Our dentists at GR Family Dental are dedicated to helping patients achieve their best smiles. We provide full range of dental services, which includes everything from preventative dental care to restoring teeth after tooth decay and traumatic dental injury.
Biobloc Orthotropics utilizes the bodys natural growth process, allowing a child to reach their full genetic potential for facial, dental, and airway development.By evaluating breathing and oral posture, we can now address structures in the form of bone growth to create room for the adult teeth.
Orthotropics helps us reshape and encourage forward growth of the upper and lower jaws. This in turn impacts all of the other bony structures as they articulate within the skull. This helps create the proper setup for the development of the sinus and airway system. It also establishes the framework for the best possible facial features and tooth alignment.
Tongue ties, nursing issues, and breathing difficulties, among others, all affect the learned muscular patterns of the face and neck. These muscles work together to help us eat, breathe, and give rise to the proper sinus shape, bone growth, and facial development.
Myology helps train these muscles with awareness, exercise, and guidance, to build and strengthen the facial muscles so that they function the way they need to for proper swallowing, tooth retention, speech, breathing, etc.
This can begin at a very early age because our parents didnt know how to watch for the early signs and werent taught how to correct it, so the patterns of poor breathing continued into adulthood. Diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, cancers, and many others have been linked to the lack of proper oxygenation & breathing disorders.
All of our Grand Rapids dentists at GR Family Dental take dental continuing education courses so they are informed on the latest dental procedures and technologies. Additionally, our dentists are involved in the following organizations and groups:
He has been in private practice in Grand Rapids since 1976 and is a member of the American Dental Association, Michigan Dental Association, and the West Michigan Dental Association. He was a Clinical Instructor and Teacher at Grand Rapids Community College for 15 years.
For the last six years he has traveled to El Salvador, Mexico, and Honduras to provide dental care on mission trips. He has also participated for many years with Adult Dental needs and Make a Wish Program. Dr. Mancewicz has been married for 37 years and has four children. He enjoys golfing, walking, and spending time with his family.
Dr. Steve joined the dental practice in June 2011, a month after graduating from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. He was accepted into dental school a year early after receiving his Bachelors in Science from U of M.
He was an active participant in many school functions including being the editor of the dental school yearbook, serving as the vice president on Student Council, and being a member of the Scholars Program in Dental Leadership.
He is an active member of the American Dental Association, Michigan Dental Association, and West Michigan District Dental Society by regularly attending continuing education seminars. In addition, he has put his Spanish speaking skills to good use on two dental mission trips to Honduras during his third and fourth years of dental school.
When Dr. Steve is not in the office, he is likely spending time with his wife, Amanda, and his two young daughters, Moira and Kate. He also plays golf, water-skis, and closely follows Michigan athletics.
Dr. Ellis started associating with Dr. Robert Klinesteker, a dental classmate of Joes deceased father, in February 1988. He and his wife, Dr. Lisa Tartaglione Ellis (DDS 1989), have been practicing together since 1990.
Dr. Ellis has two boys, Nicholas and Joey, and enjoys doing things with his family, biking, swimming, and playing tennis. When the weather conditions are good, you may see him driving his 1966 Mustang.
After graduation, he worked as a clinical instructor at the University of Michigan and had a teaching fellowship in the orthodontic department. He received his Masters of Science degree in Orthodontics from the University of Michigan Rackham School of Graduate Studies in 1962.
As an orthodontist, Dr. Gibbs was also part of the Blodgett Hospital Cleft Palate Team. Since early 1990, Dr. Gibbs has been instructing educational courses on Biobloc, a technique of facial growth guidance. Dr. Gibbs has been practicing orthodontics in our office since 2014. Outside of the office he enjoys golfing, hunting, exercising, and spending time with his wife and grandchildren.
Kim graduated from Ferris State University and received her Associates Degree in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene in 2000. She joined Dr. Mancewicz staff that same year and holds a certificate for administering local anesthetic.
Kim has a passion for providing a positive difference in her patients dental health. In her spare time, Kim enjoys traveling, camping, exercising, and spending time with her two children, friends, and family.
She has a passion for educating patients on the benefits of proper oral health and lifestyle balance while providing comfortable care. In her off time, Aleah enjoys reading, concerts, traveling (especially up north), and spending quality time spent with family and friends.
Trish received her Associates Degree of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene from Kalamazoo Valley Community College in 2017. She has a passion for educating patients to help them in achieving optimum oral health.
Emily graduated from Kellogg Community College and received her Associates Degree in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene in 2018. She is dedicated to providing excellent patient care and education to guide her patients towards optimum dental health.
Miranda graduated from Grand Rapids Community College in 2018 as a Registered Dental Assistant with an Associates Degree in Applied Arts and Science. She enjoys working with children and educating them in oral hygiene in order to create good lifelong habits.
Joan has been assisting Dr. Gary Mancewicz since he graduated from the University of Michigan in 1976. After taking a sabbatical to raise her family, Joan rejoined our dental team and makes her patients care and comfort a priority.
Colleens goal is to answer patients questions and concerns with insurance, scheduling, financing, and treatment planning. Colleen also enjoys shopping, cooking, and spending time with friends, her husband, and three children.
Kimmy strives to give friendly and quality service to our patients with a welcoming smile. She loves to spend her time outdoors including birdwatching, fishing, and gardening. Kimmy has been married for 22 years.
Dixie began her career as a certified dental assistant in the office of Dr. John Stepanovich. In 2008, she completed training to become a registered expanded functions dental assistant. In 2014, she earned the title of registered Buteyko breathing educator.
She enjoys working with children and adults as they progress through the growth guidance treatment, encouraging them and providing strategies to help them correct their oral posture and restore healthy nasal breathing.
In addition to our office, Dixie works at her fathers performance engine shop, as well as serving on the board of the West Michigan Orthotropic Study Center and caring for her Buteyko clients. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, wood turning, golfing, or taking a spin in her hot rod.
Lydia joined out team in 2017. She strives to make every patient feel welcome and comfortable. She provides assistance in a variety of areas around the office. Lydia likes to spend her free time camping with her husband, doing crafts, and working with flowers.