Our Blog

Agility Guard

(Amy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:31:46 +0100

The potential to improve athletic performance by using a properly designed mouthguard is not a new idea . Dentists have, for some 40 years, noted improvements in athletic performance when athletes used a properly designed mouthguard.

In the 1970s, Dr. John Stenger. the dentist for the Notre Dame football team, reported a statistical correlation with improved strength in football and track and field. Dr. Stephen Smith subsequently reported increased muscular strength with well-designed mouth guards. Dr. Harold Gelb and others have described these findings in "The Relationship Between Jaw Posture and Muscular Strength in Sports Dentistry: A Reappraisal", Journal of Cranio-Mandibular Practice. 1996.

How are We Different?

Our focus is simple - we have developed a product that is, we believe, the best performance mouthguard in the industry. It was designed by Dr. Clayton A. Chan, acknowledged by many in the dental area as the developer of the most efficient neuromuscular "bite", and Dr. Joseph Andary, a practitioner (and co-developer of another performance mouthguard) with substantial experience in assisting world-class athletes, including several Olympic Gold Medalists, with performance mouthguards.

Our business approach is simple - we acknowledge that while everyone would love to improve their athletic performance, each AgilityGuard must provide value. As such, our associated dentists use a series of tests, the Agility Tests, which give you a sense of the extent to which an AgilityGuard may help a particular individual. These tests give a very simple indication of what extent a performance mouthguard might improve individual performance. There truly is no "one size fits all" solution.

Dr. Chan's experience has taught him that there is an "optimized zone" - to within less than a millimetre in most cases - within which performance is optimized. The expertise and methodology required to find and confirm that optimized zone requires significant training and equipment. Some of our dentists are currently trained to take you "close" to the zone (the Phi AgilityGuard), others "very close" to the zone (the Trophy AgilityGuard) and yet others within the zone. On our Dentist Locator page on this website, we indicate the level of training each particular dentist has.

In addition to being, we believe, the very best neuromuscular product on the market, we have created a business model that best ensures that we are able to offer AgilityGuard products that are both cost effective and of superior quality standards. The net result, we believe, is that you, the customer, are able to purchase a better product at a better price.

Important to Note

It is important to understand that each individual is different, and that only you can determine whether an AgilityGuard would provide any potential improvement in your athletic performance. This is best determined by you visiting an AgilityGuard dentist nearest you and having him or her perform the Agility Test on you. Only then should you make a decision to purchase an AgilityGuard.

Quick Facts

Only products approved by Dr. Clayton Chan.
Best-of-class Game-changer.
Supported by an increasing body of research.
Affordable.
High quality.
Widely available.

Basic Toddler Dental Care

sherrido@drueckert.com (Amy) — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 08:33:09 +0100

Basic Toddler Dental Care

Toddlers should have their teeth brushed twice each day using water and a soft-bristled toothbrush until the age of 2 or 3. Fluoridated toothpaste should be introduced when a child is 2-3 years of age, consistent with the guidelines set forth by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. In addition, children should have their first visit to the dentist by their first birthday.

When brushing a toddler’s teeth, use a small, soft-bristled toothbrush and no more than a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Supervise brushing to be sure that the toddler spits the toothpaste out after brushing instead of swallowing the excess. If the toddler has not learned to spit out excess toothpaste, try buying non-fluoridated toothpaste.

Getting Reluctant Toddlers to Brush

It is normal to encounter some resistance to teeth brushing with toddlers. Whether it’s getting them to practice brushing on their own or an attempt to assist, toddler tooth brushing can be a struggle. Here are some tips that encourage toddlers to brush:

Offer fun electric toothbrushes. There are dozens on the market and children can select their favorite colors or characters. Electric toothbrushes can be more effective than standard toothbrushes and children love using them.
Ask toddlers to sing a song as they brush or set a musical timer for two minutes so that children will get in the habit of brushing for the recommended length of time.
Use a simple reward system. A colorful sticker after every successful brushing session is a great incentive.
Be a good role model. Toddlers can watch child care providers brush and floss after meals and smack. Adults and children may also brush their teeth side by side so that teachers can model and explain proper tooth brushing techniques.

