Dentistry is unique in that every day I am truly hands-on with my patients while helping to improve not just their dental health, but their overall health as well. Building trust and showing that you care about people is essential when establishing a good relationship.

What I like best about my job is taking a person who has had previously negative experiences and turning that patient into someone who is no longer afraid to go to the dentist. In particular, it is very important that dentistry is comfortable, stress-free, and pain-free.

My patients feel like family. I like sharing ideas and experiences they have had, and I want to learn from them. For the past 24 years, I have devoted myself to the field of dentistry because I have always been interested in health-related fields and I liked that you can immediately see the results of your efforts. It brings me much satisfaction when I see people leave the office healthier than when they walked in. Dentistry allows you to form long-term bonds with your patients, while also helping dramatically improve their lives.

I did my undergraduate studies at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana and Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho. I obtained my Doctorate of Dental Surgery at Indiana University School of Dentistry in 1988.

In addition, I have participated in continuing education including in-depth veneer training, extensive course-work in Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ), and occlusal (bite) problems with the Dawson Academy and the Piper Institute.

Each year, our office also attends all the local seminars that the North Central Dental Society sponsors, as well as the Chicago Midwinter Meeting where we obtain a variety of new and up-to-date-information on many different aspects of dentistry.

Our team is highly skilled and friendly, and has taken numerous continuing education courses. They have many years of experience and they really enjoy their positions. In addition, they are highly trained and are given a lot of responsibility. This responsibility encourages them to always do their best and to handle patients with care. They take great pride in our office and truly do work together as a team. Many patients comment on how nice and welcoming the staff is to the patients as well as to each other.

To put our quality care into practice, we have all the latest up-to-date technologies. New patients who come from other offices are often amazed at the technology our office uses, as well as how detailed and thorough we are at documenting their dental work. Not only do we provide high quality dentistry, but we have fun in our office and everyone has a good sense of humor.

I grew up at Clear Lake by Fremont, Indiana, and have lived in South Bend, Indiana for 24 years. I am married to Steve Wong, who is an orthodontist. He also helps coach several junior high sports teams including track, basketball, and football. We have a daughter, Alex, and a son, Connor, and two dogs named Kaia and Mahea.

Outside of work, you can find me watching my kids play sports, reading, doing water sports, and snow skiing. I like to cook and try new food as well as travel with my family. I am also a supporter of the Womens Care Center as well as the Potawatomi Zoo and the Humane Society.

I am so lucky to have a job that I love. Going to work and feeling like I have made someone healthier and feel better about themselves is such a rewarding experience. I also like how there is so much flexibility with my profession, allowing me to be a mom as well.

For the past 19 years, I have been passionate about seeing the differences in my patients, whether it is helping them get out of discomfort or helping them achieve a smile they are proud of. My patients continually inspire me, and it feels satisfying when they are so appreciative of the work we do.

I obtained my Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Indianapolis, and my Doctorate of Dental Surgery at the Indiana University School of Dentistry. I have also taken a number of continuing education courses involving TMD treatment, snoring and sleep apnea, and restorative and smile design. I am continuously trying to seek out new information and techniques to help me treat my patients with the best treatment possible. I feel the field of dentistry is continuously changing and the only way to stay current is by learning the newest and best way to perform treatments.

In addition, I am quite involved in the community. In the past, I have volunteered at a local dental clinic as a dentist and instructor. I also served on the board of our local YMCA for three years, was chairperson for the Childrens Dental Health Month for three years, have been a Give Kids a Smile Volunteer dentist since 2007, am a founding member of the North Central Dental Foundation, and am a board member of Dental Lifeline of Indiana (formerly known as Donated Dental) since 2000.

Working with our team is wonderful! We take them to almost all of our continuing education courses so they are very well trained. They are also extremely conscious of all of their work and of how the practice runs. Our team is very friendly and is always smiling and making patients feel at ease. We have a lot of dental phobic patients and we constantly hear from them how our staff put them at ease. In addition, we always run on time, and you will receive a friendly greeting every time you come into our office.

I am a native of Mishawaka, Indiana and married another Mishawaka native who is a fireman. We have five children, and they are all very active in sports, especially hockey. We also have a dog named Leo, a cat named Max, and several reptiles thatone of my sons keeps. Outside the office, you can find me driving my kids in my minivan to an activity or field trip. I also love gardening and scrapbooking, which I do with my best girl friends.

