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I’ve had my fair share of bosses—some were fantastic, while others… let’s just say they could win awards for making Mondays feel like a horror movie. Take Dr. Hockett, for example. With a degree in psychology, he worked wonders with patients battling their inner demons. Meanwhile, some bosses who shall remain nameless thought it was a brilliant idea to turn off the AC in summer and the heat in winter over the weekend. You know, just to keep the suspense alive for Monday morni

Gardening season is coming to an end. The days are getting shorter and cooler weather is upon us! Robin Hays has the best green thumb and shares this video on how her garden grows with some end-of-season gardening tips!

My sister and I have been visiting my mom’s winter digs for over 15 years. It’s a 55 and over Retirement Park called Limetree Park in Bonita Springs Florida. It’s my Happy Place. I’ve gained and lost so many special friends from there, all of who have warmed my heart in some way. They say that socially active seniors tend to live longer and enjoy stronger immune systems and if you live here, you have a “built-in neighborhood” and lots of opportunities for conversations and su

You would have to be living under a rock to not be familiar with electric/rechargeable toothbrushes but almost every day we get questions about which one to buy, how are they different and do they really make a difference. Trust me I could write many posts on this subject and direct you to any number of scientific articles. I’m sure you’d enjoy my posts but the articles would be boring. To make this simple, I am creating a pros and cons list for you with a focus on the Philip

Our adorable grandson Robin is 2 1/2 years old and lives in Pennsylvania. With my husband Allan being a dentist, naturally, we are interested in the care of Robin’s mouth and teeth, so I asked our son for a refresher on what oral care they have given Robin since his birth. PEDIATRIC ORAL CARE REFRESHER COURSE Before any of his teeth arrived, during his earliest baby days, Robin’s pediatrician advised Mom and Dad they use a damp washcloth moistened with plain water to wipe his

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY Christmas came early this year! We here at Prairie Village Dentists got an amazing gift from all of you… You voted us a “2021 Neighborhood Favorite” on Nextdoor! AGAIN! (cue the horns, clapping, and whistling ; ) In all seriousness (which is not our standard fare), we’ve been thinking about what it is exactly that makes you all notice and recognize us as being such a special place. Possibly because: All of the changes that we’ve seen in dentistry over th

2020 taught us many things about ourselves. It taught us that we are resilient. It helped remind us how precious our relationships are and how important face-to-face interaction can be. It reminded us how invigorating and life-giving trips and vacations can be. It reminded us to appreciate the little things like breathing fresh air and going out to eat. But most importantly, for me, it brought to light the fact that I should not be racing to the destination. Life is my journe

I rescued the most adorable 2-year-old female Chihuahua/Miniature Pinscher mix last August. She is the first dog I’ve had as an adult. The shelter told me she came from the floods in Texas and had been in a hoarding situation. They knew nothing else about her. She’s brown, so she was given the name “Brownie”. When I got her home, I named her “Piper,” swearing I would NEVER call her “Pipes,” but I do. Since this was my first experience as a pet owner, I was totally overwhelmed

A few years ago, I went to see a lecture given by one of the best speakers I have ever heard, and bonus points, she was also a hygienist! She was at the time at the forefront of oral cancer detection as well as other things, and I was just amazed by her determination to look beyond the scope of just in-office dental hygiene in her career. So from then on, I made it a point to follow her on social media. This last year, she gave an interview on what Guided Biofilm Therapy is a

Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought you would really love for your teeth to be straighter? We now have the world’s most advanced Aligner material and Clear Braces available at our office. We offer Six Month Smiles®. It is comfortable, clear, and has the ability to flex and gently move teeth in most cases in 6 months or less. Treatment is surprisingly affordable, and if your insurance will not cover this treatment, we offer financing to help with almost any budget.

As dental providers, we know visiting the dentist during this time of uncertainty in the age of COVID-19 raises many questions. To help ease any uncertainty about visiting the dentist during this time of our lives, we have compiled a list of common questions regarding treatment, care, and what to expect when you visit the dentist. We hope this aids our patients, current or new, in feeling confident in adding a dental visit to their “lists of doctors’ visits.” After all, regul

Teething is the natural process of when teeth start coming through a baby’s gums. During hygiene school I took a course dedicated to the process of tooth growth, bone growth and gum growth…I just wished they prepared us for the actual teething process. As a new mom it has been pretty difficult differentiating teething with other illnesses such as the common cold or a gastrointestinal illness. Luckily over time, my husband and I have figured out some tell tale signs that were

Fact- No Insurance Pays 100% of All Procedures Dental insurance is intended to help cover the cost of dental care. Many patients believe their insurance covers 90%-100% of dental fees. This is not true! Most plans only pay between 50%-80% of the average total cost. Some pay more, and some pay less. The percentage is usually determined by how much you or your employer has paid for the coverage, or by the type of contract your employer has with the insurance company. Fact

When I started learning about dentistry, I was under the impression that the reason we had our teeth cleaned a couple of times a year was so that they wouldn’t one day, way down the line, get wiggly and fall out. Cavities seemed like a now thing, but gum disease seemed like a disease that really wouldn’t affect me until I was much older and toothless. Well, it seems like that impression was wrong in a lot of ways. Cavities are scary, but they are fairly easy to prevent, and w

Did you know that you are able to try an Oral-B electric, rechargeable toothbrush in our office? Too good to be true, right?! We want you to be using the best oral health products available, and electric brushes have been shown in independent research studies to “reduce plaque and gingivitis more than manual toothbrushing.” * Removal of more plaque means a healthier mouth for you! Not only does research support the fact that electric brushes remove more plaque, but we in o

Coffee, it’s something most of us can’t live without. Who doesn’t love coffee, the oh so sweet aroma while brewing, that first sip that brings us so much joy. That “Cup of Joe” is something needed for most of us to even start our day, relying on it to simply function. Did you know that about 64% of Americans drink a cup of coffee every day? I am one of them. Something most of us don’t think about when we are enjoying that wonderful cup of coffee is what it is doing to our tee

Activated charcoal teeth whitening products. They’re out there… like, a lot! If you do a search for them on Amazon, you’ll find over 2,000 results! It’s no wonder our patients are coming in en masse asking if they should be doing it, too, since everyone else they know already is! Personally, I thought it was just a quick blip that would pass relatively quickly in the dental world, yet here we still are. Even if you don’t actively go seeking it out, it seems to find you anyway

In this day and age, longevity in a job is almost unheard of. Current-day careers are a series of job positions, making your way up the ladder by going where the money and higher positions are located. In this office, our “family” of people at Prairie Village Dentists, longevity is a standard. This long-standing practice has been built on and by people who have made their lives a part of this practice. Sherry, the Office Manager, started working back in 1979, when Dr. Bob was

Brushing your teeth seems easy enough, but some toothbrushes are better than others, and there is a right and wrong way to brush your teeth. Brushing your teeth on a regular basis is at the heart of maintaining healthy teeth and gums. As well as preventing periodontal (gum) disease. It’s also important to make sure you choose the right toothbrush for your teeth and use proper brushing techniques. Done correctly, brushing your teeth at least twice a day- in the morning and in

Why are some people more prone to tooth decay than others? The Problem Lifestyle habits play a big role in whether you get cavities or not. Also, a certain percentage of decay-prone folks harbor an overpopulation of bacteria in their mouths that cause tooth decay. If you are decay-prone, you become a high-risk dental patient who must alter lifestyle habits and routines. The Routine A decay-prone person risks losing all of his or her teeth. So what follows is a “must-do” advic