By Amy Morgan
YCuring Cavities
7to7 Dental Offers Innovative Treatment to Heal Teeth
from the Inside Out
ou have a cavity. No one likes to hear those words. And almost as bad is the ominous news that your dentist is “watching a tooth.” While applying fluoride to the teeth could make them stronger before a cavity began to develop, once the enamel had been breached, there was little to be done – just wait until the weak spot was deep enough to require a filling. But recently, a new product called Curodont has been introduced in the United States to treat early tooth decay and regenerate tooth enamel.
“It literally heals your tooth from the inside out,” said Mandy Dennis, R.D.H., who directs Hygiene Operations for 7to7 Dental & Orthodontics’ 11 locations.
7to7 Dental began offering Curodont in December, and Mandy personally has already administered it hundreds of times.
Easy and painless, the dental hygienist applies the solution directly to the trouble area on the tooth surface. Curodont’s peptide P11-4 seeps into the tooth and creates a scaffold to rebuild the demineralized area. It attracts the calcium and phosphate chemicals already present in the saliva (which are actually the same minerals that make up tooth enamel.) The minerals build upon the peptide scaffold, which literally works like the rebar in a foundation to undergird the cement. Over time, the minerals crystallize and create a new enamel-like structure that becomes part of the tooth. Violacavity prevented!
Curodont is simple to use. The hygienist rehydrates a tiny white square of the freeze-dried peptide solution and applies it with a single-use swab. “We place the actual material on the tooth,” Mandy said. “And we don’t open a cube until we need it,” which ensures a sanitary and safe process. The procedure takes barely five minutes.
Braces-wearers can benefit from Curodont as well. Orthodontic patients may notice white spots of demineralization on teeth where brackets allowed plaque to linger on teeth. Curodont can heal these
Curodont is being applied to teeth to heal a tooth from the inside out
Curodont offers a solution instead of waiting until a problem has exacerbated. It’s pain free, requires no shots or drilling and prevents a tooth from potential damage. Every time a tooth is cut on, it damages its structural integrity, setting up a cascade of potential future problems – a larger filling, a crown, a root canal, and potential tooth loss, Mandy warned.
The treatment’s advent further underscores the importance of regular bi-annual dental visits, because your hygienist should be able to notice any developing problems in time to treat them. “We no longer have to just watch a cavity,” Mandy said.
7to7 Dental carefully considered the research before bringing Curodont into their practice. “We made sure this was the best technology with proven results to offer our patients,” Mandy proclaimed. The practice invested in training their dental professionals to offer the innovative treatment.
While most insurances don’t cover Curodont, its cost remains much lower than the more invasive procedures required once damage has progressed — and it protects the integrity of the tooth. Patients covered by 7to7 Dental’s Platinum Plan do benefit from a 10% discount on Curdont. So don’t put off that next dental appointment. You now have another compelling reason to stay current with your office visits every six-months.
areas on the teeth and restore them to their natural color.
Komet Communications
PR Firm Celebrates 20 Years Helping Businesses Share their Message
By Amy Morgan
Are you a small business owner? When was the last time you updated your collateral or your website? First it was SEO, now it's AI. Technology is changing so quickly; if it’s been more than a few years since you modernized, you might already be left behind. If you’re feeling confused, reach out to Leslie Komet Ausburn, owner of PR and marketing firm Komet Communications, to help you strategize and present a targeted, cohesive approach.
Although Komet Communications has been based in San Antonio for more than 20 years, Leslie works with local, regional and national clients of all sizes and budgets. She’s skilled at determining the best approach to meet the right audiences, a task increasingly complicated in today’s cluttered information landscape.
“It’s amazing how things keep changing at warp speed,” she said. “You have to be nimble and willing to learn.” Not that long ago, there were limited media outlets – TV, radio, print – the internet was new. “Now there are so many places you can tell your story – online, streaming, through earned or paid media – a client can get overwhelmed,” she continued. “You have to understand your ecosystem and go where you are most relevant.” Effective use of social media is so much more than just generating likes and clicks.
“Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know,” Leslie added. “Are your posts growing the right audiences to move your business forward? Are your stories gaining traction? Clients are trying to run a business and rarely have time to manage all those things well,” she said. Leslie uses analytic tools to track data and cut through the clutter.
She manages her graphic design, photography and videography teams to ensure all messaging is strategically aligned, crisp and clear on differentiators, and enhanced by vivid graphics and pictures. Komet often creates videos for a live presentation or to post on YouTube or Instagram that “show instead of tell.” Leslie also arranges high-value opportunities for clients to interact in person.
Recently, Komet Communications helped a recycling company rebrand and update their web presence. Leslie produced a video for the home page that featured their industrial-sized machinery in motion to emphasize the company’s scale and professionalism. Then Leslie coordinated with the tech developer to make sure the back-end metadata was complete before bringing a clientready product for review.
Leslie began her public relations work following a successful career anchoring and reporting television news. She graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Texas and obtained a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University, where she covered national news from Washington D.C.’s Capitol Hill. When the San Antonio native returned home after TV stints in Corpus Christi, Southeast Georgia and DallasFort Worth, she worked at Kens 5, WOAI-TV News 4, and was part of the team that launched the 24-hour News 9 channel. The busy entrepreneur also produced a national radio show for household hints columnist Heloise.
Although her workdays started early, Leslie was able to be home after school with her three children (now in their 20s).
Leslie draws from her media background to advise Komet Communications’ clients on crisis communication preparation and response, an area critically important in today’s volatile environment.
“Every organization has things that keep them up at night,” she said. It could be a natural disaster or a data breach, embezzlement or violence at their place of business. Whatever the situation, Leslie can step in and help company leadership deal with the problem. She provides support from an outsider’s perspective without entangling emotions.
“You can’t prevent everything from happening, but you can be thoughtful about how you respond,” she said. “I feel good knowing I have the skills to help people at their most vulnerable. Rather than offer a knee-jerk, emotional reaction, we help clients communicate in a way that is authentic and transparent and shares what needs to be shared without unintentionally creating new problems.”
Leslie emphasizes the value of developing a crisis management plan in advance with all employees. “Any business needs to be ready for the ‘what if,’” she said. “Everyone is a reporter now. Everyone has a camera on their cellphone. It is so helpful to have a plan in place before the house is on fire. You still have to do the work should something happen, but at least you have a foundation for those initial steps.”
Leslie’s first official client in the early 2000s was San Antonio ice cream company, il Dulce Futuro, an early pioneer in the use of Splenda. Local ophthalmologist Dr. Michael Singer noticed many of his diabetic patients missed having the sweet treat. His vision was to create an ice cream that wouldn’t spike their blood sugar. Leslie was able to promote the product through national media outlets like the New York Times and the Today show. “I really appreciated Michael taking a risk with me,” she said.
Leslie feels most satisfied when her clients shine, but she’s collected a few trophies of her own. She was named the 2018 PR Agency of the Year by the Metro San Antonio Chamber and awarded a Tex Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award from the Public Relations Society of America’s San Antonio chapter. She also received Impact and Above and Beyond Awards from Vistage business development organization for her work helping companies navigate communication challenges during COVID.
Another meaningful campaign for Komet Communications has been working with The Ecumenical Center, which has provided trauma counseling to the Kerrville area community since the devastating floods last summer. “They are really unsung heroes,” Leslie enthused. She was able to help them communicate with compassion and care, field media inquiries, and manage social media and community requests. Leslie felt so strongly about their work that she nominated them for a San Antonio Business Journal Impact Award – and was thrilled when they not only won their award category but were named Non-Profit of the Year. She felt honored to be part of their work “in some small way,” and especially in memory of her mother, a psychologist, who started her mental health professional journey volunteering at the Ecumenical Center before pursuing her master’s and doctoral degrees.
As Leslie reflects on her two decades of business, she credits the support of her husband and three children, as well as the people she’s worked with. “We wouldn’t be successful if we didn’t have great clients and work with great people,” she said. Connect with Komet Communications and see why Leslie’s an expert at helping businesses tell their stories strategically and successfully.