I feel so lucky every day to come into work and to be doing something that I love. The dental profession has given me the opportunity to help people with their overall health and dental well-being. What I enjoy most about my career is the ability to give a patient back a healthy, beautiful smile that allows them to talk, and laugh without having to worry about being self-conscious. Working with new patients is especially rewarding, because finding out what is important to them is always an exciting opportunity.

There is nothing more satisfying than giving patients the smile of their dreams, and it makes such a difference in their confidence and happiness. Getting to know our patients and building strong relationships with them is a positive experience for me, and I enjoy hearing about their families and events happening in their lives. I have been practicing dentistry for the past 20years and am very passionate about helping people, and I also take pride in the detail oriented and artistic aspects of dentistry.

I obtained my education at the Indiana University School of Dentistry in 1998. I also participate in continuing education at the Dawson Center for Advanced Dentistry, and have taken courses in dental implants, dental lasers, and TMJ treatment. I find that continuing education is an excellent way to advance our patient care.

Our office has such an amazing team that truly cares about their patients and about providing exceptional dentistry. Some of our team members have over 20 years of experience in the dental field, and many have been with us for over 10 years. Having such a great team and getting to know our amazing patients makes coming to work every day an easy task. We pride ourselves on being very service-oriented so we can take the best care of our patients and provide world class dental care.

Dr. Lori Risser grew up in South Bend and currently lives in Long Beach Indiana on the shores of Lake Michigan with her two daughters Madelyn and Mia. When not working, Dr Risser loves spending time with her family, snow skiing, swimming, and volunteers at her daughters' school. A passion that is close to Dr. Risser 's heart is running, as she has completed New York's Marathon and multiple half marathons. As a volunteer coach for Girls on the Run, Dr. Risser shares her love of running with young girls in our community.

Dr. Lori Risser is an active volunteer in the national Give Kids a Smile program and loves giving the gift of dental health to children in our community that may not otherwise receive dental care. As a board member of Riley Children's Hospital Foundation and Dental Lifeline Network, Dr. Lori Risser is able to combine her volunteer efforts and her dental expertise to enrich many lives in her community.

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. We are pleased to welcome you and your family, and we look forward to working with you.

Angie is our expanded dental assistant and her duties include placing restorations, assisting the doctors, and lab work. Since 2002, Angie has enjoyed creating beautiful smiles at our office. She especially likes working with our dentists because they are so caring and understanding.

Danielle is another one of our expanded dental assistants, and is also a business assistant. Her duties include placing restorations, and assisting the business staff with daily duties. Since 2000, Danielle has enjoyed working with patients and creating beautiful smiles. She enjoys working with the doctors because they are compassionate and believe in the staff when it comes to helping patients.

Kelly, one of our expanded dental assistants, has a wide variety of duties and helps the doctors with their dental procedures. Since 1986, Kelly has enjoyed the challenge of being a dental assistant, and finds it rewarding knowing when she has helped changed someone's health for the better. Kelly also likes working with the women doctors because they are very compassionate with their patients and employees.

Stacy isone of our dental hygienists who treats periodontal disease, performs periodontal therapy, and maintains healthy gums and teeth. Her favorite part about her job is helping people become confident with their smiles, and helpingthem to become healthy overall. She learns a lot from the doctors at our office, and respects that they have good communication skills with their patients.

Our dental hygienist, Stacey, gives oral hygiene instructions to our patients, cleans teeth, takes X-rays, does fluoride and periodontal therapy, andalso orders office supplies. The best things about her job include working with such a great team, getting to know patients on a personal level, and educating them ontheir overall and dental health. She enjoys working with the doctors because they build great relationships with their patients.

Our dental hygienist, Jody, provides preventive care through dental cleanings, treatment and maintenance of periodontal disease,radiographs, and education.She also, enjoysworking together with her team. Helping patients achieve good oral health, which in turn, helps their overall health, is one of the most rewarding feelings for Jody when it comes to her job. She also enjoys working with the doctors because they are compassionate, respectful, and always striving for the best for their patients.