Chris Higgins AMAZING STAFF!! The office is extremely nice and clean. I have never been treated so well by another business. Doctor Rapp and our hygienist Mandi were so kind and knowledagable. Also, thank you Dr. Rapp for your service to our country!!
Dr. Matt Connell graduated from Camdenton High School in 2006. He then received his undergrad at Brigham Young University and spent 2 years serving the hispanic community in California. Once home, he went on to attend the University of Missouri- Kansas City School of Dentistry. He graduated in May of 2016. While attending school in Kansas City, Dr. Connell met and married his sweetheart, Morgan. They now have 3 children, August, Evie and Parker.
Dr. Connell has combined new dental innovation (i.e. 'DentalVibe' for painless injections, and the 'Isodry' to reduce procedure lengths) with modern day technologies (i.e. 'Pandora' and 'Netflix' with noise reducing headphones) to help make his patients feel comfortable during dental treatment. He enjoys treating patients of all ages and offers a wide variety of dental services to meet the needs of our community.
Dr. Chris Rapp has around 20 years of experience in the field of dentistry. He began working as a Dental Assistant while he completed his undergraduate work at Brigham Young University. He graduated with a major in Zoology(Pre-Dental) and a minor in Sociology in 2002. After his acceptance into UMKC Dental School, he was awarded with a 'Health Professional Scholarship' from the United States Air Force, and completed his dental training at UMKC School of Dentistry from 2005-2009.
He was honored to serve as a dentist in the United States Air Force from 2009-2013 while stationed at Scott Air Force Base in Belleville, IL. He began working at Lake Dental Clinic part-time in 2010, full-time in 2013, and became a co-owner in 2014. Dr. Rapp has been nominated as a finalist for the 'Lake 's Best Dentist' (in Life Styles at the Lake magazine) multiple times, and won the award in 2020. He is a proud participating Dentist with Medical Missions for Christ, and has also been recognized for his outstanding dental service to children in need, by the Camden County Child Advocacy Council.
Dr. Rapp enjoys treating patients of all ages and offers a wide variety of dental services to meet the needs of our community. As a graduate from the esteemed McGarry Implant Institute residency program, dental implants are among the many procedures he performs in his practice. Dr. Rapps top priority is making his patients feel comfortable during dental treatment, so he has combined new dental innovations (i.e. 'DentalVibe' for painless injections, and the 'Isodry' to reduce procedure lengths) with modern day technologies (i.e. 'Pandora' and 'Netflix' with noise reducing headphones) to accomplish this.
Dr. Michael Otradovec received his undergraduate degree from Southwest Missouri State in 1972. He then attended the UMKC School of Dentistry and graduated in 1979. Having been raised in the Bolivar area, Dr. Otradovec had a desire to moved to the Lake area and open a private practice in Osage Beach, Missouri for 16 years. In 1995 he joined the Lake Dental Clinic team.
He is a member of the American Dental association, the Missouri dental Association and Central District dental Association. He also attends continuing education classes throughout the year. Dr. Otradovec resides in Camdenton.
Dr. Timothy Bartlett has provided dental care from the Far East to the Western Pacific and brought his vast experience to us. After a career in the military (12 years Enlisted and 18 yeas as an Officer) Dr. Bartlett joined Lake Dental Clinic in 2013.
He is a 1995 graduate of UMKC School of dentistry. In 2001 he completed a 3 year residency in Prosthodontics from the University of Minnesota and a Fellowship in Maxillofacial Prosthetics in 2002 from the National Naval Dental School in Bethesda, MD.
With a family centered lifestyle now, Dr. Bartlett and his wife of 24 years, Rebecca chose to settle in the Lake of the Ozarks area after retiring from the Navy. They have 3 children, Hattie (18) Eliza (16) and Glenn (14), Dr. Bartlett is providing care in all facets of general dentistry while contributing to the prosthodontics capabilities of the clinic.
Dr. Steven Thrap grew up in Muscatine, Iowa. After graduating high school, He attended Brigham Young University in Utah where he and his wife met as dance partners. In 2016, he completed his undergraduate studies majoring in Microbiology and minoring in Ballroom Dance. He went on to attend dental school at the University of Iowa and graduated in 2020 as a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon dental honor society.
Growing up in Iowa, Dr. Thrap vacationed here at Lake of the Ozarks and is excited to now be serving the beautiful community. He enjoys helping his patients to be comfortable in the dental chair and confident in their healthy smile. Outside of the office, Dr. Thrap stays busy with his wife and 2 energetic children. He enjoys running, singing, dancing, and eating Thai food.
Our doctors and support staffs extensive experience allows us to provide an exceptional level of care. We maintain a dental laboratory within our practice, which we use to expedite restorations and other procedures. Our accomplished Camdenton dental team offers a broad range of services, including dental implant placement and providing restorative options that include implant-supported bridges, single crowns, and full or partial dentures.
Amy Lazar is a native to the Lake of the Ozarks. She graduated from Camdenton in 2001. She completed her Associates of Applied Science in dental hygiene from Ozarks Tecnical Community College in 2005. She has been at lake dental clinic since obtaining her degree in 2005. She enjoys taking care of her patients and takes pride in her work. Amy and her husband Bryan live in Camdenton with their daughter and son. She stays very busy outside of the office with her family!
Julie graduated from the University of South Dakota School of Dental Hygiene in 1981. She joined Lake Dental Clinic in 2013. Julie enjoys spending time with her family, and spoiling her two grandsons!
