Happy Halloween from HDS

Happy Halloween from the "Hill's Angels." 

We had a great day dressing the part and renewing our CPR certification.  

Don't forget to brush and floss after all that candy tonight!!!

Dynamic and Full of Energy

And last but not least, here's our final team highlight for Hill Dental Studio.  Welcome Mary Laughery, the other half of our hygienist duo.  She is, in her own words-- tall, blonde and always on the go...


Dr. Hill:  Tell me about your education.


Mary L.:  I have a diverse education with a degree in General Studies with minors in Art and Biology from Texas Tech, my dental hygiene degree is from Amarillo College and then an additional Bachelors of Science in Occupational Education degree with a specialization in dental hygiene from Wayland Baptist University. Way too much School!


DH:  Why are you always on the go?


ML:  My husband is a football/biology teacher, Kacey.  Together  we have 2 sweet daughters--Mollie (3 years old) and Macie (16 months).  As you can imagine two young girls can keep anyone on their toes.   


DH:  What is the best part about working at Hill Dental Studio?


ML.:  I enjoy the patient interaction.  I love my family, and my interactions with patients is a great way to recharge my batteries and truly helps me be a better mother. 


DH:  Heels or flats?


ML:  Heels. The higher the better!


DH:  Summer or Winter?


ML:  Spring and Fall.  Not too hot or too cold--just right


DH:  Paints or crayons?


ML:  Paints, specifically oil or acrylic.


DH:  Coach or Dooney?


ML:  Dooney. My weakness... purse addiction!


We are so blessed to have Mary on our team! Make an appointment today and come experience the care Mary and the rest of the team provides at Hill Dental Studio.

Quality above all else.

Since it is her birthday week, this week's highlight is the bright, smiling face that greets you when you walk into Hill Dental Studio.  We are proud to spotlight-Trish Piwetz.  Happy birthday, Trish!  With her warm and thoughtful personality, she is ready to make you feel like a member of our dental family.
Dr. Hill:  How would you describe yourself?

Trish: I love life and what I do makes me very happy.  I am attentive to detail, trustworthy, thoughtful and talkative.

DH:  What brought you to the dental field?

TP:  Love of people and being a part in their healthy teeth and beautiful smile.

DH:  What is the best part of being a part of the Hill Dental Studio team?

TP:  I have a great boss and a wonderful group of ladies to work with.  I am very proud of the way we take exceptional care of our patients. 

DH: Mountains or beach?

TP:  Born and raised in Corpus Christi, naturally the beach

DH: Bake or cook?

TP:  Love both equally

DH:  Dogs or cats?

TP:  Cats

DH: Board games or cards? 

TP:  Board games

We are so glad Trish is a part of our team! Call her for an appointment today and come experience how Trish, as well as the rest of the team at Hill Dental Studio, can make all your dental goals a reality.

Texas Twister

Congratulations to our patients the Sustaire's!  This weekend they hosted the largest regional Taekwondo tournament in the area at the Allen Events Center and Hill Dental Studio was proud to be one of the sponsors.  There were over 1100 bodies and over 2200 competitions.  From our vantage point everything seemed to go so smoothly and without a hitch.  Our own kids had a blast and the judges were so great with them.  Thank you to all the instructors, judges and volunteers who made it all happen!

If you are ever interested in Taekwondo, check out the Sustaire's.  It's not just for kids, either!

Calm, Cool and Collected

We are halfway through introducing our employees at Hill Dental Studio!  We are proud to highlight our newest member of our team who celebrates her one year anniversary with us this fall--Holly Haas. 

Dr. Hill:  How would you describe yourself?

Holly: I'm a Dallas girl who is able to balance being a dental assistant with my home life.  My husband, David and I have been married for 21 years and we have 2 beautiful children, Landon and Elizabeth. 

DH:  How long have you been a registered dental assistant?

HH: Over 15 years.

DH:  What do you like best about being a part of the HDS team?

