Derby Festival Balloon Glow 2012

We just had to share this beautiful picture that our Facebook friend, David, took for us of our balloon at the Derby Festival Balloon Glow on Friday night! Thank you David! We love getting to be a fun part of the Derby Festival! 

*MEET THE DENTIST!* Dr. Amanda Jackson

*Meet Dr. Amanda Jackson from our Shelbyville East office!*

Doctor's Full Name: 
Amanda Jackson

Hometown: 
Roseburg, OR

Undergraduate College: 
Walla Walla University (located in eastern Washington)

Dental School: 
Loma Linda University (located in southern California)

Dental Specialty: 
General Dentistry

Family: 
Ryan the Husband

Pets: 
Roscoe the Dog and Pooka the Cat

Favorite Toothpaste: 
Colgate Total

Manual or Power brush?  
Power--Sonicare!

Favorite Food: 
Biscuits and Gravy

Favorite Vacation Spot: 
The Oregon Coast

Favorite Hobbies: 
Baking, exercising, watching television, hanging out with the husband and the pets
 
Anything else you think would be fun for your patients to know about you!?
I had never set foot in Kentucky until I arrived here with a moving truck and all my worldly possessions.  My first exposure to tornado warnings and sirens occurred at the office with patients in the chairs.  My West coast heart was racing, but I tried to maintain a calm and cool demeanor! 

National Stress Awareness Month: Stress Relief Tips

April is designated as National Stress Awareness Month and a month where we can all benefit from learning stress relief tips that can help us to relax and learn to remain calm in our everyday lives and the trials and tribulations that we all face. The bills won't stop coming, there will still only be 24 hours in a day, and the every day responsibilities of family and work will remain demanding. This is where it becomes so important to realize that we have a lot more control over our levels of stress than we think. 

Managing stress is all about taking charge: taking charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment, and the way you deal with problems. The ultimate goal is a balanced life, with time for work, relationships, relaxation, and fun – plus the resilience to hold up under pressure and meet challenges head on.1

Identify the Sources of Stress in your Life

• Look at attitude, habits and excuses 
• Do you explain stress as "temporary?"
• "I just have a million things going on right now..."
• Do you consider stress a part of your work or home life or part of your personality?
• "Things are always crazy around here"or "I just have a lot of nervous energy, that's all."
• Do you blame your stress on other people or outside events?

You have to accept responsibility for the role YOU play in creating/maintaing stress in order to take control of it

Look at how you currently cope with stress

• Unhealthy
• smoking, drinking too much, over/undereating, watching TV for hours, sleeping too much, procrastinating, filling up every minute of your day to avoid facing problems, taking your stress out on others (lashing out, etc.)

If your methods of coping with stress aren’t contributing to your greater emotional and physical health, it’s time to find healthier ones. 

• Healthy
• going for a walk or going to the gym, treating yourself to a massage/manicure/pedicure, trying a new recipe, cooking a healthy dinner for the whole family, reading a book outside, cleaning your house, lighting a candle, turning off your electronics, taking a yoga class. 

Stress Management Strategies

• Avoid Unnecessary Sress
• Learn to say NO! - know your limits and stick to them!
• Avoid people who stress you out
• Take control of your environment - if the evening news stresses you out, turn it off. If grocery shopping makes your tense, do your grocery shopping online. 
• Avoid "hot-button" topics - if you repeatedly argue over the same subject with people, stop bringing it up or excuse yourself from the conversation
• Pare down your to-do list - analyze your schedule, responsibilities and daily tasks. Distinguish between the "shoulds" and "musts" 
• Alter the Situation
• Express your feelings instead of bottling them up
• Be willing to compromise
• Be more assertive
• Manage your time better
• Adapt to the Stressor 
• Reframe problems - try viewing your stressors with a more positive perspective - if traffic is stressing you out, think of it as a time to regroup and listen to your new favorite songs
• Look at the big picture - will the stressor matter that much in a month? Is it as big of a deal as you think it is in the heat of the moment?
• Adjust your standards - Demanding perfection is the best way to set yourself up for failure. Learn to be ok with "good enough" 
• Focus on the positive!  - take a moment to reflect on all the things you can appreciate in life including your own gifts and positive qualities. 
• Accept the Things You Can't Change
• Don't try to control the uncontrollable 
• Look for the upside
• Share your feelings
• Learn to forgive
• Make Time for Fun and Relaxation
• Set aside relaxation time
• Connect with others
• Do something you enjoy every day
• Keep your sense of humor

• Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle 
• Exercise regularly 
• Eat a healthy diet
• Reduce caffeine and sugar
• Avoid alcohol, cigarettes and drugs
• Get enough sleep

Other Stress Relief Tips

• Start a stress journal 
• Drink a cup of black tea before tackling 2 stressful tasks
• Acupressure - massage the fleshy area between your thumb and index finger for 20-30 seconds
• Treat yourself - Flavonoids in cocoa relax your body's blood vessels so that arteries can dilate, reducing blood pressure - look for 72% or more dark chocolate and treat yourself to one serving.
• Take a You-Tube timeout - just the anticipation of laughing significantly decreases levels of stress hormones.

