News

May 22, 2017

Candy Buyback Funds Community Garden

Last Halloween Bend Family Dentistry hosted a candy buyback program at the new Bend International School charter school. With the contribution from Bend Family Dentistry, the students and their families were able to build their school community garden! The students turned in over 100 pounds of candy. Trading sugar-filled candy to learn about healthy eating is a win-win situation! Dr. Miller and family visited the site of the new garden and got these great pictures!

March 9, 2017

Dr. Hester’s Daughter Receives Award

Dual Language Teacher of the Month – Jen Temple

As dual language immersion spreads across the country, so too have the sources of our nominations for the Dual Language Teacher of the Month Award. This is a true reflection of the growth in opportunities for educators seeking to help students grow in dual language immersion programs.

We are honored to recognize Jen Temple of Bear Creek Elementary School in Bend, Oregon as the Dual Language Teacher of the Month for March 2017. She was nominated by Kinsey Martin, the Dual Immersion Program Coordinator of Bend-La Pine Schools. Kinsey Martin’s words not only reflected Jen’s commitment to family partnerships and professional development, she also helped clarify what expectations of dual language schools when they seek educators.

Here are some great insights from Dual Immersion Program Coordinator Kinsey Martin on the ways Dual Language Teacher of the Month Jen Temple goes above and beyond expectations of her teachers:

What are optimal traits that you seek in dual language teachers?

We seek teachers who have a passion for language and literacy, who have a heart for equity and advocacy, who value family partnerships and cultural diversity, and who are collaborative, positive and proactive.

How does Jen fit into or outshine this mold?

Jen embodies all of the above! She has a genuine empathy for each student, parent and colleague with whom she interacts, and she proactively develops strong relationships with each member of our dual language community. She strengthens our program one partnership at a time. Jen is a kind and caring colleague, and comes to work each day with a positive attitude. She constantly seeks out new strategies and professional development opportunities, and is always adjusting and refining her classroom practice accordingly–her pedagogy is defined by rigor, innovation, reflection and heart.

“

Her pedagogy is defined by rigor, innovation, reflection and heart.

Why do you think Jen creates and fosters relationships with students and families?

I believe Jen fosters strong relationships with families because she genuinely cares about each child and family. Her students matter to her as individual human beings and I believe her deep commitment to each student’s personal and academic growth enables her to create such impactful relationships.

What opportunities has Jen created for families to support their children’s education?

Jen is a key player in helping develop each program Parent Night and helps ensure that those events are family-centered and impactful–this is work she dedicates on her own time. Beyond special events, Jen reaches out to families and invites them into her room to participate authentically in the day-to-day learning process. She organizes social events for her classroom community and helps connect families from different backgrounds who otherwise would not interact with one another or with the school community.

“

Jen reaches out to families and invites them into her room to participate authentically in the day-to-day learning process.

What shining example of professional development has Jen sought out and implemented in her classroom?

Jen had the opportunity in a previous district to participate in some Literacy Squared research and professional development. When she moved to our district, she did not leave those practices behind, even though they were not required in our program. Rather, she has been reflective, creative, collaborative and proactive in adapting those highly-effective strategies to our program model and to her classroom design. As a result, her biliteracy instruction is rigorous and responsive to student needs, and incorporates a strong focus on language development and cultural competence. Other teachers in our program have benefitted from Jen’s work in this area.

“

Her biliteracy instruction is rigorous and responsive to student needs, and incorporates a strong focus on language development and cultural competence.

March 20, 2016

Our own Dr. Gregg Jones

Dr. Gregg Jones, American Dental Association President Elect at the ADA Headquarters in Chicago.

December 10, 2015

Welcome Dr. Gregg Jones

I have a very exciting announcement!

We have another great Dentist joining our team. Dr. Gregg Jones comes to us with many years of experience and knowledge. He says he was drawn to dentistry by the opportunity to develop relationships with patients and to apply his skills to help people stay healthy.

Dr. Jones is a Eugene native with bachelor’s degrees in general studies and biology. After finishing his second undergraduate degree from Southern Oregon University in Ashland, he went on to finish at OHSU School of Dentistry.

Dr. Jones relishes living and working in Central Oregon. He and his wife, Kelle, have a home near Sunriver and he is the father of two grown sons, Sheldon and Taylor. They enjoy many of the outdoor activities the region has to offer, including hiking, cycling, kayaking and snow skiing. Recently, he was certified as a volunteer with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue after completing a challenging eight week academy.

