SPIDA, or Smokey Point Institute of Dental Assisting, is conveniently located in the Smokey Point area with easy access from I-5 and Highway 9.You can attend classroom lectures and accomplish hands-on training at a beautiful, working dental office. Our goal for students is that they will be so well trained clinically, that they will be able to go into any dental office and feel fully confident to sit down and assist the dentist with a good knowledge of all procedures that are performed in a general practice.
Our director is Dr. George R. Hussey, who has been serving Snohomish County as a general dentist since 1969.He is a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry and has been an Affiliate Associate Professor at the University of Washington Dental School for many years. Dr. George R. Hussey is the mentor for the instructors and students.He utilizes fully expanded-duty dental assistants in his practice and is dedicated to producing assistants that any dentist would love to hire as a new graduate.
Our team of instructors consists of experienced dental assistants currently working in Dr. George R. Husseys office.Helen Hussey has been with Dr. George R. Hussey for most of his practicing career.She is proficient in front desk activities, office management, and accounts payable.She has attended many post-graduate courses in practice management and has developed all systems for our practice.
Lindsey Norton has been working in Dr. George R. Husseys office for over 12 years, her experience coming from on-the-job training. She has attended many continuing education courses in dental assisting, Lumineers, and Invisalign training.She also shares a sincere desire for our students to receive an excellent education.
Leisha Nobach is actually a graduate of our institute.She has been working for Dr. George R. Hussey for over 5 years and has attended many post-graduate courses in clinical assisting. She is excited to help our students feel the confidence that she experienced upon entering her new career.
Carin Lawrence is a working dental assistant in Olympia and brings a different perspective to the training.She has been a dental assistant for 37 years, and has enjoyed teaching in our school the last year.
Amber is a registered dental hygienist. She brings 18 years of chairside experience and a smile each and every day she comes to our dental office. She earned an associate degree from Everett Community College before graduating from Bellingham Technical Institute with a degree in Dental Hygiene in 2010.
Dr. George R. Hussey earned his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of Washington Dental School in 1969 and continued his education at the L.D. Pankey Institute of Advanced Dental Training. Dentistry is and always has been a big part of his life, which is why he enjoys continuing his education and keeping up on the latest and greatest advances in this wonderful profession.
Dr. Eric C. Larson received his bachelors degree in biology at Covenant College before attending the University Of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry to obtain his DMD degree in 2014. Upon graduating, he wanted to continue his education and began looking for opportunities back in his native state of Washington. He completed a yearlong residency in general dentistry at the University Of Washington Medical Center in 2015. During his residency, he gained additional training and education in oral surgery, pediatric dentistry, endodontics, implant placement and restoration, dental sedation, and other advanced general dental procedures, particularly in medically complex patients.
In our goal to deliver the highest standard of learning and keep our student-instructor ratio low, we are only able to accept a maximum of 10 students per class. We look forward to working with each student to share and create a great educational and training experience.
Due to the length and intensity of this course, a student will not receive their Certificate of Achievement if more than one class is missed. If a student has a medical emergency or personal crisis, the situation will be evaluated on an individual basis by the instructor and the directors of the Institute, Dr. George Hussey and Helen Hussey.The possibility of making up classes will be determined by said evaluation.
Dentistry is a wonderful field where beautiful smiles are created and peoples lives are changed for the better. Our family of patients values the work we do, appreciates our gentle care, and trusts our excellent skills and judgment. I enjoy working with our patients to create healthy beautiful smiles. Every need and person is different, and creating long-term relationships is very rewarding.
Education and Continuing Education I earned my Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of Washington Dental School in 1969 and continued my education at the L.D. Pankey Institute of Advanced Dental Training. Dentistry is and always has been a big part of my life, which is why I enjoy continuing my education and keeping up on the latest and greatest advances in our wonderful profession.
Dentistry is a quickly evolving profession with new technology and materials coming out continuously. It is amazing what has changed in the 49 years I have been in practice! If you dont keep up by attending continuing education, it is easy to fall behind. My team stays on the cutting edge of our profession. Constant and continual learning is how the goal of being a master dentist is achieved.
Office Life The members of my team have many years of experience and education in the dental profession, which allows them to deliver the highest quality dental care in the most comfortable manner possible. We all enjoy having fun while getting the job done each day.
Outside the Office I have been married to my wife, Helen, for 54 years. We have three children: Rich, Michael, and Lindsey; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. I enjoy being involved in my church, traveling, going to movies, fishing, attending Husky and Seahawk football games, and spending time with my family and our dogs, Reagan, Lucy, and Kenzie. My main hobby is creating beautiful smiles in dentistry and teaching. I truly count my job as fun and enjoy it as much as my leisure activities.