What do you do to help relieve stress? 

Main Source: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_management_relief_coping.htm

Other Sources: http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/stress-reduction-secrets?postlist=1

*Meet The Dentist!* Dr. Jessica Eugenio

 

*Meet Dr. Jessica Eugenio from our Shelbyville office!*

Doctor's Name: 

Jessica J. Eugenio

Hometown:

Russell, KY

Undergraduate College:

Marshall and University of Louisville

Dental School:

University of Louisville

Family:

Husband - 2 children 

Pets:

3 dogs, cat, bunny, 2 turtles, bearded dragon, hermit crabs, 8 chickens, gold fish. 

Favorite Toothpaste:

Crest

Manual or Power Brush?

Power - Sonicare

Favorite Food:

Crab

Favorite Vacation Spot:

Anywhere - just like a change in scenery every now and then. 

Favorite Hobbies:

Horseback riding, knitting, yelling at my kids games. 

*MEET THE DENTIST!* Dr. Joseph Koval

*Meet Dr. Joseph Koval from our Shelbyville Office!*

Doctor's Full Name:

Joseph A. Koval Jr. 

Hometown:

Ottisville, NY

Undergraduate College:

University of Louisville

Dental School:

University of Louisville School of Dentistry

Dental Specialties:

General Dentist

Family:

Wife- Holly, Nicole - 14 years old, Haley - 11 years old, Ryan - 8 years old

Pets:

2 boxers - Jersey and Shelby; 2 Cats - Max and Emmi

Favorite Toothpaste:

Colgate Total

Manual or Power Brush?

Manual

Favorite Food:

Anything Italian

Favorite Vacation Spot:

Panama City Beach/ Lake Cumberland 

Favorite Hobbies:

Boating, Working on my 68 Mustang, Boating

Anything else you'd like for your patients and fans to know about you!

Both of my daughters play school and club volleyball. My wife coaches club volleyball and my son plays baseball and football. 

Oral Cancer Awareness Month

April is designated as the month when dentists highlight oral cancer, and increase awareness about the prevention and treatment of oral cancer. More than 35,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year. It is vital to stress the importance of early detection as the survival rate for those diagnosed early is 75% compared to a 20% survival rate in those whose cancer has spread.

How can you act preventatively towards oral cancer?

Oral cancer screenings should be a routine element of dental hygiene and dental appointments. Visiting the dentist twice a year for checkups/cleanings will ensure that you will catch any signs of oral cancer fairly quickly. Specifically ask your dentist to do an oral cancer screening and they will check for the most common signs. Mortenson Family Dental uses a more progressive oral cancer detection system called Velscope that is quick, painless, and tasteless and can catch trouble spots before they can be seen by the naked eye.

Consider quitting smoking and tobacco use, and limiting your alcohol consumption. Most people diagnosed with oral cancer this year will be tobacco users of some kind. Smoking and drinking together, especially when both are done in above-average quantities, hugely increases your chances of contracting oral cancer. People who smoke and drink heavily are almost 15 times more likely to contract oral cancer.

Be preventative! Stop tobacco use, limit alcohol consumption and visit your dentist regularly, and you just may be oral cancer free for life.

*MEET THE DENTIST!* Dr. James E. Smith

Meet Dr. James Smith from our New Albany office!

Doctor's Full Name: 
James Edward Terrell Smith

Hometown: 
Georgetown, KY

Undergraduate College: 
Centre College, Danville KY

Dental School: 
University of Louisville (GO CARDS!)

Family: 
Wife Danielle (Pediatric Dentist @ Kid's Dentristee New Albany); two beautiful daughters: Evelyn 4, Maddie 19 months

Pets: 
1 dog named Mia (also a girl - I'm totally outnumbered in my house!)

Favorite Toothpaste: 
Colgate

Manual or Power Brush? 
Power (Sonicare!)

Food: 
Anything beef 

Favorite Vacation Spot: 
Hilton Head Island

Favorite Hobbies:
Yard work, spending time on the lake, snow skiing when I can and of course hanging out with my girls

Funniest/Most Memorable and/or Most Interesting Moment Experienced in Dentistry:
I often think back on dental school and what an amazing experience that was.  Our awesome patients would have 3 hour appointments during which they MAY get their teeth cleaned - what saints!  We couldn't have done it without them.  I also feel very fortunate to be a part of the improvement of someone's life - from getting them out of pain to fixing their smile and giving them a reason to lift their chin and smile again.  In New Albany, we strive to get a laugh and a smile out of everybody even if they're not having the best day.  

