Tammy joined Shallowford Family Dental Group in June 2013, bringing with her over 20 years of experience in dentistry, insurance and patient advocacy. After 21 years living in Michigan, she is happy to be back home since she was born and raised in Georgetown, Tennessee.
Dentistry and people are my passion! I truly enjoy assisting patients in becoming healthier through their dental care and seeing them smile their best smile. I cannot imagine doing anything else! I am so excited to join such an amazing group of talented professionals and I feel blessed to be able to do what I love
Misty joined us in March of 2017, bringing over 14 years of experience as a Registered Dental Assistant. She chose to transition from assisting to working in the front office and has loved every minute of it. She truly enjoys helping people receive the treatment they need with the help of their insurance benefits or other means of financial assistance.
Misty has been happily married to Michael since 2001 and they have 2 beautiful teenage daughters. When not busy with the girls travel softball teams and other teenage activities, they enjoy camping and beach trips. Misty even plays softball herself by participating in an adult womens softball league.
After moving back from Tampa, FL, he came to SFDG in 2011, to help with the renovation of an additional acquired dental practice. His connection to SFDG was Dr. Gardenhire, Dr. Lewis and he all grew up in East Ridge. The three month job has turned into a job that he truly loves. He says he meet lots of great people and even sees some of his ol friends here.
Pats background has been in golf since 1983, first as a club professional in Birmingham and then as a caddie on the Champions Tour. The most famous player that he worked for was Chi Chi Rodriguez and his best win was with Bob Duval, the same week his son, David Duval, won the Players Championship.
Candy has been a dental hygienist with Dr. Lewis since 1992! The past 10 years have been here with Shallowford Family Dental Group. She values the relationships she has developed over the years with her patients and continually strives to meet their dental needs.
Amanda moved from Flint, Michigan to Chattanooga in 2013, and joined SFDG April of 2014. She is passionate about her patient relationships and is dedicated to educating them about their proper oral health. She graduated from Mott Community College (Flint, MI) and was president of her class.
She has a very bubbly personality and loves conversation. When she is away from the office she enjoys exercising, outdoor activities and scrapbooking. Amanda enjoys spending time at her home in beautiful Jasper, Tennessee with family and her loving pets.
Laura moved from Dayton, Ohio to Chattanooga in 2015 where she practiced as a hygienist since 2011. She attended Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) where she earned degrees in Accounting, Marketing and Spanish. Her path to dental hygiene was slightly non-traditional. After working as an auditor for a large accounting firm, she felt she needed to pursue her childhood dreams of working in the dental field and returned to school to become a dental hygienist.
Christina has been a practicing dental hygienist since 2006. She attended and obtained her bachelors degree in Dental Hygiene from East Tennessee State University. She enjoys several aspects of dental hygiene but what she enjoys the most is the connection that she makes with her patients through dental hygiene.
It has been so exciting to be able to bring my long term patients with me as I join this new practice. I have always enjoyed getting to know my patients and building life-long relationships and couldnt be happier to continue my future of working with a large staff of amazing professionals who strive for excellence every day.
Cindy is an Expanded Functions Dental Assistant with the state of Tennessee and is also a Certified Dental Assistant with the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). She is currently President of the Chattanooga Chapter of the TNDAA and Secretary of the TNDAA. She is also a member of the American Dental Assistants of America.
She has been at Shallowford Family Dental Group since 2002, prior to that with Dr. Lewis since high school in 1999. She has a great love and passion for dentistry!! Also loves children and helps out in several areas of the childrens and youth programs at her church.
Kala has been a dental assistant for Dr. Gardenhire since 2008. She loves making patients feel at ease when coming to the dentist. Kala continues to advance her career through yearly continuing education classes to keep her up-to-date on new materials and techniques.
Sheree joined the Shallowford Family Dental Group in 2016. She began her dental career in 2005 after her high school days at Ridgeland. She was a member of the Volleyball team, voted Most Dependable and elected Class Vice President all four years.
Her family, husband Jason and her kids Harper, Boston, Taylor and Jacob, requires most of her time away from the practice. When she gets an opportunity she enjoys antiques and painting them. Im a closet antique picker lol.
Danitra joined us in 2016. She earned a Bachelors Degree in Business Management at UTC and attended Chattanooga State for her Associates Degree in Dental Assisting . . cum laude. She is a registered and certified dental assistant. She is a member of the American Dental Assistants Association.
Emeri joined SFDG in 2020. She graduated from the Dental Assisting program at Chattanooga State. Emeri is committed to continuing her education in this field and to keep up-to-date with the new techniques and materials.
He graduated from Notre Dame High School and then received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. His dental training was completed at the University of Tennessee, Memphis.
I feel my greatest asset is my relationship with my patients. I truly make an effort to treat each person like family, says Dr. Ankar. When he is not at his practice, Dr. Ankar spends time at the Orange Grove Rehabilitation Center providing dental care to mentally and physically challenged patients.
Dr. Tom Gardenhire is a Chattanooga native and graduated from East Ridge High School in 1974. He then graduated with honors from UTC with a BS in Biology. During college, Tom was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. It is notable that all three doctors at Shallowford Family Dental Group were members of the Sigma Chi Fraternity during their college years.
Tom completed his dental training at the University of Tennessee Dental School in Memphis in 1982. During his senior year, Tom won the anesthesiology award. He has been practicing dentistry in Chattanooga since 1982.
Tom founded Shallowford Family Dental Group in 2002 with a vision for excellence in dentistry practiced by a group of doctors in the same office. I enjoy the variety of personalities working together in our practice, says Tom. Its exciting to see different temperaments, talents and convictions working toward a common goal of caring for people. We have a true family atmosphere among the staff and patients.
Dr. J. David Lewis is a native of Chattanooga and graduated from East Ridge High School in 1972. He then graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Biology and Chemistry double major from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1976. He completed his dental training at the University of Tennessee Dental School in Memphis in 1981; returning to Chattanooga to begin practicing dentistry.
At Shallowford Family Dental Group, we always keep up with the latest technology, says Dr. Lewis. We follow lots of studies and research, which is a great benefit to our patients as we continually study our craft and make improvements. We are always learning better science and methods for dentistry.
Dr. Lewis is an avid fan of University of Tennessee sports and is always happy when his schedule allows for a round of golf. He is an animal lover with three cats at his home. He is involved in the Chattanooga Area Humane Society and served for five years with the Child Advocacy Center in Catoosa County.