HH:  I love working with you and being surrounded by a wonderful team.  Your gentle yet precise approach to dentistry is unique and I hope to follow this approach and offer my best and professional attention with all of our patients. 

DH:  Coffee or tea?

HH: Coffee.

DH:  Thunderstorm or sunshine? 

HH:  Sunshine.

DH:  Zoo or Amusement park?

HH:  Zoo.

DH: Movie Theater or DVD and your sofa?

HH: DVD and my sofa at home.

We are so pleased that Holly is a part of our team at Hill Dental Studio and hope that she has many more anniversaries with us.   Holly will make you feel at home and at ease with her peaceful, calm demeanor.  Make an appointment today and see how well Holly and the rest of the team take care of each patient's individual needs.

Merry Mary

There are two Mary's at Hill Dental Studio which can be sort of confusing, but Mary Wilson is our highlighted employee this week and can handle any business aspect, from scheduling to financial arrangements.  She was quickly brought onto the team after Dr. Hill took ownership and comes to us highly recommended by her husband, Dr. Hill's dental sales representative and we totally agree!


Dr. Hill: How would you describe yourself?


MaryW.: Energetic, out-going and compassionate.


DH: After growing up in Alaska, college in Arizona, and 6 years in Colorado, what brought you to Texas and specifically the dental field?


MW:  My best friend at the time was married to a dentist, I coached her kids in gymnastics.  She said they would love to have me be a part of their dental practice.  I told them I didn't know a thing about dentistry.  She said, "you have all we are looking for.  You are a positive, energetic, people-person, that is easy to talk to."  That was 13 years ago. 


DH:  What is your favorite part of being a team member at Hill Dental Studio?


MW:  I love the relationships that I have developed.  I am happy to say that I look forward to going to the office.  I feel we are family.  Everyone here cares about each other. 


DH:  Indoors or Outdoors?


MW: Outdoors


DH:  Backflips or Cartwheels?


MW: Backflips


DH: Stallions or Thoroughbreds?


MW:  Thoroughbreds, and I try to ride a few times a week.


DH:  Potato or Tortilla Chips?


MW: Tortilla Chips with guacamole and hot salsa

We are so glad Mary is a part of our team! Make an appointment today and come experience how Mary, as well as the rest of the team at Hill Dental Studio, can make all your dental goals a reality.

Gentle, Quality Experience

This week's spotlight is on one of our hygienist, Nancy Prosser.  Dr. Hill was lucky to have her already part of the team when he bought the practice in 2009.  She was adaptable and went with the flow of the new transition and we were so glad that she decided to stick with us as part of our new team at Hill Dental Studio!

 
Dr. Hill:  How long have you been in dentistry?

Nancy: Before gloves were mandatory!  Is that long enough?  :)

DH: What drew you to the field of hygiene?

NP:  After high school, I worked as an orthodontist's assistant and became close friends with the hygienist  The independence and development of patient relationships was appealing.  Once my 3rd son started school I decided to start hygiene school.

DH: Three boys?  I guess that kept you busy!

NP:  Yes, between my sons: Nikalus, Nathaniel, and Dru, my 4 dogs: Mattie(10 yr yellow lab), Belle (12 yr chihuahua) Chewie (11 yr chihuahua), Scout (5 yr rat terrier), and my husband of 30 years, Phil, you could say I've been pretty busy.

DH: What is your strong suit?

NP:  I always strive to make my patients feel comfortable and I truly enjoy my "job." 

DH: What is your favorite part of being part of the HDS team?

NP: We are continually learning together as a team, and are committed to providing quality care to our patients.  That's what it's all about--our patients!

DH: Letterman or Leno?

NP: I was a Carson fan, but I do watch Letterman occasionally.

DH: City or country?

NP: I'm a city girl that has spent most of my adult life in the country...and I love it!  You can take the girl out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the girl. 

DH: Bike, run or swim?

NP:  Bike, but I have completed a few mini-triathalons.