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS Of Helping Clients
Tell Their Stories
SERVICES
• Public Relations
• Strategic Communications
• Graphic Design
• Video Production
• Website Development and Site Management
• Social Media Management
• Media Buying
• Media Training
• Crisis Communication Training and Support
• Litigation Strategic Communications
• Personal Branding Workshops
Leslie Komet Ausburn, President
Komet Marketing Communications
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from UT at Austin
Master of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University
Certified Social Media Manager
Extensive training and experience in Crisis Communications Management
Community Calendar
Presented by Frost
Activities at the Walker Ranch Senior Center – Monday - Friday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Hot meals served daily from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. for qualifying seniors and their spouses. Exercise, field trips, bingo, loteria, movies, arts and crafts, free health and wellness screenings vary daily. 835 W. Rhapsody 78216; 210-207-5280.
Stone Oak Rotary Club – Tuesdays, noon-1 p.m. Guest speakers weekly. Dona Tota, 923 Loop 1604 W. #115 78232; www.stoneoaksarotary.org
Tejas Rodeo – Saturdays, March through November, 5 p.m. – 1 a.m. Enjoy live rodeo action: bronco riding, team roping, barrel racing, mutton bustin’ and calf scramble. Live music at 9 p.m. Tejas Rodeo Company, 401 Obst Road 78163; www.tejasrodeo.com.
S.T.A.G.E. Theater presents If the Good Lord’sWilling and the Creek Don’t Rise – March 1, 6-8. 8 p.m., matinee Sunday, 2:30 p.m., doors open one hour prior. Zany comedy about an eccentric retired judge, presented by the Bulverde Community Theatre. STAGE, 1300 Bulverde Road 78163; www.stagebulverde.org.
Two-step Tuesdays at Stable Hall – Tuesdays, March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 6 p.m. Country line dance and partner classes for all levels with Shellie and Ben, live music with The Joe Panther Band afterward. Stable Hall, 307 Pearl Parkway 78215; www.stablehall.com
Chicago in Concert – Saturday, March 7, 8 p.m. Chicago’s lifetime achievements include two Grammy and two American Music Awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a total of 48 gold and platinum awards. Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St. 78205; www.majesticempire.com/events.
Otherwild at the San Antonio Botanical Garden – Saturday, March 7 – Tuesday, July 7. This large-scale immersive exhibit features the visionary work of artist Patrick Shearn, known for turning public spaces into areas of magic, movement, and awe. San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Place 78209; www.sabot.org.
NEISD Spring Break – March 9-13, 2026
Single Professionals Networking Meeting – Wednesday, March 11, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Join other 55+ widowed, divorced and single mature professionals for conversation, libations and food in a relaxed, social setting. Milano’s, 19239 Stone Oak Parkway 78258; www.spn-sa.org
Dragons Love Tacos – Thursday, March 12 - Sunday, March 15, times vary. Discover the dietary delights and dilemmas of dragons in this Magik Theatre live production adapted from the New York Times bestselling book. The Texas A&M University San Antonio Auditorium, One University Way 78224; www.magiktheatre.org
Helotes Beer Garden Run – Saturday, March 14, 7:30 - 8:30 a.m., 13.1, 5K, 1K, staggered starts. Cheers to running, fun and great beer, benefits Hope Hits Harder. Helotes Festival Grounds, 12210 Leslie Road, Helotes 78023; www.scallywompus.com.
