Meet The Staff
Business Team
Carissa
Practice Coordinator – Montgomery
What are you passionate about?
Serving others; making them feel heard, accepted and loved.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
Love organizing! Have lived in 4 different states and was a stay-at-home mom.
What motivates you to wake up and go to work each day?
Being a part of a team that strives to stand out and serve others; one big family.
Tracey
Area Practice Manager
What are you passionate about?
Tracey loves helping others. She enjoys traveling and seeing the world.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
She is a die-hard morning person and enjoys watching reality tv shows.
What motivates you to wake up and go to work each day?
Tracey enjoys navigating the ever-changing world of marketing and loves the challenges it brings.
Karina
Insurance Coordinator
What are you passionate about?
Karina loves to learn something new every day!
What is something most people don’t know about you?
She enjoys cooking and baking with her son.
What motivates you to wake up and go to work each day?
The practice feels like a family. She also enjoys applying new knowledge to her work.
Rebecca
Treatment Coordinator
When did you join the practice? March 2022
How do you contribute to the success of the practice? I support the success of the practice by building trust with patients, explaining procedures, and helping them make informed decisions about their oral health.
Family: Outside of work, I’m married to my amazing husband, a proud Navy veteran, and together we’re raising three wonderful children, including our new sweet 8-month-old baby. My family is my greatest blessing and constant source of strength. They remind me every day why compassion and care matter, and I strive to bring that same love and dedication to every patient I meet.
Hobbies: Outside of work, I love spending time with my family, riding motorcycles with my husband, and staying active in our church community through Bible study. I also enjoy taking singing lessons and being creative by making custom shirts.
Stacey
Front Desk Receptionist
When did you join the practice? August 2023
Education: Graduated from The University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Orlando, FL.
What do you like best about being a part of the practice? I love the family-like environment and professionalism. I truly enjoy going to work every day because of the people I work with and the patients we serve each day.
How do you contribute to the success of the practice? I love being able to utilize my years of hospitality experience while providing exceptional service and care to our patients.
Hobbies: I love being around my family on my time off. I also enjoy reading, running and visiting my family in Florida.
Cristy
Front Desk Receptionist
What I like best about being a part of the practice is that everyone is a team player and friendly.
I contribute to the success of the practice by greeting patients with a warm smile, making eye contact, and actively listening to reduce anxiety and build immediate trust. I also help the provider schedule flow accordingly.
Kim
Patient Concierge
I joined the practice in September of 2025. My position is Patient Concierge. I trained as a dental assistant back in 1993, worked for many years, raised my family, and then came to work here.
I love working for MCDC because it is like working for a big family where everyone is here to make every experience a great one for our patients. I love dentistry and am passionate about serving others to make a difference in their oral health and well-being.
Keely
Practice Coordinator
I appreciate and am happy to be a part of the level of teamwork that our practice holds as a standard. Our team has a willingness to pitch in and go above and beyond for our patients, our team, and our community.
How do you contribute to the success of the practice?
I bring 30 years of experience in the dental field to our practice. My extensive time spent in both clinical and business team roles has given me a well-rounded, unique background and viewpoint from which to better support and serve our patients, our practice, and our team members as they reach their fullest potential.
Hygiene Team
Rachel
Registered Dental Hygienist
What are you passionate about?
Faith, family, health & wellness and giving back and helping others.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
Lived in Colorado; I enjoy spending time with family, being outdoors and new traveling adventures.
What motivates you to wake up and go to work each day?
My family and the drive to be successful while helping others with their oral and overall health.
Registered Dental Assistant certification from Intellitec Medical Institute, Colorado Springs Colorado. In 2004. Graduated from Lone Star College Kingwood, as a registered dental hygienist in 2013, making 22 years of dental experience. I have worked for Dr Gardner for 14 years. Laser certified and nitrous monitoring certified
Trisha
Registered Dental Hygienist
With over 20 years of experience in dentistry, I am passionate about providing exceptional dental care while making every patient feel comfortable, welcomed, and cared for. My career in dentistry began as a Registered Dental Assistant, which gave me a strong foundation and a true appreciation for all aspects of patient care. I later continued my education and earned my Associate of Science degree in Dental Hygiene from Fresno City College.
As a Registered Dental Hygienist licensed in both Texas and California, I have experience providing a wide range of preventive and periodontal services, including periodontal therapy, root planing, sub-gingival curettage, local anesthesia, periodontal charting, sealants, digital X-rays, and laser therapy.
What I enjoy most about being a dental hygienist is getting to know my patients and helping them feel confident about their oral health. I believe that every patient deserves individualized care, education, and a comfortable experience in the dental chair. I take the time to listen to my patients, answer their questions, and help them understand how their oral health connects to their overall well-being.
Throughout my career, I have also enjoyed giving back to the community through dental outreach programs, providing preventive care, sealants, and oral health education to children and families who may not otherwise have access to dental services.
Outside of the clinical side of dentistry, I value being part of a supportive team that believes in treating patients with kindness, respect, and integrity. I feel fortunate to have built a career that allows me to make a positive difference in my patients’ lives, one smile at a time.
Ashley
Registered Dental Hygienist
As a Registered Dental Hygienist, I am passionate about providing personalized, comfortable, and thorough dental hygiene care to every patient I see. I earned my Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern State University in 2012 and went on to earn my Dental Hygiene degree from Tarrant County College in 2017. Before becoming a hygienist, I also worked as a dental assistant, giving me a well-rounded understanding of both the clinical and patient-care sides of dentistry.
I consider myself an education junkie and truly enjoy continuing to learn. I regularly take continuing education courses to keep my skills current, stay informed on the latest dental products and technology, and continually improve the care I provide. I also hold certifications in dental lasers and local dental anesthesia.
