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30 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • Stories of Strength - One Year Stronger Building Community Strength Through Smiles As our country and community heals from the COVID-19 pandemic, the turn of the new year is a great time to look back on how our local heroes have held strong and stuck it out during an uncertain time, coming out stronger and kinder than ever. At this time in 2021, the Fredericksburg Orthodontics team was still wondering where the year would take us. After temporarily shutting our doors in March just before celebrating our 15 year anniversary and reopening in May with a series of restrictions and policies put in place to protect our team and patients, no one could say what new changes 2021 would bring. We committed ourselves to remaining vigilant over new information regarding the pandemic, strengthened our spirits, and waited to see what the new year would bring. Now, as we put 2021 behind us and look ahead once again into the new year, we're overjoyed to leave behind a year of challenge, yes, but also joy, love, light and hard work. As an orthodontic practice that works closely with patients to help them transform their smiles, navigating the long process of recovering as a community from COVID- 19 is and was a constant task. In 2021 and onward into 2022, our team has worked tirelessly to return to a sense of normalcy while always paying close attention to the needs and safety of our patients and community. With variants, vaccines and vari- ables galore, we remained true to our passion and purpose of serving our community by remaining flexible and keeping our patients informed of any and all changes to our policies on social media and in the office. We began using pagers to assist with the appointment process, allowing patients to wait comfortably in their cars before their appointment. Additionally, we've started using treatment communication cards to streamline the process and make the orth- odontic treatment process safer and smoother than ever before. Fredericksburg Orthodontics Sponsored Material Our amazing team has been a blessing as we shifted around policies, strate- gies and future plans. We always know our team will stand behind us and the Fredericksburg community, working in the best interests of our patients and their families simply because of their pure hearts and true pas- sion for service. Similarly, we've received so much love and support from our patients who stuck with us through all these changes, rallying with us and granting us their patience and grace. Through all the trials of 2021, a true highlight has been the strength we have drawn from each other and the love and support of our community. We still don't know what 2022 will bring for us as a team and as a community, but with so many beautiful hearts and minds by our side, we look forward into this new year with excitement and the knowledge that the Fredericksburg Orthodontic team and our entire Fredericksburg community has the strength to tackle all the joys and challenges thrown our way. Visit fredericksburgorthodontics.com to learn more. How This Local Orthodontic Practice is Stronger Than Ever In The New Year