Dr. Jones has training in contemporary cosmetic and general dental techniques, and he uses those skills to benefit patients of every age. More importantly, I feel that his excellent clinical skills are exceeded only by his compassion and care for patients. His goal is to create a partnership with his patients and to understand each patient’s unique needs and desires focusing on preventative measures to create their ideal treatment goal. I feel confident that you will absolutely love him.

Dr. Jones, Dr. Miller and I will be working together to provide you with the best dental care available. So please join me in welcoming Dr. Jones to our team.

Sincerely,

Brad Hester, DMD

August 29, 2014

Dr. Miller goes to Honduras

Dr. Tran Miller, of Bend Family Dentistry, just returned from the Soto Cano airbase in Honduras, where she spent three months on a humanitarian tour with the United States Army. Her primary duty was to provide dental care for our service members, but while she was there she performed dental treatment at several orphanages along with many remote villages that are only accessible by boat or plane.

Honduras was once a part of the “Banana Republic”, where United Fruit Company (Chiquita Banana) and agriculture made up approximately 22% of their economy. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch came through and destroyed 70% of their crops and many of the infrastructures and roads. Even though the hurricane happened over 20 years ago, it has put the country back at least 50 years and they have struggled to recuperate from the damage that it caused. Many of the homes still do not have running water or electricity.

Dr. Miller felt very fortunate to be able to help the natives that only receive medical and dental care when volunteer teams are able to organize a mission to their village. This only happens once a year. She was also extremely impressed with our service members who spent their weekends and evenings volunteering at 8 different orphanages throughout the city.

One of her most memorable experiences was the trip they took to a girl’s orphanage. They brought them goodies and were able to take them to the children’s museum. With just the donations from Central Oregon, they have enough supplies to place over 400 sealants, as well as providing children with oral hygiene instructions, tooth brushes, tooth paste and dental floss.

On another mission they hiked into a remote village with food and medical supplies. Most of the villagers hiked in flip flops over 10 miles to receive food and care.

All of us at Bend Family Dentistry want to give Dr. Miller a huge thank you for her service for our country.

August 29, 2014

Is Sedation Dentistry Right For You?

Does the thought of going to the dentist make your entire body tense with fear? You are not alone. According to the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (DOCS Education), a professional dental organization dedicated to ensuring that patients receive safe, comfortable and anxiety-free dental care, 30 percent of the population avoids the dentist due to fear. This all-too-common “dental phobia” prevents people from receiving necessary routine dental care, potentially compromising the health and functionality of their mouth and smile.

There are many reasons for being fearful of the dentist. Most derive from a bad experience as a child. It is a memory that is very hard to forget. Many of these adults try to hide and mask their fear during their dental experience due to feeling ashamed and embarrassed. Approximately 10% of these adults experience a severe degree of fear which is referred to as dental phobia.

Patients with dental phobia go to extreme measures to avoid going to the dentist. Some examples include enduring dental infections, pain, inability to chew food, avoid smiling or showing their teeth and even compromising overall health.

Fortunately, with the advanced technology that we now have in the dental industry we can provide many services to make clients comfortable. One of those options includes sedation dentistry.

What is sedation dentistry? Sedation dentistry uses medication to help patients relax during their dental procedure. There are many levels of sedation from Nitrous Oxide to General Anesthesia.

Nitrous Oxide is a gas that you inhale through your nose. It is sometimes referred to as “laughing gas”. The dentist controls the amount of sedation that you receive. The gas helps you relax. With this form of sedation you are able to drive yourself home after your procedure.

Oral Sedation is administered with a pill. Typically the pill is Halcion, which is in the same drug family as Valium. It is usually taken one hour before your procedure. The pill will make you drowsy, although you will still be awake. A larger dose would be considered moderate sedation, which in some cases is enough to actually go to sleep during your procedure. With Oral Sedation you need someone to drive you to your appointment and home.

IV sedation is administered through a vein. This allows the medication to work more quickly, which allows the dentist to adjust the level continually through the dental appointment. Throughout the appointment the patient’s vital signs are monitored closely. Dentists that are administering IV Sedation have gone through advanced life support training to ensure the patients safety during their appointment. Patients that have IV Sedation must have a friend or family member drive them to the dental office and return them home. IV sedation is an excellent method of treatment for patients with dental anxiety, difficulty getting numb, very sensitive teeth or extensive dental needs.

