Dental skill with compassion and a gentle touch is what Tacoma dentist Dr. Ajaipal Sekhon brings to his patients at the Defiance Dental Studio. And helping his patients feel at ease is something he takes to heart. In fact, its a big reason he founded the studio.

I understand there can be a little anxiousness or nervousness about visiting the dentist, so weve created a relaxing environment here at the studio, where patients can feel confident and at ease with the dental care we provide, says Dr. Sekhon.

Coming from a family of dental and medical providers, Dr. Sekhon knows firsthand that its not only about giving patients skilled dental services, its also about earning their trust through compassionate care and a friendly chairside manner. Its a combination of all these things that helps to ensure that every patient at Defiance Dental Studio receives a positive experience.

For Dr. Sekhon, part of this dental experience includes being a mentor, educating his patients on oral health care, so that they can maintain healthy teeth and prevent (tooth decay or gum disease) more serious dental issues from occurring.

Besides offering general family dentistry services, Dr. Sekhon also specializes in cosmetic dentistry. Through cosmetic services like dental implants, Invisalign, teeth whitening, or smile design, he has helped numerous patients achieve the smile theyve always wanted.

A graduate of the University of Western Ontario Dental School, Dr. Sekhon has worked as a dentist since he graduated in 2008 and he enjoys staying on top of the newest dental techniques via on-going dental education programs.

Originally from California, Dr. Sekhon left the sun for the Pacific Northwest. Hes made North Tacoma and the Ruston community his home, living there with his wife Harjeet, his newborn baby girl, and his dog Leela.

When hes not fighting cavities or enhancing a smile, Dr. Sekhon enjoys going on hikes and exploring the outdoors. Something you might not know about him? He plays the guitar and loves listening to music, preferably classic hard rock and heavy metal. Hes also an avid sports fan, who enjoys watching pro basketball, football, and baseball. And when he has the time, you might find him on nearby basketball court, playing a game of hoops.

Please be patient as we edit our website, Dr. Donnelly is no longer practicing with us at Defiance Dental Studio. She had an opportunity to practice full time at her office in Gig Harbor. We all miss her but wish her well. Stay tuned for Dr. Kendal Allman-Bailey's bio.

When you first meet Dr. Christina Donnelly, you quickly discover what a keen sense of humor she has, which helps put her patients at ease. The best tool in my arsenal for creating a comfortable environment in my dental chair is my sense of humor, says Dr. Donnelly.

This Arizona native left the sunny desert environs of Mesa to attend school in the gray and wet Pacific Northwest. She was attracted to the difference in weather and actually savors the wet climate. (Now thats a sense of humor!)

For someone who grew up in a desert area, being able to see the water and green trees every day fills me with joy. The fact that I now get to practice in Ruston, right by Point Defiance, makes my dentist heart very happy. My goal is to help improve my patients lives so that they can spend more time enjoying and exploring this beautiful area of the country.

She attended undergraduate school at the University of Puget Sound. After graduating with a degree in biochemistry, she attended dental school at Boston University, where she graduated cum laude, but eventually Tacoma beckoned her back. Dr. Donnelly missed the independent experience of Tacoma and the laid-back attitude of the Northwest.

Her favorite part of being a dentist is building a comfortable rapport and a trusting relationship with her patients. I care about doing quality work and strive to ensure that every patient receives the absolute best level of dental care, she says.

A lifelong learner, Dr. Donnelly enjoys staying up-to-date on the latest dental techniques by attending on-going dental education courses throughout the year. I enjoy putting in the time to stay current on cutting edge dentistry and its also important for my patients, she says. Specializing in family and cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Donnelly has a particular interest in crown and bridgework. Furthermore, Dr. Donnelly considers dentistry a great marriage between science and art.

When shes not beautifying or restoring her patients smiles, Dr. Donnelly plays in two local bands the Tacoma Community College Symphonic Band and the Harbor Winds in Gig Harbor. Word on the street is that she plays a mean euphoniumthats the brass instrument that resembles a miniature tuba while playing a tenor pitch.

Something you might not know about Dr. Donnelly? Shes played Carnegie Hall in New York City, where she performed with her high schools band and orchestra! Shes also a self-proclaimed Harry Potter nerd!

