Keeping Your Smile Bright!

Front Office

Tahera

Having spent her childhood in Tanzania, East Africa, her teenage years in Allentown, PA, and most of her adult life in California, Tahera brings a global perspective to our office, along with fluency in 4 languages and a gentle, calming presence — she's often the first voice patients hear when they call. What she loves most about being a part of our dental team, is to see patients walking out with clean shining teeth and a big smile on their faces. In her free time, what gives her the most joy is to go for hikes, long walks on the beach, and regularly traveling abroad to visit family and explore new destinations, or simply hanging out with friends and family. A self-proclaimed neat freak, she prefers everything in order, however, sometimes her tendencies even drives herself nuts.

Front Office

Sara, R.D.A.

Although Sara started as an RDA in the back office, she has spent most of the last four decades in the dental field as a front office coordinator. Her specialty has become understanding the ever-changing insurance landscape. The satisfaction and joy she feels in her professional role is in meeting people from different walks of life, helping them understand and navigate their dental coverage to maximize their benefits and their dental care. A native of Orange County, Sara has the luxury of having her extended family living in proximity, where get-togethers are common occasions. On her days off, she often looks after her grandson — a joy that can sometimes be more challenging than a day at the office! She also enjoys weekend getaways, cooking elaborate meals for her family, and spending time in her garden.

Jay-An, R.D.A.

Jay-An grew up in a small countryside town in Iloilo, Philippines. She pursued dentistry after being drawn to the intersection of science and art, and wanting to make a positive impact on people's lives through healthy smiles. She's currently studying to become a dental hygienist while working with us as an RDA, and feels the best part of the job is building relationships with patients and watching their confidence and oral health transform over time. In her free time, she loves trying new recipes and taking short road trips to explore the outdoors with her husband and dog. Her passion in life is spreading kindness and positivity, whether through volunteering in her community or simply brightening someone's day with a smile. A quirky fact about Jay-An: she laughs uncontrollably at comedy shows, much to the amusement of those around her!

Aline, R.D.H.

Growing up in the shadow of Disneyland and Angel Stadium, Aline is a true Orange County native. She has been in the dental field for over 10 years with a wide range of experience from the dental lab to the front office. Aline decided that in the dental world, connecting and forming relationships with patients in the clinical setting is where her true enjoyment is. This propelled her to go back to school to be a Dental Hygienist. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors with family and friends, going to the beach, hiking, and camping. Now, as a mom of two, the days of music concerts have been replaced with joyous weekends of child activities. For Aline, being ambidextrous is a quality that has been surprisingly helpful as a hygienist.

Karely, R.D.A., R.D.H.

Karely grew up in Los Angeles, CA and loves living in The OC!  She joined our practice as an RDA before becoming a hygienist, and has been our practice's hygienist for several years since. Today, she's the backbone of our hygiene department. Karely was drawn to the dental field after growing up with little awareness of oral hygiene herself, and now loves sharing that importance with others. The best part of her job is building rapport with patients and making them feel comfortable during their cleanings. In her free time, she's a foodie who loves visiting new places, watching movies, reading, and enjoying outdoor activities with family and friends, and can't wait to see more of the world. A fun fact about Karely: she's been watching Spanish soap operas Novelas since she was a teenager.

Tara, R.D.H.

Tara grew up in Alhambra, California. After graduating from UCLA in Art History, she relocated to the East Coast to attain her Masters in Radiation Physics. When she returned to Southern California, Tara earned her dental hygiene degree at Cypress College and has been a dental hygienist for almost three decades. Tara loves to spend time with her nieces and nephew, whether going to the movies or browsing antique shops. One of her favorite things to do is collecting Mid-Century furniture. Most weekends, she also goes hiking with friends. Her passion in life is to help the under-served people--she continually offers her dental skills at orphanages in Cambodia and the rural minorities in China. Her other joy in life is global travel, visiting new countries and meeting people around the world with her family.

Dee Dee, R.D.H.

A native of California, she graduated from Loma Linda's Dental School of Hygiene and has been a hygienist for 35-plus years. Though semi-retired, Dee Dee continues to work with us part-time, since this office has become like family to her. She still finds joy in what she likes best about being a hygienist: seeing that she is instrumental in improving the health of her patients, and forming friendships with them as she gets to know them and their families over the years. In her free time, she enjoys Bible study with friends, yoga classes, traveling extensively around the world with her husband, and spending time with her family. She finds joy and purpose in life when she makes a difference in other people's lives.

Leilanee

Leilanee grew up in Irvine, California, and started working at our office right after high school. She has since graduated from Mount St. Mary's University with a degree in Biology. She currently splits her time between our office and a role with an orthopedic surgeon affiliated with CHOC, all while working toward her goal of medical school. Around the office, Leilanee is also our go-to for IT troubleshooting, any repairs, software installation and "dental projects". She enjoys working at our dental office because of the professional women who encourage her to be the best version of herself every day, inspiring her to set high goals and work hard to achieve them. Leilanee enjoys watching sports, specifically baseball, and unwinding by swimming, listening to music, and spending time with family, friends, and her dog Augie. She's also good at telling dad jokes, which she keeps stored in her dad-a-base.

Thanh-Y

From the Bay Area, Thanh-Y recently graduated from UCI with a degree in Biological Science and is now applying to dental school as she pursues a dream that began in childhood. In high school, she became a Certified Dental Assistant to gain hands-on experience in the field. The past four years as a dental assistant have shown her the impact she can have on patients by building their confidence and educating them about oral hygiene. A dental mission trip to Guatemala last year confirmed that dentistry is her chosen path. Outside of school and work, Thanh-Y loves spending time with friends and family, exploring Southern California's beaches, trying new matcha cafes, and cooking new recipes at home. She also cherishes her alone time, often spending evenings watching movies, reading, or doing her nails. A fun fact about Thanh-Y: she has a black belt in Taekwondo!

Front office

Michelle, R.D.A

Michelle has lived in several states throughout the Pacific Northwest and Midwest, however, California and the Pacific Ocean, called her name! She has been an RDA for 15 years, starting at chairside before expanding her career as a dental claims adjuster. However, she missed her favorite part of the dental world — the office itself — where she gets to connect with and care for a variety of patients every day. Michelle believes whole-body health starts in the mouth, and loves knowing she's making the world a better place, one smile at a time. In her free time, she's an escape room fanatic who loves museums and the beach — though above all, her greatest joy is time with friends and family. Fun fact: Michelle once owned and ran a bed and breakfast, where she hosted murder mystery dinners for her guests!