As the Office Manager at Hillside Family Dental, Melody stays busy all day long. When she’s not planning team meetings and training sessions for team members, she’s spending time with patients going over their treatment plans and helping them figure out how to budget for their dental care. “I didn’t get the dental care I needed as a child, and always wanted to help others achieve their perfect smile,” she says. “Being able to interact with patients from the moment they schedule their first appointment, throughout planning and discussing their treatment, until they see their lives change after getting the care they need – that’s the best part of my job!”
Formerly from Rush Springs, Oklahoma, Melody now resides in Douglass, KS. She has 20 years of experience in the dental industry. “I love the culture of this practice; it felt like home the moment I walked in the door,” she says of Hillside Family Dental. “We have an amazing team here, and I’m proud to be a part of it. Everyone is fully devoted to being there for patients and for each other, no matter what the situation.”
When she’s not helping patients achieve their perfect smile, Melody can be found spending time with her daughter and five grandchildren, her husband of 20 years, and the couple’s two German Shepherds. “We have 40 acres, so I love to sit on the porch, enjoy the scenery and read a book, or go camping and fishing,” she says. Melody is active in the children’s AWANA program at her church, and would love to travel someday to New Zealand with her family.
For Ashley, being a dental hygienist means staying on her toes to take radiographs, clean teeth, and educate patients on how to better their oral health. She says, “I was unable to go to the dentist until I was 17 years old so it is very important for me to educate parents on the importance of homecare.”
Originally from Salina, KS, Ashley currently lives in Mulvane. She earned her Bachelors of Science degree in dental hygiene from Wichita State University, and says the best part of her job is patients who are able to see a difference in their oral health. “I genuinely care about people, so not only do I get to take care of their oral health, but I am able to make friends while doing it. My hope is that our patients know we are not here to hurt anyone -we care about their well-being!”
When she’s not making sure her patients know exactly how important their oral health is, Ashley can be found hanging out with her two “fur babies” out of doors or at the lake, or going to the Cotillion and attending country music events. “I am a huge country concert junkie!” she confesses, adding that her dream vacation would be to travel with her two best friends all over the US to as many concerts she could find. Ashley also worked with KMOM while in school and would love to continue to be able to work with the organization.
