As a dentist, I appreciate the opportunity to interact with people of all ages, each with their own experiences and stories, and to learn from them. My patients are fascinating individuals: as no two people are the same, no two teeth are exactly the same, and no two dental treatments are identical, either.
With each patient, I take my time to learn what they want (and, just as importantly, what they do not want), and to understand their concerns. Instead of dictating treatment, I design an approach that addresses the persons clinical needs and works with their life. I review the proposed approach with my patient, discussing what I recommend and why, as well as the pros and cons of different options and answering all of their questions. In this way I am able to guide the individual to make informed decisions and help them take control of their smiles health.
That is important: people deserve to be informed, to understand whats happening, to feel secure in moving forward with treatment. It is also key to building trust and setting people at ease. I want each of my patients to be comfortable, to relax in the chair, and to always be confident in the care my team and I provide.
I grew up Germantown, in West Tennessee, and attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where I obtained my Bachelor of Science. Remaining at UT, in the College of Dentistry in Memphis, I then received my Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS) in 2003.
Following dental school, I was accepted into a post-doctoral Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency through UT, Memphis. This rigorous and challenging training covered all aspects of general dentistry, with a focus on dental implant care.
Completion of my residency was not the end of my dental education. Being a great dentist requires a lifelong commitment to learning. I seek out and participate in various continuing education opportunities throughout the year.
In addition to participating in local affiliates of the Spear Study Club in the Nashville area, I am a graduate of the Kois Center in Seattle, Washington. While I have completed the latters nine course curriculum focused on aesthetic, occlusion, and restorative dentistry, I continue to attend the Kois Centers yearly symposium.
Family is central to my life. My wife, Aileen, and I met in Memphis while attending dental school. We tied the knot the summer after graduation and chose to live in the Nashville area to split the difference between her hometown of Greeneville in East Tennessee and mine, in Germantown. In 2004, we fell in love with the Mount Juliet community and swiftly knew that here is where wed raise our children and build my dental practice.
As for those children, we have two very active sons, Grant and Hudson, who love to play baseball, basketball, and golf. They both play the guitar, too. Like many of the families I see and treat, Aileen and I spend a lot of time supporting the boys activities and getting them to their various sporting events around town. An added bonus of living in Mount Juliet and practicing family dentistry is running into my patients and their families when out and about!
My team is incredible. I think of them as my sisters and, now that Im older, my daughters, as well. We love to laugh and joke around with each other and our patients. While were serious about dental care and oral health, we dont take ourselves too seriously!
My team is composed of skilled professionals who take pride in their work. I know things are going to be done right, so I dont need to micromanage them. In addition to their professionalism, my team members are warm, compassionate, and friendly. They genuinely care about our patient family and want only the best for each person we have the opportunity to treat.
I love my patients and coworkers and appreciate working four days a week so I have more time with my family. In addition to assisting Dr. Kruger in all patient care, I take care of the patient checkout process. I also organize our office meetings and handle business matters.
My career in the dental field started in 2000. After working front desk for a few years, I attended Nashville State and joined Simply Smiles in 2008. Dr. Kruger is a patient-oriented doctor who truly cares about peoples best interests. And our office staff has fun while meeting goals and keeping our patients needs first.
My husband, Bubba Graves, is a Mt. Juliet native, a lieutenant for Smyrna FD, and a real estate agent. We have two grown children who are married, and a beautiful 11 year old daughter still at home. I love to read and run, especially races and half marathons. We love being active and spending our free time in our church at 109 Church of Christ.
I am happy to make sure our patients are getting the best dental experience with our office. Everything I do is focused on keeping the front office running smoothly to the benefit of all. I handle appeals and credentialing and support our staff.
I started my career at Simply Smiles in 2013. Dr. Kruger is kind, thoughtful, and very dedicated to his patients safety and health. Thats true of everyone on the team. We are always laughing and enjoy one anothers company, but were serious about taking care of our patients.
I enjoy working at the front desk, as I greet and chat with our patients, catching up on the latest happenings in their lives. In addition to welcoming patients, I assist with scheduling and handle insurance matters, including verifying benefits.
I started working as a dental assistant in 2004 and then transitioned to the front office. In 2020, I was invited to join Simply Smiles, and I love being part of a great team. We are all very friendly, outgoing, and communicate well with each other. It doesnt feel like work when youre with friends, and that means were able to provide a pleasant experience for our patients.
I enjoy spending my non-work hours with my husband Brandon and kids, Saydee and Bowen. In the summer of 2021, I started coaching cheerleading with my daughter at MJ Youth Football and Cheer and found that I loved it! I enjoy watching college football Go Gators! and going to bingo.
I started in the dental field in 2008 and in addition to being an EFDA I have specialized training in sealants and coronal polishing. I found my professional home at Simply Smiles in 2015. This is a friendly, caring office and my coworkers and our patients are like family to me.
I started my career in 1997, am a Certified Dental Assistant, and hold an Associate degree in Dental Hygiene and an Associate in Math and Science. I joined Simply Smiles in 2018 and love being part of a practice where everyone is friendly, knowledgeable, and goes the extra mile for patients.
My husband Rob, myself, and our two children moved to Mount Juliet in 2005 and couldnt be happier with our decision. Our two younger boys are very involved in Boy Scouts and soccer. And our two older kids have given Rob and I four grandchildren, so our lives are filled with family happenings. In our spare time we love family camping trips, hiking, skiing, and other outdoor adventures. I also enjoy crafting and reading.
I enjoy building patient relationships and helping people take control of their oral health. As a hygienist, I am a healthcare provider that is a co-partner with Dr. Kruger in providing patient care. My job includes healthy mouth cleanings, periodontal therapy, taking X-rays, and educating patients.
Ive worked in the dental field since 1990 and am a college graduate with more than 30 years of experience in both general and periodontal practices. In 2019, I joined Simply Smiles and love that Dr. Kruger is a very easy-going dentist who takes pride in his quality of care for our patients. That feeling is shared by my coworkers, who are the best! They place patient health and comfort before everything else.
Beyond oral health, family is my passion. My husband of almost 30 years, Wes, and I have three sons. They are in college and the military. At home we have three dachshunds who are our babies: theyre known as the Nerd Herd. We love spending time outdoors and traveling. I also enjoy serving on the Policy Committee for Wilson Counties Schools, volunteering in our schools, and being an education advocate.
I enjoy the people I spend my days with: Dr. Kruger, my coworkers, and our wonderful patients. As a hygienist, I perform cleanings, scaling, and root planing. I also take X-rays, apply fluoride and sealants, and offer patient education and oral hygiene instruction.
I keep busy outside of work. I love hiking and gardening, photography, knitting, sewing, and crocheting, decorating, and music (I play piano and flute and also sing). Time with my grown children and young grandchildren though, is loved most of all.
For Dr. Brian Kruger and our team, dentistry is about serving our community, improving health and happiness, one person at a time. While we work on teeth, our greatest joy is getting to know you and building a lasting, trusting relationship. When youre here, youre considered family and we will always treat you with respect and empathy!
We opened our doors and welcomed the first members of our Simply Smiles patient family in 2007. Since that day, we have grown through word-of-mouth referrals from those we have the opportunity serve. We are honored by the kind words and the trust this shows, and are inspired to live up to our reputation for offering high-quality, personalized dentistry with a gentle touch!