A dental seminar speaker once told us to never hire someone we wouldn’t want as a member of our own family. Therefore, each person of our “extended work family” has been carefully selected not only for clinical competence and business expertise, but also for character traits such as integrity, compassion, and loyalty. As a result, we have a particularly long-term staff that is not typically found in a dental practice. In fact, they often joke that no one ever really “quits” our office, as past employees so often return. When you visit our office you will appreciate the warm and professional camaraderie among our team members.
Dawn Henson, R.D.H. Registered Dental Hygienist Dawn is the lead member of our Hygiene team, receiving her dental hygiene degree from Shoreline Community College. Her extensive experience includes treating severe periodontal disease for a diverse patient base using the latest “evidence based” treatment protocols. Dawn takes great pride in creating a non-threatening dental environment, especially to help her more nervous patients relax and be comfortable. Her friendly, gentle, and compassionate nature readily puts her patients at ease, and she routinely “goes the extra mile” to ensure each patient has a positive dental experience. Dawn is a great communicator and although she is never at a loss for words, her patients say she is also a great listener. In fact, she never forgets little details they tell her at their check-ups (so be careful what you tell her)! Dawn’s co-workers love her positive attitude and calm demeanor. In Dawn’s own words, “Above all else, I’m just a lot of fun.” We certainly agree! In her spare time Dawn loves spending time with her two “weenie” dogs that she adopted from PAWS, especially in the great outdoors. She also enjoys boating and monthly family gatherings with her four siblings, as they prioritize "keeping in touch".
Tami Canady, R.D.A. Registered Dental Assistant
Tami has the distinction of being our most senior team member with 25 years in our office! After three years of college and getting her Dental Assistant Certification from Bates Technical College, Tami started working with us in 1983 as a full-time dental assistant, just a couple of years after we started the practice. Tami has always been a “favorite” among patients with her reputation of a gentle, yet thorough, touch. She is a “people person”, and with her nurturing, warm personality she immediately puts the most apprehensive patient at ease. Although Tami has been working in Bellevue as a full-time Orthodontic Technician for several years, you can still find her in our office every Friday enjoying animated conversations with her patients to catch up on the local happenings! Tami lives in Carnation with her husband, Kerry, and their two daughters who are almost grown. She was a Girl Scout leader for nine years, receiving the “Outstanding Leader” Award and a Leadership Development Pin. Her favorite activity is spending quality time with family and friends. Tami has especially enjoyed hosting Australian exchange students for several years, which has provided a unique cross-cultural learning opportunity for the entire family.
Belinda Cummins, R.D.A. Registered Dental Assistant
Belinda has been in our office since 2000, when we finally enticed her to leave a temporary placement service. As she is exceptionally talented in both her clinical skills and professional judgment, Belinda quickly became the doctors’ “right hand” in helping with the most difficult procedures and patients. She is also gifted in working with patients with special needs, applying her own experiences with two autistic sons to benefit her patients. Her calm, confident manner and her wonderful sense of humor work wonders with our more challenging young ones. After 25 years in the profession, Belinda still thoroughly enjoys her work and she finds it most rewarding to get to know her patients on a personal level. Belinda lives in Maple Valley with her husband, Chris, and two sons. They also have a daughter who has followed in her mother’s footsteps by becoming a dental assistant. Belinda’s priorities include “family first”, and boating, skiing, camping, and traveling, especially to New Zealand where she lived until a teenager. She is passionate about Continuing Education for Autism research and participating in the Special Olympics with her sons. She is also active in the Scottish Pipe Bands.
Linda Russell, C.D.A. Office Manager Linda has been an invaluable member of our team since 1984. With prior experience as a Certified Dental Assistant, she brought a wealth of clinical expertise to her position as Office Manager. Linda credits her knowledge of dentistry with helping her understand patient concerns, properly scheduling appointments, and working with insurance to maximize benefits for her patients. She is known for solving difficult insurance issues when others have been unsuccessful. Linda has been diligent about keeping up with recent changes in the field, and she is often acknowledged in training courses as being more advanced than other dental staff. Linda’s deep loyalty and unwavering support for others has earned her the respect of coworkers and patients, who appreciate her effective communication that is often mixed with witty, “red-headed” humor! Linda has loved watching our patients’ families grow up who then bring their own children to us, as it makes her feel like part of an extended family and shows the comfort and confidence they have in us. Linda lives in Monroe, but raised two children in the Snoqualmie Valley. Her favorite activity is being “Nana” to three grandsons and relaxing in her cabin near Leavenworth with four-legged kids, Mickey and Lilly.
AMANDA CHARLSON, R.D.A. Registered Dental Assistant / Office Assistant Amanda graduated in 2009 from Northshore Dental Assisting Academy and she wears many hats in our office, working as both Dental Assistant and Office Assistant. Her prior non-dental work experiences in retail, sales, and the medical field have given her valuable skills working with people. We are lucky to have Amanda on our team as she is exceptional in her communications to patients and in understanding their needs. She never fails to go the extra mile for her patients! They love her smiling face, genuine charm, and caring nature that exude warmth and compassion. When she is not assisting at chairside, Amanda is often the cheerful voice greeting patients on the phone or making many of the evening courtesy calls to patients when they are due for appointments. She assists with patient accounts and helps cover the front desk for Linda whenever needed. Everyone loves working with Amanda as she is a true team player with a “can-do” attitude who will expend endless energy to assist both patients and her co-workers. Amanda lives in Fall City and is the mother of five busy children who keep her hopping in her “spare” time!