I roam around the office a lot and love to spend time visiting with long-time patients and getting to know new patients. Watching generations come through our practice over the years has been a joy, and visiting with our patients is the highlight of my day. I enjoy putting all the special touches in our office to create a warm, inviting, comfortable atmosphere for patients. Decorating for special holidays is my favorite! Dr. George R. Hussey and I have been working hard as a team for all these years to develop a fabulous practice!
Dr. George R. Hussey and I have been married for 54 years. We have three grown children, six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and three dogs that are like our family. When I have free time I enjoy floral arranging and decorating, attending football games, vacationing, and serving in our church and the chamber of commerce.
I have been serving in the practice for 18 years. Big changes have come for me in 2018 following the birth of my son, Rhett. I have recently began a new position working from home as marketing coordinator. I have loved working with people and seeing a smile transformed into something truly beautiful. I will truly miss greeting patients on the phone or as they walk into the practice. I enjoy working for Dr. George R. Hussey, not only because hes my father, but because he is a truly gifted dentist. I love working for someone who does quality dentistry and produces results that make our patients happy. He is so pleasant to his patients and team, loves what he does for a living, and takes pride in his work. Our team is like a big family, and you will often hear laughter coming from the office.
In my personal time, I spend my days playing with and caring for our son. I also keep busy with my other passion: photography. I enjoy family time, shopping, vacationing, and attending church. I love everything about fall in Washington, which includes my love for the Seahawks and UW Husky football. Attending these games is among my favorite fall activities.
I try to make each patient feel comfortable, get to know them, and help make their visits fun. It is also important for me to really listen to their needs. I love working with our great team of women and a great doctor. Dr. George R. Hussey is a very good dentist, very easy to be around, and very ethical. This office is always upbeat, and we love to have fun theme days for our patients.
My husband, Irwin, and I have six children, eleven grandchildren, and a cat named Kitty. In my free time, I enjoy running marathons and triathlons, skiing, hiking, and reading. I am also a member of the Edmonds Historical Society.
I bring over 20 years of chairside experience and a smile each and every day I come to our dental office. I earned an Associates degree from Everett Community College before graduating from Bellingham Technical Institute with a degree in Dental Hygiene in 2010.
I have been with our practice for over six years and love how everyone there enjoys what they do. I enjoy working as a team with Dr. Hussey, as his restorative hygienist. It is fun and rewarding restoring beautiful smiles. I am a proud mom and wife with a beautiful, blended family of three young boys and three pesky puppies. When Im not at the office, I love to read and have date nights at Home Depot to plan for future projects around the house.
I have been working with the practice since 2005 and love getting to know my patients throughout their treatments. 2018 brought a change in position for me, and I am happy to be greeting our patients when they first walk in the door with a smile each day. In the past I enjoyed building relationships with my Invisalign patients who I saw consistently through their treatments; but now i look forward to helping our patients achieve their treatment goals. I love who I work for, and who I work with; this is just the best job ever! Dr. George R. Hussey is a perfectionist, and he has been doing dentistry for a long time, but he still stays up-to-date on all the newest techniques by attending continuing education courses and teaching at the UW dental school. His patients love him and I do too! I enjoy working for someone who treats his team and patients with utmost respect and the highest quality of care.
My husband, Randy, and I have been married for sixteen years. We have three beautiful daughters, Preslee, Holland, and Ellis. I love spending quality time with my family, playing with my girls, shopping, antiquing, serving in my church, and taking summer vacations to Texas
I love what I do because dentistry and people are my passion. I have served in this practice for the past 6 years and bring the skills I have learned from working at several specialty practices previously. I have a certificate in dental assisting and take many continuing education dental courses so I can learn about the latest in dental care.
Sara began her dental career in 1996. She joined our team on a part-time basis in 2004, and has worked with us full-time since 2016. She is caring, gentle and always willing to learn new and better ways to care for our patients. She loves that everyone in our practice cares about each other and our patients.Sarah has three children and five acres full of pets, and is active in her church.
Janelle has been with our team for over two years. She has more than 28 years of dental experience and strives to provide high-quality dental care in a comfortable setting. Janelle enjoys how our practice feels like family and is an amazing support system that strives to provide continuous, high-quality care. She states that, We are always laughing and inspiring each other.
Janelle attended Renton Technical College to become a certified dental assistant, graduating in 1991, before attending Everett Community College for her Associates degree, which she achieved in 1998. Janelle earned her Associates in dental hygiene from Lake WA Institute of Technology in 2000, and her Bachelor of Science degree in dental hygiene from Eastern Washington University in 2009, where she graduated summa cum laude.
I joined Dr. Husseys team in 2018. I attended Pima Medical Institute for my dental assisting certification and graduated in 2011. I love the feeling that we are a family, our drama-free environment and working with a patient-oriented doctor. I love what I do so I put my best efforts into making patients feel comfortable and at ease with any dental treatment needed.
