Team
Our team consists of dedicated individuals who are kind, friendly and caring. Our staff is here to ensure a pleasant experience during your visit to our office.
Our team includes experienced and energetic people whose goal is to communicate with our patients to provide the best care possible.
“There is no other place I would like to be right now, you are all so friendly and nice people.” — Greg Sandala
Maira Rajab
We would like to introduce you to Maira, your Insurance Specialist and personal dental concierge.
Maira diligently gathers your dental benefit information and verifies and reconciles your eligibility and benefit breakdown. It is not an easy task to understand dental benefits and she makes it simple for you by being your own personal “dental secretary”. She researches this information in advance of your appointment so you will know what to expect in coverage and benefits prior to any treatment. She also helps you in filing claims timely and when necessary helping you to get benefits from stubborn Insurance companies. Maira is from Afghanistan, Russia and Germany and speaks all three languages. We often wonder how we were lucky enough to capture this world traveler and keep her in San Diego since 2004. Do you think it’s the weather? Maira is friendly, easy going and open to new things, but more than likely you will find her spending time with family, shopping, watching TV and exercising because she loves to eat – which means she will work hard to make sure you get the benefits to care for you teeth since she can’t do without hers!
Magnolia Castillo
You will never forget meeting Magnolia also fondly known to our team as Maggie the jokester because of the fun and humor she plays on her team members. Maggie is our experienced dental assistant who has been Dr. Maggie’s (yes two Maggies) right hand for many years. Maggie may entertain you at your appointment but she takes your care and treatment very seriously. Her attention to details, organization and expert skills are reflected in each and every patient’s procedure and experience. She keeps our state of the art practice and operatories in tip top shape so your care is nothing less than exceptional. Maggie is the mother of a beautiful young daughter that is her pride and joy. When she is not at the practice caring for you she loves to spend time with her daughter and husband. Their favorite place to go is Disney Land. We believe after Maggie retires from Dentistry she should become a Disney Character where she can continue to make people laugh and have fun.
Irina Stysis
You will love your hygiene visits with our soft tissue specialist Irina. Irina is very in touch with each of her patients with her warm and tender chair side manner and attention to your procedure, which explains why patients line up to see her months in advance. Irina received her hygiene degree in 1997 and has been caring for the dental health and well-being of patients here in Southern California for over a decade. She has cared for out troops at the North Island Naval base and Balboa Hospital and private patients in La Jolla, Poway and Mira Mesa. We are honored to have Irina join bring her excellent skills to our team. You will also find that Irina’s accent carries an enticing and endearing melody of her Russian decent. Born and raised in Russia, she came to the United States when she was 22 years old after receiving a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, so she is a master of planning and will help you plan your road to optimum dental health. When she is not displaying her talents in our practice she loves to spend time with her two beautiful daughters and wonderful husband traveling and going to the beach.
Kim Pennington
Please meet your hygienist Kim and get ready to experience the skills and warm and friendly energy of one of the most outstanding soft tissue clinicians. While obtaining her degree at the University of East Tennessee in 1997, Kim worked as a dental assistant to put herself through college. Kim’s passion and love for the profession grew into a successful and gratifying career in which she helps her patient’s reach optimum periodontal health. Kim’s extensive knowledge of dentistry is shared with her patients as she helps them to understand not only the foundation and soft tissue goals, but their overall dental well being from beautiful aesthetics to long term function. Everything becomes clear when Kim has an opportunity to listen and learn what is important to you and your dental goals. She will explain how you can personally reach them over time. Kim’s energy is also spent on her second love, the great outdoors. She is also competitively involved in Traditional Hawaiian Sport Outrigger Canoeing. You will enjoy hearing about her travels and adventure through out California, just ask while relaxing in her chair and pretend you are listening to the discovery channel.
An-Dao Le
It is our pleasure to introduce you to “Dao”, pronounced like the “Dow Jones Industrial Average”. But unlike the stock market with its ups and downs you will enjoy the steady, consistent and gentle touch of Dao as your hygienist. Many patients who have not been to the dentist for awhile prefer Dao’s calming way of communicating and helping them enjoy their visit. Dao dedicated much of her undergraduate and post graduate education in the healthcare field. Dao pursued her hygiene degree from Pasadena City College after entering the dental field as an assistant and finding her career talent. This experience has given her a fabulous clinical understanding of dentistry and how to make a patient feel comfortable. When Dao hangs up her hygiene tools and lets down her hair, this mild mannered hygienist is a world traveler and hiker. She is also an international “foodie” and movie buff from action to comedy, thriller, sci-fi and romance. You may also find Dao in a competitive game of badminton or tennis on the weekends. However, true to character with the kind spoken, gentle Dao you will get to know in our practice, she does likes to relax and crochet, knit, cook and draw as well.