We recognize that all of our patients are unique and deserve to receive dental care that reflects their individual needs. Our experienced and talented dental team is committed to working with you and your family to create a comfortable, stress-free, and rewarding dental experience every time you visit our practice.

Hello, Im Bryanne, but you can call me Bry! I have been a dental assistant for 18years and earned my certification at Renton Technical College in 2004. I joined this office in 2016; I am so lucky to have found an office where we all share the same vision in what our office atmosphere and patient care should be. My favorite part of working at Defiance Dental Studio is the opportunity to meet new people and build lasting relationships while ensuring all patients have a positive experience at our practice. I love to see smiling faces and rebuilding a patients confidence.It's a great feeling when patients become comfortable with the dentist and trust us with their treatment.

When I'm not working I enjoy spending time with my boyfriend in Oak Harbor, kayaking to explore the islands.I also enjoy taking weekend trips to visit my parents inLong Beach, WA. I also volunteer with the Tacoma Humane Society fostering and walking dogs. Checking out arcades, antique malls, road trips, and white sandy beaches are a few of my favorite things.

Welcome, Im Julie! I am a registered dental hygienist with 18years of experience. I graduated in 2004 from Lake Washington Institute of Art. Here at Defiance Dental Studio, I am dedicated to providing excellent care to patients to help and guide them to improve and maintain their oral health. I genuinely take my patients concerns to heart with a goal of making them leave feeling better about their smile and their dental experience.

I am married to a very wonderful and adventurous guy, and we have a beautiful daughter who completes our little family. We love spending time camping, backpacking, and traveling. Personally, I love hot yoga and reading, although Audible has become a new friend of mine with my busy life. I enjoy volunteering at my daughters school, and my husband and I are entrepreneurs at heart. We love trying new things and taking risks: new foods, new places, new business ventures, meeting new people, and learning new skills. We strive to master the art of living!

At Defiance Dental Studio, we believe that a strong sense of community not only brings people together, it also lets people know that they have others around them who they can count on. Working and living within the Ruston and North Tacoma area, our staff is dedicated to being the Tacoma dentist our community can rely upon for excellent dental services. We want to be the neighborhood dentist that youre proud to have in town and well do everything we can to earn the respect of this fantastic community.

We love being a part of this community! In fact, Dr. AJ Sekhon makes his views of living and working within the Ruston community very clear to anyone who can handle his excessive, but valid, praise of his new hometown. I love this town is something he exclaims with glee every time he drives through the area. The gorgeous surrounding scenery around here is the perfect complement to dentistry, he says. I cant think of anything better following a dental procedure than staring out your window or walking around this beautiful place, especially when the weather cooperates, he adds with a smile.

Could anything be better after a dental procedure besides great views and scenery? Im sure eating ice cream or playing with puppies might be up there, he adds. But give the five-mile drive at Point Defiance a spin after getting your teeth cleaned; its tremendously serene! Cant really argue with that!

We have the advantage of being a brand-new start-up dental practice that truly offers the newest and greatest dental materials and tools. We offer you state-of-the-art dentistry in a comfortable studio setting.

Ive worked at and seen other practices that use dental equipment thats, sorry for the terrible pun, long in the tooth. Dentistry can be expensive not only for the patient but also for the dentists, since buying the latest materials and equipment can cost both an arm and a leg, and possibly a foot. So, I understand how some practices have to use older equipment, and possibly cheaper materials. I get that as a business owner, since you cant eat the overhead you need to maximize what you have. However, I do believe that in order to offer the best in dental services, using the newest techniques, you have to have materials that are highly regarded in dental circles, as well as equipment that is reliable and efficient. Dentistry relies very heavily on the clinicians skills, no doubt, but its the materials and equipment that make it easier to have great results that last, while also making the patients experience more efficient and predictable. We will always improve our practice in regards to materials and equipment. I can promise, and guarantee, that well do everything we can to improve our results and make our patients feel safe and comfortable.

We like to joke around and lighten the mood as much as possible. Dentistry can be a pretty dry field, and as such, it is prone to being pretty straight forward without a lot of true human interaction. Most offices follow their template pretty well, and I believe a lot have their own cultures where patients feel a part of their practice family. Offering our patients excellent dental skills, with great customer service is something were proud of, but its the relationships we make with our patients that really makes our day.

