I was drawn to dentistry because of a great dentist (Dr. Bright) I had growing up. He had fun prophy paste flavors to choose from and made me feel so good about myself when I had a great checkup! I also had braces for 5 years and spent a lot of time in the dental chair.
My favorite part of dental school was getting to know all of my patients personally. I learned everyone has different dental needs and wants. Its important to really listen to people so you can address whats most important to them and gain their trust. Dentistry is not cookie cutter with every patient.
My favorite aspect of dentistry is dental materials. I love reading about and learning the newest dental materials available. Im not afraid to try new things and strive to have the best options for restoring a tooth. It drives the assistants crazy but I think we all get excited as a team when a new material is a real game changer in making our dentistry better.
My philosophy is to always do whats right for a patient. My focus is the best and most conservative treatment option. I look at the big picture and weigh the longevity of restorations versus investment in time and cost. When I see kids, I treat them like I would my own son. When I see older adults, I treat them like I would my own parents. When I see patients my age, I treat them as I want to be treated. If something is complex, I dont hesitate to refer patients to a specialist who will provide the best care.
When patients leave the office, I want them to feel they had the most thorough exam theyve ever experienced. I work hard with my team to make sure we have answered all patient questions regarding treatment and finances. I like to get to know each patient personally so they feel a connection with us as a part of our dental family. I also love providing the little extras including bottled water, snacks, TLC bags, heated neck wraps, blankets and personal music on Pandora.
Helping people understand the importance of their oral health is always top on Christines mind, and she is extremely talented as a patient educator. Christine prides herself in staying current with the latest research in preventative oral health care. Her professionalism and commitment are noticeably reflected in her positive attitude and delivery of care with a calm chairside manner and kind demeanor.
Christine served with the US Air Force as a dental assistant for 9 years before her passion inspired her to further her education into becoming a registered dental hygienist in 2017. In her free time, Christine enjoys cooking, spending time with her family and making custom t-shirts.
One of the first friendly voices you will hear over the phone is Isabel. Her heart is transfixed on Family, Faith and Love which she brings to her position as our patient coordinator, focusing to ensure patient expectations are fully met while visiting our dental practice. She transitioned into the dental field in 2005 and remains passionate about assisting patients with their dental scheduling needs.
Isabel joined our practice in 2018 and remains a strong member of our admin team. Originally from South Texas, Isabel counts her finest blessings from her family; beginning with her loving parents to her 2 children, Joaquin - a USAF vet and Erica - also in the dental field, to her 2 beautiful granddaughters. Her hobbies include time spent with family, going on road trips and praising God for all her many blessings.
Linda is one of the first bright and happy facesyou'll see when visiting our office! She has been in the dental field since graduating from DelMar College in 2000 as a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA). Linda eventually cross-trained with the admin department, which is where she found her passionin assistingpatients understand their dental benefits and all aspects of the financial side of dental.
We were blessed to have Linda join our office in 2019, where she completedour team. All questions financial can be addressed to Linda; she will help you out in witha constant warm smile on her face and willingness to help navigate dental insurance.
Valuing patients and providing to them with the highest level of quality care deserved, is the standard that you find Cristina lives by on a daily basis. Her interest in dentistry was piqued when her son's teeth began to develop, which prompted her to attend STVT and graduate as a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) in 2018. She truly loves being a dental assistant because it allows her to help patients understand the importance of oral hygiene. Additionally, she loves hearing patients' stories and getting to know them better!
Rebekah has been intriguedwith dentistry since a very young age and that directed her career path to Del Mar College where she received her Associates in Applied Science and a certificate in Dental Assisting. Her passion is quality patient care and building relationships with patients. She goes out of her way to make sure you are comfortable and all of your questions have been answered. She often will give patients a follow up call to see how they are doing!
Educating and encouraging patients through their dental journey is a passion for Gabby. She considers the mouth to be incredibly important in systemic function and overall well-being. She enjoys the relationships formed with our patients as they are cared for in an office providing stellar dental care. Gabby prides herself on staying up to date with the latest information to make her patients more comfortable and healthy.
Gabby obtained her Bachelor's degree at Schreiner University, then on to Del Mar College where she became a Registered Dental Hygienist. She is a member of the Dental Hygienists Association. In her spare time, Gabby enjoys going on walks, traveling and spending time with her husband and daughter.
Permanent teeth will begin to grow around age 6, and except for wisdom teeth, are all present between ages 12 and 14. The next teeth to grow in are the 12-year molars and finally the wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth typically begin breaking through from age 17 and on. The total number of permanent teeth is 32, though few people have room for all 32 teeth. This is why wisdom teeth are usually removed.
Your front teeth are called incisors. The sharp fang-like teeth are canines. The next side teeth are referred to as pre-molars or bicuspids, and the back teeth are molars. Your permanent teeth are the ones you keep for life, so it is vital that they are brushed and flossed regularly and that periodic check-ups by a dentist are followed.