Gracious Giving

By Amy Morgan

The professionals at 7to7 Dental & Orthodontics believe in sharing their love with the community that’s supported them for the past 15 years. Sometimes the best way to show you care is to give someone a gift they desperately need. With budgets stretched thin, many cannot afford the dental care that will keep them healthy. 7to7 Dental recognized this problem ten years ago and determined to devote an entire day in February to provide free dental care for those who would otherwise not be able to afford it. “Over the years we would treat patients with needs as the ability rose, but it felt catch as catch can. We decided it would be good to set aside a day to serve in a more mindful way,” said practice Co-Owner Tiffany Winburn, D.M.D.

This will be the 10th year 7to7 Dental’s now 262 doctors and staff will offer Dental Hope. Saturday, February 18, the first 175 people at the practice’s Northwest location at 10103 W. Loop 1604 are guaranteed to receive free cleanings, fillings and/or extractions, depending on their needs, said 7to7 Dental’s Director of Marketing Travis DeZuba.

People will begin lining up before dawn to ensure their slot for treatment. Many depend on the day for their cleaning of the year. By the end of the day, 7to7 Dental’s professionals will perform hundreds of dental procedures on patients continually rotating through the office’s 23 chairs. “It’s our favorite day each year as we help those without access to dental care be able to smile again,” Travis said. “Most simply cannot afford the extractions or fillings needed to get them out of pain.”

“It is pretty much an all-hands-on-deck event,” Dr. Winburn confirmed. “Our dentists and hygienists are seeing as many patients as they can, non-clinical staff help process the paperwork, direct traffic and change rooms. Friends and family stop by. All told – we’ll have more than 200 people volunteering that day.”

7to7 Dental has recruited professional peers, dental supply companies and local businesses to donate goods and time to allow them to give every patient what they need. 2023 sponsors include Darby Dental Supply, Mia’s Mexican Grill, DJ Stash, Summer Moon Coffee, Halftime Convenience Stores, Bilia Eatery, HiDefComm, Monarch Trophy Studio, Sunbit, CareCredit, Little Caesars, ASC Promotions, Colgate, & Nestle. DJ Stash will spin the tunes to make sure everyone in line is having a good time while they wait, Travis added.

Travis remembers one patient who literally slept in her car in front of the office all night several years ago so she could be the first in line for Dental Hope. She had been in great pain with a toothache, but she couldn’t afford the dental treatment. She ended up needing an extraction, which relieved the problem. She was so pleased to be out of pain that she hugged everyone repeatedly as she left, thanking them again and again for helping her.

Dental Hope could not take place without the help of partners and supporters from the community, Travis said. Check 7to7 Dental’s website and social media pages to find shout-outs and thanks to all whose contributions make Dental Hope possible. “Dental Hope strikes a chord in our hearts,” Dr. Winburn said. “We love what we do and love helping people. The thing I like best about Dental Hope is that it takes away all the barriers like finances and paperwork that are the most frustrating and allows us to just help people.”

The professionals at 7to7 Dental & Orthodontics care about your oral health and are available 7 a.m.- 7 p.m., seven days a week, for dentistry for the whole family and emergencies. 7to7 Dental is a local business grown in 15 years from the practice of one dentist and six staff, which now employs 262 San Antonio community members. Co-Owners Dr. Winburn and Justin Coke live in Stone Oak with their families and are part of the community.

By Amy Morgan

While chocolates and flowers can be romantic, this February, give the best gift to your Valentine – yourself! In honor of National Heart Health Awareness month, brush up on the signs and symptoms of physical heart problems so you know what to do should you or a loved one experience a cardiac emergency.

Cardiac arrest is defined as when the heart stops beating – a life-ending condition that can be caused by a heart attack or brought on by arrhythmia, also known as an abnormal heartbeat. Any heart related symptom – chest pain, shortness of breath, chest pressure, heart palpitation or a sudden collapse – is reason to be evaluated, said Zack Baum, M.D., Medical Director of Physicians Premier free-standing emergency room. In 2017, Dr. Baum, along with colleagues including founder Lonnie Schwirtlich, M.D., opened Physicians Premier near the HEB Plus, just west of Highway 281 on Highway 46.

Seconds count when treating a cardiac emergency, Dr. Baum said. Tissue deprived of oxygen dies. The faster you can start CPR or get an AED and initiate those treatments, the higher the chances of survival and good outcome. Speedy diagnosis and treatment in the ER are vital not only to prevent death, but also to allow for the best chance of recovery and avoid serious disability, he said.

Signs of heart attack vary greatly, even between men and women, Dr. Baum said. Chest pain described as pressure, heaviness, “somebody sitting on their chest,” is a hallmark. Women may experience pain that radiates to their shoulder or jaw or gastrointestinal pain. If experiencing symptoms, Dr. Baum advises to take an aspirin, which has been clinically proven effective in reducing tissue damage in case of heart attack or stroke and seek medical attention immediately. Call 911 or have someone drive the patient to the nearest emergency room, he said.

Trained emergency room personnel including boardcertified physicians are on premises at Physicians Premier to provide the care you need in a timely manner. Don’t delay or worry you’re being over cautious by going in.

“You only have a certain window of time to save the heart muscle,” Dr. Baum said. “I tell patients to come in and leave the weight of the decision making to me. I get to use the tests and machinery to tell me if your symptoms are serious or not. (Physicians Premier is completely outfitted with diagnostic equipment including lab, X-Ray, and EKG to provide its professionals with the tools they need to determine the nature of a medical problem.)

“Put the onus on me and let me decide – that’s what I’m trained to do,” he added.

Physicians Premier is staffed by board-certified emergency room doctors, unlike many urgent care facilities. Nurses with years of emergency training will immediately triage each arrival. Physicians Premier offers all the capabilities of a hospital emergency room locally, without the wait or the crowd. Know the signs of heart problems so you can act quickly to alleviate organ damage and celebrate many more years with your Valentine.