General Anesethia is typically used in a hospital setting for major surgeries.

For more information regarding sedation dentistry please feel free to call the office to have all your questions answered.

May 16, 2013

Sponsored Well in Cambodia

We had the opportunity to sponsor a well in Cambodia for the Foundation for Water and Education. Their mission is to identify poor communities and families in the rural surrounds of Siem Reap – who are in desperate need of the basic necessities to lead a healthy life – and provide them with clean water, improved nutrition and opportunities for better education and economic improvement. Thank you Paul Grady!

March 22, 2013

Salute to Commerce

Salute to Commerce
Bend Family Dentistry

By Courtney Linville
Bend Chamber

With a gentle touch, a great staff, and a dedication to the community, Bend Family Dentistry has created a special place where everyone can smile.

Dr. Brad Hester has been in practice for over 26 years, and moved back to his hometown in Bend from Portland in 1994. Though he had a successful practice in Portland, Dr. Hester wanted to be closer to his family and raise his children in a “small town” atmosphere. He took over the Bend Family Dentistry practice from H.M. Kemple and since then has seen the business grow and thrive to the point where he had to move to a larger facility in 1998!

Bend Family Dentistry offers a wide range of services from routine restorative and preventative maintenance to implant reconstruction and aesthetic work and everything in between. The practice also offers sedation for those patients who need a little extra help with their dental anxiety. Dr. Hester says this practice is normal and more and more people are choosing to have sedation even for a basic cleaning.

The office has 3D CT Scanners, lasers, a CEREC machine which can make crowns, and a digital impression machine. “We can make a crown for a patient while they are sitting right there,” Dr. Hester said. “We are a very progressive office that has stayed on top of the latest dental technology.”

But should going to the dentist really hurt? According to Dr. Hester the answer is a resounding no. “This is one of the biggest misconceptions people have about going to the dentist and why they often put off routine maintenance,” he said. “When you see your dentist, it shouldn’t hurt and it doesn’t have to hurt.”

Dr. Hester also points out that people really should stay on top of the preventative work. “People can sometimes let those things go, especially little things,” he said. “The problems can only get worse.”

There have also been rumors as of late regarding radiation exposure during x-rays. Dr. Hester says the amount of exposure is very minimal. Using digital technology lowers the amount of radiation considerably. Although, the exposure is minimal Dr. Hester is very conscientious about this issue and is as conservative as possible without compromising the standard of care he gives.

The staff at Bend Family Dentistry is also amazing! With a staff of 10, Bend Family Dentistry is considered a “high-touch” office. “I’m very proud of the service that we offer and many of the staff have been with me since I started in Bend in 1994,” says Dr. Hester. “The staff is really critical in helping me provide and give the services that I do. Without a staff that performs at a high level, I couldn’t give back what I do.”

Bend Family Dentistry prides itself on service not only to its customers, but also the community. The practice gives back mostly through the delivery of dentistry to those in need. They are involved with Kemple Children’s Clinic, Volunteers in Medicine, Shepherds House, and Saving Grace. “We focus on those places that service people who have a financial challenge in getting the care they need,” said Dr. Hester. “So our services are provided for free.”

The staff also gives back to the community in a variety of ways and will often donate their time to the afore mentioned efforts and they usually help with Project Connect every year at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds. “All the staff is very service oriented and they love to help in these types of situations,” Dr. Hester said.

Bend Family Dentistry and Dr. Hester have also had a strong pull to give back to the community. “I think when you are a part of a community or family that piece is just a critical part of being a part of that group,” he said. “It feels good to give back and it’s a great way to serve another person.”

Above all, Bend Family Dentistry is proud to receive the Salute to Commerce Award. “I’m honored and it’s great to have this acknowledgement from the community,” said Dr. Hester.

The Salute to Commerce Program is sponsored by Combined Communications Inc., The Riverhouse, and the Bend Chamber of Commerce. Congratulations to the past year’s Salute to Commerce recipients for making Bend a better place to live: Bend Burger Company, Standard TV & Appliance, OnPoint Community Credit Union, Bend Mailing Services, The Cake Lady, Fly & Field Outfitters, Western Title & Escrow Company, Precision Auto Body, Cascade Village Shopping Center, Robert’s On Wall Street, Cheerleaders Grill, and Sun Forest Construction.