Every member of our team is here because they care about people, about health, and about excellent dentistry. We believe that serving people, helping them find renewed health, and restoring their confidence is one of the most rewarding and celebratory things we could ever do.
Dr. Bruce Hester was inspired to become a dentist by his father an outstanding dentist in his own right. Seeing the difference he made in peoples lives moved Dr. Hester to choose dentistry as his life goal and he has never looked back. He loves the fact that in dentistry, art and science go hand in hand, and patients love it too! Their healthy smiles shine as a testimony to his, and our teams perfectionist attitude.
Young families appreciate that we can treat mom, dad, and the kids at the same beautiful office. Professionals appreciate that we can schedule cleanings or whitenings over their lunch breaks. And retirees are grateful for the little ways we make sure they are absolutely comfortable.
Dr. Bruce Hester grew up in beautiful northwestern Cobb County, watching his father help patients and their smiles after opening Hester Dental Group in Kennesaw in 1967. Dr. Hester always knew he wanted to pursue a career in dentistry, too.
He received an undergraduate degree from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. Dr. Hester went on to attend the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry, where he graduated as a Doctor of Dental Medicine in 1992 at the top of his class with numerous awards and distinctions.
After school, Dr. Hester returned home to practice dentistry alongside his father. Six years later, his dad decided to retire. Since then, Dr. Hester has continued to uphold the tradition of serving patients with the same professionalism and compassionate, caring attitude established by his dad so many years ago.
Dr. Hester continues to advance and enhance his skills and knowledge through continuing education each year. Hes also certified in administering Botox and dermal filler therapies.Recently, he was recognized by Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the National Dental Honor Society.
As a resident of Acworth, Dr. Hester remains active in the community where he lives and works. Hes a member of the Kennesaw Business Association, the Acworth Business Association, and Northstar Church.
When hes not helping patients, Dr. Hester Likes spending time with his wife, Kim, and his two grown children both students at the University of Georgia. He also likes to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors via boating around Lake Allatoona and traveling.
Dr. Chelsea Smith grew up traveling the world with her family while her father was in the military, and eventually moved to Cobb County in 2006. She found an early love of healthcare from her dad and carried a love of dentistry throughout high school and college. She attended Kennesaw Mountain High School.
She received an undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi where she was very involved in her sorority, Kappa Delta, and their numerous philanthropies. Dr. Smith spent her time before dental school shadowing and learning from Dr. Hester in his practice and knew one day she wanted to return.
Dr. Smith attended The Dental College of Georgia and graduated as a Doctor of Dental Medicine in May of 2020. Upon graduation, she joined Dr. Hester and his team and is eager to make a home within the Kennesaw community.
In her spare time, Dr. Smith enjoys spending time with family and friends, working out, kayaking, and attending concerts. She and her husband enjoy taking their dog on long walks up Kennesaw Mountain.
Krista is a graduate of the Dental Careers Foundation and has over three decades of experience working in dentistry. Shes been a part of the Hester Dental team since 2018. Krista stays busy and wears many hats as our front office coordinator. On any given day, she might be our IT or phone specialist too! She loves coming to the office each day because of her relationships with her work family and our patients. Krista says its a joy to see patients coming back over the years and getting to hear about whats happening in their lives. Hester Dental provides a unique experience to patients, Krista says, because the office has a hometown feel where patients see the same staff year after year theres nothing corporate about our kind of smile care. Are you forever confused about your dental insurance? Talk to Kirsta! Dealing with dental insurance is her strong suit, and she has no problem going to battle against them on your behalf. Outside of work, Krista does volunteer work with her daughters at their sporting/school events. She loves being outdoors, camping, and boating with friends. The family also tries to sneak down to Georgia Southern to visit her son, whos getting ready to graduate.
Steve is a graduate of Pasco-Hernando State College and has been working in dentistry since 2000. Prior to delving into the dental field, Steve was a paramedic/firefighter but he later decided he wanted a change from emergency services switching to dental care. To this day, Steve still holds his emergency services degree, paramedic and firefighter certifications, and is a CPR instructor. Steve loves caring for patients like you and your smile. He says being a part of our team is a fulfilling experience because of the fun technology and treatments we get to work with and the honest dental care it allows us to provide. When you work with him, youll find that Steve is always funny, kind, understanding, compassionate, and a good listener. Steve is married with four grown sons and two beautiful daughter-in-laws. Both he and his wife serve on the prayer team at their church. When hes not busy cleaning teeth and helping patients, Steve also loves cars, guns, classic rock, camping, hiking, gardening, and maintaining his faith.
Edna has nearly three decades of experience in dentistry, helping patients achieve and maintain a healthy smile as a dental hygienist. She is a graduate of Armstrong State University in Savannah and has been a valued team member within the office since 1997.
Edna is responsible for reviewing patient medical history, examining teeth and gums, removing plaque, taking radiographs, polishing teeth, applying sealants and fluoride, patient education, and assisting the doctors. Her job provides her the opportunity to form a lifelong relationship with each patient thats built on trust. Edna says Hester Dental Group is special because of its deep roots within the community spanning nearly a half-century. When you walk through our door, you truly become part of our family. We offer a very unique dental experience in that we embrace our heritage, while looking forward to mastering new techniques and treatments.
As a hygienist, Rebecca is frequently educating patients about the best ways to care for their teeth in between cleanings. She likes this level of interaction with patients, because it gives her the opportunity to really help answer their questions and address any potential concerns. Rebecca said Hester Dental is unique because of how the entire team places such great emphasis on creating a family-friendly, family-oriented atmosphere thats comfortable and caring. Originally from Navarre Beach, FL, Rebecca and her family relocated to the area in 2015.
Ruby attended Dental Assisting School at Dental Careers Incorporated through Chattahoochee Technical College. She completed her education in 2003. She joined the Hester Dental Group family in 2007, and we are pleased to have her in the office. As a dental assistant, Rubys responsibilities range from assisting the dentists with various procedures and always making sure our patients needs are the highest priority. She loves what she does. Her passion shows through the wonderful relationships Ruby has forged with our patients, while being a part of treatments that improve and achieve beautiful smiles. Our practice is unique because we are a dental office that has had the opportunity to service patients dental care needs from generation to generation, says Ruby. Originally from Chicago, Ruby moved to the area with her husband Steve to be closer to her parents. Her hobbies include: spending time with her children, reading romance novels, gardening, swimming, and walking her two dogs.
Dee has been a dental assistant with Hester Dental Group since 2012. Prior to helping the doctors and patients, she worked in Early Childhood Education for 13 years. Dee cares deeply about making sure patients have a smile thats healthy and confident. She also likes being able to make a positive impact on our patients lives every day. Dee thinks the practice is one-of-a-kind because of the longstanding, loyal patient base and dedicated team that makes everyone feel like they are part of a big family. She relocated to the area from Illinois in 1999, and currently resides in Dallas, GA with her husband Raleigh. Together, they treasure time spent with their four children and four grandchildren.