Our friendly and experienced team is excited to welcome you to Metro West Orthodontics & Periodontics! We are dedicated to providing you with quality care in the most comfortable and positive environment possible. To make your appointment with our periodontists or orthodontist in La Vista, Nebraska, Dr. Takanari Miyamoto, Dr. Taera Kim or Dr. Melissa Lang, please contact us today at 402-614-7022!
Administrative Team
Kanoe
Director of Business Development
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Kanoe
Director of Business Development
Kanoe is the Director of Business Development for Metro West Orthodontics & Periodontics. Kanoe graduated from Creighton University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Administration and Policy. She joined Metro West Orthodontics and Periodontics in 2017 where she worked as a periodontal dental assistant. Since then, Kanoe has developed a passion for sharing her knowledge of dental assisting as she recently created United Exchange Dental Assisting School in Omaha, NE.
She enjoys championing dental assistants to be servant leaders within the community and to be amazing support systems for their fellow dental assistants, dentists, hygienists and patients.
Kanoe has since rejoined Metro West Orthodontics & Periodontics in 2022 as the Marketing Director. She is beyond proud to be a team member of an office that is like family. Kanoe is excited to have you join us or keep up with Metro West Orthodontics & Periodontics, Metro West Seminars and Metro West CONTINUING EDUCATION!
Tami
Office Manager
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Tami
Office Manager
Tami is the Office Manager at Metro West Orthodontics & Periodontics. She grew up in a small Iowa town called Schleswig. Tami graduated in 1999 from IWCC’s Dental Assisting Program and worked as a dental assistant for 18 years. For the last 10 of those years, she worked at Creighton University Dental Schools’ Pediatrics department before she transferred to the department of Periodontics with Dr. Takanari Miyamoto and Dr. Melissa Lang. She joined Metro West in 2017 to fulfill her dream of working in healthcare management and leadership roles.
Tami says her favorite part about working for Metro West is that “We all come from different backgrounds and walks of life, but we come together as a team to give our patients the best care possible. We are a big family and take care of each other.” She received her bachelor’s degree in science and health studies and a minor in Leadership in May 2020 from Fort Hays State University.
Tami and her husband, Ken, have six children. Some of her favorite hobbies are time spent with her family, family cookouts and Husker Football.
Amy
Insurance Coordinator
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Amy
Insurance Coordinator
Amy is the Insurance and Treatment Plan Coordinator at Metro West Orthodontics & Periodontics.
She was born in Faribault, Minnesota. Amy attended Mercy College of Health Sciences where she pursued an Associate of Science in Nursing degree.
Her attention to detail and excellent follow-ups are invaluable as our Insurance and Treatment Plan Coordinator. She helps patients navigate the complex world of insurance policies. Our patients can rest assured that they have Amy on their side, ready to help.
Amy loves to travel and spends most weekends going someplace new. When she is not traveling, she enjoys listening to music and spending time with her family.
Izzie
Front Office Coordinator
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Izzie
Front Office Coordinator
Izzie is the Front Office Coordinator at Metro West Orthodontics & Periodontics. She joined Metro West in December of 2021. Izzie was born and raised in Littleton, Colorado.
She moved to the Omaha area in October of 2021. Every chance she gets, she goes back to Colorado to spend time with her two younger sisters and attempts to convince her mom to let her bring her two cats (Athena and Cricket) and two dogs (Mia and Dozer) to Omaha.
What Izzie likes most about Metro West Orthodontics & Periodontics is the many opportunities to grow and learn more about the dental community.
Kassie
Marketing Coordinator
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Kassie
Marketing Coordinator
Kassie is the Lead Orthodontic Assistant at Metro West Orthodontics & Periodontics.
She was born in Kansas but grew up in Omaha. She graduated in 2014 from Central College with her degree in Exercise Science and a minor in Psychology. Her approach to a ‘Fun and Happy Life’ is contagious to everyone. You will often find her immersed in conversations with patients. Kassie also enjoys making our patients smile by encouraging their progress and celebrating their goals of a healthy smile.
In her free time, Kassie loves spending time with her husband, