Meet Your Orthodontic Team – Plano, TX

Mariah, Smile Ambassador

Mariah brings several years of marketing experience to our practice (mostly in the fashion industry). She has managed the social content for multiple small businesses and even oversaw the wholesale marketing for a well-known clothing company in Dallas. As part of our team, she loves how everyone encourages new ideas, welcomes change, and allows her to express her creativity to serve our patients. She says that the relationships she has built here have made her heart so full!

Mariah dedicates most of her free time to her many siblings and five amazing nephews who keep everyone on their toes. You’ll often find her cooking, reading, and walking with her chocolate lab (Maverick) and German Sheperd (Nylah). She is also part of a women’s ministry that meets twice a year at her family’s lake house.

America, Director of Operations

America is a Dallas native who studied at Brookhaven Community College, where she gained her certification in CPR and coronal polishing. She has over a decade of experience in dentistry and loves being able to help create beautiful smiles for patients in need at Willow Bend Orthodontics of Plano.

When she’s not at work, America loves spending quality time with her parents, sister, niece and nephews, and her dogs, Coco and Susy. Her hobbies include arts and crafts, painting, decorating her home, eating great food, going to the movies with loved ones, attending concerts, and traveling. One of the items on her bucket list is to go to London and visit Buckingham Palace!

Ana, Orthodontic Assistant

From Wylie, TX, Ana enjoys learning as much as possible about dentistry every day. She also loves working with her amazing team and getting to connect with patients while helping them maintain or improve their pearly whites. She is currently working towards becoming a Registered Dental Assistant and is passionate about providing the best quality care.

When she isn’t at the office, Ana loves spending time with her wonderful husband. Her hobbies include listening to music, watching great movies, and baking. Other than dentistry, she used to be a camp counselor for several summers!

Brenda, Lead Orthodontic Assistant

 

Originating from Little Rock, AR, Brenda has been part of the dental field for several years and counting. Her favorite thing about her job is getting to meet and learn about our patients while building strong and trusting relationships with them.

When she isn’t at the office helping patients straighten their smiles, Brenda spends much of her time with her beautiful and cheerful daughter. Her hobbies include shopping for home décor, decorating for every holiday or season, and cuddling with her little girl.

 

Alex, Orthodontic Assistant

Alex likes seeing the joy and excitement in our patients’ eyes as we transform their smiles. She started her dental career with our team and is originally from Dallas.

A big animal lover, Alex and her family have five cute dogs, and she enjoys barrel racing and watching rodeos. Before joining us, she was a snake handler at an exotic animal/equestrian rescue.

Elizabeth, Orthodontic Assistant

Prior to joining our team, Elizabeth worked with kids in behavioral therapy, and she uses the same understanding and compassionate approach with each of our patients. That combined with her own positive experience with braces allows her to cater to each person in our treatment chair so they feel as comfortable as possible on their journey to their dream smile!

As for life outside the office, Elizabeth has a big family, which consists of her mom, her dad, and three younger siblings. When she isn’t spending time with them, she loves going to the gym, skateboarding, swimming, climbing, and chasing storms. Here’s something you might not know about her: she’s lived in four countries, in five states, and at 18 different addresses!

Breanna, Patient & Scheduling Coordinator

Breanna is the patient and scheduling coordinator here at Willow Bend Orthodontics. Thanks to her education from the University of North Texas, she’s been fantastic in that role! Furthermore, her work with us lets her fulfill her passion: seeing patients receive and enjoy transformed smiles!

Of course, Breanna also enjoys her time away from the office. She especially likes spending it with her dog Moochi, whom she rescued when he was two months old. Otherwise, her hobbies include family activities, shopping, shirt-making, and traveling. Concerning that last interest, in fact, one goal she has is to travel to all 50 states!

Trina, Treatment Coordinator

Trina has worked persistently in the dental field for three decades and counting. She began her career by studying at Amarillo College before heading out to gain as much on-the-job training as possible. Now, as a Treatment Coordinator, you’ll find her in the office collecting new patient information to collaborate with the dentist to form cohesive treatment plans. Her favorite part about her job: meeting and connecting with patients!

