Dental Hygiene Associates of Maine reaches 10-year milestone

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Now located in The Mill complex, for the last decade Dental Hygiene Associates of Maine, LLC has been providing the community with affordable, quality preventative dental care for all ages in a non-traditional setting. The “spa-like” dental oasis is intended to ease dental anxiety through a relaxing, cozy office.

Business owner Katti Simpson, RDH said she has been located at 8 Moosehead Lane Suite 108 for four years after being on Summer Street and West Main Street before then when she first opened in July of 2009.

“I’ve been here in Dover for 10 years and serving this population, all ages but certainly welcoming MaineCare which is such a need in our area,” Simpson said sitting in her first floor office. She said that being able to take care of these patients, children up to the age 21, helps take care of a need in the region and she is happy to do so.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
10 YEARS CARING FOR TEETH — Dental Hygiene Associates of Maine, LLC owner Katti Simpson has been in Dover-Foxcroft for a decade. She provides affordable, quality preventative dental care for all ages in a non-traditional setting, and today is located in The Mill complex downtown.

“I’m just grateful for the opportunity to be here in town and become part of the community,” Simpson said. “The need for affordable dental care, this is sort of the niche I have.”

“I treat all my patients like they are my family, I absolutely do,” she added. “I think that has led to my success of being here 10 years.”

“I took a chance when I started my business,” Simpson said. A decade ago she was the first independent dental hygienist to open an office in the state and in 2009 could not foresee precisely how the business would turn out in the future.

“That was a big risk and it’s worked out and I have really felt embraced by the community,” Simpson said. She said the practice is intended to be a non-traditional dental setting, to relax patients and with no pressure.

Simpson said independent dental hygienists “are board-certified, we had to have had a certain number of hours” and she is required to take continuing education courses. “I am a licensed professional and our scope of practice is to provide preventative care. We are not doing fillings and things like that. For anything outside of preventative we refer to the correct professional that is needed.”

“Personalized dental care is really what I pride my office on providing,” Simpson said.

She said providing care for her youngest patients is what she enjoys best.

“Seeing the children of my practice grow up and be healthy,” Simpson said. “There are very few children that have consistently been coming to see me that have had cavities or problems and that just speaks volumes in my opinion. It’s proof that prevention works. If you can just stay ahead of trouble and keep the education piece of it coupled with the physical clinic, part it works.”

She said photos of some patients’ teeth are posted on the Dental Hygiene Associates of Maine Facebook to help show the importance of proper dental care.

“On a whole the children who come to see me on a regular basis do not have a lot of problems and I’m very grateful to be able to serve them in that way and make a difference,” Simpson said.
“I love all my patients but the kids I really pride myself on that. I have made a difference in the community, especially with kids who didn’t otherwise have care.”

Preventative dental care is provided for all ages, ranging from toddlers getting their first teeth to senior citizens. Referrals are also made “to the dental professionally that’s needed based on that concern,” Simpson. “If it’s a cavity I send them to a general dentist, if it’s an abscess area I will refer them to an endodontist.”

She explained the highly customized dental care is carried right down to helping find the ideal specialist. “I try to fit my patients with a dental office that will better fit the needs of the patient,” Simpson said, basis this in part on personality and affordability.

“Really personalized care and I’m very happy I can do that and have the freedom to do that,” she said.

Simpson said she and her family have bought land in Oxford and plan to build on the property but “I’m still here and I plan to be here, the business is not going anywhere. I love this building and I want it to be successful.”

She said one change that is in the works is an addition to the staff. Simpson said patients “can maybe look forward to seeing some other hygienists’ faces in my office, not just me. I’m looking into other independent hygienists coming into my office. That’s one of the new things I am excited about because that is going to mean expanded hours.”

She said a plural word is in Dental Hygiene Associates of Maine, “I dreamed one day there would be more of us and there would be more of a need and so it’s happening at the right time at 10 years.”

Dental Hygiene Associates of Maine is located at 8 Moosehead Lane Suite 108 in Dover-Foxcroft. For more information, please call 564-0095 or go to http://dentalhygieneassociatesofmaine.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/kttoothfairy11/.