orthodontic office

LIVING WITH CANCER TAKES a special kind of strength; every day, you’re faced with a new set of challenges that can include anxiety, body pain, and stress, and it’s not always easy to deal with those mental and physical issues in a healthy way. You may be worried about what the future will bring, about financial concerns, or about taking care of all your responsibilities while making sure your health is still a priority. It can easily become overwhelming, so it’s important to do what you can for your mind, body, and soul every day.

Self-care can mean any number of things. It can range from eating healthy foods to taking a timeout when you’re feeling stressed. It can be something as small as sitting with a good book to something as big as taking a vacation to another state or country. The things that help you feel good, boost your mental health, and allow you to feel strong are the ones you need to focus on. Fortunately, there are things you can do to ensure that your overall health is in good shape.

Eat Well

Living with cancer often means looking for the best ways to help your body fight off illness, which means boosting your immune system as much as possible. One of the easiest ways to do this is to eat the right foods, which will help boost your strength and energy at the same time. Berries, nuts, fruit, and lean protein like turkey and fish will go a long way toward helping you feel good every day. Talk to your doctor about the best foods for your specific needs and look for ways to incorporate them into your daily diet.

Look for Exercise Alternatives

You may not be able to get as active as you want every day. Many individuals who are living with cancer have body pain or mobility issues. However, there are some ways you can exercise without sacrificing your comfort, such as stretching. Stretching exercises can help relieve tension, promote good circulation, and enhance your mood. If you need a little extra motivation to get moving, a cancer service dog can provide physical and emotional support you need. As an added bonus, the friendship of a dog is a well-known mood booster that can help fight the anxiety and depression that often accompanies an illness like cancer.

When you do work out, however, you might notice that your body hurts more afterward than it once did. As such, it’s important to incorporate rest days into your routine, regardless of your activity level. Also, many people have turned to products like CBD oil to help alleviate muscle soreness and inflammation. CBD can also help with stress and anxiety, as it often gives people a sense of euphoria not unlike a “runner’s high.” However, always talk to your doctor before adding any supplements, and search around online to learn more about all the best brands.

Meditate

Meditation can help improve your mood and ease stress, especially when it’s combined with a physical exercise like yoga. Meditation is a great way to focus on the present, which means it can help you reduce feelings of anxiety or worry, and it’s a wonderful way to be still and enjoy the moment. When you find that you need a few moments of peace and quiet, meditation can help you put all the noise aside and focus on your own needs. Look for a space in your home that will allow you to meditate without distraction.

Look For Support

Whether it’s from friends, family, a support group, or a church, look for a community who will be there to help get you through the difficult days. It can be extremely overwhelming to deal with the effects of cancer on your body, mind, and feelings, especially if you feel like you’re alone. With a little help from people who care, you can get through those difficult days with a little more comfort, and it will help boost your self-esteem at the same time.

Living with a disease like cancer can be stressful, but there are many things you can do to offset those feelings of stress. Think of the best ways to feel better that you can incorporate into your daily life, and talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise regimen. This can help you avoid injury and keep your health in focus.

Written by Scott Sanders

From all of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics, your smile is our inspiration. (925) 757-9000

TIME FLIES WHEN you're having fun. It’s hard to believe that Jolene has already spent 20 years with us at Gorczyca Orthodontics.

A Pillar Of Our Practice

It seems like just yesterday we were interviewing Jolene in our first office back on Lone Tree Way, Antioch, California. Jolene has been a backbone of Gorczyca Orthodontics for 20 years. Jolene is also a 38-year RDA veteran, having worked in pediatric dentistry before coming to orthodontics full-time.

Jolene’s excellence and experience as well as her outstanding customer service and love of her patients has made her a valuable asset to Gorczyca Orthodontics. We are thankful to Jolene for her loyalty and professionalism.
We appreciate all that she does.

Over the past 20 years, Jolene has personally trained more than 38 dental assistants who have gone on to become registered dental assistants (RDAs) in orthodontic practices all over Northern California. For her excellence and commitment to continuing education, Jolene was placed on the advisory board of Diablo Valley College, the college she once attended.

