Brunswick KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics welcomes new faces to their fun-inspired team
By Laura Briedis
Most dental practices in town are named after the dentist, but at Brunswick KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry, the focus is on the patient—and the entire staff.
Opened in 2010 by Dr. Milton Ntragatakis, this pediatric dentistry practice has grown from two employees to 18 in just seven short years. One of the original staff members, Michelle DeWeese, who works at the front desk, is a familiar face to the patients. She has been with the practice since 2011.Similarly, Gina Pell coordinates all of the orthodontic treatments at the orthodontics reception desk, which has its own entrance.
With a dedicated office staff that also includes an office manager, insurance coordinator, orthodontic scheduling coordinator and pediatric scheduling coordinator, everything runs smoothly.
Working hand-in-hand with Dr. Milton and Dr. Brittany Heffernan, the staff sets the tone for the child-centric atmosphere, where patients feel at ease. From Dr. Milton belting out a song in front of his patients to Dr. Heffernan doing a little dance shuffle into a room to Zena Abdallah, the insurance coordinator, donning a bridal crown in the office the week before her wedding and bringing smiles to all of the little girls, the sounds of any dental instruments are drowned out by cheerful laughter.
“The children actually look forward to coming to the dentist because we make it fun,” says Tammy Stacho, office manager.
“We make sure every visit is a positive one, so they want to keep coming back. Everything we do is built around our core values showcasing our teamwork and excellent service.”
Recognized for her outstanding customer service, Tammy was awarded a vacation getaway this month.
“I am so grateful to be able to travel to London to visit my daughter who is studying abroad,” says Tammy, a former preschool teacher whose enthusiastic, caring manner brings joy to the children.
Two New Smiling Faces
As Brunswick KiDDS keeps growing, the practice welcomed two new employees this month.
The new insurance coordinator Alexandria Rhodes brings a creative perspective to the job. A graduate of Kent State University with a degree in English and creative writing, she has a personable demeanor. She also is a published author, penning the romantic fiction novel More Than You Know.
“I love working with people and helping them get the best insurance benefits,” says Alexandria. “I can provide pre-treatment estimates on procedures and then follow up with insurance companies.”
Coordinating the orthodontic scheduling is Tanya Arbutina, a Brunswick resident who has a business management degree from Indiana Wesleyan University. A mother of two teenagers, she knows firsthand all of the nuances of children wearing braces.
“There is a cool dynamic here in the office, which not only makes it fun to work here but also is welcoming to patients,” says Tanya.
“Having such a strong team translates into superb patient care,” adds Dr. Milton.
“In addition to adding new staff members, we are expanding our offices to add a conference room for our weekly meetings where we review the week’s activities and discuss anything we can improve. No matter how much we keep expanding, our biggest room in our office is the room for improvement, as we continuously strive to provide excellent patient care.”
Brunswick KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry offers dental care for newborns up to 18-year-olds, and specializes in the prevention of dental disease, laser dentistry and orthodontics. The office is located at 1824 Pearl Road in Brunswick and accepts all major insurances. To make an appointment, call 330-220-6363 or visit BrunswickKiDDS.com for more information. Hours are Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.