Happy May to all our wonderful patients! Through this unusual and crazy time, Amundson Dental has remained open for urgent and emergency appointments only--but as of May 18th, our team will be back to take great care of you. Please call our office to schedule your appointment with us.

Our office is doing everything to ensure the safety and health of both our team and our patients. We have had impeccable infection control since the AIDS epidemic, and our team is on top of the protocols. We are here to listen to your needs and fears and strive to be our best to keep you safe. Our facility has had an air exchanger for over 20 years that replaces air from the inside with fresh air 4 times per hour. In addition, we recently added a system to compliment that which removes 96% of bacteria, mold, and viruses from the air. Before appointments, we ask patients to practice good oral hygiene, monitor temperature at home, and call our office when you arrive to ensure social distancing.

Our team has missed being in the office but we’ve kept busy by trying new recipes, getting outside when possible, and exercising! Kim shared one of her favorite dishes she made while at home. Here’s the recipe so you can try!

Cajun Jambalaya with Chicken, Sausage & Ham

Ingredients
◾2 lbs Smoked Sausage, chopped in bite-size pieces
◾3 Chicken Breast, diced raw
◾1 lb cooked Ham, chopped
◾3 medium Onions, chopped
◾1 bunch Green Onions, chopped
◾2 TBSP minced jarred Garlic
◾1 tsp dried Thyme
◾1 tsp dried Basil
◾1/2 TBSP Black Pepper
◾1/2 TBSP White Pepper
◾1/2 TBSP Red Pepper Flakes
◾5 1/2 cups of Chicken Broth
◾2 1/2 cups uncooked white rice
◾*A bottle of Louisiana Hot Sauce at the table for each person to add to their own bowls

Instructions

-Preheat your Dutch oven on the stove over high heat.
-Spray with Pam and toss in your Smoked Sausage.
-Stirring constantly with a metal spatula for 5 minutes.
-Next, add the diced chicken breast and continue stirring constantly until cooked through, about 10 minutes.
-After chicken is cooked through, reduce heat to medium.
-Add the green and white onions. Continue Stirring.
-After 5 minutes, add the ham and garlic. Cook for 2 more minutes.
-KEEP STIRRING!
-Next, add the thyme, basil, black pepper, white pepper, and red pepper flakes.
-Stir together then cover the pot with a lid and turn the heat OFF. Let it sit for 2 hours.

This is your Jambalaya base. After it has rested and cooled and the flavors have had time to meld together, you can then add your chicken broth and rice and finish preparing it, or you can refrigerate ‘the base’ until ready to finish it! We made ours as soon as the 2 hours were up.

-Add the chicken broth to the pot and bring to a rolling boil.
-Add the rice and parsley, reduce the heat to medium and gently break up the rice.
-Using the metal spatula, continue to ensure that the rice is not sticking to the bottom of the pot; this is very important!
-Continue to scrape the pot so that no rice sticks to the bottom.
-After 5 minutes, reduce heat to the lowest possible setting and simmer, covered, for at least 25 minutes.
-Do not remove the cover while the rice is steaming.
-Serve with a salt shaker and a bottle of Louisiana Hot Sauce on the table. Enjoy!!!!

We can’t wait to reconnect with all our patients soon! Stay safe and healthy.

Putting off your dental visit to Amundson Dental Associates because of fear or anxiety only increases the potential for tooth decay or gum problems. At our office, Dr. Roger and Scott Amundson and our team offer solutions that allow you to relax, without any pain, so you can keep your mouth healthy. Our solutions can help with many different anxiety issues for both adults and children.

Help with minor anxiety

Nitrous oxide is an excellent choice for most patients. Sometimes referred to as laughing gas, nitrous oxide can be regulated to provide you with the amount of sedation you need. When used before a local anesthetic, the injection will not be uncomfortable and you should not notice any pain during your procedure.

If you plan to use nitrous oxide, you can drive yourself to your appointment. In most cases, you will be fine to drive after your treatment: the sedation wears off quickly. Nitrous oxide can also be used along with other sedation techniques to produce a higher level of sedation.

Oral sedatives are available in a liquid or pill form. If you experience moderate anxiety levels, you can be given a tablet to take before your appointment. This type of sedation will be beneficial in relieving the anxiety that can build before your procedure. However, if you choose this method, you cannot drive yourself to your appointment.

Help with major dental anxiety

If you experience extreme levels of stress and anxiety about dental treatment, you may wish to discuss deep sedation or general anesthesia. With these techniques, you will be barely conscious or unconscious during your procedure. You will not feel discomfort or pain. Once you have experienced dentistry with a sedation technique, your anxiety level may decrease on its own.

People are not born with the fear of a dental exam. Unfortunately, most anxiety issues are due to a bad dental experience or childhood trauma. Sometimes anxiety comes from listening to the tales of others, who may have exaggerated their story. Talk to Dr. Roger and Scott Amundson and our team about your dental concerns or fears. Let us help you so you can get the dental care you need for a healthy mouth for life.

For more information about overcoming dental anxiety, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Roger and Scott Amundson, please give us a call at our convenient Grand Forks office!

Many patients experience anxiety during dental appointments. Dr. Roger and Scott Amundson and our team want to help you overcome any fear you may feel when you come to your regular visits.

If you know you suffer from anxiety during your dental checkups, nitrous oxide sedation, popularly known as “laughing gas,” may be helpful during your next appointment. Nitrous oxide can be used during many types of dental procedures.

It has a sweet odor and taste, and gets mixed with oxygen when supplied through a mask. The effects typically kick in within a few minutes and leave you feeling calm and relaxed.

Nitrous is helpful because you will stay conscious and able to move and answer questions the doctor may ask you. The drug is also convenient because the effects go away within a few minutes after the mask is removed.

Nitrous oxide is not dangerous for your body when it’s combined with oxygen. It is non-addictive and non-allergenic. When used properly, nitrous oxide reduces anxiety, while allowing continued communication between the patient and dentist during a procedure. It can also help alleviate pain or discomfort during your exam.

You should know that nitrous oxide may cause nausea in up to ten percent of patients. This drug is not recommended for people who suffer from certain medical conditions. We recommend discussing this method with Dr. Roger and Scott Amundson if your dental anxiety begins to interfere with your appointments.

We want all our patients to feel comfortable during their care. Talk with Dr. Roger and Scott Amundson at your next appointment to find out if nitrous oxide is the right option for you. If you have questions regarding nitrous oxide, call our Grand Forks location and we’ll be happy to answer them.