It's funny how "life is what happens when you're busy making other plans". I started working in a dental office at 16 for an orthodontist while still in high school in N.J. I really liked it because he taught me so many different things and even though I was young, he depended on me for most everything. I continued working during college and when I married my Neal at 20, I still worked there. I later worked as an assistant in a general dentist's office and up until I had my first son Evan. I stopped working then to raise my little man and 4 years later my second son Justin was born. I didn't work but we continued to go to that office for all our dental work, he never charged us. He said we were like his family. He was a special man. I guess I was lucky.

When I decided to go back to work after Justin was old enough to go to kindergarten, I worked again in a dental office as an assistant, which evolved into the office manager. I worked there up until we bought a house in the country because the commute was too far. I've worked in dental ever since and when we decided to move to California in 2004 I worked for a dentist where I met Goretti. We both left that job but said how great it would be if we could work together again and here we both are working for Life Smile Dental.

I guess I've met great people along the way and I've had some special moments. I've seen how a smile has changed lives for the better. I remember a young mother with a little girl coming in and when she smiled she would always cover her mouth because she was ashamed of her teeth. The day came when she had her new smile. I don't know who was more excited. We both hugged and cried. She looked beautiful. After that, when she would come in she had a great big smile. She said people would ask her what she did because she looked so good.

When you come into our office we want to make it personal. We know your name. We know if you're going through something tough or if you have good things happening. We know you might be a little nervous or vulnerable. We care about you like we would want someone to care for us, because that's how we like it.

So, I guess I just love dentistry. I also love to garden and read, the beach, Hawaii, music, animals and still Neal and my boys…I guess I'm a California girl now. I can't stop loving this weather.