St. Patrick’s Day River Parade and River Dyeing – Saturday, March 14, 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. Sunday, March 15, 1-3 p.m. River Parade and Festival celebrate the luck of the Irish and dyeing the river green at both the Museum Reach and downtown locations. San Antonio River Walk 78205; www.visitsanantonio.com/event/st-patricks-river-parade
New Orleans Night! A Mardi Gras Party – Friday, March 16, 7, 9:30, 11:59 p.m. Featuring classic New Orleans tunes like “When the Saints Go Marching In.” The Aidan Berg Trio shakes things up in the midnight set. Jazz TX, 313 Pearl Parkway 78215; info@jazztx.com
Embraced Girls Night Out – Thursday, March 19, 7 p.m., doors open at 5 p.m. An evening for women with guest speaker Christine Caine. Worship and word in the sanctuary after a marketplace and chocolate fountain in the Community Hall. Cornerstone Church, 187755 Stone Oak Parkway 78258; www.sacornerstone.org
Styx in Concert – Thursday, March 26, 7:30 p.m. Styx draws from more than five decades of chart hits and joyous singalongs. Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St. 78205; www.majesticempire.com/events
American Harmony – Friday, March 28, 7:30 p.m. The Orchestra of San Antonio presents a jazz performance celebrating America’s 250 years of independence. Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, HEB Performance Hall, 100 Auditorium Circle 78205; www.tobincenter.org
Valero Texas Open – Monday, March 30 - Sunday, April 5. Venerated golf tournament will celebrate its 104th anniversary in Texas. TPC, 23808 Resort Parkway 78261; www.valerotexasopen.com
Exhausted or Energized
By Camp Bow Wow Staff
Dogs, like people, thrive when their needs are met. A balanced diet and physical activity go a long way toward contributing to a healthy life (and curb destructive behavior). Many experts make dog care advice sound simple: just exercise your pup. Long walks. Lots of play. Run them until they are tired.
Physical exercise does play an important role in keeping dogs healthy. It supports muscles, joints, and overall conditioning when done thoughtfully. But despite what seems like some dogs’ boundless energy, your pup was not designed for nonstop, repetitive movement without purpose.
Think about yourself. You’ve probably felt pleasantly fatigued after a good workout or a long walk. Endorphins released during exercise contribute to elevated mood and sense of well-being. Compare that to the ache of performing an unstimulating, physically challenging task to the point of exhaustion. That doesn’t energize you – it depletes you.
Likewise for your furry family member. What many dog owners miss is that physical tiredness does not always equate with fulfillment and contentment. An exhausted dog is not necessarily a balanced dog.
Physical Fatigue vs Mental Fulfillment
Mental stimulation engages canine instincts, problem solving skills, and emotional regulation. This kind of tiredness shows up in Fido as calm behavior, better focus, and the ability to settle.
Why Mental Work Matters
Mental exercise gives your pup purpose. Many breeds were developed for specific tasks, and when those instincts are engaged, dogs feel naturally satisfied.
Hounds benefit from scent-based activities. Herding breeds thrive on focus and direction. Working breeds respond well to task-based challenges. Retrievers enjoy problem solving paired with light movement.
Training as Mental Enrichment
Short training sessions during daycare or boarding offer powerful mental stimulation. Dogs practice impulse control, communication, and adaptability. They are learning, thinking, and engaging in ways that build confidence and reinforce good habits. These are activities that do not overwhelm the body. They settle your pup’s mind. Mental work also helps reduce boredom-driven behaviors (think chewing up your shoes) and supports emotional regulation.
What Activities Actually Engage Your Pup (Hint: It’s Not Just Exercise)
Why Rest Is Just as Important
After spending time at a daycare or boarding environment, your pup might come home with mild muscle or joint stiffness from an active day. Just like you might feel sore after an enthusiastic workout, it simply means bodies were used. Stiffness is also a reminder that more activity is not always better. You may have heard trainers talk about being sure to build in a rest day. Injuries can sideline an athlete if they overwork.
Like people, dogs need recovery time. Without structured breaks, constant physical activity can place unnecessary stress on muscles and joints over time, and especially for puppies, large breeds, or senior dogs. While play and mental stimulation are essential, rest is equally important for a dog’s overall well-being. Rest allows the body to recover, the nervous system to reset and your pup to settle in. Well run daycare/boarding environments rotate between structured play, mental stimulation and planned rest periods throughout the day. The goal is not physical exhaustion. It’s balance.
At camp, rest is not an afterthought. It is part of healthy care. Calm breaks help prevent overstimulation, reduce stress, and protect long term joint and muscle health. Dogs that are given time to decompress are better able to engage positively when it is time to play or learn again. A pup that never slows down is not thriving. He is overstimulated.
