Dr. Mullaney's Blog

Summer is Here- Time to Grill

paige — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:33:58 +0000

This is one of my favorite recipes for summer cooking- just a little prep time for alot of flavor. I usually serve in fajitas but it also makes a great steak salad. Hope you enjoy and welcome to summer!
Marinade:
1/3 c olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
1/3 c soy sauce
1/4 c honey
1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper

Other ingredients
2 lbs flank steak
kosher salt
Red peppers
Green peppers
Onions
Combine all marinade ingredients together in a bowl. Take flank steak and score surface with 1/4 inch deep knife cuts, about an inch apart across the grain of the meat. Place marinade and steak in a ziploc bag. Chill for at least 4 hours or overnight, turning when you can. Cut up peppers into strips shortly before grilling. These can be cooked on the grill or a pan. Cook until slightly caramelized. Preheat grill to high. Take marinated steak out of bag and place kosher salt and black pepper on each side. Grill for aprox. 4-6 mins. Do not overcook. Take steak off grill and cut into thin slices against the grain. Enjoy!

Velscope technology and early oral cancer detection

paige — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:22:30 +0000

Our technologically advanced Velscope is best known for it’s ability to assist in the discovery of oral cancer and precancerous lesions. Every hour of every day in America someone dies of oral cancer. The disease claims over twice as many lives as cervical cancer. Unlike most types of cancer, the number of new cases of oral cancer has not declined materially in the past three decades. Oral cancer’s high mortality rate is due to the fact that the disease is usually discovered in late stages. When discovered early the survival rate is between 80-90%.

The Velscope system is the first adjunctive device cleared by the FDA to help clinicians see cancerous and precancerous lesions that might not be visible to the naked eye. The Velscope hand piece emits a safe blue light into the oral cavity, causing tissue to become fluorescent from the surface to the basement of the membrane. The special optical filtering in the hand piece allows the clinician to immediately view the different fluorescence signatures from the oral tissue to help differentiate between normal and abnormal tissue. Abnormal tissue typically appears as irregular, dark areas that stand against the otherwise normal green fluoresce pattern surrounding healthy tissue. This exam takes only 2-3 minutes.

We are happy to offer our patients this technology in their preventive exams. If you have further questions about the Velscope feel free to ask Dr. Mullaney on your next visit to the office.

Information referenced from Velscope

St. Patrick’s Day Shepherd’s Pie

paige — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:28:54 +0000

Ingredients
2 pounds potatoes, such as russet, peeled and cubed
2 tablespoons sour cream or softened cream cheese
1 large egg yolk
1/2 cup cream, for a lighter version substitute vegetable or chicken broth
salt and pepper
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan
1 3/4 pounds ground beef or ground lamb
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup beef stock or broth
2 teaspoons Worcestershire
1/2 cup frozen peas
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

Directions
Boil potatoes in salted water until tender, about 12 minutes. Drain potatoes and pour them into a bowl. Combine sour cream, egg yolk and cream. Add the cream mixture into potatoes and mash until potatoes are almost smooth.
While potatoes boil, preheat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add oil to hot pan with beef or lamb. Season meat with salt and pepper. Brown and crumble meat for 3-4 minutes. If you are using lamb and the pan is fatty, spoon away some of the drippings. Add chopped carrot and onion to meat. Cook veggies with meat 5 minutes, stirring frequently. In a second small skillet over medium heat cook butter and flour together 2 minutes. Whisk in broth and Worcestershire sauce. Thicken gravy 1 minute. Add gravy to meat and vegetables. Stir in peas.
Preheat broiler to high. Fill a small rectangular casserole with meat and vegetable misture. Spoon potatoes over meat evenly. Top with paprika and broil 6 to 8 inches from heat until evenly browned. Top casserole dish with parsley and serve.
Serves 4

Snowmageddon

paige — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 14:12:15 +0000

It sure was a snowy week! We have broken the all time snow totals for the Washington DC area and winter is not even done yet. I think all of us are looking forward to spring!

Do You Angie’s List?

paige — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:15:00 +0000

We have recently joined Angie’s List and would love for you to submit comments about your experiences with our office. If you are not familiar with Angie’s List it is a website devoted to consumer reviews from everything from the medical field to home improvments. Members can rate their experiences with providers on a A-F scale and post comments. Non members can also post comments via what is called a “report card”. We all know word of mouth is the best way to find what you are looking for and Angie’s List helps to provided you with the information you need to make confident choices in the services you select. During your next visit we would love for you to pick up a “report card” and give your feedback so that other consumers can find us.

Comfortable Anesthesia–”The Wand” is Here!

Dr. Mullaney — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 02:01:39 +0000

I continually monitor and assess the advancing state of the art in Dental technology and, when warranted, I will introduce especially beneficial additions to patient care.

I am pleased to have begun using a truly wonderful device – the Wand handpiece. Using this computerized tool has meant providing local anesthetic injections of all types with true ease – and most importantly, to the complete comfort of my patients. I hold the Wand like a pen, and it offers unmatched tactile feel and ease of control, absent the usual muscle fatigue that eventually occurs with a traditional syringe. The Wand now makes giving an injection one of the simplest tasks I do for each patient.

I Love My New Laser!

Dr. Mullaney — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 01:55:16 +0000

I Love My New Laser! It allows me to gently and easily re-shape and balance the gum tissues while designing a beautiful new smile for a patient. It saves my patients time and money (they no longer need a referral to a periodontist for this procedure), for as I do the above, I am also preparing the teeth for cosmetic porcelain veneers and crowns.

My specialized laser is precise, much less traumatic, and enables prompt healing with less post-operative discomfort than before. This soft tissue laser uses the power of light to vaporize oral soft tissues with unmatched precision. And most importantly, post-operative response will lead to a cleaner and healthier surgical site with less tenderness when compared to alternative methods of surgery. My soft tissue laser permits minor surgical procedures and also decontaminates, or cleanses, the area at the same time. As a result, there is an even lower chance of infection. The laser wound itself is self-healing, requiring no sutures.

I am so excited to have this new laser technology in my practice to better serve my patients- that remains my pre-eminent focus – to continually seek out new ways to improve the quality of care and make their smiles even more outstanding.

Creating a Beautiful New Smile for Our Patient

Dr. Mullaney — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 01:49:47 +0000

I am elated after experiencing the most incredible educational opportunity for my staff and me. We participated in a live-patient continuing education seminar in Philadelphia – led by Dr. David Hornbrook, one of the premiere cosmetic dentists in the United States, and supported by his gifted staff of fellow dental professionals.

Our team included a patient from the practice – we were grateful to have Steve with us. As background, he had never been happy with his smile, and had long been discontented with the large gap between his 2 front teeth and his dark front tooth.

In concert with the curriculum, we designed a brighter, more ideal smile for Steve and closed the large gap in the front of his mouth. The end result from the weekend: Steve is absolutely ecstatic with his new smile. He feels and looks a lot younger and more attractive.

As we dramatically improved Steve’s smile, we worked side-by-side with some of the greatest cosmetic dentists in the world. Moreover, we employed State of the art laser gum reshaping, backed by Premiere dental labs and actual usage of noteworthy brand-new materials in cosmetic dentistry.

The weekend also afforded presentations by world renowned cosmetic dentists, discussing the most recent techniques and technology in cosmetic dentistry, geared for us to bring back to the practice for our valued patients.

We justifiably celebrated at course’s end with our team, the staff and other course participants at the graduation dinner.

We left Philly on a high—even more enthusiastic about the limitless promise that cosmetic dentistry heralds.

Stay tuned for Steve’s Before and After pictures to be posted here!

Our team with Dr. David Hornbrook at graduation.

