Our Blog

When we think of Valentine’s Day, we think of cards, flowers, and chocolates. We think of girlfriends celebrating being single together and couples celebrating their relationship. We think of all things pink and red taking over every pharmacy and grocery store imaginable. But what Dr. Roger and Scott Amundson and our team would like to think of is when and how this joyous, love-filled day began.

Several martyrs’ stories are associated with the origins of Valentine’s Day. One of the most widely known suggests that Valentine was a Roman priest who went against the law at a time when marriage had been banned for young men. He continued to perform marriage ceremonies for young lovers in secret and when he was discovered, he was sentenced to death.

Another tale claims that Valentine was killed for helping Christians escape from Roman prisons. Yet another says that Valentine himself sent the first valentine when he fell in love with a girl and sent her a letter and signed it, “From your Valentine.”

Other claims suggest that it all began when Geoffrey Chaucer, an Englishman often referred to as the father of English literature, wrote a poem that was the first to connect St. Valentine to romance. From there, it evolved into a day when lovers would express their feelings for each other. Cue the flowers, sweets, and cards!

Regardless of where the holiday came from, these stories all have one thing in common: They celebrate the love we are capable of as human beings. And though that’s largely in a romantic spirit these days, it doesn’t have to be. You could celebrate love for a sister, a friend, a parent, even a pet.

We hope all our patients know how much we love them! Wishing you all a very happy Valentine’s Day from the team at Amundson Dental Associates!

Brittney Goes to School!

Hello Everyone,

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. Yesterday our class participated in "Give a Kid a Smile Day". In the clinic we cleaned teeth and placed sealants to children under the age of 18. Many of these children may not have dental services available to them. The turn-out was great.

In addition, we are putting a presentation together to teach kindergarteners and 1st graders the importance of brushing their teeth. During the presentation, we will use puppets to show how to brush their teeth, fun games to teach healthy food choices, and hopefully, they will want to see their dentist and take care of their teeth into adulthood. We are taking precautions with COVID and will be presenting via zoom. We have fun ideas in mind to keep the kids engaged.

The semester has been crazy busy and keeps my mind from stressing out about the little things. We start seeing patients next week!

See you next week

Did you know there are as many types of dental fillings as there are flavors of ice cream? Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration. Still, when you visit the dentist with a cavity, there are many filling options. Most of us just sit in the chair, open our mouths, and let the dentist work his or her magic. But have you ever stopped to consider what the dentist is filling and restoring your decayed or broken tooth with?

Five types of dental fillings

There are five basic kinds of dental filing material. The dentist decides which type to use based on the degree of the decay, the cost of the material, and the type of dental insurance you have.

1. Dental amalgam, or silver fillings, have been used to fill cavities for more than 150 years. Dental amalgam is the most common type of dental filling. It's strong, durable, and less expensive than other types.
2. Composite fillings, or white fillings, are popular because the color matches the rest of your teeth. Composite fillings are a combination of resin and plastic. They are more aesthetically pleasing than silver fillings, but are also less durable.
3. Ceramic fillings are durable and visually appealing (tooth-colored), but they are expensive. They are made of porcelain and have been shown to be resistant to staining.
4. Glass ionomers are typically used on children whose teeth are still changing. Constructed from glass and acrylic, glass ionomers are designed to last fewer than five years. The benefit of these dental fillings is that they release fluoride, which protects the changing tooth from further decay.
5. Unless you’re a rock or movie star, gold fillings aren’t common. While a gold filling is durable, non-corrosive, and can last more than 15 years, it not only takes more than one dental visit to place, but, as you can imagine, it is expensive.

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

Hello everyone!

Where does the time go? This week in clinic, we are continuing to practice our skills on each other. We are grouped in pairs of two and clean each other’s teeth. At the beginning of February, I get to put those skills to use in the community, which is very exciting. I am participating in a program called “Give Kids a Smile”. This program allows any child that does not have the opportunity to see a dentist a chance to get their teeth cleaned.

The classes this semester have kept me very busy. Trying to study at home is almost impossible when you have such a fun-loving kid. My son Kayden loves to run around playing tag, throwing/rolling a ball, and climbing all over everything including me. So, I do most of my studying when he is asleep, which has been a transition for me to get used to since I am not a night owl. But we are making it work.

I hope you guys have a great week!

Brittney