Dr. Ken Howard was born and raised in the Tri-Cities and graduated from Kamiakin High in 1990. He furthered his education at CBC, then transferred and graduated from Washington State University in 1996. He received degrees in Biology and Microbiology, with a minor in Molecular Biology. In 1996 he was accepted to Howard University's School of Dentistry, in Washington D.C., graduating in the top of his class.

Dr. Howard's passion was to start a family practice, because he enjoys interacting with everyone, from the young to the elderly. Dr. Howard didn't have to think twice about where he would want to set up his practice. The Columbia Basin has a lot to offer. It allows his family to partake in camping, fishing, skiing, hunting, and hiking activities, some only a short drive away.

Dr. Howard and his staff have discovered that the key to having a strong practice is treating patients as if they were family. They enjoy helping all generations of families maintain a healthy dental lifestyle in a caring environment.

Tasha grew up in Richland Washington and attended Hanford High School. She graduated from Eastern Oregon University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education and Health. In 2000, she decided to change directions and received her Dental Assisting Certification and has been in the dental field ever since. After having her daughter she decided to move up front and learn insurance and has been doing this since 2004. Tasha currently resides in Kennewick and is married with 4 children. If she is not at the dental office, she is traveling with her family, watching her daughter play volleyball, hitting the gym, camping or making cakes.

Nancy is a Connell native and moved to the Tri-Cities area in 2006. She attended Carrington College in Spokane for dental assisting. She has been a dental assistant for 16 years and recently moved to the front office. Nancy is married with 6 children and a grandson. She also has 3 dogs and a cat. Nancy enjoys staying healthy and going to the gym, hiking, camping and spending time with her family.

Rhonda has lived in the Tri-Cities since 2000. She graduated from Dental Hygiene School in South Texas and has practiced in Washington and Oregon. When she is not helping others with their hygiene needs you can find her spending her free time with her family, friends and her dog 'Brick'.

Melanie graduated with a Bachelor's of Science and Dental Hygiene from the Medical College of Georgia in 2002. She is trained in nitrous oxide sedation as well as local anesthetics. She worked as a clinic instructor at the Dental Hygiene program at Ferris State University, Michigan from 2006-2010. Melanie grew up in Tacoma, Washington. She met her husband in College and married in 2000. Since getting married she has lived in Georgia, Utah, and Michigan finishing college for herself and husband while adding 4 children to their family. Her children keep her very busy and well as serving actively in her church. Although a transplant to the Tri-Cities, she loves the area. She loves the four seasons of weather, hot summers and not a lot of traffic. This is a great family oriented area to raise a family.

Jeanette was raised on a wheat farm in Eastern Washington. She graduated from Eastern Washington University with her Bachelor Degree in Dental Hygiene. She has practiced in Washington and Oregon. The highlight of her profession was when she was teaching Dental Hygiene at Clark College and Columbia Basin College. Jeanette loves to travel in her free time and enjoys riding her horses. She lives with her husband Damon, has 2 children and has 2 grandchildren.

Becky has lived in the Tri-Cities area since she was 4 years old and attended Kennewick High School. She graduated from Eastern Washington University with her Bachelor Degree in Dental Hygiene. While attending Eastern she was given the opportunity to live and study in Guadalajara Mexico for two summers. This was one of the most impactful moments of her life. She has been a dental hygienist for 16 years with 12 of those years here a Chinook Family Dental. Becky currently resides in Kennewick with her husband, two children and puppy 'Stella'. Becky enjoys her off time following her children playing sports as well as coaching a girls ' basketball team for AAU. When she can find time to break away from the sports commitment, she enjoys traveling and taking family vacations with her family and friends.

Emma 's family moved to Tri-Cities from Moses Lake in 1980. She is a graduate from Faith Christian Academy and has a son and a daughter, her guiding forces. Emma 's favorite things in life are cooking, watching old movies & sporting events, and sharing her passion for food with her loved ones. Her greatest accomplishment is being a hopelessly devoted 'Mimi ' to her 4 amazing grandkids. 'Every day is a new adventure with them and they fill my life with joy. I am blessed!' Emma has very much enjoyed being a dental assistant for many years. Her goal is to provide a positive and comfortable dental experience for every patient and treat them with respect and understanding.

Shaylee grew up in Benton City and attended Kiona-Benton City High School. After high school she attended Tri-City Dental Assisting School. She has been in the dental field for 5 years and is cross-trained for Assisting and Front Desk. When she is not at the office you can find her spending time with her 2 dogs, hanging out with family or shopping.

Its likely you wont find another doctor around thats more personable and genuinely concerned for his patients than Dr. Howard. He not only cares about your oral health but about you as an individual. Youll often find him sitting in the waiting room talking with patients. Along with Dr. Howard, our entire team here truly cares about you. We love the opportunity we have to get to know you personally, and we hope to build a lasting relationship with you through the years.

At our practice, you will enjoy a friendly, family-oriented environment. We make every effort to help all our patients feel comfortable during treatment and throughout their entire visit by treating you with kindness, respect and genuine care. We consider you to be a part of our family, and youll feel the difference that makes.

Because we want you to feel confident in your dental care, we make patient education a priority. We bend over backwards to guide you through your treatment process, explaining all your treatment options and answering any questions you might have. Additionally, we will teach you everything you need to know about at-home prevention so you can enjoy your healthy smile for years to come.

One thing patients love most about our practice is our caring team! Smiling faces, friendly personalities and kind demeanors we have a great team dedicated to your comfort and confidence. We strive to stay pleasant, positive and patient-focused at every visit. Well help you feel at home.

Have you ever felt like your dentist just wasnt listening? That wont be the case here! We listen carefully so that we can understand the needs, concerns and desires of our patients. We want you to feel comfortable and involved in every decision. At Chinook Family Dental Care, you will be listened to and understood.

We recognize that quality also plays an important role in your dental experience. Dr. Howard and his team strive to offer the highest quality dentistry in the area and always aspire to keep improving, whether its through continuing education and training or investing in modern technology. In every treatment and service, we aim for excellence and never compromise on our work for you.