The Staff At North Seattle Dental
It takes a team. And our dental staff of superheroes makes a big difference in the care we offer our patients every day! Their care is a reflection of their enthusiasm and commitment to the well being of our patients. And they’re a big reason why our patients keep coming back to North Seattle Dental and referring their friends and family to us.
Dental Hygienists
Barb
Dental Hygienist
About Barb
Barb is a dental hygienist extraordinaire who truly loves her work and her patients. Once this Massachusetts native graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene she came to North Seattle Dental and never looked back. Thirty five years later she’s still delivering the same great oral health care to her patients! During her time at North Seattle Dental, Barb has seen plenty and would have many funny stories to share. But she won’t tell you any, so your secret is always safe with Barb! When she’s not caring for her patients, Barb enjoys Zumba, taking walks and cherishes time with her family and friends. Need to bust out a dance move? Barb might be able to help! She was once a certified aerobics instructor. Learn more about Barb!
Patty
About Patty
This one-time Las Vegas dancer left the bright lights of showbiz for dentistry. And our patients and staff can’t thank her enough! Patty is another one of our all-star dental hygienists who helps keep our patients smiling. Learn more about Patty!
Dental Assistants
Emily
Dr. Pickel’s Dental Assistant
About Emily
This Edmonds native lives by the mantra that it’s always easier to be kind and that being happy is better than being right. When it comes to being a dental assistant, she brings a go-getter attitude and believes that “life is 10% of what happens to you, 90% of how you respond.” Her favorite book is “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith, which might explain her tenacity and her ability to try and make the best out of any difficult situation.
When she’s not helping her dental patients at North Seattle Dental, Emily enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and playing in the outdoors. And where does she like to vacation? Emily says it’s any place with a beach…sounds like she knows what winter is like in Seattle! If you happen to have something to say, you might be in luck. Her super power is listening, something like an acute “spidey sense” to eavesdropping! Learn more about Emily!
Maria
About Maria
What makes for a good dental assistant? Someone who is genuinely kind, as well as a charismatic people person, a good listener, hard working and offers plenty of compassion. That’s why Maria is great. She provides our patients with all of these qualities, along with exceptional dental expertise and a sense of humor to boot.
Office
Cris
Business Manager
About Chris
Cris began working with North Seattle Dental after graduating form Shoreline CC in 1977. She started her career as a chairside assistant, and has been our business manager since 1980. She enjoys spending time with her family.
Jessica
About Jessica
Helping the North Seattle Dental practice moving smoothly and keeping patients happy is what Jessica does best. She’s been working in the wonderful world of dentistry for over 20 years now. While Jessica loves working in the dental field, she wasn’t always a fan of “visiting the dentist”. In fact, she had dental fears! She grew up with the idea that you only see the dentist when it hurts, and this created a dental anxiety for her. So, how’d she get around it? She started working as a dental assistant, with the goal of making her dental appointments less scary. When she’s not at work, Jess enjoys spending time with her family, camping, reading, taking photos, and hanging out with her 5 cats! A San Diego original, who moved to the sunny Northwest when she was 10, Jessica's mantra is “keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground” (Theodore Roosevelt). Jessica is an active member of the American Association of Dental Office Managers (AADOM) – nationally and also with the NW chapter. And in September 2024 she earned her AADOM Fellowship (FAADOM) – A level of distinction that is quite a detailed process, requiring a lot of time and commitment.
Lynn
About Lynn
The moment you come through the front door, you’ll be greeted with a big smile. As the first contact for North Seattle Dental, Lynn takes pride in making sure that everyone feels comfortable and welcomed. A certified “people person”, this Seattle native loves meeting patients and getting to know them. After working as an orthodontic assistant for many years, Lynn finds working on the front-line (customer service) to be her dream-job, as it’s both rewarding and keeps her on her toes. When she talks about North Seattle, she’s quick to point out that the staff is very caring, friendly and offers the best dental care possible. When she’s not busy helping patients, you’re apt to catch Lynn at an opera, walking through museums (she also volunteers at SAM!), doing a little Tai-Chi and hassling her two cats. A lover of 50’s fashions, Lynn is always on the look-out for the perfect cat-eye glasses. (Secretly, she would love to be on project runway.) Learn more about Lynn!
Rin
Scheduling Coordinator
About Rin
A native Spokanite, Rin’s mantra is “I can do hard things”. And she certainly is able to multi-task effortlessly! She spins a lot of plates around here, without a drop, and keeps everything moving along like clockwork.