What a Truly Tired Dog Looks Like
You’ll know your dog is fulfilled because he’s not collapsing from exhaustion. He’ll be calm, responsive and able to rest comfortably. Fido will engage when it is time to play and relax when it is time to recover. The idea of playing all day can be fun, but mental stimulation paired with structured rest is what will create lasting balance. When choosing care for your dog, it is worth asking about playtime. Not just how much but how their day is paced. Because a well-cared for dog is not just tired. He’s healthy, balanced and content.
5 FULL DAYS OF CAMP, 1 BATH AND 1 ENRICHMENT FOR only $156! * enhanced first day special!
*LEGAL: Offer valid only at below locations. Camper must pass interview and meet entrance requirements. New customers only. Other restrictions apply.
Crushing Clinicals
Reagan Student Leverages Curricula to Jumpstart Future Nursing Career
By Amy Morgan
Path to Green – the phrase describes the foot-onthe-gas, obstacle-overcoming, can-do attitude of Ronald Reagan High School senior Michael Sauder. He can’t wait to explore anything hands on, practical and in-person. Currently, he’s participating in Reagan’s Clinical 2 health career class, which entails spending Monday and Wednesday mornings not sitting in a school classroom but shadowing health care personnel at several Stone Oak hospitals and clinics.
“This class lays the foundation for what I want to do,” Michael said. “You get to talk to real people doing real things – that has been such a huge eye-opener.” Michael plans to pursue a career in nursing, inspired by the nurses who uplifted him when he battled Hodgkins Lymphoma during fourth and fifth grades. “I didn’t get depressed or sad even though I was surrounded by needles and all the scary parts,” he said. “I attribute that to the nurses who were so positive and happy. They showed me there’s no way out but forward and that I could get through it. That is the driving motivation for why I want to go into health care.” Michael further hopes to specialize in oncology.
Now “completely in remission and never better,” he’s actively working to attain a phlebotomy certification through Reagan’s course. Michael’s already received his OSHA card and learned the required HIPPA rules. Once he passes the final exam and completes 30 IV sticks, he’ll qualify to become a certified phlebotomist and can start working in a health care setting. Now he’s just a few sticks away from his goal. The most challenging part, he said, (other than convincing patients to give a student a chance on their veins) is to remember the order of the vials to draw.
Clinical 2 is not the only Reagan practical course in which Michael has been involved. He’s been part of AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) all four years and now serves as president. More than just a class, the program provides support, knowledge and resources to ease the college admission process. Taught by Ms. Newberg, students learn how to search for universities that will be a good match for their interests and abilities and obtain the maximum tuition assistance for which they are eligible. That includes completing the lengthy FAFSA financial form used by colleges to determine aid.
“There’s a lot of pressure to get it (the FAFSFA) done,” Michael said, “because the longer you put it off, the
less money you will get.” Last fall, Ms. Newberg insisted her students not start a new project until everyone in the class had finished. “Sometimes you just have to buckle down,” Michael said. AVID also provides time for students to access peer help or even tutoring.
“It’s those small times I needed help and got help that inspired me to stay in AVID,” he said.
He considers Ms. Newberg “someone you can rely on at a major point in your life when decisions matter,” he said. One motivating factor in Michael’s decision to run for president was to tell Ms. Newberg, “Thanks for having us.” He’s proud of the fact that he was elected through the democratic system by one peer vote.
Michael determined through the AVID research process that his best college choice based on quality of nursing program and cost was the University of Kansas. He’ll join the freshman class of 2026 with a significant KU performance award scholarship applied to his tuition. He’ll just miss his sister, Kate, (RHS 2022) who’ll graduate from KU in May and join his father and grandfather in the ranks of the school’s alumni.
Both AVID and two years spent as part of RHS’s JROTC program built Michael’s appreciation for discipline and strengthened his ability to overcome challenges. “You don’t have to be scared if you’ve done the work and are prepared,” he said.
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