The Best of Hernando County

Ada Westover, at her 90th birthday celebration.

Being a dentist in Hernando County can often be a fascinating lesson in history.  Dr. Jergins sees so many patients well into their eighties and nineties.  Patients who have stories to share about years spent all over the world.

Recently, Dr. Jergins attended a birthday party honoring 90-year-old Ada Westover.  Ada's roots go very deep in Hernando County; starting out in Spring Lake and making her adult home in downtown Brooksville.  Ada is an original, and we are honored to know her.

There are other originals in Hernando County:

Weeki Wachee State Park  If you haven't visited the park, you're missing a wonderful combination of nature, vintage Florida and a true Hernando treasure.

Paesano's Italian Bread Bakery  A taste of Italy in Spring Hill.  Locals love the bread, the Italian specialties and the friendliness of the staff.

Westover's Flowers  Visit this wonderful florist and make a day of it in historic and charming downtown Brooksville.  Westover's is in an historical home which also houses the Paper Porch, a gift shop that has Vera Bradley, Waterford Crystal, jewelry and lots of other really pretty things.  And, once you've shopped a bit and have taken time to smell the roses at Westover's, it's time for lunch at...

Mallie Kyla's Cafe  You will have a meal you won't soon forget at Mallie Kyla's; fresh sandwhiches, homemade soups and daily specials that will make your mouth water.  But leave room for dessert!  The old-fashioned cakes and pies are worth the extra bites.

So, whether you live in Weeki Wachee, Spring Hill, Hudson or Brooksville, there are originals here, you definitely won't find anywhere else.  They are what make our part of Florida so special.  And, no matter where you live in Hernando County, and even parts of Pasco County, Dr. Jergins is just a short drive away.  Make the trip for the best in gentle dental care.  And while you're at it, check out some of Hernando County's originals along the way.

Osama Bin Laden and Dental Records

As the world watches the story of the death of Osama Bin Laden unfold, much has been reported about the steps the attack team took to confirm Bin Laden's identity.  (CNN.com did an interesting piece on confirming the body was Bin Laden's.) While the U.S. team used a combination of photo comparisons and DNA, forensic experts often rely on dental records to confirm identity.

"Dental forensics can reveal much information about the person," says Dr. Jergins. "It can be as simple as noting how many teeth the person has, and using that data to determine age."

Forensic experts can also compare a person's teeth with known dental records to make a positive identification, along with evidence of good or poor dental hygiene and overall dental health.

Favorite Patients

I know, a dentist really shouldn't have favorites among his patients...

But, sometimes, a dentist just can't help it; not even Dr. Jergins.

You see, while all of his patients are very nice, and call him The Gentle Dentist, his two favorites call him "Daddy."