A Child Life Zone is a state-of-the-art, therapeutic play area inside a hospital where pediatric patients and their families can play, learn, laugh, and relax. A sanctuary. A place to learn. A hang-out. A game center. A place to be the star of your own show. A place to connect. A place where a kid can be a kid.

Each zone is staffed by child life specialists, certified professionals who help children and their families cope with difficult medical challenges through play, education, and self-expression. Child life specialists teach patients about their illness and what to expect during treatment, and they provide support to patients and their families before, during, and after procedures.

Erin Mastro, Lori Lorence, Chad Boger, and Missy Merges were in attendance at this event.  The highlights were many during this fantastic night.  Garth Brooks sang and told stories to the audience for close to 2 hours, plus his lovely wife Trisha Yearwood joined in a couple of duets and one solo performance.  We all had the opportunity to personally meet, talk and take a photo with Garth and Trisha.  We all look forward to receiving those pictures soon as Missy already has  a photo frame for Garth on her desk!

If you would like more information on this wonderful foundation please visit www.teammatesforkids.com/zone

Touching Lives Through Smiles

Last weekend, the Boger Dental team joined the efforts of hundreds of volunteers from around the state to host Minnesota’s first Missions of Mercy. The purpose of the two-day event was to help meet the need in our state for adequate access to dental care for children and adults who are uninsured, underinsured and not able to obtain dental treatment. The massive temporary dental clinic was to constructed at the Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato, MN. Together MnMOM provided $1,344,886-worth of free dental care, including cleanings, fillings, extractions and partial dentures, to 2,062 adults and children.

“The need is great and it’s a privilege to give back,” said Robyn Theisen, Boger Dental’s Operations Manager and one of the lead volunteers for this event. Boger Dental was pleased to be able to to have 14 members of their team there to help provide care. Not only is it a blessing to those you serve, but the reward is great for the volunteers too.

This event is the culmination of more than two years of planning by Minnesota dentists who are concerned about the growing number of adults and children not receiving proper care. The Minnesota Dental Foundation has raised more than $315,000 in donations to cover the costs of the event. Major sponsors included Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation, Walmart Foundation, Patterson Foundation and Mankato Clinic Foundation. Next year, the event is planned to take place in Bemidji, MN. To learn more or to volunteer, go to mndental.org/mnmom.

Happy Birthday Missy!

If you have ever been to Boger Dental in Plymouth, then you most certainly have met Missy Merges and any negative feelings you may have once had about going to the dentist are gone forever.

This summer marks the 20th anniversary of when Missy joined the Boger Dental team and she wears many hats at the dental office, from Clinical Team Lead to Treatment Coordinator for cosmetic and reconstructive dentistry cases to Orthodontic Assistant to Dr. Chad. When Missy came on board back in 1992, she quickly became an irreplaceable member of Dr. Steve Boger’s core team. And now, through two decades of change, transition and growth, it’s in large part because of Missy’s talents, commitment and infectious personality that Boger Dental has been able to maintain it’s role as a leader in the Twin Cities dental community, deliver ever-evolving state-of-art dental care and maintain five-star, patient-centered care in a relaxing and even enjoyable atmosphere.

Happy Birthday, Missy! Thank you for all that you bring to the Boger Dental community and for the unparalleled care you offer our patient community. We wish you a great day. You deserve it!

Plymouth, MN is a wonderful place to live: award-winning schools, a variety of restaurants and shopping, beautiful public parks…and easy accessibility to great health care options. Plymouth Patch.com is conducting a poll and asking Plymouth-area residents to share your opinions about your favorite stores and services.

Of course, we were pleased to learn that Boger Dental had been nominated along with four other Plymouth-area dentists for the category of Patch Readers’ Choice Best Dentist in Plymouth! The Minneapolis area is blessed to have many good dentists you can choose from. For over 35 years, Boger Dental has been working hard to serve Twin Cities families with top-notch dental care and personalized service.

So, if Boger Dental is the dental provider you have chosen for your family, thank you! We are grateful that you have entrusted us to serve your dental needs. We’d sincerely appreciate it if you’d take a minute to go to the Plymouth Patch website by clicking the button and vote for Boger Dental as the dental choice for your family! (Thanks so much for your support!) Please vote today! The winners will be announced after August 17 on Patch.com.

