We gathered a panel of local experts to tackle your most commonly asked questions about lice, automobile buying, eyecare, new home communities, painting, and orthodontics. From common misconceptions to expert tips, they’ve got the answers—read on to find out what they had to say.
Joe West
Owner, Lice Clinics of America - Williamson County
LiceClinicsOfAmerica.com/nashville
What do I have to do to my house to get rid of lice?
-Simply throw your sheets, blankets, and pillow cases you slept on last night in the dryer for about 20 minutes.
-Put hair brushes used in the past 24 hours in the freezer for 3 hours. This will kill the lice without damaging your brushes.
The internet has plenty of myths to scare you into essentially bombing your house, but it simply isn't true or necessary.
Only certain people or hair types get lice.
False. They will happily make themselves at home in anyone's hair: clean, dirty, dry, oily, long, short, straight. The only person exempt from getting lice is someone who is completely bald.
How can I prevent lice from happening?
It's impossible to completely prevent it, but a few simple ways to reduce your risk include:
- Strong smells. Tea Tree oil, perfumes, hairsprays, and even cinnamon and peppermint are not attractive to lice.
-Wear your hair up and tight. Lice move by using their legs to crawl on two hair strands at a time.
-Lay off the selfies! Putting your heads together to take a selfie is just enough time for lice to crawl from one head to another.
Patrick W. Robertson
Assistant General Manager, Ford of Columbia and Hyundai of Columbia
HyundaiOfColumbia.com
Is that your best price?
In today's fast-paced car market, informed buyers recognize the value of a transparent, upfront pricing model. With abundant online resources, it is crucial to choose a dealership that clearly presents its best offer upfront, without hidden fees or last-minute negotiations. At Ford of Columbia and Hyundai of Columbia, our pricing is based on real-time market conditions, current supply and demand, sales velocity, and the age of our inventory. This approach ensures that every vehicle is competitively priced and adjusted (re-priced) to align with market changes. We also have a non-commissioned sales team that is paid based on how many cars they sell, not how much they can sell them for. This practice ensures that the sales professional you work with focuses solely on finding a vehicle that fits your needs and budget. Choosing a dealer who operates this way means you can expect a fair, straightforward, and customer-centric car buying experience.
Rob Szeliga, OD
Founder & Owner, Spring Hill Eyecare
SpringHillEyecare.com
Why should I get a comprehensive eye examination every year?
Your eyes are more than just windows to the world. They’re also windows to your overall health. Annual comprehensive eye exams are essential, even if you already see clearly. Unlike a toothache, many eye diseases, like glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration, develop silently without symptoms until significant damage has occurred. Early detection through an eye exam can help preserve vision and prevent blindness.
In addition to monitoring eye health, a comprehensive eye exam can detect over 270 systemic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and even neurological disorders by examining the retina, blood vessels, optic nerve, and other eye structures. Children benefit from yearly exams, as undiagnosed vision problems can hinder learning and development.
Unlike simple vision screenings, a comprehensive exam assesses the entire eye, including retinal health, eye muscle function, and potential prescription changes.
Jenna Cowart
Franklin REALTORS / RG Custom Homes
RGCustomHomesTN.com
What is a mixed-use community?
Mixed-use communities offer residents the opportunity to live around various retail, restaurants/food, and amenities. Fountain View, specifically, is a 96-acre walkable property that encompasses 126 single-family homes and will offer approximately 70k square feet of retail space. This can be anything from a taco shop, ice cream shop, dentist office, clothing boutique, etc. There will be an entertainment complex featuring pickleball courts and more. For the residential homes, the amenities will include a neighborhood pool, two pickleball courts, a dog park, and a playground.
What is great about living in Thompson’s Station?
Thompson’s Station still offers a small-town, country feel, yet is still close to everything you need. Easy access to shopping in Cool Springs (12 minutes north), Historic Downtown Franklin (10 miles north), Downtown Nashville (30 minutes north) and a beautiful drive on Natchez Trace is only a few miles away. Small parks and trails offer all residents options to experience the outdoors and stay close to home.
Dylan Ritter
Owner, CertaPro Painters of Nashville and Middle TN
NashvilleSouth.Certapro.com
How do we maintain a thriving culture with our team, vendors, and customers?
We find the "why" with every person we encounter. Maintaining a thriving culture with businesses, vendors, and employees is all about building trust, fostering collaboration, and aligning values cohesively across the board, and that's what CertaPro Painters of Nashville and Middle TN is all about.
How do we give back to the community?
Heartfelt stories remind us that giving back to the community is an ongoing process, often sparked by personal experiences. We are about nurturing empathy, fostering trust, and showing up for one another when it matters most. True community engagement doesn’t always come with a grand gesture; sometimes, it’s the small, everyday acts of kindness that have the most profound impact.
Dr. Wes Chladny, DDS
Founder & Owner, Dr. Wes Orthodontics
DrWesOrtho.com
At what age should I bring my child to an orthodontist?
The American Association of Orthodontics (AA0) recommends orthodontic check-ups begin at age seven. Having a check-up at this age allows the orthodontist to catch very specific problems that benefit from early intervention. After the first visit, most children are seen once or twice a year to monitor growth and development until around 11 - 13 years old when braces are typically started. If early treatment is recommended, the problem, treatment plan and goals should be very well explained and understood. If not, please seek another opinion. You may very well save yourself a lot of money and your child the experience of braces twice.
Am I too old for braces?
If your teeth are healthy, we can straighten them. All ages can benefit from a beautiful smile.
When can I stop wearing my retainer?
We tell our patients at night for life. One of the main reasons adults seek treatment is to re-straighten teeth because they stopped wearing retainers.
"Many eye diseases develop silently without symptoms until significant damage has occurred."