Whenever she isn’t at the office, Trina enjoys reading her favorite books or hanging out at the beach for a fun time. She’s also a foster mom at Take Me Home Rescue and truly loves being with her loved ones.

Marisa, Orthodontic Assistant

Bio Coming Soon!

Desireé, Orthodontic Assistant

Born and raised in Mansfield, TX, Desireé loves having the chance to interact with the children and help them feel comfortable during their visits. She studied at Texas Tech University and started a dental practice with several peers and a local dentist in Lubbock. She shadowed at a few offices and was a participant in two summer dental programs at A&M College of Dentistry and UT San Antonio College of Dentistry. She later became certified as a Registered Dental Assistant as well as achieved her Bachelor’s in Biology.

Desireé loves spending time with her family and friends whenever she isn’t at the office. She also enjoys going to the gym and getting a drink from Starbucks. Fun fact: she aspires to become a dentist someday!

Emily, Scheduling & Treatment Coordinator

With a couple of years and counting, Emily enjoys helping patients in the dental field. She began her career by studying at Central Michigan University before becoming an Office Manager for a general dental practice. Afterward, she gained an interest in orthodontics and hasn’t looked back since! She’s also CPR certified and is looking forward to getting her Registered Dental Assistant license. Her favorite part about her job is working with her amazing and reliable team.

When she isn’t at the office, Emily is spending time with her parents, sister, and her two cats named Sunny and Smudge. She enjoys nature, trying new foods with good company, listening to music, and dancing the night away.

Tori, Orthodontic Assistant

For close to a decade, Tori has been working in the dental field and loving every minute of it. Originally from McKinney, TX, she studied at Fortis College-Norfolk and earned her certifications in dental assisting, CPR, infection control, and radiology. Today, her favorite part of her job is seeing the result of a beautiful smile on every patient.

If you don’t find her at the office, Tori is spending time with her extended family and loved ones. Whenever she gets the chance, she enjoys going on cruises, sunbathing, visiting local food events, and hanging out with her youngest nieces and nephews. One interesting fact about her: she is a Navy Veteran and served five years. There, she had the opportunity to travel to various countries!

Adara, Orthodontic Assistant

Born and raised in Jefferson City, MO, Adara has been part of the dental field for nearly a decade. She attended Paul Quinn College before studying at Concorde Career College to earn her certification as an orthodontic assistant. Other than utilizing her skills and expertise to help patients with their treatments, she also loves having the profound opportunity to learn something new every day as well as the family-like energy that she gets from her team!

Aside from her work, Adara lives with her young son and they enjoy spending time with her sister and niece, as the children behave more like siblings with each other. She also loves cooking, singing, trying new foods, and watching detective shows.

Meka, Orthodontic Assistant

Originating from New Orleans, Meka has been in the field of dentistry for half a decade and counting. Not only does she enjoy helping patients straighten their smiles, but she also loves working alongside her friendly and passionate team members. She studied at Concorde to earn her license, worked in pediatrics for five years, and is also certified in nitrous oxide.

At home, Meka is married and loves spending time with her children. Whenever she isn’t hanging out with her family and loved ones, you might find her attending a sporting event on the weekends. One fun fact: she isn’t a fan of cheese.

Gabbi, Scheduling & Treatment Coordinator

A native of Garland, TX, Gabbi studied at Western Governor’s University for her undergraduate degree. Before coming into the dental world, she gained experience by working with special needs children in Plano ISD. She later became certified and trained for the medically fragile education of children in North Texas, and she also had the opportunity to learn the world of anatomic laboratories across the nation. Today, she enjoys interacting with our wonderful patients while coordinating healthy and happy smiles.

Outside of the office, Gabbi loves spending time with her family and loved ones, and she also likes volunteering with local projects close to her heart, such as Threaded, Minnie’s Food Pantry, and Walk to End Alzheimer's. She also enjoys craft projects such as painting. Her bucket list trip is to go to Alaska to witness the Northern Lights!