Under Armour Mouthwear – Protection & Enhanced Performance…

Recently, we were asked by the head coach of a local high school football team to give him an “update” on the latest in athletic mouthguards. In all honesty, when we began our research, we truly didn’t figure we would find much new under the sun when it came to athletic mouthguards. In the past, basically you went to a sporting goods store, bought one of those “one size fits all” products, warmed it in some hot water, put it in your mouth, bit down and waited a minute – and voila, you had a mouthguard!

Wow – were we ever surprised with what we found in terms of protection as well as actual performance enhancement with some of the “next generation” products now out on the market!

Let’s look at protection first… With an increasing number of sports-related injuries to the head/face/ mouth now occurring each year (an estimated – and astounding – 3,800,000 total sports brain injuries each year!) that affects all athletes ranging from “weekend warriors”  to collegiate/professional athletes,  several companies have taken the initiative in the last few years to develop mouthguard products that not only protect athletes  from dentoalveolar injuries – but that also appear to be helping significantly reduce the incidence of head concussions that are the result of a violent slamming together of the upper and lower jaws!

This is an important development for all athletes at all levels… And if you and/or anyone else in your family participates in downhill skiing, snow boarding, biking, soccer (the #1 sport for concussions!), lacrosse, baseball/softball, football, basketball, rugby, and/or any other sport where the jaws can accidentally be slammed together, along with any protective headgear you are already using you also need to be wearing a mouthguard to not only to protect your teeth but to possibly help in preventing a concussion!

Do the math… A broken tooth from a sporting accident can run upwards of $2k… The replacement of a tooth that is “knocked out” – upward of $4k… An MRI due to a concussion – $2+k… Not to mention the pain, time in an emergency room/ hospital/dental office, additional medical/dental charges, and/or the loss of time at practice/school/work…

Secondly, let’s look at athletic performance… Whether you participate in a contact sport or not, a growing body of evidence and independent research is beginning to support claims that some of these newer generation mouthguards are also yielding improved athletic performance.  By slightly separating the jaws, some of these mouthguards are being shown in independent studies to relax the muscles of the head and neck region (less athletic stress & cortisol release) – as well as improving breathing ability (up to a 29% increase in oxygen intake) – which in turn is yielding better athletic performance (up to 20% stronger), quickness (up to 12% faster), and endurance (up to 25% less lactic acid). Athletes such as Lindsey Vonn, members of the US Men’s Ski Team, Adrian Peterson, David Ortiz, and Chris McCormick are but a small cross-section of skiers, triathletes, snowboarders, football/baseball/basketball players, soccer/rugby/lacrosse players, golfers, and tennis players  both recreationally and professionally who are now using these next generation mouthguards not only for protection but for enhanced athletic performance as well.

This summer, Pinebrook Dental Group was proud to become an authorized provider for the Under Armour  Performance mouthwear products. The company behind the research & technology of the Under Armour product – Bite Tech (www.bitetech.com) – is by far the leader in this field at the present time. Their products are being used by numerous collegiate and professional athletes, and they have an increasing number of independent, peer-reviewed studies that are backing up their claims of protection and athletic performance enhancement.  They will also be offering the world’s first “impact detection system” sometime in 2012 that will help coaches and trainers more accurately assess the impact of blows to the head region in contact sports (the Stanford football team will be testing the product during the upcoming 2011 season.)

If you or anyone in the family is active in a sport (and who isn’t here in PC?!!), please make certain to ask us about the Under Armour Performance mouthwear products at your next visit. We have both contact and non-contact models available for all sports.  Not only might these next generation products help prevent a serious head and/or dentoalveolar injury – but they just might give you that little extra “edge” when out playing your favorite sport!!

Dr.V Off to Boston for AACD Meeting!

Park City dentist extraordinaire Dr. Venssa Knight headed off  today to attend the 27th annual American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) Scientific Session in Boston. While there, “Dr. V” will attend lectures and workshops from some of the very best and brightest in the field of dentistry today on the topics of smile design, the latest in dental materials, lasers, implants, sleep apnea, and even new applications of Botox in the dental profession.

She will also spend time while there working on her Accredited Member status with the AACD.  Dr. V is the only dentist in Park City who is currently an active member of the AACD, and is one of only a couple of dentists in Utah who is actively pursuing the Accredited Member status with the AACD. To date, no dentist from Utah has achieved this honor – and Dr. V hopes to become the very first! Achieving this honor requires passing a very comprehensive didactic exam, along with presenting/defending 5 actual clinical cases before a review board, and then finishing the  accreditation process with an oral exam.

Pinebrook Dental Group is very proud of Dr. V and her professional accomplishments. She has truly taken her skills and expertise to a level that very few dentists ever achieve – and she has done this in order to provide her patients with the very best dental care possible. Make certain to ask her about this trip & meeting the next time you see her!

