Yakenya Barnett

Yakenya Barnett grew up in Florence, AL and graduated from Bradshaw High School in 2004. She attended the University of North Alabama from 2004-2006. She began her dental career in 2008 as a Dental Assistant. She has over 11 years of dental experience working in various positions from assisting, filing insurance, treatment coordinating and scheduling. Kenya currently serves as Production Executive at Dynamic Dentistry and loves building rapport with her team and her patients. She has one son, Zayvion, who she loves dearly. He is a student at Florence High School, where he plays basketball. Kenya loves supporting her son and yelling for the Falcons!

Tammy Bevis

Tammy Bevis began her dental career in 1985 as a dental assistant for Dr. Bruce Evans. She then went to work for Dr. Bobby Moore and under his training, completed the Dental Hygienist Program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her hygiene career with Dr. Moore continued for almost 20 years. She then went to work for Dentistry of the Shoals for 8 years. Tammy is proud to now be part of the Dynamic Dentistry of the Shoals Team. She loves dental hygiene and the opportunity it has given her to help others.

Tammy has extensive training in ACLS (advanced cardiac life support), OSHA, and extended her hygiene knowledge by attending Periodontal Treatment training at UAB. She participated in Dentistry from the Heart for 8 years and volunteers annually with Thanks-Giving Back a Smile.

Tammy has been married to Kevin Bevis for 29 years. They have one son, Hunter and daughter in law Brooke. Tammy has two precious grandchildren Braylee (4) and Owen (1). In her free time, Tammy enjoys playing and spending as much time possible with her grandchildren.

Authentic Crump

Authentic Crump began her career with Dynamic Dentistry in April 2019. She is a 2017 Deshler High School graduate. She attended the North Alabama Dental Assisting program and graduated in April 2019. She completed her assisting school internship here Dynamic Dentistry and was such a superstar, she was hired on the spot. Authentic enjoys being able to help people with their dental problems. She assists all the doctors and is a joyful force in the office.

Polissa Ezell

Polissa Ezell grew up in Rogersville, Alabama and graduated from Lexington High School in 1980. She attended Allen Thornton Vocational School and then Calhoun Community College. Polissa became licensed in cosmetology and worked for 12 years before transitioning into the dental field. She was a dental assistant for 2 years before completing the Dental Hygiene Program at UAB. Polissa has been a hygienist for the past 21 years accumulation vast training and knowledge in the field of periodontal disease and treatment. She has attended JP Anthony Perio, P3 Perio, Tom Orrent, and the Las Vegas Institute and is excited to bring that knowledge to Dynamic Dentistry of the Shoals. Polissa volunteers with Give a Kid a Chance, an organization that helps kids have a successful start to school, participated in Dentistry from the Heart for 8 years, and now volunteers annually with Thanks – Giving Back a Smile.

Polissa married her best friend, Bobby in 1981, and he mains the love of her life. They have two sons together, Orey Ezell (wife Kayla) and Cody Ezell. They have a spoiled rotten granddaughter, Madalin Rose and now expecting the arrival of their first grandson who they can’t wait to spoil just as much. Polissa will be adding daughter in law Kristin to the family July 2019.

Lara Grisham

Lara Grisham grew up in Rogersville, graduated from Lauderdale County High School in 2008 and attended Calhoun Community College. After completeling the North Alabama Dental Assisting Program in June 2013, she began working for Dentistry of the Shoals as one of Dr. Ryerson's assistants. In October 2014, she followed Dr. Gillespie to Dynamic Dentistry.

Lara is trained in OSHA, ACLS (advanced cardiac life support), CPR and sedation dentistry. She is an active participant in Thanks-Giving-Back-A-Smile. Lara's strengths as an assistant build on her ability to develop lasting relationships with her patients. She strives to give 100% to each person she meets, delivering top-notch personal care. Lara has a 2 year old son, Mason. In her spare time she enjoys shopping and spending time with friends and family.

Trista Henley

Trista Hensley grew up in Collinwood, TN. She graduated in 2009 from Collinwood High School. Trista attended Columbia State Community College for a couple of years then went to Tennessee Technology Center in Pulaski where she got certified as a Dental Assistant in 2013. Soon after she began her career in the dental field at Teena McLaughlins Family Dentistry as an assistant. In 2018 Trista joined the Dynamic Dentistry team and is excited to be apart of such a wonderful group of women who share a passion to care for others.

Trista and her husband, Jeremiah, reside in Collinwood and have been married for 2 years. They enjoy spending time in the outdoors and beings with family and friends.

Jessica Ann Howell

Jessica Ann Howell is married to Zac Howell and the step mother to son Zane. She is from Kansas and grew up on an organic butcher farm with her father Gordon and little sister Carolyn . She met Zac when he was stationed at Ft. Riley in 2010 and moved to his home town later in 2011. She attended North Alabama Dental Assistant Program, interned with Dynamic Dentistry January 2018- April 2018 and has been employed since. Jessica is a Certified Dental Assistant who is also certified in advanced CPR and OSHA. Also, a proud volunteer of Thanksgiving Back A Smile. They reside in Sheffield with 2 fur babies, Zoey (4 yr. old German Shepherd) and Axl Rose (2 yr. old Lab/ Pitbull mix.) She is consistently thankful for the opportunity of working with the most up-to-date dental office in such a rewarding career.

