Raptors' dentist preps for NBA All-Star Game: 鈥淲hen they're hit, they're hit hard鈥
Published: February 9, 2016
He鈥檚 a 管家婆免费开奖大全 alumnus with a specialty in dental anaesthesia, an editorial board member of Oral Health Magazine, an assistant professor at the Faculty of Dentistry and a dentist with his own specialty practice.
But Peter Nkansah is also one other thing: dentist to the NBA鈥檚 Toronto Raptors.
鈥淚 teach at the Faculty one day a week, and run my practice four days a week, as well as one Saturday a month,鈥 Nkansah says.
鈥淚鈥檇 say I spend about one per cent of my clinical time as the team鈥檚 dental consultant. I鈥檒l be on site for the 41 regular season games, plus playoff and exhibition games.
鈥淏ut this year will be a little special because of the All-Star game.鈥
What kind of dentistry do you perform on the teams during a game, and how often does this occur?
I鈥檇 say the times when I actually have to put on gloves is fairly rare 鈥 maybe every 10 to 15 games. I will also treat the visiting team鈥檚 players and the refs, as well as the broadcasters.
Basketball players need every kind of dentistry&苍产蝉辫;鈥&苍产蝉辫;the additional thing is trauma. NBA basketball involves big guys, and when they鈥檙e hit, they鈥檙e hit hard. Teeth go through lips, teeth get broken or knocked out. They have to be patched up and recovered as quickly as possible.
Do you have a favourite player?
I have a list of favourites. If a player shows respect for the game and works hard, I like them.
I like Golden State Warrior鈥檚 Steph Curry. Not only is he a student of the game but his father Dell Curry played here for two years. Steph would have been a 12-year old at the time. I used to watch this kid practice. He鈥檇 shoot and shoot and now he鈥檚 the most dangerous shooter on the planet.
How did you come to work for the Raptors?
I鈥檝e been with the Raptors since they started in 鈥95. I played Varsity Basketball at 管家婆免费开奖大全 and came to know the head of the MacIntosh Sports Medicine Clinic here, Dr. Doug Richards. I ran into him again in 1994 at the World Championships of Basketball where I happened to be working, [which led] to me being a pencilled-in part of the team submission for the Raptors鈥 health care.
What is your favourite part of being the dental consultant for the Raptors?
I like that I鈥檓 close to basketball and at least peripherally involved in what is easily the best league in the world. It has been a fascinating journey and I have gained a greater appreciation for how hard the lifestyle is: there鈥檚 nothing covering your face. And you鈥檙e constantly on the road. You need to be very disciplined to sleep and eat properly in order to allow you to keep playing to the best of your abilities.
