Meet Our Team

Melissa

Chief Operating Officer

Melissa came to us from New Jersey by way of her military husband. And you know we just love a military family at GFD…so Melissa is fitting right in!

Melissa loves the challenge of managing a team…her knack for organization and her ability to thrive under pressure help her navigate the waters at GFD. Melissa worked for many years at a specialist’s office, and most recently at a multi-specialty practice. Melissa is excited to bring her skill set to GFD, and she loves the people you get to meet in the dental field. She began her career in the medical field as a medical assistant, but found dentistry is where her passion lies, and has developed that passion into a career.

Melissa adores her husband and three children…she can’t get enough of them! When Melissa isn’t in the office, this easy-going crafter tends to her 22’ x 22’ fruit and veggie garden…and you can also find Melissa savoring a cup of coffee and admiring her flower beds on the weekends.

Melissa has a Puerto Rican and Italian background, and she loves to cook empanadas, arroz con gandules and lasagna…we can’t wait for the next office pot luck!

Fun Fact: “I am all about a creative DIY project!"

manager@dunkirkdental.com

Hunter

Office Manager

Hunter is our amazing insurance Coordinator! He has worked in the dental industry for over 2 years and came to GFD from another local office. Hunter’s favorite thing about his job is being able to help patients achieve their best smile. Hunter is originally from St. Mary’s County and now lives in Southern Calvert.

Hunter is known by patients and the GFD staff for his honesty and sense of humor. He loves meeting new people and hearing their stories. On his days off Hunter can usually be found hanging out with friends. He especially enjoys unwinding at the bar - his favorite local spot is O’Gannigans!

Fun Fact: “I’ve lived in Maryland my entire life, but I would rather be somewhere on the beach with a Malibu bay breeze in my hand!”

Samantha

Financial Coordinator

Sam, as she's known around the office, is Gentle Family Dentistry's Financial Coordinator. She has been in the dental industry for 20 years. Sam is a wonderful patient advocate who strives to help a patient understand their benefits. She is happy to submit claims to reap the maximum benefit from your plan. Sam takes pride in being a problem-solver, and will answer questions for a patient at any time. Her knowledge of benefits is extensive, and she is a true asset to the practice.

Sam first came to Maryland when her spouse, who was then in the military, transferred to Maryland. Sam grew up in South Jersey, but she and her husband have come to love the Maryland lifestyle and decided to stay. And it really helps that there is a Jersey Mikes in Dunkirk now...it's like a little taste of home! Sam is always active. When not in the office, you will find Sam hiking, sewing, playing Xbox, or working on the latest home project with her husband. She loves rustic vacations that include hiking, mountains and pine trees...Colorado is a favorite travel destination of hers, but her trip to Banff takes the cake for her! And Sam recently had a baby...a beautiful boy! She'll have the mom/work balance down to a science in no time!

FUN FACT: "I am a music lover...I've played 5 different instruments...2 of which were self-taught. I have been to tons and tons of concerts, and I have downloaded roughly 20,000 songs."

Jennifer

Financial Coordinator

Natalie

Insurance Coordinator

Robert

Treatment Coordinator

Judith

Hygiene Coordinator

Barbara

Registered Dental Hygienist

Joined GFD in 1979

Barb is a Registered Dental Hygienist who has been practicing her craft for 40 years! She has been with the practice since 1979, and has been with Dr. Sclater since 2008. Barb's favorite part about being a Dental Hygienist is getting to see a patient make a complete turnaround towards excellent dental health with a little education and regular dental care. Barb has a knack for great sealants on teeth, and believes they are an important part of optimizing the benefits of regular visits to the dentist. Barb is Laser Certified.

Barb moved to Calvert County in 1979 and she's never looked back. She raised her family in Calvert County, and is lucky to still have all her grown children living close by. When not in the office, Barb spends as much time as possible with her grandchildren...which keeps her very busy! Barb really values the connection she has with her patients, and being a part of this community is very important to her. And she loves to row with the GFD team when we do the End Hunger Dragon Boat races. But being a grandmother is her absolute favorite thing!

FUN FACT: "I am a life-saver! I saved 4 people back in my lifeguard days. And I never wore a stitch of sunscreen back then...except zinc on my nose. Now I won't leave the house without sunscreen."

