MEET OUR STAFF

Amber / Dental Hygienist

Amber has been practicing dental hygiene at our office since 2006. Originally from WV, she obtained her hygiene degree from WVU Institute of Technology and an MBA from Marshall University.  

She enjoys periodontal therapy, cosmetic dentistry, ZOOM in-office whitening procedures, Invisalign cases, and general hygiene care. Amber’s focus is striving to be exceptionally thorough with her work while creating a positive and calming yet fun atmosphere for her patients. She is not only knowledgeable in periodontal therapy but also in many areas of comprehensive dentistry including implant therapy. She enjoys conversing and making patients feel at home while in her chair. 

In her spare time, she enjoys watching sports and being outdoors with her husband, son, and two French bulldogs. Family and friends are very high on her list, and she loves treating patients the same way.

Elizabeth / Dental Hygienist

A native Charlottean, Elizabeth grew up in a dental family. As a local dentist for over 40 years, her father’s love of dentistry and commitment to his patients was a huge influence on Elizabeth. That same passion for pearly whites drove her to begin her own work in the dental field more than 15 years ago and guided her into her present career as a Registered Dental Hygienist.

An Advanced Dentistry team member since we opened in 2005, Elizabeth has been with us since the beginning. She holds a BS degree from Appalachian State University and a Dental Hygiene degree from York Technical College. Although she takes pride in the advanced training she’s received, she credits the time spent as a child in her Dad’s dental office for her calming chair-side manner that her patients have come to know so well.

She loves sharing nuggets of wisdom and valuable dental hygiene knowledge with her patients.  Along with her dental hygiene skills, the quality of care she provides her patients comes through in the desire she has to educate and communicate the importance of proper daily oral hygiene.

Her favorite quote from childhood: “You only floss the teeth you want to keep”.

When she isn’t helping her patients achieve good dental hygiene, Elizabeth spends time with her husband and 7 rescue dogs at their home in Waxhaw. In addition to keeping them in line, she enjoys hiking, listening to country music, and riding horses. 

Kristen / Dental Hygienist 

Kristen loves being a part of the team at Advanced Dentistry of Blakeney because of the quality of dental care provided to patients.  As a hygienist, she has the opportunity to help people in many ways such as providing them oral hygiene instructions to keep their teeth healthy in between check-ups.  Her outgoing personality helps ease any dental anxiety her patients may have and she goes above and beyond to make sure everyone has a great experience.

Kristen has a degree in Finance from UNC Charlotte and obtained her Dental Hygiene credentials at Central Piedmont, a nationally recognized program.  Outside of the office she enjoys spending time with her growing family.  She lives in Waxhaw, with her husband, Eric, son, Owen and daughter, Brynn.

Courtney / Dental Hygienist

Courtney has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 2013 and joined our Advanced Dentistry team in April of 2021. She obtained her Dental Hygiene degree from Guildford Tech in Greensboro. Courtney was born and raised near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She and her husband have lived in Charlotte since 2015.

Courtney prides herself in making her patients feel as comfortable as possible during their dental visits. She is meticulous with her work and enjoys getting to know each patient she treats. She provides every patient with a pleasant visit using a thorough and gentle approach, offering the oral hygiene education they need to stay motivated in improving not only their oral health but overall health as well.

Outside of the practice, she enjoys spending time with her growing family and husband Ryan. They love trying out new restaurants around Charlotte and spending time with family and friends.

Erin / Certified Dental Assistant

Erin has been a dental assistant since 2005. She has been with the Advanced Dentistry team from the first day of business in 2005.

Born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, Erin completed the Dental Assisting program at Central Piedmont Community College where she received her Dental Assistant II certification. Erin’s main focus is assuring that her patients feel comfortable and enjoys providing them with an anxiety free environment. Her goal is to make sure every patient leaves having had a positive experience. She is fully committed to continuing education and learning to expand her knowledge and skill.

Erin is also a native Charlottean and lives nearby in South Carolina, with her husband and two children. Family and friends are very important to her and she gets joy out of spending time with them. Her favorite place to be is near water and she spends most of her spare time at the beach or the lake.

Lauren / Dental Assistant

Lauren was born and raised in Weddington, N.C. and has been working in the dental field since 2005. She graduated from North Carolina Dental Assistant Training School as a Certified Dental Assistant. In addition, Lauren is certified in peripheral intravenous (IV) therapy. 

Lauren is trained in general, pediatric, cosmetic dentistry, invisalign, endodontics, oral health, implants, nitrous oxide, and sedation. She thoroughly enjoys assisting patients and making them feel comfortable and confident with their smile.

In her spare time, Lauren enjoys spending time with her husband and three children. She is a very active mother and enjoys being outdoors. She likes running, biking, hiking, reading and taking day trips.

Emily / Dental Assistant

Since joining Advanced Dentistry of Blakeney in 2020 as a dental assistant, Emily works on our cosmetic cases with passion and expertise. 

Emily helps our patients achieve their desired smiles by presenting their options through her custom-made digital designs. She also educates patients about the procedures and possible options, aiding them to feel confident in their choices. Emily is also highly skilled at Zoom, our in-office whitening service. 

Residing at Lake Tillery, Emily enjoys anything outdoors. She loves to travel, cook, offshore fish, and spend time with loved ones. Emily is always up for an adventure and enjoys being challenged, both in and out of the office. 

Maria / Office Manager

Maria has been with Advanced Dentistry of Blakeney since September 2005. She was born in Peru and later moved to Charlotte at the age of 8. Maria is fluent in both Spanish and English.

Maria is the warm smile and friendly face you see when you walk in the door. She has been working in customer service since 2001 and enjoys building relationships with patients. Maria strives to make every patient feel welcome and enjoy a pleasant visit to our office.

When she is not working, Maria enjoys spending time with her friends and family. She enjoys cooking and spending quality time with her husband, Konstantin, daughters, Alyssa and Mila and sons Konstantin Jr. and Luke.

Marisa / Office Administrator

Marisa has been a member of the Advanced Dentistry of Blakeney family since 2020. She was raised in New Jersey and moved to North Carolina in 2018. Marisa graduated from Seton Hall University where she earned a BA in Communications. 

From greeting the patients, scheduling their appointments and assisting with the financial and billing questions that they may have, Marisa strives to put a smile on the patients’ faces and make their visit as seamless as possible.

Marisa lives with her husband, Gino, 2 daughters, 3 sons and 2 dogs. In her spare time, she loves to try out new Charlotte restaurants, read, cook and spend time with her friends and family.