Dr. Robert N. Hanson grew up in Alamogordo, NM, and is a graduate of the University of New Mexico and the Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, TX. In 1974, Dr. Hanson moved to Independence, MO, where he had the privilege of joining the dental practice of Dr. J. Donald Duensing. They practiced together until 1986, when Dr. Duensing retired.

Dr. Hanson has provided more than 30 years of dental service to the community of Independence and eastern Jackson County, MO. He is married and has 3 children. His hobbies include fly fishing, backpacking, travel, gardening, and dining out with his friends and family.

Whether you are visiting for a routine exam or are in need of a more complex procedure, he and his staff will take excellent care of you and your family. We guarantee a friendly atmosphere and our full attention to all your dental needs. Bring your children in for annual checkups and fluoride treatments. Feel free to ask about specialized cosmetic services and more.

Kaitlin is from Lee's Summit, Missouri. She has been working in the dental field since 2014 and loves to find ways to help patients build their confidence by obtaining their best smile! Kaitlin is happily married to her husband Charles of 11 years, and has 3 bonus children; Justin, Morgan, and Jared. They also have a Yorkie named Bianca. She enjoys traveling, shopping and spending time with family.

Jessica Walsh, BSDH, RDH, graduated from the University of Missouri Kansas City Dental School in 2003. Jessica has been practicing dental hygiene for 18 years. She resides in Pleasant Hill, Missouri where she enjoys spending time with her 8 year old son and their rag doll cat Sophie. Some of her hobbies include photography, canning, interior decorating and spending time outdoors. Jessica loves connecting with her patients on a personal level and helping them maintain their optimal oral health.

Mary Ellen Dolly Driskell, RDH, Graduated from Wichita, State University with a Bachelors degree in Health Science in Dental Hygiene. She has been in practice 25 years. She loves helping patients and making them comfortable and well cared for in the dental chair. She lives for summer and being on her slalom ski.

Kristina is one of our dental hygienists, who joined our practice in May 2020. She began her dental career in 2015 as a Dental Assistant, where she quickly learned her passion for dentistry. Her passion inspired her to further her education in becoming a Dental Hygienist. In 2019 she graduated with honors from Concorde College in Kansas City, MO with her Associates of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene. She loves to help patients improve their oral and systemic health. She is passionate about educating patients and helping them achieve their smile goals . Kristina is apart of the American Dental Hygiene Association, Missouri Dental Hygiene Association, and the Kansas City Component. Kristina has recently became co-chair and committee member of the Kansas City component of the Missouri Dental Hygiene Association. Kristina is certified in CPR Basic Life Support, OSHA, Nitrous Oxide, and Laser Therapy. In Kristina's free time she enjoys spending it with her family and friends. Some of her hobbies are traveling, cooking, and archery.

Angelika is a graduate of the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Dentistry. She has practiced in the Kansas City area since 2009, both in general dentistry and periodontal specialty offices. Angelika has served as an officer on the UMKC Dental Hygienists' Alumni Association for six years and is a past President of the Board. She enjoys treating patients of all ages and making sure they have personalized oral health care based on their needs. When she is not treating patients chair side, she enjoys traveling, home projects, and taking her dogs to the park.

Kebra was born and raised in Independence, MO. She graduated from Truman High School in 2009. After high school she attended Penn Valley dental assisting program and achieved her Basic Skills and Expanded Function Certification. She has worked as a dental assistant for 10 years. Her favorite part about being a dental assistant is helping her patients achieve a confident smile. Her main goal as a dental assistant is to help make her patients feel as comfortable as she can understanding that the dentist isnt everyones favorite place to be! At home, Kebra is a wife and a busy mom of two kids, Rayna (3) and Weston (2), and also to two fur babies, Lexie and Gunner. Simply spending time playing outside, fishing, taking walks, or even enjoying a nice fire pit accompanied by friends and family is considered their happy place to be.