“American Health Front!” TV Show

Dr. Mullaney — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 01:06:28 +0000

I was very flattered recently when the Medical Media Group (a production company for medical programming) asked me to participate in their television special, “AMERICAN HEALTH FRONT!” . The show is America’s leading independent medical news television program entertaining and educating viewers in markets all across America.

I was asked to be the cosmetic dentistry expert for our Washington regional area in a show that aired on Saturday July 8, 2006 on our ABC Channel affiliate. Custom produced for each market, “AMERICAN HEALTH FRONT!” explains important advances in medical and dental technique and technology and introduces viewers to acknowledged specialists in their community. In my show segment, I discussed the advances in cosmetic dentistry and how we can design a new smile for a patient using porcelain veneers. I was able to present several patients from my practice and show “before and after” photos of their new smiles.

As I later learned, “AMERICAN HEALTH FRONT!” has helped health care consumers nationwide get the kind of vital, up-to-date information that could really make a difference in their lives. Each of the program’s news reports focus on what’s new and more effective in the fascinating and ever-changing world of medicine and dentistry.

I am honored to have been a guest expert on the show and have received great feedback from my patients who tuned in to see me. Keep an eye on the website as we will post a copy of the show soon for all to view.

American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Annual Meeting

Dr. Mullaney — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 01:16:37 +0000

Our team were eager attendees and grateful participants in the Scientific session of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, held in San Diego, California, from May 15- May 20, 2006. The event was inspiring – we were honored to learn from, and train side-by-side with, some of the world’s pre-eminent cosmetic dentists.

Tasha, our devoted dental hygienist, learned some further advanced periodontal therapies - all designed to better serve our patients and to keep their teeth and gums even healthier over a lifetime. She also visited many new product displays – demonstrating a discriminating eye in seeking out the very best and latest “tips of the trade” in home care intructions. Tasha was also an enthusiastic participant in a team-building seminar and admirably showed her passion for dentistry during a high energy session with a leading motivational speaker. Since returning, Tasha has put her new knowledge to great use and has shone even brighter.

Jodi, our business assistant and the friendly voice you hear on the phone, took several advanced cosmetic dental courses to gain increasing conversancy – for the benefit of patients- in the many cosmetic options available in dentistry today. From state-of-the-art whitening, to the newest techniques in porcelain veneers and tooth-colored restorations, Jodi can help you make informed decisions about your options for the latest cosmetic dentistry has to offer. Jodi regularly displays a genuine passion for customer service. Jodi is forever seeking ways to increase her already-impressive devotion to be the best “dental concierge” for our patient.

Juliette, our dental assistant, studied several advanced techniques in cosmetic dentistry and in patient comfort. Juliette is committed to give our patients a “WOW” experience including the most beatiful dentistry delivered in a kind and gentle environment. Juliette’s passion for dentistry comes through in everything that she does in our office. She gets especially energized when we deliver beautiful porcelain veneers to a patient to help them to achieve the smile of their dreams. Through advanced training in digital photography, she has been instrumental in capturing the beautiful before and after images of our patients who have received cosmetic dentistry.

My training at the cosmetic meeting included “hands-on” sessions with top clinicians to utilize the very latest techniques in porcelain veneers. I had an opportunity to ”try out” the newest lasers for tooth and gum recontouring. In Dr. Eubank’s course, we studied how to help patients who have an “aged smile” caused by wear and tear of the teeth, jaw joints, and muscles. It is so exciting to help a patient like this to achieve their dream smile. I took back to my practice lots of updates on new materials, technology, and techniques which I have already begun using to benefit the cosmetic treatment of my patients.

We also found some time in the evenings to have a little fun! One memorable evening, we found ourselves sipping margaritas at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Old Town, San Diego. (This was a restaurant that I frequented in 1987 during my Navy dental residency at San Diego Hospital.) We also dined on some terrific Italian fare in Little Italy.

We all felt it was a very successful meeting. Most importantly, we are all even more galvanized to give the very finest in cosmetic dentistry to our patients, for we realize…almost everyone is a candidate for cosmetic dentistry!