HELLOO. I'm Lily Lo (not Russell Oliver..) Welcome to my annual Xmas Newsletter, which has become a Christmas tradition for me to send to my patients since 1996(!??) Actually, it doesn't matter when, because it is still a joy for me to write the letter with every passing year. Speaking of which, 2010 marks two decades since I graduated from dental school at the University of Toronto in 1990, which probably qualifies me as being "experienced", but hopefully not "burned-out". Thankfully, I still enjoy my job, and by taking many continuing education courses, I strive to improve my techniques, my equipment and skills in order to give patients the best dental care possible. The same philosophy goes for my dental associates, Dr. Adriana Cesnik and Dr. Sook Yee Chan, who most of you have met already.

Important news: In the interest of our "Going Green" campaign to save paper and to eliminate waste, I will be sending out all future newsletters and Christmas cards exclusively by email as of next year, 2011. If you have an email address with us on file, you will receive our Summer and Xmas newsletters automatically. As well, you will have the added convenience of receiving e-reminders for upcoming appointments, special promotions, etc. If you do not have an email address, we will continue to keep in touch with you via phone or by mail. However, as of next December, we will mail out a Christmas card to you only if you request us to do so. Of course, my newsletter will be available on my website at www.smilestoronto.com.

OK, I will now update you on my new dental office in Richmond Hill, which is an extension of my main office at Lawrence. 16th Avenue Dental & Laser Spa has been open for almost a year, and let me tell you, it has not been easy. When I first opened the Lawrence Ave dental clinic almost 18 years ago, I was quite busy within one year, without much advertising by way of flyers. Not so nowadays...especially in Richmond Hill. There are new plazas going up like weeds, with a dentist in each one. However, I am optimistic about 16th Avenue Dental, as it is situated conveniently near the Buttonville Airport, which will be converted to new commercial and residential developments in the near future (before my retirement, I hope). Your referrals are very welcomed to either one of my dental offices, and I thank you for your confidence in our dental care!

Anyway, let's move on to some news of my family.. Kaitlyn, my daughter of almost 17 years old (yes, believe it) who is now taller than me by 1.3 inches, is a wonderful teen who has learned to drive the family car, and use a credit card. She can type essays swiftly using solely her right hand on the computer keyboard (you should see this). Simultaneously, she can text messages to a friend on her Blackberry with her left hand, while watching pirated DVD movies.

With regards to boyfriends, I don't think that she has one as yet. In fact, I asked her the other day "So how's 'everything', Katie?" She knew what I was hinting at because she responded, "Well, it's really boring right now, but it's busy, hectic, and crazy at school (she shakes her head). I'm just taking it one day at a time." Wow. That's my answer to the same question posed to me by my patients, and I'm a working adult, married with kids and have an outstanding line of credit! It goes to show that our teens do face a lot of pressure, and they need our support and understanding to guide them to become self-sufficient, confident adults. I believe that Katie has a good, mature head on her shoulders (never mind that she still talks to her teddy bears and knits them scarves). Currently, she is in the process of deciding which university she would like to attend next year, but she has not committed to being either a dentist or doctor, or anything else. Instinct tells me not to push her too hard. Daddy would like her to study medicine, but my advice is, "Be happy, healthy, and be passionate in what you do!" Just like me!

Tyler, my 13-year old son, whom I've come to know better as he matures, is more like me that I thought possible. Here are some reasons: First, he is extremely diligent with his school homework and I never have to nag him to do it. Actually, I was a good procrastinator but I always got the work done on time. Second, he is diligent about practicing his trumpet and he sounds pretty good now (I don't have to use my earplugs anymore). The night before the school Christmas concert, Tyler says to me "We sound really bad, Mommy don't bother coming". So I said, "Shouldn't you be practicing then?" He shrugged and replied, "I don't want to tire out my lips for tomorrow." Is that possible? Lip fatigue? No comment. Third, Tyler gets really down and worried when he gets a "bad" mark at school, like the time he got a 79% in an English assignment. I agree I hate that crushing, tear-jerking feeling you get when you don't live up to your own expectations, but I told Tyler that he has to forget about it and be determined to do better in the future. Be strong. That's what I used to tell myself and still do (like when I'm playing bad tennis). My daughter, in contrast, would just roll her eyes and say, "It's OK not to be perfect, Mom!"

Thanks to all of you who have expressed an interest and good wishes for my family, it is greatly appreciated and I feel truly blessed. After all these years as your dentist, I, too, have grown to know your family. It has been so rewarding (and somewhat scary) seeing some of the kids in my practice grow-up to become adults and ultimately, parents themselves.

Moving on to Staff and office news:

I am happy to announce that my assistant, Arceli gave birth to her third boy last Oct. Both she and baby Aryan are doing well and will be back from maternity leave in February. As well, our receptionist Katrina is still away on mat- leave looking after her second baby boy, Liam and she will return around March.

As replacements, Maria is our new dental assistant, and Elena has taken on some part-time receptionist duties. Maria is a quiet, silently efficient type of person, but she is very approachable. Elena has been working for us in the 2nd floor medi-spa for over 2 years, so she is a familiar face. We are cross-training her in the dental clinic because she is a smart cookie, having just completed a science degree at York U.

Dr. Adriana Cesnik, my full-time associate, has just moved into a lovely new home that she and her husband, Jude, built with their own bare hands (I'm sure it feels that way to them). After they sold their previous home, they had to give up their pet dog and live temporarily in a tiny 620 sq. ft. apartment for a few months. Adriana says that she is never going to move anywhere else for the rest of her life, but we'll see.

Dr. David Zins and Dr. Sook Yee Chan are my part-time associates to cover some of the days that I am at 16th Avenue Dental. If you haven't met them yet, you probably will in the future.

