Kathy Vanooteghem, Registered Dental Hygienist / Office Manager
As our office manager, Kathy keeps the office on track and moving forward. With over 30 years of experience in dentistry (23 as a Dental Hygienist), she is a great team leader. When Kathy puts on her Dental Hygienist hat, she is extremely capable and is very skilled in using the Perioscope to achieve amazing results. Also a busy mom, she plays chauffeur for her two teenage girls, Tessa and Tara, and always has a compassionate ear for her older daughter, Bonnie, and son, Kyle, away at college. She cherishes taking time out to play tennis or spend a couple hours shopping. Her joy in life is her two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Charlie and Chanel. They are her constant companions.
Mehrnaz Yazdi, Registered Dental Assistant
Mehrnaz is our surgical assistant and has been working in the dental field for 25 years. Raised in Iran and fluent in Farsi, her Persian charm and grace is overwhelming. She always has a warm smile that puts patients right at ease. Mehrnaz lives in Cupertino with her husband, Salman, and teenage daughter, Yazzi, while her older son, Amir, is away at college. Her free time is spent shopping with her friends and daughter. An amazing cook, she often brings us delicious leftovers.
Erin Pound, Executive Secretary
Erin is our “Jane-of-all-Trades.” Confident and competent, she keeps track of all our correspondence with referring dentists and physicians. She also organizes the Silicon Valley Study Club events and helps out anywhere else she is needed. A native of the South Bay, Erin spends her free time with her husband, Dan, beagle Ned, and furry rat friends. She also enjoys cooking, reading, and playing the piano.
Kristel Krepelka, Registered Dental Hygienist
Kristel is our primary Dental hygienist and performs the majority of our Periodontal Maintenance (cleanings) and Scaling/Root Planning (deep cleaning) treatments. Gentle and kind, she does her best to make the patient comfortable while still giving them the thorough treatment they expect and deserve. She enjoys helping patients learn to be healthier people through taking better care of their teeth. Kristel lives up in the Santa Cruz Mountains with her husband Travis. They have a cat, Anabelle, and two Chihuahuas, Isabelle and Clarabelle. On her days off, Kristel enjoys watching movies and taking walks in the redwoods with her dogs.
Hien Ho, Receptionist
When you call our office, most likely you’ll hear Hien’s sweet voice ready to patiently help you with any of your appointment or insurance needs. A Sunnyvalite from birth, she has a very friendly personality and enjoys interacting with our patients. When dealing with insurance, she does her very best to help you understand and receive the benefits that are due to you. A recent graduate of UC Davis with a major in Clinical Nutrition, she plans to attend Dental School next year. She loves keeping on top of the latest fashion trends. Her passion is music and she plays both the piano and guitar.