I knew from an early age I wanted to become a healthcare provider; however, I was not certain in what capacity I would find my calling. A culmination of life experiences which began initially as a young child when I accompanied my dad, who needed to replace a missing front tooth to the dentist, to being surrounded by family in the dental field. Five of my family members are currently in dentistry, which greatly influenced my decision. Finally, my childhood dentist, Dr. Jim Kessler, made a huge impact on my decision to head to dental school.

I moved to Norman in 2001, after transferring from OSU to OU in 2001 to complete my degree in Zoology. I began dental school in the summer of 2004, and I have never questioned my decision to become a dentist. I cannot envision a better career. The ability to impact lives through our work is incredibly rewarding--so much so that we readily welcome young adults who are considering dentistry as a career choice to gain experience and observation hours at our practice.

Immediately after graduation and following the birth of my first child, Anna, I was fortunate to be able to join the practice of Dr. Susan Whiteneck. She was the dentist of one of my classmates, and he had an inclination that we would be a good match. As they say, the rest is history! While Dr. Whiteneck was transitioning toward retirement, my very best friend from dental school, Dr. Jennifer Jenkins, joined our practice to assist in the transition during my maternity leave. Dr. Jenkins is my practice partner today. We are so incredibly thankful to work together. While we don't look alike, there's almost a foots difference between our heights, patients often confuse us, and we like to think it's the way we make them feel that's the same. We share a heart for serving, passion for our profession, the same sense of humor, and the same values.

I grew up in a large family; in fact, I am the youngest of eight children. I learned to work hard, do the right thing (even when no one is looking) and to love others. Having a large family filled with a variety of personalities enabled me to gain a unique understanding of human nature. A genuine love and acceptance of people help me care for my patients, as I would my family. I believe treating our patients with compassion, sensitivity, skill and grace enables me to provide the best possible care for our patients.

I am passionate about learning, researching and studying everything from cosmetic dentistry to airway function and integrative oral medicine. I regularly attend continuing education courses throughout the United States, learning from the best of the best in my field in order to stay current with new information and techniques to better serve our patients.

My passion for learning is not limited to dentistry--I love to read and learn. I enjoy reading both fiction and nonfiction; often, in my spare time or driving to and from work you will either find me reading a book or listening to one. I particularly enjoy historical fiction and love watching documentaries on Netflix. I love talking to patients about books and have gathered some of my favorite reads upon recommendation from patients.

I also enjoy cooking. When times are stressful, or even when they are not, you will find me in the kitchen. Discussing new recipes with our patients is one of our favorite topics. We are a team of foodies, and we always enjoy trying new recipes our patients share with us!

Leading a healthy, active life is important to me, and I make every effort to prioritize health and fitness. I enjoy running, exploring new trails, walking near campus, and trying out new workout classes with friends when possible.

My husband Jay, who is my high school sweetheart and the biggest supporter and encourager of me, our practice and my endeavors have three children and two big dogs we adore. In my time away from the office, you can most likely find us at one our three kiddos (Annie, William, and John Henry) activities. We have a swimmer, a basketball player and our youngest, the family comedian, plays soccer. There are plenty of funny John Henry stories; he is always making us laugh! We are also involved at our church, McFarlin UMC, where the kids also sing in the youth choir. Family is important to us, my mom lives with us and we have aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and a brother nearby. We host family gatherings and Thanksgiving annually for 30-50 relatives and friends.

I passionately believe in a life of service, commitment to my community, team, patients and family. I desire to live by Ralph Waldo Emerson 's words: 'The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.'

Giving back to our community that has given us so much is at the core of our mission at Dental Design Studio. We are fortunate to be able to donate a portion of our profits to our community, as well as our skills in donated dentistry. We participate in free dental clinics in Norman, OKC, and with the Oklahoma Mission of Mercy. We are also community partners with Lincoln Elementary School and support numerous other area schools and local nonprofit organizations.

We value the relationships we build with our patients while creating and maintaining healthy, beautiful smiles. We take our work seriously and seriously like to have some fun, but we never lose sight of the impact we can have on your day and possibly your life. We are here to listen, understand, guide, encourage, support and serve. We provide a positive, non-judgmental and nurturing environment so we can best meet your needs. We have a team of supportive, compassionate all-stars who all share the same values and vision and we recognize them for all they do to make the days run smoothly and our patients comfortable and cared for.

cornerstone of our practice. Dental Design Studio (DDS) has provided a place for Dr. Spurlock and me to feel at home and share the goal of offering our patients the best possible care. When I am not at DDS, you can find me with my family (which includes my extended family, the Spurlocks). My husband and boys love going to OU sporting events (especially football and gymnastics), riding bikes around campus, going out to eat, shopping and going to the movies. We will again enjoy most of these activities post Covid-19. Additionally, Dr. Spurlock and I enjoy continuing our education and traveling to seminars together. Most importantly, however, we like to create opportunities to spend time together building our relationships, our dental practice, and enjoying life.