Anything else you'd like for your patients to know about you!
Many people are surprised that this homegrown Kentucky boy can speak Spanish.  I started learning as a freshman in high school, kept it up in college and finally earned a Bachelors in Spanish from Centre.  After college and before starting dental school, I spent 3 months in southern Spain to get the full language experience.  Learning a foreign language and studying different cultures was one of my most rewarding educational experiences!

*MEET THE DENTIST!* Dr. Thomas Thurman

Meet Dr. Thurman from our Middletown office! 

(Rather than his picture - we had to share this video again of Dr. Thurman from Christmastime! Too funny!)

Doctor's Full Name: 

Thomas R. Thurman

Hometown:

Louisville, KY

Undergraduate College:

University of Louisville

Dental School:

University of Louisville School of Dentistry 

Dental Specialties:

I am not a specialist, but I do a lot of root canals, oral surgery and crown and bridge. 

Family:

Wife, Susan is an educator with JCPS. Son, Jeff, is a UK graduate and currently a student at the University School of Medicine. Son, Todd, is a high school junior and is considering dentistry as a career. 

Pet:

Ferret named "Miss Bojangles." Long story as to how we came to have a pet ferret. But, it involves a certain college student who is now a med student! 

Favorite Toothpaste:

Colgate

Manual or Power Brush?

Power

Favorite Food:

A big, juicy steak. 

Favorite Vacation Spot:

Destin, FL - Myrtle Beach - Rock Mountain National Park 

Favorite Hobbies:

Backpacking - working on old British sports cars - home improvement projects 

Funniest/Most Memorable and/or Most Interesting Moment Experienced in Dentistry:

Many patients joke about falling out of the chair when leaned back. I've never had a patient fall out of the chair but I personally did one time. I tried to scoot my stool but the wheels caught on something. The chair stopped, but I kept going and landed on the floor! I was pretty embarrassed, but the patient and I had a good laugh! 

*MEET THE DENTIST!* Dr. Jeff Mortenson

Meet Dr. Jeff Mortenson from our Middletown office! 

Doctor's Full Name:

Jeffrey Scott Mortenson

Hometown:

Douglas, AZ

Undergraduate College:

Brigham Young University 

Dental School: 

University of Louisville School of Dentistry

Family:
Wife, Melissa; Kids Kari, Sydney and Andrew (twins!)

Pets:
Golden Retriever - Lilly

Favorite Toothpaste:
Colgate - but I recommend Aquafresh

Manual or Power Brush?
Power

Favorite Food:
It would be easier to tell you my least favorite foods!

Favorite Vacation Spot:
Disney World

Favorite Hobbies:
Flying RC planes and boating

Funniest/Most Memorable and/or Most Interesting Moment Experienced in Dentistry:
The day I met Nick Lachey

Children's & Hospitals Week at Kosair Children's Hospital

This week we are so excited to be a part of Kosair Children's Hospital Children's & Hospitals Week! Louisville-area kindergarten students take a field trip to the hospital to participate in health and safety activities, hosted by the Children’s Hospital Foundation Office of Child Advocacy of Kosair Children’s Hospital. Some examples of booths that are there are Dental Health, Seatbelt Safety, Poison Safety, Fire Safety, Washing Your Hands, Wearing Your Helmet, No Smoking and what a trip to the hospital might be like if a child is ever hurt. The week helps area children get a feel for Kosair and become comfortable with it in case they ever need treatment from Kosair. Kosair is a wonderful place and we love doing charity work with them! Here are some pictures we took today: 

Happy the Tooth with Sue Mortenson

We just LOVE seeing such sweet, smiling faces! 

The Tooth Fairy even came and helped us teach the kindergarteners about taking care of their teeth! 

Dr. Kelly showed the students how to floss.

The number 2 is so important! We brush our teeth *2* times a day for *2* minutes each time and we visit the dentist *2* times a year! 

The Tooth Fairy loves meeting everyone! 

And she really loves hugs, too! 

 We send out a BIG thank you to Kosair for organizing such a wonderful event and allowed us to be a part of it! We look forward to seeing many more smiling faces the rest of the week! 

*MEET THE DENTIST!* Dr. Todd Mortenson

Meet Dr. Todd Mortenson from our LaGrange office!

Doctor's Full Name:

Todd Mortenson

Hometown:

Louisville, KY

Undergraduate College:

Brigham Young University 

Dental School:

University of Louisville School of Dentistry

Dental Specialties:

General

Family:

Wife: Julie; Children: Hannah, Nolan, Lucas, Angela, Addison and Presley

Pets:

Boston Terriers - Izzie and Zoey

Favorite Toothpaste:

Crest

Manual or Power Brush?

Manual

Favorite Food:

Chicken Tikka Masala with Naan

Favorite Vacation Spot:

Banff Canada

Favorite Hobbies:

Bass guitar, snow skiing, hunting, motorcycling 

Funniest/Most Memorable and/or Most Interesting Moment Experienced in Dentistry:

MFDC patient appreciation day at the farm, motorcycle poker run, my band playing at [an MFDC event], Garth Brooks at Crown Council.