When I was four, if you had asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, my response would have been a cheerleading doctor. I received pom-poms and the game Operation for my Christmas present that year. In eighth grade, the question arose again in Career Explorations class at Grace Christian School. My interests were dentist, orthodontist, or second grade teacher. As a pediatric dentist, I get to be a little bit of all of them dentist, teacher, cheerleader. Its a perfect fit and amazing to me that I get to do what I love so much everyday.
My own dental journey was not the easiest. Several of my baby teeth refused to fall out on their own and required extractions. I was born without two adult teeth and would receive two dental implants after several preparatory surgeries and six years of braces in my teens. I loved every part of the process. My pediatric dentist, Dr. Marie English, made dentistry safe and easy and comfortable. She set the foundation and taught me to take great pride in caring for my teeth. I hope to be able to provide the same nurturing environment for my own patients.
I was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska and am so proud to call this state home. I went to Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for undergraduate and dental school studies. My first job out of school was at a community health center in Kenosha, Wisconsin After almost a year, one marriage proposal, and a growing desire for more dental training, I sought and was accepted to an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program in Juneau, Alaska. My new husband, Matthew, and I took advantage of a year full of adventures watching the humpback whales bubble feed in Auke Bay and avoiding black bears as we hiked to Mendenhall Glacier. My favorite working days were those I spent with children.
My early dream of being a cheerleading doctor/dentist took root again. I decided to pursue a pediatric dental residency. While working through the application process, I returned home to Anchorage and worked with Drs. Phil and Lara Mabry as a general dentist. I was then accepted and completed a two year pediatric dentistry program at the Alaska Native Medical Center in 2015.
Pediatric dentists are Kids Dentists, who have finished a specialized course of dentistry focusing on children who have special needs or need more gentle care. Pediatric dentists complete two to three years of further training after finishing dental school. The training is very thorough and includes hospital training.