Samantha – Dental Assistant
Samantha, best known as Sam, graduated from Roane County High School. She worked as an operations manager for a local chain restaurant before going back to school for dental assisting. She got her dental assisting certificate from Competitive Edge Dental Assisting Academy in 2022. Sam started that same year with Dean Cosmetic Dentistry. She enjoys helping others and is excited about expanding her experience and learning all things dentistry. She enjoys it so much you can hear her giggle throughout the office. She spends her free time cooking, spending time with family, and taking care of her pup.
Karen – Patient Coordinator
Karen has been a patient for over 25 years. We loved Karen’s friendly, outgoing personality so much that we asked her to join our team! Karen has a natural compassion for people and truly loves the day-to-day interaction with our patients. Her warmth and humor make long time and first-time patients feel comfortable and at home. Karen was born and raised in Georgia but has been in Knoxville for over 35 years. She has children and grandchildren whom she loves to spoil. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She is active in her church, loves to read, listen to music, laugh and have fun in life.
Melissa – Dental Hygienist
Melissa attended West Georgia Technical College and graduated in 2009. She has a bachelor’s degree in Public Health of Dental Hygiene. Melissa joined Dean Cosmetic Dentistry in 2014 as a Hygienist. However, she has moved into the office manager role. Melissa loves connecting with people one on one and enjoys educating people on the importance of healthy teeth. Melissa enjoys her free time reading, watching movies, crafting, and finding good deals while shopping. She has started to travel more and would love to hear your travel stories.
Mary – Dental Hygienist
Mary started as a dental assistant in her father’s and grandfather’s practices before graduating high school! In 1983 she graduated dental hygiene school in Colorado. Mary has been a tutor to hygiene students and taught continuing ed classes. Dean Cosmetic Dentistry is blessed to have Mary as an “on call” employee since 2022! The technology keeps things exciting and fun for Mary, and she loves the personal connection with patients and being able to guide them to better overall health. The flexible schedule allows her time to travel the world and enjoy discovering the Knoxville area.
Courtney – Dental Hygeniest
Courtney moved here from Denver, Co in May of 2024 her boyfriend. She is so excited to be starting somewhere new and specifically chose Knoxville to be close to the Great Smokey Mountains (or in her eyes. The Great Smoky Hills) Courtney graduated from her Dental Hygiene program in 2019 and is well known by her patients for being gentle, yet thorough. She loves educationg patients on new tips and tricks to keep their smile beautiful and healthy and is excited to be working at a practice that cares as much about their patients as she does! In her free time you can find her scoping out the best restaurants in town, working off that food with a round of golf, or sometimes just watching the birds and bunnies in the backyard.
Tristine – Dental Hygienist
Tristine attended Roane State Community College where she received her Dental Hygiene degree in 2023. She started her dental career as an assistant in 2018, and has loved it ever since! Tristine enjoys reading about the latest technology and staying on top of her continuing education courses to better serve her patients. Tristine loves talking about her critters with patients and making people feel at ease. Furthermore, when shes not in the office she enjoys hiking, fishing, karaoke, and spending time with her family here in East Tennessee.
Vanessa – Dental Assistant
Vanessa was born and raised in California. She moved to Tennessee to be closer to family. Back in California, Vanessa was a receptionist for a small private company. Once in Tennesse she decided to go to school for dental assisting. Vanessa received her dental assisting license from Competitive Edge Dental Assisting Academy in 2023. She enjoys helping and getting to know patients. Making people feel confident and happy with their smmiles makes her days here at Dean Cosmetic Dentistry. She loves spending time with family and friends, trying new foods/restaurants, and traveling.
Delores – Dental Assistant
Dolores (Dee) Walker has been in dental for more than 10 years, she loves to get the know the patients and provide a friendly home like feeling in the office, she came from a medical background as she served as a medical assistant. Outside of work she loves spending time with her family and friends. She loves to cook and play with her sweet grandbabies.