Dr. Gorczyca says “It has been a privilege to work with Jolene all of these years. Jolene is both humble and confident. She has been my right hand person for many years. She is loved by all of her patients. She is always the first to help me, a patient, or another dental assistant. She truly loves what she does, and it shows. She continues to grow and advance in her profession. She always does the right thing at Gorcyzca Orthodontics and she always follows through on every task which she undertakes. She is a true leader. We have been so fortunate to have Jolene with us 20 years at Gorczyca Orthodontics.”

Looking Forward To More Years Together!

Jolene has no intention of retiring. Neither does Dr. Gorczyca. Both plan to keep on creating beautiful smiles for as long as they can.

Thank you Jolene for all you have done for your patients and for all of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics. You are the best person we ever could ever have had for our organization. We are all so fortunate to be able to work with you for 20 years.

Gorczyca Orthodontics, 5201 Deer Valley Road, Suite 1A, Antioch, California 925-757-9000 www.clubbraces.com

MY FATHER ALWAYS ENCOURAGED ME TO WRITE A BOOK. Driving each morning for the past 17 years to my orthodontic office, I would call my father and tell him about the things we were doing at Gorczyca Orthodontics for our patients, for our community, and for our referring doctors. He loved hearing about these special things and thought other dentists would, too.

Marketing Is Very Important In The Healthcare Industry

When I was a student at Harvard School of Dental Medicine, I had the opportunity to study at Harvard School of Public Health in the Department of Health Management and Policy. There, I attended my first marketing lectures and started to understand the importance and broad-reaching effects of marketing in the healthcare industry.

I learned that marketing involves many things including case studies, comparisons, differentiation, product analysis, demographics, communities, and target audiences. Marketing is about personal preferences, branding and customer service. Marketing is the ability to move others and direct them toward what we have to offer—dentistry. This perspective is valuable to all dental professionals in the marketing of their business, the dental practice.

I Hope My Book Makes A Difference

My book It All Starts with Marketing—201 Marketing Tips for Growing a Dental Practice is a collection of ideas, experiences, and strategies I used to gain new patients and grow my orthodontic practice from scratch from the ground up. I hope that several of these tips will be helpful to its readers, especially those dentists just starting out who may need a little help, encouragement, a positive push or a “you-can-do-it” cheer to make them feel more empowered to persevere.

I hope this book is also useful to those who have been in practice for several years—those who are looking for a few new ideas to help make their patients feel special, their team more engaged, and their dental office just a little more fun.

My Dad Encouraged Me

My father was the most positive, loving, and optimistic person I have ever met. He was so looking forward to the release of this first book. I received the first final printed copy on July 30, 2013. I lost my dad two days earlier.

Ultimately, we all encourage ourselves. For me personally, this book will not only be the story of marketing at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California, but also a reflection of the beautiful memories of the morning phone conversations I would have with my dad.

“To my father, Fryderyk, who always encouraged me to write a book.”

About The Author

Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca is a Clinical Adjunct Professor of Orthodontics at the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, University of the Pacific, where she speaks on practice management topics including marketing, teamwork, treatment coordination, customer service, management systems, and human resource management. She was a marketing speaker at the 2011, 2012, and 2014 American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) Annual Sessions. Formerly a faculty member at UCSF School of Dentistry, she has received teaching awards from UCSF and University of the Pacific Dental Schools.

“ONCE YOU’RE DONE with your orthodontic treatment, all you can do is smile! Smiling is contagious and I love helping our patients achieve a beautiful smile.”

I Love Watching Smile Transformations

“As the records coordinator at Gorczyca Orthodontics, I start the orthodontic process with the initial photos and diagnostic records. It's amazing to see a smile transform through orthodontic treatment start to finish. Not only do I see teeth getting straighter, I also see dental arches getting broader, teeth getting whiter, bites becoming healthier, hygiene improvements, and profiles becoming more esthetic, while patients smile more and become happier!”

It’s My Pleasure Getting To Know Our Patients

“As time goes on during the orthodontic process, I also see our patients open up with their feelings and personality showing through. It is my pleasure to serve and get to know every one of my patients on a personal level. I love helping them gain the confidence that a new, beautiful smile can give them.”