DH: Mexican or Italian food?

NP:  Italian.

We are so blessed to have Nancy on our team! Make an appointment today and come experience the thorough, but gentle care Nancy and the rest of the team provides at Hill Dental Studio.

A Rising Star

This week begins our next series of blogs which will highlight one employee each week. 

This week we are excited to share with you one of the best assistants on the planet!  Jessica Jones came to us by God's divine hand.  He planted her in just the right place at the right time.  In 2008, Dr. Hill's wife met her first and his kids fell in love with her, as did the rest of the office once she joined the team.  You will too as soon as you hear her sweet southern draw and her kind words making sure that you are comfortable at Hill Dental Studio. 

Dr. Hill:  Jessica, how would you describe yourself?

Jessica: I'm a small town country girl with big ambitions.   

DH:  Tell me about your education.

JJ: I received my Registered Dental Assitant license from Collin College in 2009.  

DH: What is your strong suit?

JJ: I have a strong passion for the dental field and enjoy making my patients feel at ease and comfortable.  

DH: What is your favorite part about being a part of the team at Hill Dental Studio?

JJ: I feel blessed to be a part of such an advanced and forward thinking dental practice.  You are very knowledgeable in all aspects of dentistry and I am very excited for the opportunity to learn from you.

DH:  Pizza-thin or thick crust? 

JJ: Thin

DH: Big Brother or Survivor?

JJ: Survivor

DH:  Rock, Hip-Hop or Country?

JJ: Elvis

DH: Football, Basketball or Baseball?

JJ: Baseball

We are so glad Jessica is a part of our team!  Make an appointment today and come experience the southern hospitality that exudes from Jessica and the rest of the team at Hill Dental Studio.

Sleep Apnea/Snoring

Do you snore? Do you currently wear a C-PAP ? Are you feeling excessively tired during the day?

Ask us how we can help!!!

If you are satisfied with your sleep, then stop reading now. If you want to know how Dr. Hill can help you live a longer more productive life, then keep reading.

There are many reasons to be tired during the day, but one of the leading reasons is poor quality sleep due to sleep apnea. People with sleep apnea think they are getting adequate and restful sleep, but their body might be struggling and fighting for air and they won't even know it. As a result, they are missing the important deep, restful sleep required for good health. Patients often don't feel refreshed and are tired throughout the day. Even worse, the stress on the body from the decreased oxygen level in the blood may cause many health complications like high blood pressure, abnormal heart beats, even heart attacks or stroke.

Here are a few questions to help you determine if you likely have Sleep Apnea. I'm sure you don't suffer from any of these but if you do and want to know the simple dental device that can save your life and possibly your marriage, then keep reading.

• Do you snore?
• Is your snoring interrupted with pauses or occasional choking?
• Has anyone ever said you stop breathing or gasp during sleep?
• Do you feel fatigued, exhausted or tired?
• Have you ever been diagnosed with high blood pressure?
• Do you wake up in the night or morning with headaches?
• Have you ever nodded off or fallen asleep while driving?
• Do you fall asleep while riding as a passenger in a car?
• Are you likely to fall asleep while watching TV?

If you answered yes to more than a couple of these questions, you owe it to yourself to talk with us about possibly having sleep apnea.

Common treatments:

Historically, most physicians and sleep medicine doctors have prescribed a C-PAP. It is a device with a pressure pump, hose and mask or “nose pillows” to increase the pressure of the air going into your lungs. Most of the problems with sleep apnea are due to an airway obstruction. This is commonly called obstructive sleep apnea. For many people a more simple dental appliance, much like a night guard, can be just as effective and more comfortable.

If you have been told you need a C-PAP or are currently supposed to use one and hate it, contact Dr. Hill at Hill Dental Studio today for a complementary Sleep Apnea consultation.

In-Office Zoom! Whitening at HDS

Jennifer's before.

Who doesn't want whiter teeth?  With the prevalence of coffee,tea, sodas, and red wine our teeth have little chance. 