I am so grateful that I have a career that allows me to blend all the parts of my life together. Dr. Spurlock and I are committed to using our knowledge and skills to serveour community. We are lead volunteers with the Oklahoma Mission of Mercy and serve on the Childrens Hospital Foundation Board of Advisors. We are both highly active in professional and community organizations, such as the Oklahoma Dental Association and the Oklahoma Association of Women Dentists. Dr. Spurlock and I look forward to participating in continuing education throughout the country. Dentistry is an ever-changing field, and it is vital that we focus on growth and learning, keeping abreast of the latest technology and techniques. It is exciting to bring new knowledge home to our team and patients. Doing what you love is freedom. Loving what you do is happiness, typifies my decision to practice dentistry. Im immensely thankful for all the love and support from our families, patients, and Dental Design Studio.

Growing up, I always knew my future was in healthcare but it was as an adolescent that I had my first experience that piqued my interest in dentistry. I had braces as a twelve and thirteen-year-old like many of my middle school peers. It was again at fifteen, however, when I asked my orthodontist to place brackets back on my teeth because I felt my bite wasn 't 'exactly right'. Willingly becoming metal-mouthed as I approached my 16th birthday (and the ever-important driver 's license photo) should have been my first clue that I had a serious interest in teeth! However, it was a few years down the line as a college freshman at the University of Oklahoma that I decided to dedicate my education toward the goal of becoming a dentist.

At OU, I began the necessary Science coursework to apply to dental school while also gearing my studies toward business by gaining a B.A. in Business Administration. During my senior year, I had the opportunity to go beyond observing in dental offices and experience chairside dentistry hands-on as a dental assistant for Dr. Grant Ritchey right here in Norman. My experience with Dr. Ritchey taught me the true value of the dentist-patient relationship. He was so kind, understanding, and caring toward his patients. It is this same attitude that Dr. Spurlock and Dr. Jenkins share which ensured I would be a good fit to join the Dental Design Studio team.

As an Oklahoma native, I'm so pleased I can serve my fellow Oklahomans through dentistry. I was raised in Edmond, Oklahoma where I attended Edmond North High School. I then headed to Norman for college at OU and continued my dental education at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry in Oklahoma City. Being of service to patients and having a positive impact on the lives of others is what dentistry is really about to me. I feel so lucky to have found a passion for a career where I can continually learn and grow since dentistry is always advancing and technology is constantly improving. Joining Dr. Jenkins and Dr. Spurlock has been such a joy because we share so many of the same beliefs. We are all committed to patients first and foremost, believe in spreading kindness and positivity and hold service to others as a guiding principle.

Outside of dentistry, I enjoy spending time with family. I owe much of my decision to enter the healthcare profession to my parents. Growing up, I had two great examples of caring healthcare professionals in my Mom and Dad. My Dad, Alan Bock is an Internal Medicine Physician, and my Mom, Sue Bock is a Physical Therapist. I was certainly drawn to the idea of a career in caring for others due to their influence. I am the youngest of three girls so I also enjoy visiting my sisters, Laura and Julie, who live out of state in New York City and San Francisco, respectively. While far in miles, my sisters and I have stayed close and I feel fortunate to have such a tight-knit family.

In my free time, I try to stay active by going on walks and working out. I also enjoy time with my close friends--we often spend quality time over good food and plenty of laughs. I love to cook and bake, which is something my Mom and I often do together. She has luckily passed down some of her skills in the kitchen to me! On holiday breaks or long weekends, I am typically found working on a puzzle (a hobby that was truly strengthened during the months of Covid quarantine). And of course, while 'puzzle-ing' there is a romantic comedy movie or a Netflix stand-up comedy special playing in the background.

I am so thankful for the opportunity that being a dentist gives me daily. I love building relationships with patients along their unique dental journeys and benefitting the health and wellbeing of others. Finding Dr. Spurlock and Dr. Jenkins and being a part of the Dental Design Studio team allows me to serve patients in such a wonderful space alongside truly caring colleagues. We all share the same mission to care for our patients and welcome new patients into the Dental Design Studio family.