Ferro and more.

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Mouthwash: An EASY New Year’s Resolution

Have you considered setting a New Year’s resolution with guaranteed success? If so, nightly rinsing with mouthwash could be just what the dentist ordered!

Mouthwash should be an essential part of your oral health routine. As little as one minute a day can protect your oral health. Simply leave a bottle next to your bathroom sink as a gentle reminder of your resolution.

Documented benefits of fluoride formulas include
1. Strengthening tooth enamel and preventing cavities
2. Freshening your breath
3. Clearing food particles missed by brushing and flossing
4. Reducing the amount of plaque on your teeth
5. Healing canker sores faster

According to a study published in the November issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association, mouth rinses can also reduce the SARS-CoV-2 viral load in saliva. The author of the study explains, “Rinsing for 60 seconds can reduce the salivary loads of SARS-CoV-2 for 45 minutes.” While there is no evidence that mouthwash actually kills the virus, pre-procedural mouthwash is now a common practice. Maintain your oral health in 2022 with a good home care routine including mouthwash, brushing, flossing, dental checkups and regular professional cleanings.

Here’s to a great year ahead — and a simple, one-minute resolution that will be easy to keep!