We all want whiter teeth and there are many options to increase the natural brightness of our smile.  Hill Dental Studio can meet and exceed your whitening needs. 

Jennifer getting Zoom!ed.

Many worry about the sensitivity of using whitening products, but with the new fluoride protocols there is very little sensitivity.  Using a prescription strength fluoride gel in trays while sleeping for at least 3 days prior to whitening, will greatly cut down on all sensitivity. 

Jennifer's before

Jennifer's after.

In Dr. Hill’s (and his wife, Jennifer's) opinion, the combination of in-office whitening with take home custom trays yields the best whitening results. In-office whitening involves the Zoom whitening system, which was popularized on the television show Extreme Makeover. The in-office procedure takes about an hour and offers instant results. Most people find that their teeth will continue to whiten for the next 1-3 weeks with the take home trays to an absolutely impressive level.

Jennifer's after.

Another method is the utilization of just the custom whitening trays (mentioned above) at home with a prescription strength whitening gel. This method is done once a day for 30-60 min, usually for 2-4 weeks. This can do a great job, but may people just find themselves too busy to take the 30-60 min a day for this method which can be inconvenient due to the time required. 

You can achieve some whitening by simply using the whitening toothpaste and/or over the counter whitening strips, but in no way will the results compare to the above mentioned procedures.  This can be a high-maintenance way of whitening your teeth a few shades.

For those with more severe internal discolorations, whitening has its limitations.  Porcelain veneers may be a more realistic option. 

Make your appointment today to whiten your teeth with the help of Hill Dental Studio.  Click here!

LVI-Day 3

One of Dr. Hill's favorite parts of a trip to LVI is sharing the knowledge and passion he has for cosmetics and reconstructive dentistry with other dentists.  When asked why, Dr. Hill responded, "because I am always learning and person who is always learning never grows old." 

Here are more pictures of Dr. Hill instructing other dentists at LVI this past week as well as more of the staff. A great deal was learned by all and everyone is energized and excited to put their new knowledge into practice.   Let's get to work!

LVI-Day 2

Do you have chronic jaw pain or frequent migranes or headaches?  This blog may be able to help you!   

Today, we will explore some of what Dr. Hill teaches at LVI.  One of today's focuses was on the use of the TENS machine. 

Neuromuscular dentistry uses computerized instrumentation to measure the patient's jaw movements and muscle activity. By using both a computerized jaw analysis with ultra-low frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), Dr. Hill is able to locate a "physiological rest" position as a starting reference position.  This is used to find a relationship between the upper and lower jaw along an isotonic path of closure up from the physiologic rest position in order to establish a bite position.

Translation:  This fancy electrical stuff helps find a place to build a bite where all the muscles are relaxed.

TENS is an acronym for Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.  This unit uses electric current produced by a device to stimulate the nerves for therapeutic purposes.  It is usually connected to the skin using two or more electrodes.  A session usually lasts from 45 minutes to an hour.

Once the position is realized, an orthotic (orthopedic realigning appliance) is commonly worn for 3–6 weeks with a few adjustments to realign the jaw.  After this there are several options are available, such as reconstruction to orthodontics depending on the situation.  Some people even opt to continue wearing the jaw repositioner on a nightly basis.  

From this resting place of the jaw, Dr. Hill's expertise shows this is the ideal place to begin reconstructions from porcelain or implants in perfect alignment so that there is no jaw pain and longevity is maximized.  In addition to a beautiful smile and no jaw pain, when this perfect resting position is found, Dr. Hill has seen improved posture and removal of pain in other areas of the body with no more migraines in most all patients who suffer from these debilitating headaches.

In conclusion, for anyone that suffers any headaches, jaw pain, or needs cosmetics or reconstruction, going through this process using a TENS is highly recommended and is a technique that Dr. Hill uses frequently.

Why go to the student when you can go to the teacher?

