A native East Texan, Dr. Allen was born and raised in Henderson, TX before moving to the Tyler area where she attended Tyler Junior College earning her A.A.S. in both Biology and Dental Hygiene. In 1991 she married her husband, Russell, and they moved to Longview, TX where she practiced dental hygiene until 1998 at which time she attended Louisiana State University to continue her education working on a BA in Biochemistry. Prior to completing her Bachelor's degree, Dr. Allen was accepted into LSU's School of Dentistry in New Orleans where she graduated with honors in 2003. Having received her Doctorate of Dental Surgery, Dr. Allen returned to East Texas in order to practice dentistry.