Most offices also follow great protocol in getting a patient numb by lowering their anxiety a number of ways, such as through mild sedation techniques like nitrous oxide or by offering a gentle touch with a comforting environment. We offer all of these things to our patients, but we also do things a little differently as well. We have a small office, in comparison to a typical dental office, so we want our patients to feel like theyre part of our family and that theyre receiving the same care that wed give to our actual family members and friends. We dont want an atmosphere here where a patient comes in, gets work done or has a checkup and then leaves without saying a word, because they feel like theyre just a number. We want everyone who comes inside our office to be themselves, feel free to talk to us, joke around, or tell us whats going on in their life, whether its lighthearted or serious.

Dentistry is a field that is predicated on trust. And we hope to earn that trust by being honest and treating you with the utmost integrity and respect. What you see on our Facebook page or on our website is what youll find when you walk through our door. Please feel free to talk to us about anything. I for one will talk about rock or metal music with anyone who brings up an argument about who the better singer is: Bruce Dickenson or Rob Halford. And if anyone wants to talk about how great the Harry Potter books are, Dr. Christina Donnelly will for sure be game to discuss how right you are! Were everyday regular people, who happen to be dentists. We want Defiance Dental Studio to be a welcoming place for our patients, who can also find top-notch dental care, right here in their neighborhood.

Both Dr. Ajaipal (AJ) Sekhon and Dr. Christina Donnelly reside in the Tacoma area, so both dentists are just a short drive away from Defiance Dental Studio. They are committed to being your friendly Ruston dentists, as well as to offering the North Tacoma and the surrounding communities excellent dental care. Were not going to discriminate to those outside our area though! Dr. Sekhon says. Anyone who walks through our door and wants to be a part of our practice will receive all of the same benefits and perks as our Ruston neighbors.

Having a flexible schedule to meet our patients needs is important. But its also important for us to also live within the area where we work. Were your neighbors, who frequent your businesses. We see you in public, so theres no way we can do anything but do right by you. I know a significant number of dentists that practice in this area, who commute here from up north or from other areas outside of Tacoma. Thats fine, I have no problem with that, but I find that theres an added responsibility of living where your patients do. I live here, the absolute last thing I want is someone coming at me at Metropolitan Mart complaining that the filling I did hurts, or the work I did sucks. I care about my neighbors, so Ill give them my absolute best 100% of the time, because I like to shop and walk along the waterfront in peace!

In case we didnt, well reiterate it again with Dr. Sekhons own words. Its not about money to us. Of course we need it to remain in business and pay for all the bills and put food on the table for our families, but we didnt set up shop here to make boat loads of cash, says Dr. Sekhon. I was told by others, when looking for a place to set up my dental practice, that it would be more lucrative to be an absentee owner and that I should hire a bunch of people to do the work, while I just sat in a room counting bills. No way. I didnt become a dentist to be like that. I want to contribute and use the skills I learned in dental school and through my work to good use so that I can make a positive difference in the community I live in.

That being said, we will never pressure or give a sales pitch about any procedure in our office. Sure, if a patient needs a crown, a root canal, fillings or an implant, well provide the reasons why and show you how we can do it, but we will never sit there and try to be a used car salesmen. No offense to cars salesmen out there. We want to provide exquisite dental care for our neighbors here in North Tacoma and Ruston, so Im willing to invest in this town because I love it here, says Dr. Sekhon. We wont do any dental procedures that we feel uncomfortable about, even if it will make us significant profit. We offer a wide array of dental services, like Invisalign, dental implants, root canals, Botox, cosmetic smile makeovers and teeth cleanings. We also have a wide network of specialists ready to help our patients when some issues are complicated and need a second set of eyes and additional expertise. Bottom line, well make sure you get the very best dental care, no compromises, or nonsense. We also guarantee our work, when a patient commits to getting checkups regularly and taking good care of their own oral hygiene. If our work fails, well either do it free of cost to fix it, pay for a specialist if the need arises, or refund you your money. Were serious about providing the best, and well put our money where our mouth is, or where your mouth is, I think thats more appropriate.