LVI-Day 1

The first day at LVI with the team was great!  They were divided into 2 groups.

Nancy, Trish and Jessica were in the Core I program hearing a great introduction to neuromuscular dentistry.  They had been listening to Dr. Hill say these things for a few years now, but it always helps to hear it from another source.  Discussion was held about the signs and symptoms that can be brought on by having an unbalanced and incorrect bite, including TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder): worn teeth, headache, migraines, neck and back pain.  These are just a few of the problems. 

Jessica, Nancy and Trish in lecture.

After that they went through some airway and breathing evaluations and learned that
as dental professionals, we are now on the front line to recognize airway issues like
sleep apnea and tonsil/airway issues in adults and kids.  Now we have the tools
to help people who hate their CPAP and want a simple dental appliance alternative.
They ended their education day with some muscle evaluations and how to determine if
pain is associated with muscles of the head and neck.

The other half of the team, Mary, Mary and Holly, were in some more focused lectures about
streamlining our office to be more patient centered.  Meaning, we will always strive
to give our guests an individual, compassion filled visit. They were also learning
about communication skills and personality styles which will allow them to better
communicate with our patients so everyone understands.  We ended the day with some
good discussions about motivating the entire team to think and feel like they own
the practice, including everything from compensation to facility pride and even
personal presentation. It was this lecture that Dr. Hill heard a few years ago which
prompted the change to not wear scrubs and present a more professional attitude
showing more respect for the time and energy our patients give us.

Jessica and Mary at LVI - Don't you love Dr. Hill's teeth in the background?

Being in Vegas, it can't be all fun and no play!  Following dinner many of the team enjoyed a little casino fun and a few even attempted to learn craps with Dr. Hill.

Holly, Jessica, Mary, Nancy, and Mary.

What Is LVI?

What is LVI?  You might have seen an advertisement or a logo or you might have heard someone mention it in the dental field.

If you know Dr. Hill at all, you would know that for 8 years, he has been travelling to Las Vegas to study and teach at LVI--the Las Vegas Institue for Advance Dental Studies.  Most people joke and say, "I'm sure you get a lot of work done there...Sure you are working..." with a wink and a smile.  

All joking aside, LVI is a live-patient, post-graduate dental training offering doctors and their teams from around the globe comprehensive learning and a curriculum that inspires life-changing experiences in their practices.

The LVI Curriculum offers a number of programs across the broad spectrum of dental education, however the Core Curriculum is the basic starting point. Each Core Course will allow them to bring techniques and procedures into their office and help their patients enjoy a better quality of life through Neuromuscular Dentistry.

Due to the advanced, comprehensive training at LVI, Dr. Hill has performed more all-porcelain restorations than most dentist perform in a lifetime.  Dr. Hill is a graduate and Fellow of LVI and also is one of the youngest Clinical Instructors at LVI teaching Core I, II, III, IV,and V.   About five times a year Dr. Hill travels to LVI to educate other dentists how to perform the latest in dental procedures including smile makeovers, veneers, full mouth rehabilitations and the esthetic filling.

This week Dr. Hill is taking his team to LVI for the first time to experience this life changing education.  The rest of the week we will be highlighting the education that the team receives and posting a few fun pictures along the way.  Join us through our adventure and see what a difference LVI can make in a dental office!

Nancy, Trish, Mary, Holly, Jessica and Mary at DFW Airport ready for take off.
And yes, Mary has a sprained foot!

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary to Hill Dental Studio! 

Two years ago this month, Dr. Stephen Hill acquired his practice, Hill Dental Studio, located in the heart of Allen, Texas across from the Allen Public Library.  He has assembled a team of hard-working, caring support staff and is sharing the joy of beautiful smiles with North Texas.  We are so pleased to be able to serve this community and to be a part of a team who strives for excellence! 

Keep following the blog to find out more of what Dr. Hill's team is up to and what new cutting edge techniques and technology they are using!  Also, click here for a link to the Hill Dental Studio website.