BBQ Comp Update

Just a quick update from the WestX BBQ comp down in St. George this past weekend.

Hoochie-Que had a 4th place in chicken, 9th place in ribs, and a 2nd place in brisket to grab 4th place overall in the event – and just 1 point out of 3rd place. Considering this was our first competition of the year, and that we have not cooked competitively in nearly a year, we were more than pleased with our results! Some excellent teams from Utah, Texas, and California grabbed the top 3 positions – but we were hot on their heels…

Our next stop will be in Boulder City, NV for the Best Dam BBQ competition over Memorial Day weekend…

Darn the Luck…

Well, despite the best of intentions – and yes, Mom, I did go get my flu shot this year – I came down with the flu and a 102 degree fever the Wednesday before we were due to head to Santa Fe to compete in the Sam’s Club National BBQ Tour event. We had been in Dallas the week before at a dental meeting, and perhaps I picked up the “bug” there and/or while on the plane trip… Regardless, we were more than bummed to miss out on this event!! There were some great teams/friends there – some of the best in competition BBQ – that I was looking forward to seeing again and competing against – Johnny & Trish Trigg with Smokin’ Triggers, Vince & Alexa with Rhythm N Que, Glenn with IAB 30 BBQ, Garry with The Smoke Ring, Sweet Peppers, and Carcass Cookers among others. “Strange” and unfamiliar names to the general public I know – but great teams and wonderful people well-known to those of us on the competition BBQ circuit.

So now our next opportunity to get “off & running” for the 2011 season will be the WestX Western Festival & BBQ competition to be held in St. George, UT on May 13-14. This competition, while smaller than the one in Santa Fe, will still feature some great talent including one of the best & hottest teams in Utah right now (R&R BBQ), along with a national “celebrity” BBQ team – Harry Soo & Slap Yo Daddy BBQ from California. It will be a great event, and we are ready to get out there and get our feet wet. It will also be good to get that first competition of the year behind us, too, and there are always “butterflies” at the start of the year.

Here’s keeping our fingers & toes crossed as we jump out there this weekend.

She Can’t Be British…

Well, you can file this in the ” You Wouldn’t Believe This Patient I Saw Today” folder… Personally, there is no way this lady is British… After all, she was at the dentist to begin with!

http://tinyurl.com/4xsqbvm

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month

What do  Michael Douglas & the month of April have in common? Well, April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month – and the number of cases of oral cancer is on the rise in America.  Close to 37,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year. It will cause over 8,000 deaths, killing roughly 1 person per hour, 24 hours per day. Of those 36,000 newly diagnosed individuals, only slightly more than half will be alive in 5 years. This is a number which has not significantly improved in decades. The death rate for oral cancer is higher than that of cancers which we hear about routinely such as cervical cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, laryngeal cancer, cancer of the testes, and endocrine system cancers such as thyroid, or skin cancer (malignant melanoma). If you expand the definition of oral cancers to include cancer of the larynx, for which the risk factors are the same, the numbers of diagnosed cases grow to approximately 50,000 individuals, and 13,500 deaths per year in the US alone. Worldwide the problem is much greater, with over 640,000 new cases being found each year. The death rate associated with this cancer is particularly high not because it is hard to discover or diagnose, but due to the cancer being routinely discovered late in its development.

While the leading causes of oral cancer have traditionally been tied to excessive/chronic alcohol & tobacco use, the number of oral cancer cases related to HPV (Human papillomavirus) – which is what Michael Douglas was diagnosed with – has begun to alarm both the medical & dental communities.  Make certain to click on the link below to watch a video regarding a new state-of-the-art text which can help in testing for HPV-related oral cancer.

And yes, this test is now available at Pinebrook Dental…

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/42760279#42760279

“The Jack” – And a Smile…

As many of you know – or may not know – Park City dentist Dr. Mike is a tooth doc during the week. But on the weekends, he turns into “Hoochie” – and has been known to smoke a pretty mean beef brisket or pork butt!!

Dr. Mike & Dr. Venssa are the championship competition BBQ team known as “Hoochie-Que” – along with occasional help from the “Little Hoochies” (their three children Dylan, Reid & Caleigh).  “Hoochie-Que” has been competing professionally for 5 years now, and they were the first team ever from the state of Utah to earn an invitation to compete at the prestigious Jack Daniels World Championship Invitational BBQ Competition in Lynchburg, TN back in 2009 (and they are still the only Utah team to hold that honor!)

After “taking a break” in 2010, “Hoochie-Que” is ramping up to make another run at an invitation to “The Jack” again in 2011. It won’t be easy earning one of the coveted 60 spots to “The Jack (there are an estimated 3000+ BBQ teams out there nationally) – and they will kick-off their journey in Santa Fe, NM on April 22-23 at the Sam’s Club National BBQ Tour, where they will compete against 30 of the country’s premier BBQ teams. From there they plan to compete in competitions in Nevada, Utah, Idaho, and Colorado – and hopefully back in Lynchburg in October again – before the season is over.