Mandi grew up in Omaha, NE where her father, Dr. Evan Connell, practiced as a dentist during her childhood. Mandi spent many years in the dental office working with him as a dental assistant. She continued her education at BYU in Utah, where she obtained the required pre-requisites to complete her Dental Hygiene Degree at Utah Valley State College. Mandi graduated with an RDH degree in 2003. Mandi and her husband relocated to Kansas City, where he began Dental School. In 2013 their family moved to the Lake area to join Lake Dental Clinic. They have 4 children and Mandi loves being a mom, recognizing the great responsiblity of that role. She enjoys swimming, biking, walking, reading, playing the piano, violin, and singing. Her faith and family are central in her life, and any activity they do together is what she enjoys.
Taylor graduated from Flint Hills Technical College in Emporia, KS in 2014 as a Registered Dental Hygienist. Taylor is married to her husband Cody. She has a one year old daughter named Kyndal, a dog named Daisy and a cat named Morgan. Taylor enjoys swimming, hiking, and cooking. She joined Lake Dental Clinic in 2015.
Bre graduated from Ozarks Technical Community College in December 2013 with an Associates in Dental Assisting. While waiting for Hygiene school to begin she worked as a CDA in a dental office in Springfield to get some experience. In May 2016 she received her Associates in Dental Hygiene. She then started working at Lake Dental in October 2016. Bre loves to spend time with her son Drake, daughter Emmy, and husband Clayton. They have two dogs, two cats, and chickens. Bre grew up here at the Lake and is a graduate from Osage High School. She loves sports, music, and cooking.
Lindsey grew up in Kansas City, spending her summer weekends here at the lake. She graduated from Mizzou in 2015 with her first bachelors degree in Health Administration. Later she decided to go back to school and soon graduated from UMKC in 2018 with a bachelors degree in Dental Hygiene. Throughout Lindseys college years she worked her summers here at the lake in the restaurant industry. The lake stole her heart so she decided to move and live here full time. After graduating, Lindsey joined Lake Dental Clinic in 2018. In her time away from the office, she enjoys lots of traveling (anywhere theres a beach) and hanging out with her Golden Retriever, Stella.
Lake Dental Clinic provides a wide variety of dental services and procedures to address all of our patients dental health needs. By combining quality patient care with up-to-date technology, we are able to treat patients of all ages in a comfortable and relaxing setting. Our dentist and highly trained staff are trained to not only treat patients but to identify what caused the health concern in the first place. This approach sets patients of Lake Dental Clinic on the road to recovery and long term oral health.
We offer a wide variety of services for patients throughout the Camdenton Missouri area. Our patients depend on The Team to meet all of their oral healthcare needs. Whether you need preventative care, restorative solutions or a smile makeover, we can help.
Philosophy of CareThe team at Lake Dental Clinic believe in the importance of preventative care. We focus on keeping patients in good oral health so that they can live a full, healthy, and enjoyable life that is free from oral pain. This starts by educating our patients on what they can do to stay healthy at home. In our family dentist office we recommend that patients eat a healthy diet that consists of green leafy vegetables, lean protein, nuts, dairy products, and crunchy fruits and veggies. Eating these foods along with drinking water can help to keep teeth healthy and make them stronger. By simultaneously reducing sugar intake, patients can also reduce their risk of cavities.
It is also important to brush and floss throughout the day. Instead of waiting for bedtime to brush teeth, carry a small toothbrush and use it after meals and snacks. This makes it possible to remove sugar and bacteria from the teeth and gums before it has the opportunity to turn into acid that can attack the teeth. This preventative step can greatly reduce a persons risk of getting a cavity or gum disease. We understand the importance of taking these steps at home and will spend the time necessary to educate and inform patients so that they can stay healthy overall. Education, after all, is essential for living a long and healthy life.
Understanding the importance of these regular dental exams, the staff at Lake Dental Clinic work to make each patient extremely comfortable. This includes being welcoming and kind while performing dental treatments in a way that is painless and relaxing. Patients visit our dentist office because they trust us to do just that take care of their teeth and gums, gently. The majority of our patients are local and come from the greater Camdenton area, we also see patients that are looking for gentle dental care.
Seniors, on the other hand, often struggle with gum disease and oral infections. As people age, their teeth can become weaker and infected more easily. Bone loss is incredibly common with seniors and by conducting regular dental exams, the team at Lake Dental Clinic can help seniors to have strong teeth and reduce the risk of them falling out. Since over seventy percent of U.S. adults suffer from tooth loss, preventative care is important.
Q: Are baby teeth really that important to my child?A: Primary, or baby, teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to come in.
Q: What should I do if my child has a toothache?A: First, rinse the irritated area with warm salt water and place a cold compress on the face if it is swollen. Give the child acetaminophen for any pain, rather than placing aspirin on the teeth or gums. Finally, see a dentist as soon as possible.
Q: How do dental sealants work?A: Sealants work by filling in the crevasses on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. This shuts out food particles that could get caught in the teeth, causing cavities. The application is fast and comfortable and can effectively protect teeth for many years.
Q: How do I know if my child is getting enough fluoride?A: Have your family dentist evaluate the fluoride level of your childs primary source of drinking water. If your child is not getting enough fluoride internally through water (especially if the fluoride level is deficient or if your child drinks bottled water without fluoride), then we may prescribe fluoride supplements.
Q: What can I do to protect my teeth during sporting events?A: Soft plastic mouthguards can be used to protect teeth, lips, cheeks and gums from sport related injuries. A custom-fitted mouthguard will protect your teeth from injuries and even provide protection from severe injuries to the head.
Q: How safe are dental X-rays?A: There is very little risk in dental X-rays. Family dentists are especially careful to limit the amount of radiation to which you and your family are exposed. Lead aprons and high-speed film are used to ensure safety and minimize the amount of radiation. Digital x-rays provide an even greater level of protection by using up to 90 percent less radiation.