Dental Health Lessons and Activities for Preschoolers

Create a simple lesson plan focusing on the importance of dental hygiene, foods that are good and bad for teeth, and how people develop cavities. Also describe the role of a dentist plays and the importance of visiting the dentist’s office regularly.
Read stories with characters that love tooth brushing, such as Brush Your Teeth Please, a pop-up board book by Reader's Digest [Reader’s Digest, 1993].
Visit Colgate’s website to receive a free Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Future dental health kit for preschool classrooms which includes curriculum ideas, handouts, teaching aids, and activities.
Children learn through play. Put on a puppet show with an endearing character demonstrating good dental hygiene habits. Also include dental items (tooth brushes, white smocks, dental mirrors, etc.) in the dramatic play area so that children can “play dentist”.

Dental health activities and lessons encourage healthy dental hygiene habits in toddlers and help prevent tooth decay. Remember that children are not able to sufficiently clean their own teeth until they are around 6 or 7 years of age, so always let them practice but then follow it up with thorough cleaning by an adult. This helps them develop a sense of independence and autonomy while learning lifelong dental hygiene.

GET THOSE OLD SILVER FILLINGS OUT

sherrido@drueckert.com (AMY) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 09:27:09 +0100

BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTO'S---AFTEW REMOVING OLD LEAKING AMALGAM (SILVER) FILLINGS

BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTO'S.

THIS SHOWS TWO NEW PORCELAIN CROWNS AND COMPOSITE BONDED RESTORATIONS REMOVING OLD LEAKING AMALGAM FILLINGS.

The Icon Revolution

drueckert.com (Pattie Fennell, RDH) — Thu, 06 May 2010 16:22:57 +0100

Fluoride is used as a preventative agent.....Icon is used as an infiltrative agent.....composite is used as a restorative agent.
An early weakened spot on a tooth is called an incipient lesion. It is not yet a cavity, needing to be filled, but, if left alone, more than likely will slowly progress to the point of needing a restoration in the form of a filling. Icon is a process that uses infiltration technology to fill and reinforce demineralized enamel without drilling or anesthesia.....and without unnecessary loss of healthy tooth structure. It can also be used to treat those blotchy, white spots that some of us have on our teeth that are cosmetically less than ideal. Fluoride is used as a preventative agent................Icon is used as an infiltrative agent...............composite is used as a restorative agent. Go to www.drilling-no-thanks.com to read more on this fascinating topic!

Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

sherrido@drueckert.com (Amy) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:15:43 +0100

Reports of bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw (BON) associated with the use of Zometa (zolendronic acid) and Aredia (pamidronate) began to surface in 2003. The majority of reported cases have been associated with dental procedures such as tooth extraction; however, less commonly BON appears to occur spontaneously in patients taking these drugs.
Zolendronic acid and pamidronate are intravenous (i.v.) bisphosphonates used to reduce bone pain, hypercalcemia and skeletal complications in patients with multiple myeloma, breast, lung and other cancers and Paget’s disease of bone. Cases of BON have also been associated with the use of the oral bisphosphonates, Fosamax (alendronate), Actonel (risedronate) and Boniva (ibandronate), for the treatment of osteoporosis; however, it is not clear if these patients had other conditions that would put them at risk for developing BON. Clinical Presentation The typical clinical presentation of BON includes pain, soft-tissue swelling and infection, loosening of teeth, drainage, and exposed bone. These symptoms may occur spontaneously, or more commonly, at the site of previous tooth extraction. Patients may also present with feelings of numbness, heaviness and dysesthesias of the jaw. However, BON may remain asymptomatic for weeks or months, and may only become evident after finding exposed bone in the jaw. Dental Management It is important to understand that, based on the information currently available, the risk for developing BON is much higher for cancer patients on i.v. bisphosphonate therapy than the risk for patients on oral bisphosphonate therapy. Therefore, there are different recommendations for dental management of these patients. Further reading. http://jada.ada.org/cgi/content/abstract/137/8/1115

Allergic Response: Anaphylaxis

sherrido@drueckert.com (Amy) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:29:42 +0100

