Drs. Kaugars and Miller discovered they had similar philosophies of providing the best patient care and creating a comfortable, caring friendly environment. They merged their practices in 1991 and they have since been devoted to restoring and enhancing the natural beauty of a smile using conservative, state-of-the-art procedures that will result in beautiful, healthy and long lasting smiles! The addition of Dr.Beitz to our practice is the perfect complement to our team. We thank you for allowing us to take care of your periodontal needs and look forward to working with you and your referring dentist to provide you with the best patient care.
We understand that you may have questions or concerns when it comes to your periodontal health and our services. As periodontal specialists, Drs. Kaugars, Miller and Beitz and the rest of our team are solely dedicated to improving the health and appearance of your gum tissues. We stay up-to-date with the latest techniques and treatments because we strive to provide a safe, comfortable, effective, and even enjoyable experience!
Finding the right periodontist can be a challenging, yet important task. We want our patients to make an informed decision. The following pages are designed to help you better understand why our office is uniquely qualified to improve your periodontal health!
At the core of our dental practice is a friendly team of professionals that are dedicated to your utmost comfort and optimal oral health. We view each patient as a unique individual and tailor each treatment to your specific needs.
As part of our commitment to providing close, personalized attention to every patient, we want to encourage patient communication. Please know that we are here to provide outstanding patient care, and that we value the trust you have placed in us.
As your dental health professionals, we want you to feel confident and safe. We are a team of highly trained and skilled clinicians. We pride ourselves in providing the care you need to keep your smile healthy. To give you the best possible service and results, we each complete continuing education classes and annual training. We also attend dental lectures, meetings and dental conventions to stay informed of new techniques, the latest products, and the newest equipment to provide state-of-the-art dental care.
Dr. Kaugars was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and Biloxi, Mississippi. She moved to Richmond to attend Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry and loved Richmond so much, she never left! She also completed her Periodontics residency at VCU and began private practice in Periodontics treating oral and periodontal diseases and replacing missing teeth with implants. Drs. Kaugars and Miller merged their practices because they discovered that they had similar practice philosophies in providing the best patient care, using state of the art technology, and creating a comfortable, gentle patient-friendly environment.
Dr. Kaugars is a board certified periodontist and a member of the American Association of Periodontology, the American Dental Association, the Virginia Society of Periodontists, the Virginia Dental Association, the Richmond Dental Society, the Academy of Osseointegration, American Association of Women Dentists and several local dental study clubs. She has been honored by faculty and colleagues by induction in OKU, Pierre Fauchard Society, as well as fellowships in VDA and the American College of Dentists. Dr. Kaugars is a member of the Board of Advisors of the VCU Dental School. She has served as a part-time clinical instructor and Associate Professor in the Department of Periodontics at VCU for over 30 years, and periodontics residents routinely observe cases in her office. She has served as president of the Virginia Society of Periodontists and as President-elect, Treasurer, a member of the Board of Directors of the Richmond Dental Society and delegate to the Virginia Dental Association. She has also served on numerous committees for the Richmond Dental Society and the Virginia Dental Association. Dr. Kaugars is most proud to have contributed to the Virginia Dental Association's Missions of Mercy projects of providing free dental care to underserved communities in Goochland, Eastern Shore, Emporia, Virginia State University, Roanoke, Wise, and New Orleans.
Dr. Kaugars is an active member of Reveille United Methodist Church where she has served on many committees. She has a passion for outreach and service having accompanied Reveille teams to Habitat for Humanity in Eastern Shore, VA, New Orleans, and El Salvador as well as providing dental care on the medical mission trips to Honduras with the Friends of Barnabas Foundation. She has helped locally with Rebuilding Together.
With certification by the American Board of Periodontology and licensed by the State of Virginia, Dr. Benita Miller has practiced periodontics in her hometown of Richmond, Virginia since 1986. Distinguished in her field, Dr. Miller specializes in the treatment of various oral and gum conditions and the placement of dental implants. Dr. Miller was born and raised in Richmond where she attended Collegiate School. In 1980 she received a Bachelor of Science degree from Duke University. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from VCU/MCV School of Dentistry in 1984 and then pursued her periodontal specialty training at Medical College of Georgia School of Dental Medicine.
