I love being a dentist! I love knowing I am making a positive, lasting difference in my patients lives every day. Serving others is a core part of who I am, and this profession has provided countless opportunities to help my patients and hometown community, as well people overseas through dental mission trips.
I have been practicing dentistry since 2008. Growing up, I knew I wanted to work in healthcare; I have always enjoyed helping and serving others, and I wanted to have time to get to know my patients on a personal level. As a dentist, I am able to build real relationships while helping each person improve their oral and overall health.
Whether I am getting a person out of dental pain, restoring function so they can enjoy the foods they love, or making a smile a little brighter, I am helping that person. It is an honor to have this opportunity to serve people and help them live healthier, happier, more joyous lives.
My team is wonderful! We are a family: The majority of us have worked together for more than ten years. We are stable, close-knit, and united in our desire to provide a worry-free, comfortable experience and to make sure our patients know we care about them as peoplebeyond their dental concerns.
One of the most exciting things about the dental field is the ongoing development and honing of new technology and procedures. I stay up to date on advances through continuing education, which allows me to broaden the treatments I offer and constantly improve on the treatments Ioffer.
I grew up in Vandalia and have always felt strongly about giving back to the community that has given so much to me. I am an active member of the Vandalia-Butler Optimist Club, Vandalia-Butler Chamber of Commerce, and First Light Church in Vandalia. In addition to strengthening our community, these activities also offer an opportunity to build relationships and serve our patients outside of our office.
Dentistry helping people achieve oral health and lead happier lives is my passion. I think I truly embody what it means to be a general dentist: I love working with everyone, from a toddler at thefirst visit to a great-grandparent, and with every person in between. It is immensely fulfilling to see families grow and change over the years, to learn their stories and share in their lives.
I have practiced dentistry since 2009. As a child, I loved smiles and have always been drawn to opportunities to help others. Dentistry felt like the most natural path, as it allows me to build connections, serve people, and help each lead a healthier, more enjoyable life.
As a dentist, I know what I do can change a persons life. When Im restoring function, boosting a smile, saving a tooth, or alleviating pain, I know the person is going to feel better and be healthier as a result of the procedure.
I also know that some people have a genuine fear of visiting the dentist. I take all the time needed to learn a persons concerns and work to gain their trust. Never judging and always listening, I strive to make sure each patient is comfortable, informed, and knows they have my full attention throughout their visit.
Our team is the absolute best. The majority of them have been with the practice for longer than I have been practicing! They know our patients very well and truly guide Dr. Neely and me to help serve them better.
All of us, doctors and staff, are humble listeners. To us, dentistry is a matter of healthcare and wellness, which should be at the core of every dental practice. We are present to offer the best care possible while respecting what each person desires.
The world of dentistry is ever evolving, and it is imperative that I stay current with the latest research and best ways to deliver care. I want our patients to know the dental care we provide has promising results, based on advanced research, technology, and technique.
My pursuit of continuing education keeps me at the forefront of new options and approaches to dentistry. In addition to taking courses, I regularly attend meetings, seminars, and lectures. I also avidly read the latest refereed journals, to stayon top of research discussions and findings.
When Im not seeing patients, Im almost always with my husbandDave, whos an engineer at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and our three adorable children. I am making the most of time with the children while theyre young and carefree and yes, they keep us on our toes! We love everything Disney and are outside, enjoying the world, as much as possible.
Our family is rounded out by Toby, our incredibly smart Welsh Corgi, who has been with Dave and me since we were students. Toby has been very tolerant of our growing family and likes joining us on adventures.
We recognize that allour 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.
Erica is one of our dental hygienists. She cleans teeth, takes X-rays, and spends a lot of time teaching patients about oral health and good home-dental hygiene. Erica enjoys working closely with patients, helping each to better their health, and appreciates the honesty, skill, and kindness of our doctors and her teammates.
Our expanded function dental assistant, Sarah, helps the dentists with their procedures, places amalgam and composite restorations, takes radiographs, and sterilizes instruments. Sarah enjoys the artistic aspect of doing restorations, and she likes interacting with patients when she places their fillings.
