My path to dentistry began at a young age, and through the support of wonderful teachers and mentors as well as hard work, I am able to give back to my community by creating lasting, healthy smiles. Education has always been important to me, and it is necessary for my success as an orthodontist. Patients deserve the best treatment that I can give, so I work hard to stay on the leading edge of advances in the field.

I enjoy the outdoors and am passionate about giving back to the community in which I live. I am active in my church, the Boy Scouts of America, and theBoys and Girls Hope of Arizona. I spend time volunteering with St. Vincent de Paul and other community projects such as Arizona Mission of Mercy. My office is very happy to find ways to work with local schools, teams, etc. Just call and well talk!I look forward to finding even more opportunities to work in my community to better the lives of my neighbors and loved ones.

As a treatment coordinator, I enjoy developing relationships with our patients. I love educating our patients about orthodontics and different treatment options available to them. My goal is to make your experience at Great Big Smiles fun and enlightening. I want you to leave our office feeling excited about your treatment at our office!

Favorite GBS Task: Making your experience at Great Big Smiles fun and enlightening so that you leave our office feeling excited about your treatment! Free Time and Hobbies: Handwriting, crocheting and napping Hidden Talent: Playing the piano Favorite Food: Sushi and chocolate Characteristics: Trustworthy, Dedicated and Funny Superpower Mom of Three

I have been with our team at Great Big Smiles since the day Dr. Bowen took over the practice over ten years ago. I have over 40 years of experience in the field. In addition to working with patients and assisting Dr.B, I also help maintain a clean office and perform lab duties. Our office is a fun, stress-free place to work, and I enjoy coming in every day to be around my team. There is never a dull moment here!

Favorite GBS Task:Making beautiful smiles and building new friendships along the way. Free Time and Hobbies:Camping, line dancing and shopping! Hidden Talent:Decorating Desired Superpower:To save the world Characteristics:Laid-back, trustworthy and drama free

I have been in the orthodontic field for just under 20 years and as the financial coordinator, I will do my best to make payment options easy for you! I will bill your insurance to get the most benefit for you and your family. If you have any questions about your insurance, feel free to call or email me.

Favorite GBS Task:Making the financial investment less stressful and seeing patients smiling and cheering as they finish their treatment! Free Time and Hobbies:Making the financial investment less stressful and seeing patients smiling and cheering as they finish their treatment! Hidden Talent:Line-dancing Favorite Food:Salsa Characteristics:Loyal, serious and helpful

As the marketing director, I love connecting our patients and our team experiences with our community and giving back in anyway we can! My experiences as a special educator and a wedding photographer allow me to bring creative ideas to our patients and events, while capturing all of the fun as we create memories together.

Favorite GBS Task: Photographing our patients and celebrating the ones that love to refer new patients to our office! Free Time and Hobbies: Singing, Photography, Traveling, & Spending Time with Family Hidden Talent: Singing Blues and Rock-N-Roll Favorite Food:Mini Gluten-free Cookies and Cream Cupcakes & Chimichangas Characteristics: Loyal, Kind, & Walking Sunshine

I have been with our team at Great Big Smiles for just over two years, and I have over 8 years of experience in the field. When I am not taking care of our patients in the clinical room, I am scanning and taking x-rays in our records room!

Favorite GBS Task:Seeing smiles transform right in front of my eyes. Free Time and Hobbies:Drawing and Hiking Hidden Talent:Drawing Desired Superpower:Mind Control Characteristics:Fun, Happy, & Outgoing

I have been in the orthodontic field for just a few years! I started off at the front desk, and although I am still there to welcome you with a smile, I also love learning new things and helping patients in the clinic! For the time being, you can find me in either position!

Favorite GBS Task:Helping patients reach their smile goals! Free Time and Hobbies:Cooking & Event Decoration Hidden Talent:I Make the Best Chili Green Apples! Favorite Food:All Mexican Food Characteristics:Friendly, Truthful, & Outgoing

I have been in the orthodontic field for over 7 years. I have worked in many different roles, but I love being a Treatment Coordinator. In this role, I am able to work with our new patients and help them get started getting their dream smile!

I have been in the dental field for over 4 years. I enjoy working as the Scheduling Coordinator because I am able to meet and build relationships with all of our patients. Being in control of the schedule allows the day to run smoothly and our patients to be seen on time.

Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the last teeth to develop in the mouth. They erupt into the mouth usually around age 17-25. The average mouth does not have enough room for wisdom teeth to erupt properly, which is often referred to as impacted teeth.

Wisdom teeth can be very difficult to keep clean because they are located in the back of the mouth. This often leads to problems before pain or other symptoms let you know something is wrong. Wisdom teeth can contribute to a variety of problems, including:

Although there are many potential risks associated with wisdom teeth, they do not always need to be removed. After an evaluation, your dentist will be able to give information specific to your situation.

The ideal age to remove wisdom teeth is usually around age 16-18. The longer you wait past these years, the more risky, complicated, and difficult the surgery will be. As we age, the recovery process becomes slower and less straightforward. Due to these factors, your dentist may recommend removal even if they are not yet causing obvious problems.

Intravenous sedation is also known as conscious, twilight, or IV sedation. It enables you to feel relaxed and comfortable throughout the surgery. Performing the sedation through an IV is the safest and most predicable way to reduce anxiety, awareness, and memory during the procedure. During the sedation, you will technically be conscious so the body can maintain natural reflexes like breathing and swallowing. Many patients, however, are so relaxed they drift in and out of sleep (twilight sleep) and are frequently unaware of the dental procedure. The intention is to use the least amount of medication possible, while ensuring the patient is comfortable. In addition to being affordable and effective, IV sedation is extremely safe, making it an attractive option for many patients. The disadvantages of conscious sedation are the increased cost and need for an escort after the procedure.

There are many crucial rules you must follow in order for us to perform the surgery. Please be sure to review all the pre-operative instructions as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Woodmansee or his staff.

Wisdom tooth removal is often the first surgery many patients experience, making it normal to be nervous. To make your surgery day go smoothly, please ensure you review all the Pre-Operative Instructions as stated above. It also is helpful to read the post-operative instructions to have a better understanding of what to expect. Your surgery day will consist of Dr. Woodmansee reviewing your medical history, discussing expectations, and giving post-operative instructions. Patients are usually in the office around 90 minutes.

Reading the post-operative instructions prior to your surgery gives you a better idea of what to expect. Please take the time to read all the post-operative instructions to have the smoothest recovery. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Woodmansee or his staff.

Common risks associated with any surgical procedure include swelling, bruising, pain, and bleeding. In addition to the above risks, the following are uncommon but possible complications associated with wisdom tooth removal:

Your wisdom teeth extraction will take place right in our Great Big Smiles location, where you are familiar and always have a smile. We are currently only doing these procedures in our Scottsdale office.

My path to dentistry began at a young age, and through the support of wonderful teachers and mentors as well as hard work, I am able to give back to my community by creating lasting, healthy smiles. Each patient is unique, and I love meeting the challenges of each case. Working with our patients gives me a chance to get to know them, so I strive to make everyone feel like family. I want to see orthodontics change their lives as much as it has changed mine.

My education has always been important to me, and it is necessary for my success as an orthodontist. Patients deserve the best treatment that I can give, so I work hard to stay on the leading edge of advances in the field. I participate in several continuing education courses that are offered by the American Association of Orthodontists, Invisalign, and other professional accredited associations.

I am passionate about providing the absolute best care to patients. They deserve the best I can give, and I treat them with honesty and compassion. Hearing about their lives, hobbies, and goals gives meaning to my profession. I could not do it without my team. I have never met a group of people so caring, professional, competent, and funny. They are committed to the success of not only the practice, but of every patient who walks through the door.

I grew up in California, but I call Mesa home. I have lived here for over seven years and love it. I have four wonderful children who make me proud every day. When I am not in the office, I am often trying to catch up on home projects or working in the garden (Ive even grown artichokes from seed!). I enjoy the outdoors and we go camping as often as we can. My dream is to have a cabin in the mountains someday. We recently rescued a 3 year old Boxer/German Shepard named Auburn!

I am passionate about giving back to the community in which I live. I am active in my church, the Boy Scouts of America, and theBoys and Girls Hope of Arizona. I spend time volunteering with St. Vincent de Paul and other community projects such as Arizona Mission of Mercy. My office is very happy to find ways to work with local schools, teams, etc. Just call and well talk!I look forward to finding even more opportunities to work in my community to better the lives of my neighbors and loved ones.