At Tieken Smiles Dentistry, our patients are like family to us! Our personalized approach to dentistry has won our practice many honors over the years, such as regular placements on the 'best dentist' lists of both Bay Area Houston Magazine and H-Texas Magazine.

He is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, which only provides its accreditation to dentists who pass written and oral exams, provide examples of their work, and pursue hours of continuing education.

J. Derek Tieken, DDS has earned lots of accolades and honors in his 32 years years as a dentistand before that, while earning his degree from the University of Texas School of Dentistry in Houston. President of his fourth-year class, Dr. Tieken delivered the commencement address.

His dental practice, Tieken Smiles Dentistry, has been recognized as a 'Best Dentist' by Bay Area Houston Magazine for 18 years in a row. And it earned a spot on H-Texas Magazine 's 'Top Dentists' list from 2010 to 2016. In 2014, Tieken Smiles Dentistry was selected as Practice of the Year by Next Level, a dental consulting and training organization.

But there is more to dentistry than awards. Dr. Tieken has always had a passion for dentistry and knew he wanted to practice at a young age. He continues to be fascinated by the connection between a healthy mouth and a healthy body. This shows in his work, through his focus on improving his patients' overall well-being. He takes time to build close relationships with his patients and provide each and every one of them with personalized care.

Dr. Tieken enjoys continuing to grow in his dental profession and being on the cutting edge. He stays up-to-date on the latest dental trends by taking courses at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies.

Dr. Tieken is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is a longtime participant in its Give Back a Smile program, which provides restorative dentistry services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Dr. Tieken loves his local community. He established his dental practice just 10 miles away from where he grew up. And he participates in many community service projects such as providing dental screenings to area school children.

In his free time, Dr. Tieken enjoys traveling with his wife, Lori, reading and writing, being outdoors, and boating. He also enjoys following sports, especially his alma mater Baylor University and The University of Mississippi where his daughter attends.

At Tieken Smiles Dentistry, we've assembled a seasoned team with collectively more than 100 years of experience in dentistry! More important, though, they all share a real love of improving our patients' lives and a desire to treat you like a VIP.

Dr. Dylan Rutherford was born and raised in Sulphur Springs, Texas and graduated from Sulphur Springs High School in 2009. He attended Texas Tech University, graduating summa cum laude with his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 2012. For his dental education, he attended the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston, graduating in 2017. Dr. Rutherford enjoys all aspects of general dentistry and looks forward to providing a high standard of care to all of his patients. For his efforts, he was awarded 2021 Texas Top 10% in General Dentistry. In his spare time, Dr. Rutherford enjoys spending time with friends and family, being outdoors, and fishing. He is excited to become a member of the League City community.

A registered dental hygienist, Darby has been involved in dentistry since 2018 and graduated from the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston in 2020. She joined the Tieken Smiles team in 2020 and loves the positive, patient-oriented environment. She is certified in placing sealants, laser dentistry, nitrous oxide monitoring, and CPR. When she is not working she likes to spend time with friends and family, spend time outdoors, and try different crafting projects.

A registered dental hygienist, Traci began her career in dentistry in 1992 as an orthodontic assistant. She received her dental hygiene license from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 1996 and has been working at Tieken Smiles Dentistry since 2001. She is certified in laser dentistry, sealant placement, and inhaled sedation monitoring. She is a graduate of the Las Vegas Institute in Evolutionary Hygiene in Support of Aesthetic Dentistry. She is certified by the Scheduling Institute and has attended classes in implant care and complete mouth-to-body health. She enjoys making the dental environment a fun, safe place for people to achieve their optimum oral health. In her free time, she enjoys watching any sport her two sons are playing, raising livestock for show, and spending time with her husband and other family and friends.

Lindsay has been in the dental field since 2012 and has worked at Tieken Smiles Dentistry since 2013. She is certified in laser, inhaled sedation, sealants, and CPR. She enjoys getting to know our patients, making them feel comfortable in our League City, TX dentist office, and helping them see improvements. She also likes her awesome teammates! She enjoys spending time with family and friends, dining at restaurantsespecially if a margarita is involvedplaying sand volleyball, and participating in group fitness classes.

A registered dental hygienist, Lauren began her career in dentistry in 2010 and received her dental hygiene license from Coastal Bend College in 2015. She has been with Tieken Smiles Dentistry since 2016. Her certifications include the Scheduling Institute, laser dentistry, and sealants placement. She enjoys helping patients obtain a healthy smile. Her pastimes outside the office include watching and attending Houston Astros games, spoiling her two dogs, traveling, and spending time with family, especially if it involves outdoor activities.

Ashley has 6 years of experience as a dental assistant and joined Tieken Smiles in July of 2019. Ashley loves getting to know her patients and making them feel as comfortable as possible when they come in for their dental visits. During her free time, Ashley enjoys playing and spending time with her dog, cooking, and discovering new restaurants.

Penny has been involved in dentistry since 1999 and has worked with Dr. Tieken since 2016. She is CPR certified and a registered dental assistant. Her favorite part of the job is making her patients comfortable and creating beautiful smiles. Penny has a Texas cosmetology license and enjoys spending time with her family, especially watching her daughter play softball.

A registered dental assistant, Felicia has worked in the dental field since 2005 and since 2011 with Dr. Tieken. Her certifications include OSHA, CPR, Scheduling Institute Five Star, and inhaled sedation monitoring. She has completed continuing education courses in implants, dental aesthetics, restorations, sleep apnea, and dental health. She loves being able to transform patients' smiles, giving them confidence and a renewed sense of self. She also enjoys making them comfortable in our League City, TX dentist office and informing them about their dental health and the advanced dental technologies available to them. She enjoys watching movies and spending time outside the office with her two daughters and son.

Dominique has been with Tieken Smiles Dentistry since 2020. She moved to League City from Louisiana. Dominique enjoys getting out into the community, and meeting new patients. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, going to Pure Barre, and playing with her dog Tucker.

Carol has worked in the dental field since 1987, she has been with Tieken Smiles Dentistry since 2001. She has certifications from the Scheduling Institute and the Las Vegas Institute, a top provider of dental continuing education. She loves helping our patients find affordable ways to attain their dreams and great smiles. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, camping, and hiking. She and her husband have three dogs.