Dr. Robert Harold Hodgert DMD

Dentist | General Practice

628 NW York Drive Suite 101 Bend OR, 97701 Show map

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About

Dr Hodgert is dedicated to lifetime learning, optimal health and excellence. He is Bend’s most experienced restorative dentist and Oregon’s most experienced implant dentist. Dr Hodgert is a science-based pioneer, advocating whole-person, wellness-focused, gentle, durable, beautiful, and functional dentistry.

Dr Hodgert has practiced without mercury for over 30 years, and uses fluoride minutely with specificity. He is deeply trained and practiced in complex rejuvenation, aesthetics and healthy dentistry. He promises you his absolute best.

Dr Hodgert has five children and lives on a 50-acre tree farm high on Tumalo Creek. He competes regularly in Central Oregon athletic events, is active in civic projects, laughs much, and remains an active advocate for Bend’s quality of life. Professional affiliations include:

International Congress of Oral Implantology, Fellow
American Academy of Implant Dentistry, Associate Fellow
Oregon AAID Maxicourse, Mentor

Board Certification

American Board of Oral Implantology

Provider Details

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Dr. Robert Harold Hodgert DMD

Dr. Robert Harold Hodgert DMD's Expert Contributions

My Answers

How many teeth are needed to get a partial denture?
One ;~} READ MORE
Is chlorhexidine good for gum disease?
Chlorhexidine does kill most of the microbes that dominate gum disease. It also kills/damages our own young skin cells, blood vessel cells, etc. Its 'side effects' have rendered Chlorhexidine far less popular than it was a couple of decades ago. There is a reason it's been a prescription item. Saline from an oral irrigation device is far more effective and far less toxic. Add a bit of baking soda to the saline and it is even more effective. Several essential oil products are well proven by independent researchers to be more effective than Chlorhexidine, with fewer downsides, Thank you for acting. READ MORE
Will my teeth shift without a retainer for 2 weeks?
Of course, they will, and soon they will have shifted enough you won't be able to recover the prior [more ideal?] position without more orthodontics. You've invested so much to get to 'just the retainer', so, just wear the retainer. READ MORE
Can tooth bonding be whitened?
Bonding, whether finished with ceramic veneers or composite, does not readily lighten with hydrogen peroxide bleaches used to 'bleach' teeth. Stains that have built up over the two years you tell us you have had these esthetic 'bondings' can likely be removed, polished, even bleached. Any stains around the margins where the composites may be leaking maybe, maybe not... If stains are around the edges, please, see your dentist soon, before any 'leaks' become 'cavities'.Thanks for asking, Tad Hodgert, DMD, Masters of Dentistry.net, Bend, Oregon. READ MORE
Do dental cysts go away on their own?
They may subside from an acute phase, but the infection remains because the source of the infection remains. Oral infection untreated can infect the brain or trigger cardiovascular attacks like heart attack or stroke. Please, consider a dental abscess a true emergency and see a skilled dentist. READ MORE
Can you straighten teeth with receding gums?
Most often yes, unless the recession has progressed so far there isn't enough bone left. "Straight" teeth optimally load the bone so that it is less likely to go away. READ MORE
Does a filling weaken a tooth?
It depends! A mercury/silver filling usually does weaken a tooth. A small 'amalgam' ('silver' filling, usually just over 50% mercury) filling, one smaller than 1/3 the distance between the cusps of the tooth, usually does not weaken the tooth initially. Ones larger just do. All silver/mercury expand with heat more than the tooth. With cold, the filling shrinks more than the tooth, leaving the tooth unsupported. With tincture of time, silver/mercury does corrode, and as it does so, it expands. Bottom line: beyond their serious toxicity and sad esthetics, mercury fillings break teeth. I have no clue why they are still legal to place, especially in juveniles. Composite fillings well placed DO make a tooth stronger for as long as the bond is sound, usually at least a couple years, if placed with all standards of care. Ceramic and gold fillings that overlay the cusps should increase the strength of their teeth, perhaps for a number of decades, IF done will all the standards of care. If you want your teeth beautiful, functional, and healthy for a lifetime, finding a supporting and caring dentist is as important as good diet and hygiene. READ MORE
What is the fastest way to heal swollen gums?
Without antibiotics, the fastest way is using an irrigating device like a water Pic or a HydroFloss with a disinfectant in the irrigating solution. I like the Dental Herb Company's well researched essential oil products, but a salt/soda combo will work. "walk the pulsing 'pressure washer' around the gumlines on both sides of all the teeth with emphasis between your teeth a couple times every day. Two Grams/day of ascorbic acid [vitaminC] will accelerate the tissue healing 50%. As soon as you are able, a professional cleaning and evaluation by your dental team is warranted. The gums can not fully heal until all of the mineral deposits [calculus/tartar} is removed and the teeth are remaining clean. Stress and smoking, simple carbohydrates and a lack of sleep are also contributing agents to the infection causing the swelling. Exercise helps heal them. Swollen gums can be a precursor to loosing your teeth. You get to choose... READ MORE
