Meet Our Loves Park Dental Team

Front Desk/Back Office

Our front desk/back office staff members ensure our office runs smoothly from the time we open our doors each day. Whether it’s making sure our shelves are stocked with the right products, going over treatment details with patients, or discussing insurance benefits to help families save, we’re here to provide superior service to everyone at Riverside Dental Center.

Brittany M., Business Office Manager

Brittany has been a part of the dental world for over 15 years, and while every day is different, she says her favorite part of her job is building relationships with our patients and making them comfortable. A graduate of Rock Valley College, most of her free time is dedicated to her daughter, but she also finds time to coach volleyball, four wheeling, attend demolition derbies, tractor and truck pulls, concerts, the Boone County Fair, go fishing, and garden.

Daffney G., Team Lead / Treatment Coordinator

Nothing makes Daffney happier than seeing a patient’s oral health transform before her eyes. When she isn’t helping someone build their smile, she loves Lego, so you’ll likely find her building one of their botanical sets. She also likes to soak up the sun while riding side by sides, hiking, or swimming.

Kayla S., Treatment Coordinator

Kayla has been with us for her entire dental career, and making connections with our patients is what gives her motivation every single day. Despite having two children and over 100 houseplants to take care of, she does find time to make the occasional Starbucks run as well as go thrift shopping and bike riding.

Emily G., Treatment Coordinator

Emily feels empowered by the team at Riverside Dental Center because both the doctors and fellow staff consistently help her strengthen her dental skills. A graduate of Rock Valley College by way of Florida State University, her favorite thing to do on the weekends is go out with her boyfriend and try new places.

Melissa P., Front Office Receptionist

Originally from Arkansas, Melissa came to Riverside Dental Center in 2025, and she says our patients find new and interesting ways to be the highlight of her day. Back at home, she likes to spend quality time with her husband and dog, and she also enjoys playing sports and fishing on the weekends.

KatSue M., Billing Coordinator

KatSue is an unabashed math nerd, so getting to look at and work with numbers each day makes her extremely happy! Coming to us all the way from Osaka, Japan, she is married with two boys, loves to shop, and is a big baseball fan, especially when it comes to the LA Dodgers.

Kelly H., Billing Coordinator

Kelly joined us in 2021 and brings over 25 years of experience to our team. She began her career as a dental assistant right out of high school, and now as our financial coordinator, she says that nothing is more satisfying than helping our patients get the most out of their insurance. A mother of two daughters (one in college and one in elementary school), she likes to craft, be outdoors, and try new recipes in her free time.

Dental Hygiene

When it comes to cleaning, examining, and discussing proposed treatment options with patients, our dental hygienists truly deliver. Equipped with the knowledge, compassion, and skillset to properly care for patients’ teeth and gums, our team is just one of the many reasons so many families keep coming back.

Ashley F., Team Lead/Dental Hygienist

Ashley began her dental career with us after graduating from Rock Valley College with her associate in applied science. For her, it’s the people that make her job special, referring to both our patients and her fellow team members. Most of her time outside of work is taken up by her two boys and two dogs, so on the weekends, she’s on the sidelines cheering them on during one of their many sports activities.

Breanna P., Dental Hygienist

Breanna says that the most fulfilling part of her job is introducing a new patient to our practice and getting to know them as we make their smile healthier. Married with a baby on the way, her house is already filled with love thanks to her three furry children (mini-dachshunds, Bean, Olive, and Pepper). She likes to stay active through working out and playing pickleball, but she’s also just as happy relaxing at home with family and friends.

Austin L., Dental Hygienist

Austin earned his dental hygiene degree from Rock Valley College and says it’s his mission to make people less nervous about coming to the dentist--he’s gotten quite good at it! On the weekends, he likes to hang out with his fiancée, attend concerts, and go golfing.

Jessica A., Dental Hygienist

Jessica says that the most satisfying part of her job is preventing dental problems before they even happen. Born in Germany and raised in Rockford, she completed her dental education at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. She is currently working on a master’s degree in public health so she can help the community by making dental care more accessible to a wider array of people. Outside of being a busy student, she is also a busy mother of two who still manages to enjoy a good book when she can.

