Bluffside Smiles is committed to keeping individualized patient care at the center of everything we do. Our staff always works to keep patients fully informed of all of their treatment options, and we will never pressure you into any service or procedure. Whenever possible, we will work to preserve your existing teeth. From the moment you enter our office, you will be welcomed and treated as a member of our family, and we will never deliver care or advice we wouldnt give to our own families. We believe that dental decisions should be clear and transparent, and in every case we endeavor to educate patients on everything we do, from procedures to billing. We believe that dentistry should be pain free, and our skilled staff and gentle methods help to ensure thats the case. We believe that healthy smiles lead to healthier, happier lives.

Dr. Carolyn Giannelli was born and raised in Chicago and is, unapologetically, a huge Cubs fan. Dr. G received her DDS in 1991 from Northwestern University Dental School after earning her B.S. from St. Marys University in Winona, MN, with a double major in Biology and Psychology and a minor in Chemistry. She practiced dentistry in the Chicago area in her own practice for 23 years, took on great adventures and in 2016 becoming a dental director for a community health center in Mankato, MN, overseeing 47 employees and providing services for well over 6,000 patients a year.

Sheri grew up in La Crosse and has called this city home for most of her life. She attended Logan Senior High School and later Western Wisconsin Technical College, where she earned her associates degree in business. Shes been a part of the Bluffside Smiles administrative team since early 2019 and has been working in the dental field for over five years. Some of the important things she brings to this practice are her knowledge of dental insurance and finances, as well as her love of working with patients. Sheris favorite part of this office is the amazing team of dental professionals she gets to work with, which she feels is just like a family. Outside of work, she enjoys camping, swimming, and spending time with her husband, their two children, and their dog.

Originally from La Crosse, Jane was first drawn to the field of dentistry after writing a term paper on the subject in high school. With her degree in Dental Assisting from Western Technical College, she joined our team in August of 2011 as a chair-side assistant. She now works helping patients and our team as an office administrator. Shes always there to help with any office needs that arise, and her experience is an asset to everyone she works with. Jane loves welcoming both current and new patients to the office, and her administrative skills keep us running smoothly. She and her husband, Gary, have two adult children, Matt and Nicole, who were born and raised in the Onalaska/La Crosse community; they also have five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, each of whom they are very proud. When shes not at work, Jane enjoys spending time with her family and traveling with her husband in their RV.

Trish grew up on a farm near Readstown and moved to the Minneapolis area, where she received a bachelors degree in dental hygiene from the University of Minnesota. She has been a dental hygienist for 20 years and was also an instructor for dental hygiene students. She joined Bluffside Smiles in July of 2017. She really enjoys working with Dr. Giannelli and the rest of theteam. In addition to quality treatment, our very caring atmosphere is something that Trish appreciates. In her free time, she enjoys playing golf, spending time with her family, and experiencing local events.

Melissa has been a part of our Bluffside Smiles team since the spring of 2016. She earned her degree from Western Wisconsin Technical College (now Western Technical College) in 2001, and shes worked in the dental field since. What she likes best about being a part of this office is our team: she loves the staff and our two amazing dentists. She likes that our team is a fun and energetic one, and she knows that our patients appreciate that. Melissa thinks the most important things she brings to Bluffside Smiles Dental are her knowledge and almost 20 years of experience.

Leann isoriginally from Caledonia, Minnesota, and she graduated from Caledonia High School in 1993. After graduation, she attended Riverland Technical College in Rochester. Shes been working as a certified dental assistant since 1999. What made her want to enter the field of dental care is that she loves working with people and helping them to keep their smiles. Leann loves the fact that our office puts people first and focuses on a great patient experience for everyone who walks through our doors. Shes excited to bring her 20+ years of experience to this staff of professionals who all work together so well as a team. Outside of work, she loves spending time with friends and family, especially her husband, Jeff, and their two daughters, Alyssa and Brianna. Leann also enjoys scrapbooking, working with her flowers, and feeding the birds.

Having grown up in Onalaska, Mackenzie has called the La Crosse area home her whole life. After high school, she earned her degree in dental assisting from Western Technical College. The main reasons why she chose to enter the dental field are her love of helping people and her desire to help them have the healthiest smile and the best experience while getting it. Mackenzie always brings a positive attitude to work, and she truly enjoys making connections with patients. The other thing she loves about working at Bluffside Smiles is our amazing team, who have fun while providing amazing dental care. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, their dog, and their cat. Some of Mackenzies favorite activities are traveling, hiking, crafting, and hanging out with friends and family.

Wisdom teeth, the molars in the far back of your mouth, are nicknamed for the fact that they appear by the time you are finally mature (and presumably wise;). Whether or not these molars cause you problems is hard to predict, but if youre experiencing some specific pain in your gums and jaw, you may be wondering if you have impacted wisdom teeth. At Bluffside Smiles, we take care of wisdom teeth from all around the La Crosse area. Let us tell you more about impacted wisdom teeth and what to do if you have them.

Your wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars youll get. They usually come in when you are between 17 and 21 years old, though some peoples wisdom teeth wont come until much later, if at all.As with all teeth, wisdom teeth are expected to break through the gums and become totally visible when they emerge. However, in some situations, wisdom teeth stay deep in the jawbone or never break through your gums. In this case, the wisdom teeth are impacted.

Have you ever tried to shove one last book onto an already-full bookshelf? When your last set of teeth comes into an already-full mouth, its a similar situation. There simply may not be enough room for them and they may stay impacted under the gums.

Our dentists will confirm whether or not you have impacted wisdom teeth by looking into your mouth and also taking X-rays. The teeth may not need to be removed or extracted, in which case you can take pain medicine and use some warm saltwater rinse to soothe your gums.If an impacted tooth is causing problems for the rest of your mouth or jaw, its likely the dentist will want to surgically remove itthis is called extraction. Wisdom tooth extraction can leave your mouth sore for a few days, so you may need to take time off work or school and eat only safe, soft foods.

If you think you have impacted wisdom teeth, or if you have any other questions, Bluffside Smiles would love to see you soon! Call us today at (608) 788-6939 to be proactive about your oral health. Now thats a wise decision.