In 2007, I graduated from The Ohio State University with an undergraduate degree in Biology, and completed dental school with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 2012. After graduating, I received hands-on training from the Misch Surgical Implant Institute, and regularly attend continuing education to stay up-to-date on the latest dental techniques and procedures.
Born and raised in Cleveland, I am a HUGE Cleveland Browns fan and, of course, a big fan of The Ohio State Buckeyes. If youre a fan of the Steelers or University of Michigan youll receive wonderful care in my office????however, anesthetic may or may not be available that day (kidding!). I love running an office that has a sense of humor but is serious about taking care of patients. My philosophy is centered on educating patients and taking baby steps in order for them to reach their goals.
Theres nothing more rewarding than showing patients that visiting the dentist isnt always a painful and bad experience. I do my best to make their dental experience as enjoyable as possible. Im incredibly grateful to have such an amazing staff to help me educate and take care of our great patients.
Im happily married to my wife, Amy, and have two wonderful kids together, 6-year-old Vanessa and 4-year-old Kam. I enjoy cooking for my family (I make the best homemade spaghetti sauce????ask my kids!) and smoking BBQ on my smoker. Personal cooking tip: a proper steak is cooked to medium rare, and ribs should not fall off the bone when you bite into them.
I love riding my Harley around town and beyond, and playing board games with my family. Pure joy is seeing the look on my 4-year-old sons face when he says he beat me in Mouse Trap. Theres nothing like it. Hanging out with my daughter is also one of my favorite things. She shows me how to dance properly and makes it clear that I know nothing about fashion????and definitely doesnt hold back.
At the start of my career, I graduated from Lehman High School in Sidney and later completed the dental hygiene program at Lima Technical College. I have happily been working in the dental field for 28 years, 26 of them as a dental hygienist. Im truly fortunate to have had the pleasure of working with some amazing doctors who have helped further my knowledge and education. It has allowed me to provide the best care possible for my patients.
Im happily married to a police sergeant and have two sons, two stepchildren, and two giant schnauzer dogs (we clearly love the number two). They take up a lot of our time and we wouldnt have it any other way. In our spare time, my husband and I love traveling to Kentucky and touring distilleries on the bourbon trail. We also enjoy trips to the east coast for their beaches????theres nothing like it!
I began working in dentistry in 1989 and have devoted 32 years of my life to helping patients meet their dental goals. Ive completed hundreds of hours of contuining education specializing in medical and dental insurance coding, dental sleep medicine, and TMJ disorders. I love keeping up with the ever changing industry, including the most up-to-date technology dentistry has to offer. Im excited to see whats next for advancements in the delivery of dental care.
Over the years, I have found creative ways to keep the daily duties of accounting and insurance claims interesting????believe it or not! I take joy in being able to help patients understand their dental plan and how to maximize their benefits. Seeing the smiles on their faces on their journey to optimal oral health is the reason I come to work every day. Im thrilled to be a member of such an exuberant team of professional, experienced dental providers that have patient centered goals as their priority.
As much as I enjoy my work family, I love spending all my free time with my home family. We are content empty nesters with 15 (yes, 15!) adorable grandchildren. When Im not in the office, you can find me traveling to warm and sunny places, and enjoying the wonderful world of glamping to relax and soak up that delightful vitamin D.
In 2002, I started my career in dental assisting at Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) and worked as an orthodontic/dental assistant for five years. I later decided to enroll at Sinclair Community College to become an Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary. Through dedication, persistence, and hard work, I graduated in 2007 with flying colors (and a flush of excitement!). I have experience in all aspects of dentistry including dental implants, orthodontics, dental surgery, nitrous-oxide monitoring, coronal polishing, and placement of tooth-colored fillings.