Throughout the years, Dr. Miller has given back to her profession on a local, state, and national level. Among numerous areas of involvement, she has had the opportunity to serve on the Board and as President of the Richmond Dental Society, on the Board and as President of the Virginia Dental Association, and as President of the Virginia Society of Periodontists. She presently serves as the dental representative to the State Board of Health. Active membership in professional organizations includes: Richmond Dental Society, Virginia Dental Association, American Dental Association, Virginia Society of Periodontists, American Academy of Periodontology, and the American Association of Women Dentists. Among the honors Dr. Miller most appreciates is the selection by her colleagues as a Fellow of the Virginia Dental Association, the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists, and the Pierre Fauchard Academy.
Dr. Miller finds joy in giving back to her community, especially to those in need. Since 2000, she and her husband have participated annually in the Virginia Dental Association's Mission of Mercy in Wise County Virginia. Their daughter started going with them at age 9, and now she is entering the dental profession! For many years, Dr. Miller has provided periodontal care for patients in need through the VDA's Donated Dental Services program. She has enjoyed the opportunity to serve on the vestry at her church and in its many community outreach programs.
Dr. Miller enjoys spending time with her husband Dr. Michael Miller (an oral and maxillofacial surgeon) and their grown daughter. She enjoys being outdoors and especially playing tennis. She finds playing the piano a great way to relax when time allows.
Dr. Jill Beitz was born and raised in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. She attended the University of Delaware, where she double-majored in Biology and Spanish. After college, Dr. Beitz pursued her dreams of becoming a dentist at Virginia Commonwealth University. She then moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to complete a general practice residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center, after which Dr. Beitz worked as a general dentist in New Jersey. Realizing she missed Richmond and wanted to go back to school to specialize, Dr. Beitz returned to Richmond to complete a three year residency in Periodontics at VCU where she became proficient at treating various oral and periodontal conditions, as well as the surgical placement of dental implants. Dr. Beitz was very fortunate to meet Drs. Kaugars and Miller while she was in residency and discovered that they all shared a similar practice philosophy centered around providing the best patient care.
Dr. Beitz is a candidate for diplomacy for the American Board of Periodontology, and board certification will occur in the spring of 2022. Dr. Beitz is a member of the American Association of Periodontology, the American Dental Association, the Virginia Dental Association, the Richmond Dental Society, as well as other local dental study clubs. Dr. Beitz served as an alternate delegate for the Virginia Dental Association.
Dr. Beitz has proudly been a part of many Missions of Mercy projects throughout the state of Virginia. She has also gone to Jamaica several times on mission trips to provide dental treatment to those in rural areas without access to care.
Born in Oregon and growing up between Virginia and Florida, Michele now calls RVA home. Earning a degree in Business and over six years of experience within health administration and customer service, she has a passion for helping patients understand their treatment and how to make it possible. Most of her free time is spent traveling, enjoying nature and learning new instruments. Proudly 1 of 3 office cat-ladies.
Born and raised in Virginia. She has almost 10 years' experience with medical and dental insurance billing and has grown to love the process of filing and following claims. Helping patients understand and maximize their available insurance benefits is her passion. Angela has an unrivaled level of patience for contacting and negotiating insurance benefits for the necessary procedures of our patients. In her spare time Angela is obtaining a degree in medical coding and reimbursement through online college. She is a certified coding associate (CCA) and continuing to further her certifications in claims coding. She has three loving fur babies named Pikachu, Gizmo, and Scrappy Doo that take up any free time she has and truly makes her day when she gets to come home and cuddle with them.
In the Spring of 2012 Lisa moved to Virginia from New York and joined our family here at Drs. Kaugars, Miller & Beitz Implants and Periodontics of Richmond. Her experience as a Pediatric Dental Assistant has given her wonderful talent when assisting in procedures for children at our office. Throughout the years, Lisa's combined experience in customer service and dental front office administration has made her a true asset to our office. Lisa has a true gift when it comes to efficient patient care. Her positive disposition allows our patients to feel comfortable and at ease when being treated. Lisa continues to grow with our practice each year, she enjoys assisting our doctors and providing our patients with the best dental and surgical care.