Megan is a 2011 graduate of Ray Pec High School. She moved to Independence in 2015 when she bought her first home and started her family. She completed an accelerated dental assisting program in 2013 and started her career in the dental field as a dental assistant in 2014. Megan always looks forward to getting to know each and every patient individually, addressing their dental needs and improving their smiles. At home she is a hard-working mother of two beautiful daughters Madison (5) and Payton (3). She enjoys spending time with her girls, watching movies, playing outside, and spending time with friends and family. She is happiest spending time with those she loves.

Katy was born and raised in Lees Summit MO. She graduated from Lees Summit West and later decided to continue her education at Longview Community College where she earned her associates degree. She later attended Summit Dental Academy and received her certification as a Dental Assistant. She has been a dental assistant for 9 years and is very passionate about dentistry, she loves giving her patients a reason to smile. Katys enjoys hiking, kayaking, and spending time in the great outdoors with her son, Jake. Katy is also engaged to be married to her fianc whose name is also Jake in February 2022.

Say hello to Emily! Emily has been with Dr. Hanson and the team for 3 years, but has been in the Dental field since 2014. Leadership and taking on many tasks are what Emily does best. If someone needs her help either patients or staff members she'll be the first one there. Her work ethic is important to her. Emily has a 15-year-old daughter who is her ultimate pride and joy and who can immediately make you smile. Emily has been with her best friend and boyfriend for almost ten years. She also has three Chihuahuas who are definitely a part of her family. In her free time, Emily loves working out and enjoying the amazing Kansas City Chiefs!

Stephanie has been working with our practice since June of 2019. She graduated from the University of Central Missouri in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a degree in Marketing. When not at the office, Stephanie is busy at home with her husband of 11 years, two little girls, and Labradoodle named Coco Mia! Stephanie's girls keep her busy running all over town to watch their favorite activities including soccer, gymnastics and ninja warrior training. Stephanie has lived in the Kansas City area her entire life and loves to relax on the weekends watching the Royals and the Chiefs.

Personal Relationships Our patients matter! It is important to us that we hear everything you have to say so we can fully understand your individual needs - both dental and personal! We care about you as an individual and recognize that building trusted relationships together allows us to deliver an even higher standard of care. We truly want what's best for you.

Compassionate Team Our patients often comment on how much they enjoy our friendly team. We love having the opportunity to serve you, and we truly care about making sure your visit is an enjoyable one. We are attentive, helpful and kind. Our compassionate and caring personalities will help you relax and feel at home here.

Quality Dentistry We're proud to be a practice that offers a wide range of services for families at a high standard of quality. Our services range from routine general and preventive dentistry to more complex treatments including sleep apnea therapy. When possible, our services are paired with modern dental technologies, including CEREC same-day crown technology, lasers, digital x-rays and intraoral cameras, to ensure the best possible results.

Patient Education We not only want to be your dentist for life, we want you to enjoy excellent oral health for life. Because of this, we make patient education a priority. We take the time to fully explain all your treatment options and answer your questions so you can make informed, confident decisions regarding your care. You will be armed with the knowledge to take the reins on your oral health.

Transparency There are no secrets here. We provide honest recommendations and clear explanations, never pushing you to do anything you don't want or need. We are upfront about costs and payment options. You can feel confident that we will always keep the line of communication open with you.

Comprehensive Services We're proud to be a practice that offers a wide range of services for families at a high standard of quality. Our services range from routine general and preventive dentistry to more complex treatments including sleep apnea therapy. When possible, our services are paired with modern dental technologies, including CEREC same-day crown technology, lasers, digital x-rays and intraoral cameras, to ensure the best possible results.

Comfortable Environment For some, coming to the dentist can be difficult. We understand! That's why we do our best to treat every patient as if they were an honored guest in their own home. Inside our treatment rooms, you'll find blankets to keep you warm during treatment and tv monitors or iPads so you can follow along on the screen to see what's happening in your mouth. Additionally, our office has wide open windows so you can follow along with the beautiful animal life and nature around our office. We also offer topical anesthetics to improve comfort, and we have a great team that is 100% committed to patient care. You will feel at ease here!