Cosmetic and General Dentistry
Dental School/Year Graduated: Creighton University, 2004
Years in Practice: 18
Your practice is called Dental Arts of Chandler. How do creativity and artistry factor into your “smile makeovers” and other work?
The artistry is one aspect that makes dentistry so much fun, and why I prefer it over other areas of medicine! Daily, we get to sculpt beautiful teeth and smiles. It is so gratifying when a patient comes in after an accident, with a broken front tooth, and I get to build it back up with composite material. And the patient says it looks better than the tooth did before they broke it.
Why is maintaining good dental hygiene important to a person’s overall health and well-being?
Study after study links gum disease to chronic disease, including heart disease and dementia. We know that good oral hygiene minimizes inflammation that affects the entire body [and] also makes us more confident and comfortable to smile and be ourselves.
What are the most important things people should look for in a toothpaste? Anything to steer clear of?
I know people like to give it a bad rap, but fluoride is actually the most valuable part of toothpaste. Most people don’t realize that it is a naturally occurring element, so when people want to use “natural” products, it perfectly fits that category!
I strongly encourage people to steer clear of charcoal products – they are generally way too abrasive!
You’re an animal lover. Tell us about your pets!
My husband jokes that all the lost dogs find me. We currently have a 12-pound Chihuahua mix named Pippy. Seven years ago, I found her running down the road, and she jumped right in my car! We tried to locate her owners and network her through the rescue group I work with, but no one ever came. She is our first small dog and totally rules the house! We love her so much.
As an outdoor enthusiast, what are some of your favorite spots to get some fresh air in Arizona?
Oak Creek Canyon in the fall tops my list of favorites in Arizona. Put me on any mountain and I’m happy! Spending most of my life in Kansas, I truly appreciate the mountains in Arizona.
What’s the funniest thing a patient has said to you on nitrous oxide?
The best are just the giggles you get from most kids with laughing gas! They get a smile on their face and then just start giggling away. Parents are often amazed at how much fun their kids have.
”If I wasn’t a dentist, I’d be…”
A sports commentator or professional CrossFit competitor. I love anything related to sports!