Is there an alternative to gum grafting?
It is your mouth, you always have a choice ;~} Grafting of gum tissue is done to give teeth a healthy more durable support system over time. If it is needed and not done, the related tooth (teeth) simply remain at greater risk. Your job as a responsible tooth owner is to keep your gums and teeth infection free, with and without surgical assistance. Your doctor can help make them more maintainable, but only you can keep them infection free. Your health: diet, disease, hygiene, sleep, exercise, stress, habits (esp smoking!) does play significant roles. With fragile gums, brushing and flossing is often more of a challenge. Irrigating the gum lines with a HydroFloss or WaterPik (little pressure washers) may be your most effective maintenance. Use something in the water to break up the bio-film...at least salt, salt/soda, or a clinically proven essential oil mix. We only get one body. Take care of it. Bone grafts and implants are amazing options for a second chance, they work, but are not less intimidating than a simple gum graft. Good luck ! Tad READ MORE
Are zirconia implants more expensive than titanium?
Zirconia should be, if you want your dentist to stand behind his craftsmanship, simply because a Zirconia implant, however well done, is more likely to require replacement than a titanium one. Zirconia implant design and purpose has improved over these past few years, that said, they still have a long way to go. READ MORE
How long do fillings last?
You ask how long does a filling last? It depends. What is the diet, biome and home care of the client? How ideally was the placement performed, what were the materials used? My clients have many of my composite fillings that are going strong after 30 years. I've seen excellent gold crowns (which should last twice as long as composite) fail in under 5 years due to post-placement root decay attributable to frequent exposure to simple carbohydrates (e.g., sport gels) and careless home care. Modern bondable bonded ceramic onlays, inlays, crowns, even veneers, done well, should function for several decades...while cemented restorations may fail earlier as the cement fails allowing for recurrent decay. Choose a doctor who has the skill and takes the time to apply that skill using the best materials for the job. Maintain ideal oral hygiene and minimize exposure FREQUENCY to carbohydrates, and you should expect decades from your filling, unless it is at the gum line. READ MORE
How do you know when a cavity is really bad?
Sweet sensitivity could be an initial signal, moving on to Cold sensitivity READ MORE
How common are white spots after braces?
Post-orthodontics white spots are rare when the braces are securely placed (no voids in the bonding layer), and the client is diligent with both a toothbrush (I do like Sonicare's results) and an irrigator, think pressure washer (like Hydrofloss or waterpik), and one has minimal simple carbo frequency. The white spots are places plaque matured and its bacteria excreted acid on the tooth, the first stage of decay. It sounds like the braces were off and you managed to re-mineralize the teeth before a cavity formed, but the hydroxyapatite crystals are now opaque, not translucent (white), so they reflect light from the surface, looking white. READ MORE
How long do stitches stay in after dental bone graft?
Depends ;-} Often, up to a month. Think of the graft dominantly bone particles we want to heal into one with the host bone...sorta like a shattered bone: we want max protection, least possible trauma, during that bone healing process. READ MORE
Is it normal to have pain after a crown?
Rare here, not normal. Though if the tooth is hyperresponsive, they usually heal, especially to cold sensitivity... If the 'bite' is imperfect, tell your dentist, he can fix that. If the pain persists, you are the one who knows when and how much treatment is appropriate: patience, a root canal, or an extraction/implant!. READ MORE
Is rinsing with salt water good for your gums?
Yes! It is even more effective used from an 'oral pressure washer' [water-pick, hydrofloss]. READ MORE
Can I use mouthwash if I have periodontal disease?
Please do! I most recommend using it in a HydroFloss or Waterpick with saline or an essential oil mix...think of it as a pressure washer getting into all the nooks an crannies of your teeth, and under your gums: walk the pulsing wand around your entire gum line next to the tooth. READ MORE
How often should dental scaling be done?
it depends on your health, diet, habits, and home care. If you are thoroughly cleaning your teeth a couple times a day, your gums are bright pink and never bleed, you may be able to do well with a simple cleaning. With smoking and a sugar habit, if your home care is a bit lacking, systemic health issues, you likely need more help to keep your mouth infection free. Mouth infections like gum disease and decay ["tooth eating bacteria"] can double, even quadruple, your probability of heart attack and stroke. READ MORE
What is the best mouthwash to use for periodontal disease?
Saline [salt water] plus baking soda is the research standard. A good alcohol-free essential oil such as the Dental Herb Company's products are more effective than even chlorhexidine products without the toxic downsides. READ MORE
Do gums reattach after deep cleaning?
Keep them exquisitely clean. I recommend an irrigator with a healthy anti-infective mouthwash...at least saline, or a proven essential oil mix. It's all about staying infection free as your food mix becomes healthier. Exercise is proven to help. READ MORE