Kenosha H., Dental Hygienist

Kenosha LOVES providing oral hygiene education for our patients, because when it comes to your smile’s health, knowledge is power! She graduated from Southern Illinois University with her bachelor’s in dental hygiene and management, and she’s currently getting her master’s degree in public health, intending to increase the community’s access to dental care. She’s engaged with a young son (Enzo) and a small dog (Sasha), and she’s a big reader, having finished 60 books in 2024 alone.

Sydney L., Dental Hygienist

Sydney says that every patient has an interesting story to tell, so she loves getting to know people and their families through her job. Married with three children, she loves being outdoors and is always in the mood for ice cream. Her dream is to open her own ice cream shop one day!

Elizabeth F., Dental Hygienist

Elizabeth has been helping people improve their oral and overall health for more than 20 years. She and her husband, Jason, have two children, and when she isn’t busy with them, she stays occupied by coaching volleyball, working in her yard, waterskiing, and going on walks. Fun fact: she has an identical twin sister!

Jennifer P., Dental Hygienist

Jenny has been with us for over 15 years and in the dental world for more than 25. When asked about her favorite part of her job, she shared one word—coworkers! Happily married with four cats, she is an avid runner who has completed six half-marathons to date. She is also big into arts and crafts and would love to add a dachshund to their family one day.

Tricia S., Dental Hygienist

Tricia says no two days are ever the same in dentistry, and that means a lot from her—she has over 25 years of experience! Coming from a large family that includes her husband, five children, five stepchildren, and five grandchildren (with another currently on the way), she likes to bake, garden, and take care of her chickens.

Dental Assistants

Riverside Dental Center would not be complete without the gentle, caring, and experienced dental assistants we have on staff. Whether it’s sterilizing dental instruments, preparing treatment rooms for patients, or completing one of many additional tasks that are required each day in our office, they remain an integral and invaluable part of our team.

Nichole J., Team Lead

Nichole has been with us for the entirety of her 15+ year dental career. For her, our patient’s victories feel like her victories, so she loves seeing how happy people are when they look at their new smiles for the first time. At home, her family consists of her husband and two energetic little boys. When she isn’t busy with family or running her other businesses, she likes to spend time outdoors boating and UTV trail riding.

Theresa F., Dental Assistant

Theresa feels very fortunate to be part of a team that always puts the needs and comfort of our patients first. Life is busy at home thanks to her three children, two dogs, two cats, and turtle. Coming from a big Italian family, most of her free time is dedicated to loved ones and making memories with them.

Flor H., Dental Assistant

Flor has been with us since she started in dentistry over a decade ago, and she’s a master at helping patients overcome their fear of the dentist. A mom of one young son, she likes to exercise, hang out with family and friends, and go on road trips to Mexico to visit loved ones.

Emily F., Dental Assistant

Emily says that despite being in dentistry for over 10 years, she experiences something new every single day! A graduate of Rock Valley College, she likes to be with her fiancé, family, and dogs when not at the office, and what most patients don’t know is that she’s actually a great singer!

Taylor B., Dental Assistant

Taylor says that the best thing about being a dental assistant is how rewarding and dynamic the position is. Married with two boys, she is a proud mother who finds strength, both mental and physical, through working out. She also loves a good challenge and made it her mission to solve a Rubik’s Cube as fast as possible—she can now complete one in less than two minutes!

Meghan H., Dental Assistant

It doesn’t take long for new patients to start feeling like friends with Meghan. A Seattle native who went to school in Idaho, she is a mother of two kids, two dogs, and is a huge fan of all Chicago’s sports teams, particularly the Cubs and Blackhawks.

Diamond W., Dental Assistant

Nothing makes Diamond happier than ensuring a patient is comfortable in the chair. She completed her dental assistant training at Northeast Iowa Community College and is currently attending Northern Illinois University on her way to becoming a dentist! Life is also busy back home for Diamond and her partner thanks to their four children, but she does find time to work out and read.

Our Office Dog!

Riverside Dental Center is pleased to introduce our in-house therapy dog, Witherspoon. Known as “Spoon” by our staff and existing patients, you can request that he keep you company during your visit, so that your appointment is more enjoyable.

Witherspoon (“Spoon”)