Amy Knipper

Amy Knipper grew up in Collinwood Tn. and graduated from Central High School in 1991. She attended Northwest Community College on a basketball scholarship from 1991-1994. She began her dental career in 1999 as a dental assistant at Smith & Smith Endodontics where she stayed until 2002 when she went to work for Dr. John Lane. Since then she has had an additional 16 years of experience working in general dentistry doing everything from assisting to insurance. She is currently a treatment plan coordinator. Amy truly loves her patients and helping take care of their dental needs. She always wants to make them feel comfortable and loves to see them smile.

Amy has one child named Coleton. He is 18 years old and currently in his 1st year of college. He is an EMT and Central Volunteer Firefighter. She is extremely proud of him and excited that he has chosen a field that allows him to help others also.

Deedra Michaels

Deedra Michaels grew up in the Shoals, graduated from Deshler High School in 2000, and attended Northwest Shoals Community College. She began her dental career in 2001 as a dental assistant at the office of Dr. Cox in Phil Campbell, Alabama. In 2002 she began assisting Dr. Alvarez and Dr. Rousseau in Russellville, Alabama. In 2006 Deedra became the full-time assistant to Dr. Mary Leigh Gillespie. After completing the dental hygiene program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2009, Deedra began her career as a dental hygienist.

In October of 2014, Deedra followed Dr. Mary Leigh Gillespie to Dynamic Dentistry of the Shoals, serving as the scheduling/treatment plan coordinator. Deedra can always be called on to go to the back to help assist the Dr.s or do hygiene. Deedra is skilled at taking care of patients, making them feel comfortable and helping them understand their treatment plans and insurance benefits. She always has a smile on her face and is willing to help. She truly loves her job and is happy to work among such positive, like-minded women. Deedra is well trained in ACLS (advanced cardiac life support), assisting with IV sedation patients, and participated in Dentistry from the Heart for 8 years and annually with Thanks-Giving back a Smile . She also volunteers for the Salvation Army, and participates in the health fairs at the YMCA. She has been happily married to her high school sweetheart, Jason, since May 2008 and they have a daughter, Autumn and son, Braxton. She loves spending her free time with her family and children, supporting her daughter’s softball, volleyball teams and pageants, and Braxton’s baseball and travel wrestling team and his daily adventures in boyhood.

Ashley Morris

Ashley Morris grew up in Waterloo, Alabama. She is a 2008 graduate of Waterloo High School. She attended Renaissance Dental Assistant program in Florence, Alabama in 2013. She was hired at Dr. Teena McLaughlin Family Dentistry where she worked as an assistant for six years. Ashley is now proud to be a part of another wonderful dental team and to be surrounded by a great group of women at Dynamic Dentistry of the Shoals. She loves being an assistant and helping others.

Ashley and her husband, Josh, reside in Waterloo, AL where they were both born and raised. They have been married for nine years and have two sons, Parker (5) and Korbyn (3). In their spare time, they love being outdoors and watching their boys play sports.

Betty Pace

Betty Pace began her career in dentistry in 1996 working part-time as a dental assistant in the office of Dr. James Ryerson. The following year she began assisting full time and she remained with Dr. Ryerson’s office for 17 years. The last 12 of those years, she was the main assistant to Dr. Gillespie, and in October 2014, she followed Dr. Gillespie to Dynamic Dentistry of the Shoals. Betty has made it her goal to always treat patients the way she wants to be treated-that is, with kindness, compassion, and attention to detail in her work. Her motto is “A job worth doing, is worth doing well.”

Betty is well trained in OSHA and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support). She assists Dr. Gillespie in IV Sedation Dentistry. Betty has attended Tri-County Dental Association meetings. She has participated with organization Give a Kid a Chance, for 8 years, she has generously given her time and skills to Dentistry from the Heart. Betty has also helped with Thanks-Giving Back a Smile for 5 years.

Betty is married to Ronald Pace of Muscle Shoals and attends First Methodist Church in Sheffield. She is a graduate of Sheffield High School, class of 1972 and attended Shoals Community College.

Betty has two sons, Kevin Gibson (Adina) and Jeff Gibson (April). Jeff and April have a 4 yr old daughter, Hadley Grace and step-sons Derek McManus (Carissa) and they have two sons. Ron has two sons, Cass and Terry Pace (Anita) and grandchildren, Forrest and Alexandra.

Karen Tate

Karen Tate began her dental career in 1990 working for Dr. David Merritt. In 1992, she completed the Dental Hygiene Program at UAB. Over the past 28 years she has thrived at numerous dental practices across the shoals area, working with Dr. James Stoddard, Dr. John Waddell, Dr. Don Wilson, Dr. Brad DeGroote, Dr. Ryerson and Dr. Mary Leigh Gillespie. Working with so many dentists has allowed Karen to become knowledgeable in all areas of dentistry. She is proud to bring her vast understanding and experience to Dynamic Dentistry of the Shoals, where she is now the insurance/billing coordinator.

Karen is extensively trained in the treatment of periodontitis, completed a 3 day seminar with keynote speaker, Bob Frazier. She ahs completed many hours of OSHA and ACLS(advanced cardiac life support) training. Karen is active in the community and for many years volunteered for Give a Kid a Chance, an organization which helps children successfully start the school year. She participated in Dentistry from the Heart for 6 years and participates annually the last 5 years with Thanks-Giving Back a Smile.

Karen is married to Mark D. Tate, and they have three children together and one grandchild. Mark is an owner and counselor at Life Solutions in Madison and Florence. Her oldest son, Jason Allen is owner of the Carriage Wine and Market and Mama's Cheese Straws in downtown Florence. Her daughter, Kristen Howard, is a hospice nurse for Amedisys and mother to Ava Leigh. Karen's youngest child, Chris Tate is a C-17 crew chief in the United States Air Force.