Sandi

Registered Dental Hygienist

Joined GFD in 2004

Sandi is a Dental Hygienist with Gentle Family Dentistry and earned an A.A.S. degree. She has been with our practice since 2004 and has been in the dental industry for 38 years. Sandi is a truly gentle hygienist. She feels that gaining the trust of a patient is one of the most important aspects of her job. She takes great satisfaction in restoring a mouth to total health and seeing how it impacts the lives of her patients. Sandi is laser and anesthesia certified.

Sandi originally hailed from the Hudson Valley in NY. She has lived in Maryland for the past 30 years. Sandi is very active in her church, and she loves to spend time with her family. Sandi likes to spend her free time attending plays or working on puzzles. She also likes to squeeze in a little girl-time with her friends when she gets the chance. Sandi was a part of the dental team that volunteered for Mission of Mercy in 2012 and 2014, and is a supporter of The Autism Project.

FUN FACT: "I love spending time at church with the seniors - they have such great stories!"

Jessica

Registered Dental Hygienist

Joined GFD in 2009

Jessica is one of our amazing Dental Hygienists. She is a natural teacher and has a knack with children. Jessica has her laser, nitrous and anesthesia certification. She has a passion for oral health. She will put you at ease before you even sit in her chair, and will educate you as she makes your smile look and feel more beautiful. Jessica's motto is, "If the eyes are the windows to the soul, the mouth is the door to the body" and uses this to emphasize her oral-systemic health philosophy.

Jessica is a proud mother to her son who is a senior in high school. When she is not at work, you will often find her working on home improvement projects and taking her dogs for a walk. She carves out time for herself by enjoying a healthy lifestyle that is filled with fitness and fu...including rock climbing and scuba diving! She loves to make bone broth and shop local when she can for ingredients to make delicious meals. She also finds the time to volunteer for Mission of Mercy and had a blast at the United Way Day of Caring in 2019.

FUN FACT: "I believe everyone should skip and touch their toes every day...and I sing in the shower!"

Ashley

Registered Dental Hygienist

Joined GFD in 2018

Please help us welcome Ashley! We are very excited to expand our hygiene department so we can accommodate our patients in a more timely manner. We love that Ashley is bringing to our team a fresh perspective. Ashley, like the rest of our team, is patient-focused, and is incredibly empathetic to patients with dental anxiety (she said she has dental anxiety too, which really helps with comforting her patients). Ashley is laser, nitrous and anesthesia certified.

Ashley committed to her goal of being a hygienist at 14. She's been in the dental field for 9 years, and worked as an oral surgery assistant while pursuing her degree. She is passionate about oral health, and even received the Hu-Friedy Golden Scaler Award… which was presented to a graduating dental hygiene student showing the greatest proficiency in the performance of clinical dental hygiene services. Ashley is a Southern MD native, and recently married her best friend! She has a passion for animals, family and crafting. She couldn’t live without ice cream, and grilled cheese is her favorite food! And we are very excited for her...she recently had her first baby! She and her husband are over the moon...they love every minute of being a parent!

FUN FACT: "I cannot eat a sandwich if anything is hanging over the side...all sandwich fillings have to be tucked into the bread and not showing."

Christina

Registered Dental Hygienist

Joined GFD in 2020

Christina is a bundle of energy and has slipped into the GFD Team seamlessly. Christina is bubbly and known for her extreme attention to detail. She has the ability to put the most anxious patients at ease and she has been a hygienist for 10 years. She has practiced in MD, TX and NM, and she said Little Rock, AR was a fabulous place to live when her husband was in the military. She grew up in Baltimore County, and after traveling with her family around the US, they landed in Southern MD because of her husband's job…and they love the military community in Calvert!

Health and fitness are very important to Christina…she’s been leading driveway workouts for her neighbors during the pandemic. Christina loves teaching Sunday school at her church, ran two half-marathons in 2012 and is obsessed with Hint of Lime tortilla chips!

FUN FACT: “I love to sing! I had professional voice training and sang in a girl’s group.”

Emily

Lead Dental Assistant

Emily began her dental career here at GFD! She joined our team as a Dental Assistant in August 2021, and we couldn’t be happier! She is a quick learner and a dependable team member. The entire office adores her sweet personality. Emily loves seeing the smile on her patients' faces after dental work is complete.

Emily was born and raised in Calvert County. Both of her daughters attend the same middle school she did! Emily spends most weekends at the football field watching her daughters cheer, playing softball, or enjoying a hike.

Fun Fact: “My husband and I are middle school sweethearts!”

Starra

Sterilization Tech.

Mary

Dental Assistant

Hillary

Dental Assistant