Our Office’s Safety Precautions

Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it is both safe and comfortable. We follow infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up-to-date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued.

You may see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect our patients and staff.

• Prior to your appointment, we will text you a health history screening. If you answer yes to any of these questions, we may ask you details of your situation and/or to reschedule your appt.
• Call or text the office when you arrive for your appointment and we will let you know when we are ready for you to enter. Parents, companions, and children should wait in the car or run an errand. Please call us if you have specific questions regarding your account or treatment. If you would like to come in to speak to Dr. Hobson or the front desk directly, please stay in the reception area and practice social distancing. We would prefer to only have patients in the clinic at this time.
• We ask that anyone who enters our office wear a mask or face covering. Staff members in our office will always be wearing masks .
• We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use when you enter the office. We will also have you brush your teeth (if you were unable to do so at home) and rinse with Listerine for 30 seconds before entering the clinic in order to reduce viral and bacterial loads in the mouth.
• We will also take your temperature using an infrared thermometer.
• You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, children’s toys, coffee and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.
• Appointments will be managed to allow for physical distancing between patients. Patients will be seated in the clinic at a 6 foot distance following Oregon Health Authority guidelines. This might mean you are offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment due to a decrease in the number of appointments each day.
• Our office is now equipped with a plexiglass sneeze guard barrier in the front office and several plexiglass partitions in the clinic.
• Our staff is also following routine cleaning and disinfecting strategies.

Halloween is just around the corner and we get many patients worried that they’ll get more tricks than treats for their braces in their Halloween candy. Here are some easy tips when you’re making choices on which treats to snack on this Halloween:

• Avoid anything sticky, chewy, hard or crunchy such as lollipops, chocolates with nuts, hard candies or caramels.
• Choose soft candies or melt-in-your-mouth chocolates such as Hershey kisses or peanut butter cups.

Be sure to brush and floss when you get home to get sugar off your teeth and anything sticky off your brackets.

If you need additional information, Dr. Kara was interviewed by the Columbian last year about this very topic:

Halloween treats can be a horror for braces

Dr. Kara Hobson announces the opening of Straightline Orthodontics

Dr. Kara Hobson opens Straightline Orthodontics, bringing over a decade of experience, care and efficiency to orthodontics in the Columbia Gorge.

Hood River, Oregon – October 12, 2015: After 10 years of living in Hood River while building her experience and reputation in the Portland area, Dr. Kara Hobson is proud to open Straightline Orthodontics, bringing her practice home to the Gorge.

“I take great personal satisfaction in seeing the positive impact that my work has on the lives of patients,” said Dr. Hobson. “Providing care that improves not only dental appearance but self-image and confidence is incredibly rewarding.”

Straightline Orthodontics is a full service orthodontics practice, treating both pediatric and adult patients. With a full spectrum of treatment options available, including traditional braces and Invisalign™, Dr. Hobson and her staff are able to craft a truly personalized treatment plan for each patient. Initial consultations are always complimentary and include an introduction to Dr. Hobson and her staff, an opportunity to discuss any preexisting questions or concerns and a thorough exam followed by discussion of treatment options. Dr. Hobson and her staff work hand-in-hand with each patient’s dentist to provide the very best in comprehensive care.

Straightline Orthodontics is located at 1700 12th Street, Suite D, sharing office space with North Oregon
Endodontics and Oregon Periodontics, PC. The office’s central location serves to treat all Columbia Gorge residents with both Oregon and Washington insurance plans accepted. Treatment rooms not only contain the latest in orthodontic technology but are designed for patient ease and comfort, complete with available movies and radio. While Straightline prides itself on being efficient and punctual, the waiting room hosts toys and tablets for all ages to relax prior to appointments.

After receiving a B.S. in Biology and graduating Cum Laude from Santa Clara University, Dr. Hobson entered the University of Washington, School of Dentistry. She attended a General Practice Residency at University of San Francisco and then returned home to pursue a Master of Science in Orthodontics at OHSU. Her professional career spans over a decade of experience and thousands of carefully crafted smiles. Continued education and involvement in the field of dentistry are an important part of Dr. Hobson’s commitment to her patients and her career. She is a member of the American Association of Orthodontics, Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontics, American Dental Association, and Washington and Oregon State Dental Associations.

Dr. Hobson and her staff will be hosting a grand opening and open house the evening of Tuesday, November 3rd at 5pm to mark the occasion. Light refreshments and an opportunity to tour the facilities and meet the Straightline Orthodontics staff will be available.

Straightline Orthodontics is open Monday and Tuesday from 7:30am to 5pm, with phone service availability Wednesday through Friday during standard business hours. The office accepts Visa, Mastercard, cash and checks. For more information, visit http://straightlinebraces.com or call (541) 716-5032 to schedule an appointment.