Our complete oral exam program to update patient charts is still ongoing for those of you who have been my patients for over 5 years and have not had a full check-up or recent X-rays. It is the standard of care to have this exam and full mouth X-rays done every 5 years to detect dental disease early, and to maintain excellent oral health. I thank all of you who have participated in this exam, and I hope that you liked our gift of the Breath Rx Tongue Cleaner kit. It is a great mouth rinse which I use daily to promote fresh breath and especially for those occasional garlic-infused dinners.

As for the MD Laser Skin Clinic Spa , which was opened by me and my husband Dr. Ken Lam in 2005- it has survived the ups and down of the recent slow economy. I thank you for your referrals and patronage and I hope that we will see strong growth in 2011. As I did for orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry, I have pursued extra training and education in aesthetic medicine, and both Dr. Lam and I are experienced Botox injectors. Dana is our excellent laser medical aesthetician at the spa. We are excited to offer not only Laser Hair Removal, but a variety of anti-aging facial treatments and advanced skin care products to help you look your best. This past October, our Super Special Filler Day offering big savings in Juvederm filler and Botox was a hit. These simple, non-surgical procedures have become a mainstream for maintaining a youthful, energetic look. There are no better treatments for getting rid of early facials lines and wrinkles than the use of Botox and fillers conservatively. I encourage you to book a consultation with our clinic to see if it's right for you.

Also, a new and exciting product we are offering through MD Laser is the introduction of Latisse, an amazing eyelash growth-enhancing topical solution that has previously been available only in the US, but is now approved for sale in Canada. If you would like your lashes to grow longer naturally, please call Dana to find out more about Latisse. It is a prescription product that is sold only by cosmetic physicians (not at Shopper's Drug Mart). I have tried it for 6 weeks now and take it from someone who almost has almost no eyelashes, I can see a difference! I want to be a camel.

And now, it is time for the annual STAFF Question Survey, which is a fun way for you to get to know some the hygienists and dental staff a bit better. The question this year is:

If you had to choose another FIRST NAME for yourself, what would it be, and why? Here's what some of my staff had to say: (see my comments in italics)

Karen (Office manager): "I like the name Victoria because it sounds regal, beautiful and powerful. Yes, Victoria Amber Jasmine Yun, that's me." (Karen has read too many Harlequin romances.)

Nancy (Reception): "I would name myself Julisa, because it's not too common, and I'm not too common either."

Evelyn (Appt coordinator): "I like the name Ivory because it is 98 percent pure, just like me!" (Just what do you mean, Evelyn? wink wink)

Maria (new assistant): "I really like the name Angelica..it is angelic and unique." (Stay away from Evelyn, Maria!)

Elena (Spa/Dental reception): "I would pick the name Violet because it symbolizes elegance, simplicity, integrity, truthfulness- all the qualities I strive for."

Katrina (Reception): "I would name myself Autumn because it is my favourite season, not too hot, or too cold. Also I love the colours of autumn leaves."

Natalina (Hygienist): "I just love the name Diana, as in Princess Diana. I just loved everything about her".

Roshana (Hygienist): "I like the name Nilofar (name of a flower). I don't care if it suits me or not, I just like that name." (Now that's a name I would label unique..)

Cynthia (Hygienist): "I would like to be named Cinderella. Apparently, I've been told that I have 'princess-like' tendencies.

Dana (Medical aesthetician): "I never liked my full birth name, which is Danuta, meaning "gift of God", because it was too popular in my country. Every other girl was named Danuta, and sometimes, kids would tease me and call me Hanuta (which is a chocolate desert). I hated that. So I always wanted to be named after my grandmother, Emilia. I think Emilia is a wonderful name, like my grandma." (Oh my, someone get me a Kleenex, sniff!)

Sandy (Hygienist): "I would name myself Mellissa because it is Greek for "honey bee", and I'm sooooo sweet...ha ha!"

Dr. Sook Yee Chan: "I would not change my name for a million bucks. It is unique, and sounds sweet and cute too!" (Sandy and Sook Yee are Sweeties..)

Joanne (Hygienist): "I would like my name changed to Oprah. I would also like to be a billionaire, own my own production company and do whatever I feel like."

Dr. Adriana Cesnik: "I could see myself being called Angelina.. living a life of luxury, being a goodwill ambassador, travelling the globe with my good-looking hubby and 6 kids.." (Joanne and Adriana should get together..)

Dr. Kenneth Lam : "I would like to be named Raoust..pronounced "Rrroast". Yes I would enjoy seeing people's expression when they say my full name." (I have no comment..Ken's too wacky for me..)

Lily Lo: "Well, I went through most of my childhood life hearing my name pronounced as "Lee-Lee- Lo", because I lived in Hong Kong before I immigrated to Canada. Also, every other Chinese girl was named Lily, too. Then I had to constantly tell people to spell it with one "L", not two, or with a "y", not an "I". It was tiring. Then there was that Arthur Murray waltz that sang "Hi Lily, Hi Lily, Hi Low!", and my old school teachers would be singing it in the class. (Dana, pass me the Kleenex) Now, I've finally grown to like my name, but I prefer to be called Debbie. You can't go wrong with Debbie, and every Debbie I know is attractive, popular and fun. (Yes, all you Deb's, you know you are!)

So now you have some ideas to name your next child, or your next pet.

Well, that's all for now! I hope that this edition of the Xmas Newsletter 2010 has been entertaining, if a bit too long, for you to read. I wish you all peace and joy through the holiday season, good health and prosperity in 2011!

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!                                                                                                                                    From the entire staff and myself, Dr. Lily Lo.









Happy Holidays and Cheers from Dr. Lam, Dr. Lo, Kaitlyn and Tyler!