You can follow their journey and hopeful return to “The Jack” on Hoochie’s blog – “Hoochie-Que“. But – you also might want to subscribe to this blog (“Dental Bytes”) – or “Like” our Facebook page .

Why?

Well, “Hoochie” will be doing a lot of “practicing” throughout this upcoming season – and he will have extra BBQ (generally on the weekends) that he is willing sell to good friends and patients of Pinebrook Dental on a first come / first serve basis – and at a GREAT price compared to what you would pay at any restaurant…

And did we fail to mention this is CHAMPIONSHIP barbecue – fresh off the smoker?

But the only way you are going to find about this “deal” will be through this blog or our Pinebrook Dental Facebook page… So you are going to want to subscribe to this blog – and/or “Like” our Facebook page – so that you can be notified in a timely fashion when “Hoochie” is practicing, and when some of his championship BBQ will be available!!

Oh – and by the way – the profits from all BBQ sales this year will be going towards Operation Smile – a charity that provides free surgeries to repair cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities for children around the globe!

What a combination! Great barbecue… Helping “Change Lives One Smile at a Time”… And hopefully a trip back to “The Jack”.

Where else but at Pinebrook Dental?!

Celebrate Good Times…. Come On!!!

At Pinebrook Dental Group, we celebrate your trust when you recommend our dental office – and we want you and a friend to join in that celebration!!!

Beginning in March, 2011, each friend and/or new neighbor you recommend to Pinebrook Dental will receive a $50 in-office credit ** – and when your friend/neighbor mentions your name, you will receive a $50 gift card of your choice – Nordstroms, Target, REI, or Home Depot!! It’s our way of saying “Thank You” for sharing your trust in us!!

Hey – what could be more fun?!! Your friend/neighbor (and their family) gets the very best dental care in Park City – and you get to go shopping on us!

So when you share our office with a friend/neighbor, give us a call (435-649-6688) to let us know they are heading our way – or you can simply send us an email (info@PinebrookDental.com) so that we can be watching for them. When they call to schedule for their exam & cleaning, we will then contact you about which gift card you would like to choose!!

So let’s start celebrating – and thanks for sharing Pinebrook Dental with your friends and neighbors!!

** Credit good towards future dental care after initial exam & cleaning. Limit two $50 credits and/or gift cards per new family referred.

Just for Fun…

 

You know, dentistry isn’t always about all work & no play!

Recently, we had Marc Estabrook come in & do some staff photos for some marketing we have planned… And “Wow”, did they ever come out great!!

So, we thought we would share a few of them here with all of you! (Click on the photos to enlarge them)

Thanks, Marc!!!

(Make certain to check out Marc’s other work & website – Estabrook Photography)

Six Month Smiles

For several years now, your favorite Park City dentists Dr. Venssa & Dr. Mike have been diligently searching for an adult cosmetic orthodontic system that would be:

a) fast & effective;

b) reasonable in cost; and

c) as “invisible” and unnoticeable as possible.

After having looked at quite a few systems over the years – and having actually gone through several training courses with some of these systems – Pinebrook Dental Group is thrilled to announce we have finally found a product that we are comfortable with professionally, and that meets our “Big 3″ criteria!!

Beginning in March, 2011, we will proudly to be introducing into our practice Six Month Smiles™ – a short term cosmetic orthodontic system for adults that can provide many adults with the smile that you have always wanted in 5-8 months (the average treatment time is 6 months – and hence the name!)

What makes Six Month Smiles™ different from other adult orthodontic systems? Well, first of all, it is fast!! Conventional orthodontics for an adult generally takes 2 years. Orthodontic systems using the clear “aligners” (Invisalign™, etc) often can take longer than 2 years.  With Six Month Smiles™, we can give you a smile you can be proud & confident of – and sometimes before your next cleaning appointment! The system also uses clear/white brackets and wires – so no more “metal mouth”!

And what about the cost? Well – how does $1000-1500 less than what a “conventional” orthodontic case will cost – and/or up to $2000 less than what a typical Invisalign™ case will cost – sound to you?

Haven’t  grabbed your attention yet?! Well, click on this link to watch this video:

Pinebrook Dental YouTube Channel

Pinebrook Dental Group will be the first dental office in Park City – and among the first 4-5 dentists in Utah – to offer this revolutionary new technology! If you would like to find out if you might be a candidate, please call us today at 435-649-6688 for a free consultation.

Six Month Smiles™ – Because everyone should be able to smile with confidence!!

And you will only find it at Pinebrook Dental Group!