Meet the Dental Staff

Dental Hygienists:

Amber

Amber was a Certified Dental Assistant for 6 years before becoming a Dental Hygienist. Amber graduated with honors from Yakima Valley Community College’s Dental Hygiene program in 2009. Amber was on the Dean’s List over half of the months she attended hygiene school. Amber worked in our other office as both a dental assistant and dental hygienist. She always has a smile on her face and is quick to joke and make you feel at ease.

Amber and her husband have two beautiful children and live close by. They enjoy outdoor activities like hunting, hiking, and riding quads.


Amanda

Amanda joined our team right after graduation. She graduated from Grays Harbor College in 2014 with her associates in Pre-Dental Hygiene and completed her Hygiene Degree from Pierce College – Fort Steliacoom in June of 2016.

Amanda enjoys preventative dentistry and will work hard to give you the tools to help you maintain or improve your oral health, all while providing a caring environment to help you be more comfortable.

Amanda has been married for ten years and has a blended family with three step children, a daughter, and one grandchild. She enjoys traveling, snorkeling, outdoor adventures, and sports. You might run into her at the Softball field where her daughter plays ball.


Lindsey

Lindsey joined our team in 2020 when she moved back to her home town of Olympia. She started her dental career in 2008 as a Dental Assistant and has been practicing Dental Hygiene since 2010. Lindsey has made a commitment to providing quality care that emphasizes proactive oral hygiene to promote dental awareness and healthy checkups.


Lindsey lives in Olympia with her husband and three kids; Sadie, Mason, and Kaede. In her free time she enjoys camping, boating, and spending time with her family and friends.

Dental Assistants:

Melissa

Melissa was born and raised in Illinois and came to the Harbor in high school. Melissa has been a dental assistant for 13 years with a background of community health & private practice. She says private practice is by far her favorite.

Melissa and her husband have been married for 11 years and have 3 children, and two dogs. Melissa can be found cheering on her kids at the football or baseball field.


Natasha

I graduated from the Dental Assisting program at South Puget Sound Community College in 2011 and have been working in the field ever since. I have lived in Grays Harbor my entire life and I love being able to serve so many of my family and friends here at the office. My husband and I have two amazing boys that keep us on our toes. Our oldest loves sports, so we look forward to baseball, football, and wrestling seasons. In my spare time you can find me gardening. Our family enjoys being outdoors; we spend a lot of time fishing and hunting. We often take our yellow lab Nala exploring with us.


Andee

Meet Andee! She has been with Elma Family Dental for three years, with experience as a dental assistant for 6 years. She grew up in Grays Harbor and moved back three years ago with her two amazing boys ages 16 and 8. They love the PNW, as it has so much to offer. They also love the outdoors, hiking, swimming, camping, four-wheeling, trying new foods and just enjoying life to it’s fullest! Andee feels that she has chosen the career that best suits her, She loves learning from our patients and being able to help people who have made that initial step to help themselves.


Ontayah

Ontayah graduated from Centrailia Dental Assisting School in 2020 and has joined our team helping the front office while occasionally assisting when needed.

“Becoming a Registered Dental Assistant has unlocked my passion! I love interacting and building relationships with my community while helping achieve their goals! I’m so excited to be back working in the town I was raised in and give back to my community.”

Ontayah was born and raised in Grays Harbor but moved to Centralia about four years ago to grow her family. She is a mother of four amazing children with a super supportive boyfriend. As a family they enjoy being outdoors and using their creative skills together.


Karina

My name is Karina , I was born in El Salvador but raised in the United states since I was 8 years old. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be in the dentistry field. I graduated from SPSCC Dental assisting program in august 2022. I have so far enjoyed what I’ve been learning and I’m eager to gain more experience. When I’m not working, I enjoy traveling and exploring new places.


Andrea

Andrea began as a Sterilization technician and translating for Spanish speaking patients in our Shelton office during her Senior year. As her interest peaked for dentistry, She attended Olympia Dental Assisting school, and has been an assistant with our Elma team ever since. Andrea enjoys traveling, dancing as well as hiking with her Corgi, Cooper!


Angela

Angela recently joined our Elma Family Dental Team, coming from Lacey to be closer to family. She has a few years of experience as a dental assistant but private practice has been her favorite place to work. She enjoys bringing beautiful smiles to her patients and helping her community.


On her free time, Angela enjoys the outdoors, finding good places to eat and spending time with her loved ones.


Katie

Katie graduated from Olympia Dental Assistant School in early 2022, leaving behind a lengthy career in retail management to pursue her interest in dentistry. She is excited to be apart of the Elma Family Dental team, helping to provide exceptional dental care to the community who raised her.


When Katie is not at work, she is spending time with her family and staying busy with her energetic young daughter. Together they enjoy going on nature walks, baking, and doing arts and crafts.


Anna

Meet Anna! She has had the amazing opportunity to start Dental Assistant Training right here in our office. She grew up in Grays Harbor and loves serving the community.  


When Anna isn’t at work, she enjoys spending time with her two beautiful little babies (that keep her on her toes), getting outdoors and hiking when she can.


Haley

Haley started with us in February of 2023 as a Dental Assistant. Before she started with us, she first obtained a job at a local dentist office as a sterilization assistant.  She then learned that she had found her calling for dentistry. She relocated to Gray’s Harbor and joined the Elma Family Dental Team! Haley loves giving back to the community and being a part of improving patients’ oral health.


Haley was born and raised in the last frontier, Alaska. After graduating in 2017 she wanted to expand her horizons and moved to Northern Panhandle of Idaho. In her free time, you can find her exploring everything the great Pacific Northwest has to offer with her longtime significant other and her Pitbull child, Rambo.

 

Elma Family Dental