Kari

Office Manager

Kari was born and raised in Lawrence Kansas, she has been in the dental field since 2005. Kari has been with Excelsior Springs Family Dentistry since 2009. She is excited to grow with the practice. Kari enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

Amanda

Lead Hygienist

Amanda is originally from a small town south of Wichita, KS, but has called Kansas City home for the last 10+ years. She graduated from UMKC School of Dentistry with her Bachelor’s Degree in Dental Hygiene in 2014. Amanda loves getting to know all of her patients, and help alleviate their fear and anxieties of a dental office. She is a wife to a wonderful husband and a mother of two beautiful children.

Kandy

RDH Hygienist

Kandy has been with the practice since 2006. She graduated in 1988 with an Associates Degree in Dental Hygiene.

Dawn

RDH Hygienist

Dawn has been with the practice since the fall of 2017. She has earned her Bachelors degree in Dental Hygiene at UMKC in 1984. Dawn loves meeting new patients’ and helping each one maintain their dental health. She has a son currently working part-time while attending college. In her spare time she enjoys raising and showing her quarter horses, attending drag races, and sailing along the North Carolina coast with her fiancé Doug.

Barb

RDH Hygienist

Barb began her dental career at 15 years old working at a local dental office in a nearby small town after school. At a young age, she considered herself as one of those ‘crazy kids that just knew what they wanted to do when they grew up.’ At the dental office, she would work both front and back office with helping the team finish up their day. Then she would stay after closing to clean and get ready for the next day. Eventually, she worked her way up to become a dental assistant. During the day Barb worked full time as an assistant and in the evenings she took night classes to prepare her for Dental Hygiene school. After saving up, she was able to apply to the Dental Hygiene program at Johnson County Community College. Barb is now proud to say she has been practicing Dental Hygiene for over 20 years now and still enjoying it!

Barb joined our team in the summer of 2018. Her favorite part of her career has been the people. Barb truly enjoys building relationships with her patients and being apart of our dental team. Everyone who sits in Barb’s chair is a person first and a patient second. She likes to cater to her treatment for each person as an individual like they are a member of her own family.

In 2001 Barb was blessed to have married her supportive husband. Together they share 3 busy and fun-filled kids. As a family, they enjoy taking their camper on trips, local and out of state. Barb and her family also savor their downtime just hanging out at home and spending time together.

Barbara

RDH Hygienist

Barbara joined our practice in June of 2019. She is a registered dental hygienist that graduated from the University of Missouri Kansas City with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene in 1989. Barbara has been in the dental field since 1981 as a receptionist and a certified dental assistant. With over 30 years of experience- she enjoys working with all ages. Especially the apprehensive patients-where she helps foster a comforted and reassured environment to treat patients that have been traumatized from past experiences.

Barbara’s whole family are big Chief’s fans. Her parents have had tickets since 1976-when they decided to pass the tickets on, they passed them to Barbara’s family. Now her and her husband and their two kids have enjoyed going to the games and tailgating with family and friends. Her son loved going to the games so much that he has bought his own tickets so that he and his wife can attend all the games. Since we only have two tickets now-the big decision now is who’s going to the games.

When Barbara is not working she enjoys watching Chief’s games, working on her genealogy, scrapbooking and loves to hike/walk the trails, reading and spending time with her family.

Sam

RDH Hygienist

Sam graduated from Johnson County Community College in 2019 with her Associates Degree in Dental Hygiene. She joined the practice in April of 2023. In her spare time she likes spending time outdoors with her family, friends, and dogs, reading, and traveling.

Jordan

Lead Assistant

Jordan is a 2016 graduate from Platte County High School . She attended Summit Dental Assisting Academy and has been working with Dr. Whitehead and our office since January 2020. In her down time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and her dog. During the summer Jordan loves spending the day on the lake.

Taylor

Dental Assistant

Taylor is a graduate of Excelsior Springs High School. Taylor has been with our office since June of 2020. She loves to hang out with friends and family, watching movies, and spending time with her dogs.

Danielle

Certified, Expanded Functions Dental Assistant

Danielle is a Certified, Expanded Functions Dental Assistant. She graduated from Dental Assisting Program in 2016, after High School she then joined the Marine Corps and was stationed down in San Diego, CA where she later met her husband! They moved to Excelsior Springs in 2012. Together they have 2 boys, a fluffy black dog and an old cranky cat! She decided to become a Dental Assistant after having a really awesome experience at a dental office several years ago, realizing that one kind face can make a scary dental experience so much more enjoyable. Her goal in the office is to not only make her patients feel comfortable, but to make it a little fun also! In Danielle’s free time she enjoys bicycle riding, playing volleyball, and most importantly watching their boys play soccer.

Emily

Dental Assistant

Emily graduated from Lawson High School in 2021, and joined Excelsior Springs Family Dentistry in October of 2022. In her free time Emily enjoys hanging out with friends and family, cooking, and spoiling her two cats Meigha and Moose.

Jerrie

Dental Assistant

Jerrie has been with the practice for a few years. She began her career as Dr. Houk’s dental assistant. Jerrie enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren. She graduated from Lathrop High School in 1980.

Kristen

Hygiene Coordinator

Kristen joined the practice in April of 2019. She has worked the dental field for twelve years. Kristen has been married to her high school sweetheart for 23 years, they have two children and reside here in Excelsior Springs.

Breana

Treatment Coordinator

Breana graduated from Lawson High School in 2021, and is now enrolled in a local college furthering her education. She has an inherent green thumb, in her free time she enjoys being outdoors spending time with her rescue pup, Aspen.