The highlight of the night was the tour of the facility. We had been there a few times before, but we were suprised at the thought and care that has gone into creating this refuge for families in crisis during their child’s life-threatening illness.

Did you know?:

• Its 48 rooms are occupied more than 95% of the time. gth of stay for non-transplant families is 20 nights.
• Volunteers come throughout the week to provide dinner and other meals
• There is a one-room school on-site for siblings and patients
• Families can unwind in the arcade game room, in the movie room or at the fitness center
• There is a scrapbooking room with donated supplies for making banners for their child in the hospital or to make cards to send home
• Then there’s Jerry, the furry Labradoodle who makes everyone feel welcome and at home

It is a wonderful cause that benefits many deserving and grateful families. Another way to support the house is coming up on Thursday, August 2nd. Join members of the Boger Dental team for the Third Annual Brew Love event to benefit the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile! Enjoy beer samples from a variety of breweries for only $25 or add to the experience and sample appetizers created to pair nicely with a select number of beers for $50. We hope to see you there! To register, click here.

Location:
Metropolitan Club
Target Field
Minneapolis (Map)

If you have questions, fee free to contact our office!

Yesterday was our beloved Mariann’s birthday. You surely recognize Mariann by her smile and graceful style. She is appreciated by many for her cheery, optimistic personality, how she is always willing to lend a hand, and her sincere concern for each patient who comes through our doors and entrusts us with their dental care. Please help us celebrate by posting your reply on our Boger Dental Facebook page to this question:

“What is something that YOU appreciate about Mariann?”

Please CLICK HERE to post your reply.

Michelle grew up in Virginia Beach, VA and received a BS and MS degree in Dental Hygiene from Old Dominion University. In addition to being a practicing dental hygienist at Boger Dental, Michelle she is an educator. She has been on the teaching staff at Old Dominion University, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry since 1995. She enjoys the challenge of working with students, as well as research publications. Michelle has authored several dental health research papers as well as dental hygiene texts. Michelle has also serve countless hours as President of the Minnesota Dental Hygienists’ Association. She spends her free time working out, being outdoors, traveling and being with her dog, Simone.

“My experience with Michelle to day was wonderful. Makes getting your teeth cleaned an enjoyable and pleasant experience.”
 (5 stars) by Paulette on 04/17/2012

“Michelle does a great job.Great at explaining what is going on and why.”
 (5 stars) by joew on 09/22/2011

“Michelle is fantastic. We love her! She makes going to the dentist something our family looks forward to doing.”
 (5 stars) by ranaew on 01/14/2011

Tiger Oaks Publishing hosted a “Best of Plymouth &  Maple Grove” this past Tuesday night to reveal the results of surveys conducted respectively by Plymouth Magazine and Maple Grove Magazine. It was a beautiful night out at Rush Creek Golf Club with a silent auction to benefit two worthy organizations that serve our communities, Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners and CROSS Food Shelf.

It was also a special night for Boger Dental because our own Dr. Chad Boger was recognized as Best Dentist by the readers of Plymouth Magazine. Here is what the magazine had to say…

BEST DENTIST | Dr. Chad Boger, Boger Dental

“Nothing is quite the same as a family-owned and operated business, and that’s definately true in the case of our top doc in the dental field, Chad Boger, D.D.S. His dad Steve founded the business 35 years ago, and the company’s approach is one of open communication, respect and friendliness inside and outside the office (cases in point: morning huddles, continuing education ops and group get aways). Chad joined the team in 2002 after graduating from the University of Minnesota’s prestigious dental program.”

Congratulations, Dr. Chad!

Congratulations to Becca and her new husband, Tyler!

Becca is one of our fantastic Treatment Coordinators here at Boger Dental. If you have come to our office for either a dental implants consultation, you’ve likely met with Becca. You may also recognize her as she’s often seen in school classrooms around the Plymouth, MN area as our Boger Dental Tooth Fairy. Becca and Erin Mastro, our Dental Hygiene Team Lead, have visited more than 40 classrooms bringing a fun and engaging spirit to the message of dental health care to 1,000+ kids in our Minneapolis community. (Take a moment to visit our Google+ page to see fun photos of their visits!)

We appreciate Becca’s loyalty to our dental team and the high level of professional care she offers our patient community. She has a true gift for relating to patients and helping them to feel comfortable in our care. We wish Becca and Tyler all the best in their years ahead together!

Congratulations, Becca and Tyler!