Dr. Joshua Prentice, your dentist in Bend, knows exactly how precious your smile is how tied it is to life and adventure and that without it, even living in one of the most beautiful and exciting places on earth can lose all its flavor. We just cant have that! Ponderosa Dental Center is here to make sure your smile is strong, whole, bright, and ready to take on the world.
For 30 years, Dr. Prentice called Oklahoma home. He even practiced dentistry there. That is until his family took a vacation to Oregon, where they fell in love with Bend. Like the rest of us, Dr. Prentice is a big fan of the many recreational activities Central Oregon has to offer. Couple this with a love for dentistry, and thats what led him to found and open the Ponderosa Dental Center.
As a child, Dr. Prentice became interested in dentistry while spending time at his Uncles dental office. The dental office was full of fun and laughter and great relationships all around. Dr. Prentices interest in the dental field later grew out of his love for technology. As a boy, he spent time building computers and learning software programming. Today, Dr. Prentice utilizes the most advanced dental technologies available to provide dentistry that is truly state-of-the-art.
Dr. Prentice is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma School of Dentistry. He enjoys learning about all of the latest technologies and treatment solutions dentistry has to offer, averaging 50 hours of continuing education each year. On the flip side, he enjoys teaching too. He was asked to join the Dental Advisory Committee for the Central Oregon Community College Dental Assisting Program. He also spends time coaching and training other dentists on the technologies he utilizes in his dental office.
In addition to the continuing education that he completes each year, Dr. Prentice is also constantly searching for ways to improve the care and comfort you receive at his office with new dental technology. One such device is the new Glidewell.io technology that allows him to custom mill and fit a brand new crown in 1 visit. Dr. Prentice was actually published in the AEGIS Dental Network discussing the benefits of this new device.
Outside of the office, Dr. Prentice enjoys volunteering his dental services at Central Oregon Community College. When hes not busy doing that or caring for his patients, hes usually spending quality time with his family. Dr. Prentice is married to Ashley, his high school sweetheart, and the couple has three children Jude, Annabel, and Leo. The family also has two cats Lewis and Clark. In his spare time, Dr. Prentice also enjoys traveling, running, skiing, biking, golfing, and photography.
Sheri is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and is responsible for all things front desk and office management at Ponderosa Dental Center. What she loves the most about her position is seeing the happiness and transformation patients experience upon completing their smile makeovers. Sheri says its also fun to meet new people every day and make a positive impact on their health. Sheri was drawn to dentistry because she was ready for a change from working in the oil and gas industry for a decade. She knows that our office stands out from the competition because of our team and how well we all work together for the betterment of our patients. She also says Dr. Prentice has a wonderful bedside manner with patients and everyone in the office truly enjoys the job that they do. Sheri is a member of the Bend chapter of the American Association of Dental Office Management. She has two grown children and three grandchildren who are the loves of her life. She enjoys trying at least one new hobby each year for a challenge. Sheri also enjoys traveling, reading, walking, and enjoying the scenery of central Oregon with her family and friends.
Kelli is a graduate of Lane Community College and has been working in dentistry since 2017. One of the things she loves most about being a dental assistant is getting to know our patients and helping them understand how to improve their dental health. She says Ponderosa Dental Center is unique because of the talented team who loves working together and helping one another in every way possible. When shes not taking care of her patients smiles, youll probably find Kelli spending time with family and friends especially in the great Oregon outdoors. She also enjoys fly fishing with her husband and taking care of her dog Trigger.
Kari graduated from Apollo College for Dental Assisting in 1995, and then went on to graduate from Laney Community College with an Associates Degree in Dental Hygiene in 2004. Kari has worked in dentistry for over two decades and has been a valuable member of the Ponderosa Dental Center team since 2017. Kari says she loves the one-on-one relationships she has with her patients that being a dental hygienist offers. She enjoys getting to know people and helping them learn about their dental health. Kari will tell you her dental career started early when she was in high school and her family dentist hired and trained her to work in the sterilization department. She says this is when she fell in love with the dental profession. Kari loves that our office is unique because of how the team genuinely enjoys working together and providing the level of dentistry that they do. Everyone strives to have a stress-free and fun working environment. Outside of work, Kari enjoys spending time with her husband Steve and their two kids. Her hobbies include reading, hiking, fishing, paddle boarding, and camping.
Lynn is a graduate of Lane Community College and has been working in dentistry for nearly 40 years. She says she was drawn to dental care at the age of 19 when she went to work for a dentist. Lynn loved every aspect of being in the dental office and knew then and there that this was the right career path. She is always cheerful, dependable, optimistic, and has a great amount of integrity. She loves working for a wonderful dentist like Dr. Prentice, whos on the cutting edge of dentistry. Lynn praises his professionalism and impeccable eye for detail. She has patients shes known for 25 to 28 years and says they now feel like a part of her family. When shes not cleaning teeth and caring for patients, youll probably find Lynn spending time with her husband Jon and her two children, Jona and Mark. Lynn also enjoys gardening, hiking, and camping.