No Matter The Treatment, We’re Here For You

“Whether it’s braces, Invisalign, or retainers, I am here to take the initial orthodontic records of impressions, photos, panoramic and lateral cephalometric images, and organize and digitize the findings. I take the final records as well, and help our patients achieve a beautiful smile each and every step along the way!”

“It is my pleasure to serve you. Your smile truly is my inspiration!”

-Katie, RDA, Records Coordinator at Gorczyca Orthodontics

Gorczyca Orthodontics, 5201 Deer Valley Road, Suite A, Antioch, California (925)757-9000 www.clubbraces.com

“WHEN I AM ASKED what I love most about my work, my answer is always the patients. They are what keeps me coming to work each day. I love calling each of them by name, and knowing each one of them individually, their likes and dislikes, their children, spouses, and their activities and vacations, are all of interest to me.”

I Love Going The Extra Mile For Our Patients

“I love going out of my way to do nice things for our patients. Whether it's sending a thank you note, decorating the office, calling to ask how they are, or scheduling an appointment for them in another dental or specialty office, it is always my pleasure to serve the patient and their family in any way that I can. I am thankful that I am able to do this at Gorczyca Orthodontics.”

“I also love training new dental assistants. Several of these young assistants have kept in touch with me when no they were longer at our office. Some of them even call me their second mother! I never planned that things would be this way but being part of dental education has been an important part of my life and career in dentistry. I presently serve on the board of the dental assisting department at the local college, which I attended for my own dental assistant training over 38 years ago!”

I Am At Your Service!

“This has been my personal journey of service to my patients, my teammates, Dr. Gorczyca, our community and the dental profession. It has been a fun trip and I am very thankful for my career in dentistry.”

-Jolene at Gorczyca Orthodontics

Find us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000.

“I HAVE A VERY important job at Gorczyca Orthodontics, Office Cleanliness Coordinator. This is an important aspect of dental assisting teamwork since no one should leave things in the office for someone else on the team to clean. Patients must never see an untidy office.”

Office Cleanliness Is Incredibly Important

“Having a special office clean-up day gives everyone in the office a chance to get organized, get caught up, and get cleaned up. Office cleanliness needs continuous time and attention.”

I Love Working In Our Office

“I love working in the orthodontic office and working in dentistry. Besides making the office sparkle, and assisting the doctor with orthodontic patients, my job duties also include sterilization, lab duties, and clear retainer and mouthguard fabrication.”

“Office preparedness is everyone's responsibility. Being the OCC at Gorczyca Orthodontics and working as an orthodontic dental assistant, and lab and maintenance coordinator is perfect for me!”

-Patti

Gorczyca Orthodontics, 5201 Deer Valley Road, Suite 1A, Antioch, CA www.clubbraces.com

“MY FRIENDS TOLD ME I would LOVE dental assisting. They were right, I do!”

“I enjoy the fast pace of the orthodontic office. As an orthodontic assistant at Gorczyca Orthodontics, I have my own chair, my own schedule, and ownership of my patient's experience.”

I Love Getting To Know Our Patients

“As I seat my orthodontic patient and get them prepared to see Dr. Gorczyca, my patient and I have the opportunity for small talk and getting to know each other on a personal level. After one to two years of bi-monthly visits, we usually know each other very well. We have built a relationship. Getting to know my patients and their families is my favorite part of my job.”

“Everyone on our team at Gorczyca Orthodontics is very welcoming. We are aligned to give the best patient experience possible. Patient happiness is what our orthodontic office is all about.”

In Our Practice, We Work As A Team

“I also enjoy being part of the outstanding team of customer service leaders. Our team is very close. Every team member helps the others out. No one works alone or has an unfair work burden. We're a team working together.”

“Clinical excellence, outstanding customer service, and a great patient experience are our individual and team core values. We use these to stay focused and always put the patient first in our daily clinical and office decisions.”

“Orthodontics is fascinating. We change lives by creating beautiful smiles. Our patients’ smiles and happiness truly are our inspiration.”

-Gwen at Gorczyca Orthodontics

Gorczyca Orthodontics, 5201 Deer Valley Road, Suite 1A, Antioch, CA (925) 757-9000 www.clubbraces.com