My philosophy is that no two patients are exactly alike. Every hygiene appointment with me includes personalized care, education, and recommendations based on each patient’s individual needs and goals. I especially enjoy working with patients who experience dental anxiety. I take the time to listen, explain what I’m doing, answer questions, and help patients feel more comfortable and confident in their dental care.
Outside of the office, I’m a Louisiana native who has called Texas home since 2012. I’ve been happily married since 2015, and my long-haired dachshund definitely keeps life entertaining! When I’m not at work, you can usually find me doing Pilates, enjoying live music, playing pickleball, or working on a craft project.
I’m passionate about building lasting relationships with my patients and helping them feel informed, comfortable, and confident in their oral health.
Audrey
Registered Dental Hygienist
When did you join the practice?
May 2025
Is there anything about your education you’d like to mention?
I graduated from the Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) Dental Hygiene Program in 2023, a highly competitive and comprehensive program. I also completed coursework at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where I volunteered in the dental clinic providing prophylaxis for patients receiving care. I began my dental career as a dental assistant in 2018 before becoming a registered dental hygienist. During dental hygiene school, I became certified in dental laser therapy in May 2023 and gained extensive hands-on experience using lasers to treat patients. I am also licensed to administer local anesthetic, allowing me to provide a more comfortable experience for my patients during treatment. My education provided extensive training in the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease, and I enjoy applying the latest evidence-based techniques to help patients achieve healthier smiles.
What do you like best about being a part of the practice?
I enjoy being part of a practice that allows me to use the full scope of my education and certifications. I love helping patients improve their oral health by treating periodontal disease, utilizing dental lasers when appropriate, and providing personalized, compassionate care in a comfortable environment.
How do you contribute to the success of the practice?
My background as both a dental assistant and registered dental hygienist allows me to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care. I enjoy educating patients about their oral health, utilizing advanced technologies such as dental lasers, and applying the latest evidence-based approaches to periodontal therapy. I strive to make every visit comfortable while helping patients achieve long-term oral health.
Would you like to mention your family?
Family is a big part of my life. I have three sisters and my mom nearby, and we enjoy shopping, spending quality time together, and making memories whenever we can. My husband and I recently welcomed our baby boy, who has brought so much joy to our lives. I also have a wonderful relationship with my husband’s family. I met my husband after moving to Texas, where he was born and raised in Montgomery. He proudly serves our community as a firefighter.
Would you like to mention any hobbies?
Outside of the office, I enjoy reading, painting, vintage thrifting, traveling, and staying active through CrossFit. I love exploring new places, finding unique treasures, and spending quality time with my family.
Brooke
Hygiene Coordinator
What are you passionate about?
Being a mother.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
My thumbs are double-jointed.
What motivates you to wake up and go to work each day?
Each day is a new day to have a great day!
Sandra
Hygiene Assistant
When did you join the practice? Early 2025
Education: Graduated 2024 from Conroe High, in college for Dental Hygiene.
What do you like best about being a part of the practice? I get to learn new stuff every day.
How do you contribute to the success of the practice? I get to help out where needed.
Susan
Registered Dental Hygienist
I’m a Registered Dental Hygienist who completed my dental hygiene education at Ivy Tech Community College. I’m passionate about providing thorough, patient-centered care and creating a comfortable experience where patients feel heard, informed, and confident in their oral health.
I especially enjoy periodontal health, prevention, and patient education. I believe understanding the “why” behind your oral health can make a big difference in creating healthy habits that last, not just keeping your teeth clean. I take an evidence-based approach to hygiene care and enjoy staying current with advancements in dentistry and continuing education.
I hold certifications in local anesthesia and dental laser therapy, and I’m always looking for opportunities to expand my clinical knowledge and skills. My goal is to provide gentle, comprehensive care tailored to each patient while making every visit as comfortable and positive as possible.
Sailor
Registered Dental Assistant
When did you join the practice?
March 31, 2026
Is there anything about your education you’d like to mention?
I attended Houston Dental Assistant School and received my Registered Dental Assistant license on August 7, 2023.
What do you like best about being a part of the practice?
I love being part of a team that makes patients feel comfortable and cared for. I enjoy getting to know our patients and helping make their dental visits a positive experience.
How do you contribute to the success of the practice?
I contribute by supporting the doctors and my fellow team members, keeping the day running smoothly, and making sure our patients feel welcomed and cared for throughout their visits.
Vivian
Registered Dental Assistant
April 2024
Education:
Graduated from Houston Dental Assisting School.
What do you like best about being a part of the practice?
My favorite part of being a dental assistant is building relationships with my patients and helping them feel comfortable, welcomed, and confident throughout their dental visits. I enjoy creating a positive experience for every patient.
How do you contribute to the success of the practice?
I contribute to the success of the practice through patient education, compassionate care, and helping patients understand the importance of maintaining their oral health. I strive to make every patient feel informed, comfortable, and confident in their dental care.
Clinical Team
Oly
Registered Dental Assistant
What are you passionate about?
My family, beaches and traveling.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I went to dental school in Venezuela.
What motivates you to wake up and go to work each day?
My family and providing for them. Saving for entertainment and our future. Helping patients is important to me.
Melissa F.
Dental Assistant
What are you passionate about?
Melissa F. brings a willingess to help to everything she does.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
Melissa F. loves to garden, sew, and a number of other crafts!
What motivates you to wake up and go to work each day?
The teamwork of the office sets it apart!
Ready to Schedule a Consultation?
Drs. Gardner, Leiker, Raabe, Boback and Scalise offers a number of dental treatments that can keep your mouth healthy and your smile beautiful. Contact us today!