Dawn is one of our expanded functions dental auxilliaries. Her duties include chairside assisting, placing restorative restorations, and taking X-rays. Dawn enjoys making people smile and helping them feel comfortable during procedures. She also enjoys being part of a team that feels like family, and working with doctors who are honest, provide excellent work, and treat patients with the utmost care.
Susan is another one of our expanded function dental assistants who helps the dentists, places fillings, and takes X-rays. She likes helping people relax so they can be as comfortable as possible in our office. Knowing that she has helped patients, and that they are happy with their visit, are the most rewarding aspects of Susans job.
Mary Jean has been married for more than 40 years and has four children, nine grandchildren, and one dog. She likes working in her flower garden, taking walks with friends, and spending time with her grandchildren.
Bonita is our accounts receivable manager and administrative assistant. Her primary duty is billing, insurance, accounts receivable, and collections. She enjoys interacting with each patient, and seeing clients leave with a bright and happy smile. Working with our doctors is a great experience for Bonita because they are both very professional and caring, and have their patients best interests at heart.
Outside the office, Bonita has three children, 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, taking walks with her children and grandchildren, traveling, reading, working on computers, canoeing, and shopping.
Lynne is one of our dental hygienists who performs prophylaxis, takes radiographs, educates patients on oral health, and teaches appropriate dental health care. Her favorite part of her job is making patients feel good about themselves, and meeting their needs. She enjoys working with our doctors because they are compassionate, friendly, and believe in practicing quality dentistry.
Lynne has a husband, two sons, and two Border Terriers. In her spare time, she makes all-natural and organic body care products, and enjoys gardening, cooking, being with family and friends, walking her dogs, and doing crafts.
Robin is one of our dental hygienists who teaches oral hygiene care and instructs our patients. She believes that building a relationship with patients is crucial so they can feel more comfortable at our office. What she enjoys most about her profession is seeing people leave our office feeling great about their smile.
Becky is one of our expanded functions dental auxilliaries. She works chairside, places restorations, takes X-rays, and pours and trims models. Becky likes to help people, and make each feel comfortable and confident about their smiles. She loves the dental field in general and loves how our team shares the common goal of serving our patients in the best way possible.
Becky and her wonderful husband have three amazing boys who keep their parents busy with their many sports activities. She likes watching her boys play football and baseball, and time with her family, including their four dogs.
As another one of our dental hygienists, Jodi helps our patientscare for their teeth properly by giving them a top-notch cleaning and fluoride treatment, taking X-rays, and performing exams. She enjoys working with the dentists because they are committed to providing our patients with a high level of care. Jodi also likes how they help patients understand their oral health so they can make informed decisions about their care.
Jennifer is another of our dental hygienists. She educates patients so they achieve good oral health and takes routine dental X-rays, She also cleans and polishes teeth, along with performing deep scale gum treatment. Jennifer loves the patients she gets to meet and care for each day. She says they make her job exciting, fun, and rewarding. She is glad to work with caring professionals who make patient comfort and needs their top priorities.
Jennifer and her husband Travis have two children who keep them extremely busy with sports and other activities. The family also includes their dogToby, and cat, Popeye. Jennifer loves to run half marathons and enjoys working in childrens programs at her church in Troy.
Taylor is one of our dental assistants. She handles sterilization, pours and trims models, takes X-rays, and offers chairside assistance. Taylor enjoys serving our patients, working alongside her awesome teammates, and the gentle compassion and skill of our doctors.
Trisha is our business manager. She handles all of our HR, including employee relations, payroll, benefits, and training. She also directs and coordinates administrative functions and handles our social media and marketing. Trisha likes seeing our patients leave the office happy and confident they have received the best care, and enjoys working with doctors and staff who genuinely care about everyones well-being.
Our practice has served the greater Vandalia community since 1983, and weve grown through referrals from our patient family. We are honored and humbled by these referrals and by the trust our patients place in us. We are resolved always to exceed your expectations for exceptional, painless dental care.
Drs. Neely and Barton, as well as our team members, look forward to meeting and getting to know you. Were excited to be your partners as you achieve and maintain the beautifully healthy smile you deserve!