Common allergens include penicillin, latex, aspirin,strawberries, shellfish, and peanuts. Histamine, released by mast cells, produces virtually all the clinical signs and symptoms associated with allergic reactions, including rash, bronchospasm, and vasodilation.
The severity of the allergic reaction depends on how rapidly and where these chemicals are released. Delayed-onset allergies most commonly involve only the skin and are not life-threatening. Immediate-onset allergies are life-threatening, usually involving the respiratory and cardiovascular systems and producing bronchospasm and a drop in blood pressure. This requires immediate emergency management to keep the person alive.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis Requirements Prior to Dental Treatment

sherrido@drueckert.com (Julie) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 09:27:16 +0100

The American Dental Association (ADA) website has the current requirements from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the American Heart Association (AHA), regarding antibiotic prophylaxis prior to dental treatment for patients that may be predisposed to infective endocarditis due to heart conditions or who have had total joint replacement.

www.ada.org/public/topics/antibiotics.asp

www.ada.org/prof/resources/topics/antibiotic.asp

Below I have briefly listed premedication requirements for dental treatment taken from the American Dental Association along with their direct link:

The American Heart Association (AHA) states that preventive antibiotics prior to a dental procedure are advised for patients with:

1. artificial heart valves

2. a history of infective endocarditis

3. certain specific, serious congenital (present from birth) heart conditions, including

unrepaired or incompletely repaired cyanotic congenital heart disease, including those with palliative shunts and conduits
a completely repaired congenital heart defect with prosthetic material or device, whether placed by surgery or by catheter intervention, during the first six months after the procedure
any repaired congenital heart defect with residual defect at the site or adjacent to the site of a prosthetic patch or a prosthetic device

4. a cardiac transplant that develops a problem in a heart valve.

www.ada.org/public/topics/antibiotics.asp

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons(AAOS) states that preventive antibiotics prior to a dental procedure are advised for patients with:

total joint replacement

www.ada.org/prof/resources/topics/antibiotic.asp

Hypoglycemia

sherrido@drueckert.com (Amy) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:45:06 +0100

Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is most likely in a diabetic, particularly the type 1 insulin-dependent diabetic. The classic signs and symptoms are that the patient is cold, sweaty, shaking, and mentally disorientated. Many patients, however, do not exhibit these. Therefore, when reviewing the patient's medical history, it is important to ask diabetic patients to list their signs and symptoms.
Before you start dental treatment, ask your patients these questions: "When did you last take your insulin?' and "When did you last eat?" If the patient took insulin and hasn't eaten recently, give the patient some orange juice before you start treatment. Mental confusion or disorientation is often the first signs of hypoglycemia. If a diabetic patient shows either of these signs, stop treatment and apply the PABCD protocol. P. Position Patient A. Airway B. Breathing C. Circulation D. Definitive Care

Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office

sherrido@drueckert.com (Amy) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:24:54 +0100

Medical emergencies can and do occur, not only in your dental office but any place at any time. The entire staff and designated in-office emergency team must be trained, and emergency equipment and drugs must be available and current. The best way to handle an emergency is to start by being prepared.
Imagine you are treating a patient, stop treatment to ask her a question, and find that she is unresponsive. You quickly ask someone to tell the receptionist to call 911 and to bring you the oxygen tank. The oxygen tank finally arrives about 10 minutes later, but is almost empty. You eventually get another oxygen tank from an assistant, but it has no tubing, so there is another delay in getting the patient oxygen. The paramedics finally arrive, but it is too late-the patient is dead. WERE YOU PREPARED? You had the oxygen tank, the emergency kit, and CPR training. You may have thought you were prepared-until the patient died. Emergencies are rare in dental offices. Nonetheless, we must be prepared to manage medical emergencies when they do occur. (Dr. Stanley Malamed)

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

sherrido@drueckert.com (Amy) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:41:09 +0100

STROKE:Remember the 1st Three Letters....S.T.R. My nurse friend sent this and encouraged me to post it and spread the word. I agree. If everyone can remember something this simple, we could save some folks. Seriously.
RECOGNIZING A STROKE Thank God for the sense to remember the '3' steps, STR . Read and Learn! Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions: S *Ask the individual to SMILE. T *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (I.e. It is sunny out today) R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS. If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher. New Sign of a Stroke ---Stick out Your Tongue. NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue.. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.