Meet Your New Dental Team In Spokane Valley, WA
Our team at Family Dental of Spokane Valley has a shared commitment to providing you with the best care around. With our extended office hours and advanced technology, you can expect the latest in high-quality dental care.
We also strive to make you feel as comfortable as possible during your appointments. And you’ll feel completely at ease with our caring staff! Here are the friendly faces you’ll see in our Spokane Valley, WA practice.
Andrea
Registered Dental AssistantPart of Dr. Ellsworth’s team since 2017, Andrea has 15 years of dental experience with a background in pediatric, periodontal, cosmetic, and general dentistry. Andrea earned her dental assisting certificate from Spokane Community College and later completed their EFDA program.
Getting to know our patients and making them feel comfortable and confident are what she considers the most rewarding part of being on our team.
Andrea spends her off time outdoors training and participating in sprint triathlons; enjoying time at the lake boating, camping, or kayaking; and playing with her two dogs, Kadan and Kaylee, and her leopard gecko, Starlord. She also indulges her love of food by cooking, as well as her creative side with arts and crafts.
Mary
Dental HygienistMary became a registered dental hygienist after graduating in 1995 from Eastern Washington University, and she’s been with our team ever since! She relies on her training in digital X-rays, local anesthesia, 3D imaging, sedation, and dental lasers to provide quality care and build positive relationships with our patients. When Mary isn’t working or attending conventions to stay current on the latest dental trends, she’s most likely enjoying the beautiful Spokane Valley, WA scenery hiking or running, as well as spending time with her family.
Lara
Office ManagerOur dental practice runs smoothly thanks to the diverse education and experience of our office manager, Lara. Her training ranges from insurance filing and billing to HIPAA, patient care, team building, workplace safety and communication, CPR, first aid, and more. Her background as a nursing assistant makes her invaluable to helping our patients with special needs as well. Lara has been managing our office for almost 30 years and loves meeting new patients and making them smile.
Outside of work, Lara and her husband, Bobby, can be found out and about motorcycle riding, boating, water skiing, and spending time with their two children and four grandchildren. You may also catch her riding shotgun on the family’s 18-wheeler or getting her hands dirty with mechanic work to help maintain it.
Michelle
Dental AssistantMichelle has spent the last 16 of her 20-plus-year career in dentistry at Family Dental of Spokane Valley. As one of our skilled dental assistants, Michelle brings diverse professional experience to our practice thanks to her husband’s Air Force career, which had her working for dentists in different geographic areas. She has advanced training in radiology, OSHA compliance, surgical assisting, sterilization techniques, dental materials, and interpersonal communications. One of the most rewarding aspects for Michelle about being part of our team is helping patients with dental anxiety feel more relaxed and comfortable during appointments.
Away from the office, Michelle enjoys making cards, quilting, scrapbooking, and other crafts. She also loves camping, reading, and getting together with her family.
Janet
Dental AssistantJanet is one of our certified dental assistants who has spent 19 of her 27 years in dentistry at our Spokane Valley practice. A graduate of Spokane Community College, she likes helping our patients relax and making them feel confident about their smiles. Janet also invests at least 10 hours a year in advanced training so she can stay current on the latest dental techniques and trends.
Like other members of our team, Janet especially values family time. She enjoys cooking for her three grown children and three grandchildren, and she likes gardening in her free time as well. Janet and her husband also love spending time on the water, a pastime shared by many of our patients in the Spokane Valley, WA area.
Melanie
New Patient/Insurance CoordinatorMelanie joined our Family Dental team in September 2018. She has 25-plus years of experience in the insurance and dental industry. Melanie enjoys insurance and likes to help patients maximize their insurance benefits. She has continuing education in Excel and has taken customer service/billing/insurance classes. She likes to work with her coworkers and being part of the Family Dental of Spokane Valley team.
Melanie enjoys spending time with family and friends. She likes to read, watch movies, and do arts and crafts projects.
Marggo
Dental HygienistMarggo has been with Dr. Ellsworth and his team since 2016. She has been practicing hygiene for over 20 years, and she loves her job. Marggo has a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene from Eastern Washington University. She enjoys educating and motivating our patients to care for their oral health. Marggo’s interest in hygiene came from her own dental neglect as a child. She was fortunate enough to have had other dental professionals who helped teach her the importance of regular dental care in her 20s, which led her to become a hygienist at the age of 30. It is one of the best decisions Marggo has made in her life.
Marggo and her family spend their free time in the outdoors. They love to go camping and hiking in national parks, especially those in the West. Their favorites are Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, and the Redwoods.