Dental Hygiene Associates of Maine reaches five years of helping patients smile

Simpson honored with Lucy Hobbs Project Award

By Stuart Hedstrom 
Staff Writer

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — For over half a decade, Dental Hygiene Associates of Maine has been providing affordable, quality dental care in a relaxed atmosphere. Since 2012 Katti Simpson, owner and Independent Dental Hygienist, has operated out of the practice’s location in the back of her Summer Street home.

Photo courtesy of Katti Simpson

    PREVENTIVE CARE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY — For over five years Dental Hygiene Associates of Maine has been providing affordable preventive dental care, such as cleanings, sealants and instruction, for children and adults in a relaxed environment at the Dover-Foxcroft location. Independent Dental Hygienist Katti Simpson is located at 78 Summer Street.

    “I continue to see the need for preventive care in our region here,” Simpson said. Simpson, who has worked in the industry for nearly a decade and a half since graduating from the University of New England in 2001, mainly performs dental cleanings and preventive work. The preventative dental care services include adult and child prophylaxis (cleanings) to remove soft and hard deposits from teeth that can cause cavities and gum disease, adult and child fluoride treatments, sealants (a preventive coating over deep teeth grooves), oral hygiene instruction, bad breath management, temporary fillings, in-office teeth brightening and dentist referrals when necessary.
    When a patient — Simpson said she has a patient base of approximately 1,500 — first sits in the chair, Simpson looks at the teeth, gums and cheeks, checking for any abnormal sores or lumps. She once had a patient come in to Dental Hygiene Associates of Maine after he had not been to a dentist in a number of years. Simpson said she noticed one side of his mouth was swollen. She recommended he have the area looked at by a doctor, who diagnosed throat cancer. Simpson said her patient later came back and told her that he was in the clear.

Photo courtesy of Katti Simpson

    TIME FOR THE NEXT APPOINTMENT — Katti Simpson schedules a patient appointment after a visit. Simpson works with her patients to help refer them to dental offices when additional services may be needed.

    Simpson said the majority of her patient base is children. “I’m still the only provider offering MaineCare,” she said, for patients up to the age of 21. Dental Hygiene Associates of Maine accepts most insurances and Simpson will work with insurance companies and submit claims for patients.
    She said providing dental care to children in the region is still a challenge after five years in operation. “If we can access the kids and get them taken care of then that would be a solution,” Simpson said. “That has always been my goal as an independent hygienist.”
    Referrals to dentists will be made based on a patient’s need, such children who may need to see the orthodontist. Simpson said she cannot make a diagnosis but can certainly tell if something, such as a potential cavity, looks suspicious and should be looked at by a dentist. Simpson said she works well with area dentists, making referrals when needed, and recommends her patients continue with yearly check-ups at their dentist’s office.
    Simpson said her costs are affordable, staying at the same rates for the last several years. She said Dental Hygiene Associates of Maine does not have overhead costs and visit or dental office fees, with rates based on the conditions of the customized patient treatment she provides.   
     “It’s a non-traditional setting, in my five years some of the biggest compliments I receive from my adult patients is how relaxed they feel,” Simpson said, as one of her goals is for patients to not have any fear or anxiety of coming in for quality service for preventive needs in a non-intimidating, relaxing environment.
    “I treat every patient like my own family,” Simpson said. She explained she tries to keep up to date on all of the latest dental products, what items may be best for her patients and what can help keep their mouths healthy.
    Simpson’s efforts led to her being honored last year with the Lucy Hobbs Project Award, which was presented to her in Orlando in June. The Lucy Hobbs Project — named for the first female dentist who overcame many challenges related to her gender in the 19th century — empowers women in dentistry to drive change and deliver success through networking, innovation and giving back. Named after Hobbs, this project aims to bring women together from all facets of the dental industry – dentists, dental assistants, hygienists, receptionists, sales representatives and others.
    “It was a real huge honor,” Simpson said, as her peers in the field nominated her for the Lucy Hobbs Project Award. She said an introduction before her speech presented to the several hundred in attendance included comments from other independent hygienists Simpson said she had inspired and/or mentored along the way.
    Simpson said she was very thankful to receive the honor as well as to be serve her patients. “I’m very appreciative for being able to serve the area for the five years I have been here and I have a positive outlook for the future and for people to be able to smile,” she said.
    Dental Hygiene Associates of Maine is located at 78 Summer Street in Dover-Foxcroft, the third home up from Harrison Avenue. Appointments can be scheduled for Monday through Thursday and Fridays at Simpson’s satellite location in Bangor. For more information, please call 564-0095 or find the establishment on Facebook.

Photo courtesy of Katti Webb

    COME ON IN — Katti Simpson opened the Dental Hygiene Associates of Maine present location at the beginning of September 2012. The office is located at 78 Summer Street in Dover-Foxcroft, three homes up the road from Harrison Avenue.