Cameron, a member of our surgical team, started working here February of 2020. She has worked in dentistry for over 20 years. She is great at making patients feel at ease throughout their surgical procedures, and postoperative visits. Her vast knowledge enables her to give detailed postoperative instruction and the ability to answer any questions our patients have. Cameron is a native Richmonder and she loves spending time with her family and her kitty, Mittens!
Sarah is one of our surgical dental assistants. She ensures that during preparation and treatment our patients are comfortable and at ease. She has worked in General Dentistry since October 2013, and is the newest member of our team. She loves to make others laugh and brighten their day. Outside of work, she loves spending time with her four little boys and watching sports.
Terri joined Kaugars, Miller and Beitz in March 1992 and has been in dentistry for over 34 years. She graduated from Wytheville Community College in 1990 with her Associate's Degree in Applied Science with a Major in Dental Hygiene. Previous to hygiene school she earned her dental assisting degree, graduating Cum Laude in 1988. She was President of her 1988 class. She also has a hygiene license in North Carolina. She is certified in CPR and nitrous oxide administration. She is a member of the Commonwealth Dental Hygiene Society. Terri is committed to her patient's oral health and believes oral health is the window to great overall health. Building trusting relationships is her top priority!
Megan graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree in dental hygiene from the University of Maryland Dental School. Previous to hygiene school she graduated from Virginia Tech with her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. While in dental hygiene school, Megan was the recipient of the Class Spirit Award both her first and second year, the Patricia C. Stearns Scholarship and the Who's Who among College and Universities. She was also a member of the National Dean's List and Sigma Phi Alpha National Dental Hygiene Honor Society. Post graduation she was the Newsletter co-chair for the Maryland Dental Hygiene Association and a member of the American Dental Hygiene Association and the Commonwealth Dental Hygiene Association.
Megan was born and raised in Richmond and worked for Drs. Kaugars and Miller as a surgical assistant before moving to Baltimore where she lived and worked for 5 years. Megan returned home to the RVA and has been with Drs. Kaugars, Miller and Beitz since 2014. Her goal as a hygienist is to make patients feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible during their visits. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 active boys, exercising, reading and being a therapy dog team with her dog Boh.
Lauri is a Richmond native and graduate of MCV/VCU with a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. As a practicing hygienist for more than 30 years, Lauri provides gentle, high quality individual patient care. She strives to educate patients in the role of periodontal disease in their overall health and guides them to improving both their daily home care skills and health. Her attention to detail and goals to maintain current standards in the profession are truly appreciated by her patients and the dental team.
Lauri is a member of Sigma Phi Alpha, National Dental Hygiene Honor Society, where she served as an officer for many years. Giving back to MCV/VCU has always been a priority. Along with mentoring many students through the years, she was also a part-time clinical faculty member in the Dental Hygiene program for 10 years. Lauri was honored with a 'Distinguished Graduate Award' from VCU following 25 years of practice and significant contributions to the dental hygiene field. She remains current in her profession and attends many hours of continuing education annually while also participating in study clubs and community service. Lauri is also certified in the delivery of local anesthetics.
Outside the office, Lauri has enjoyed raising 3 beautiful daughters with her husband, Bill. She loves long walks, hiking, reading and VCU basketball! She and Bill have enjoyed many wineries around Virginia and in California when visiting one of their daughters. A nicely aged Cabernet is a welcome reward for this 'empty nester!'
As a former dental assistant and dental sales consultant, Karen is clearly passionate about dentistry and can't see herself in any other industry. She actually started her dental assisting career here in 1991 and returned as our office manager in 2018. Karen has been a friend of the practice for many years and is happy to be back in her dental home.
Glynis is the glue behind the scenes for our practice. She keeps us on our toes when it comes to covering every detail of running a business. When she is not fully enthralled in enjoying an Excel spreadsheet or two, she is putting her excellent sewing skills to work - she has kept us all stocked in very fashionable face masks. In her personal time, Glynis loves to cheer for the VCU Rams basketball team and dream of the next time she will have her toes in the sand.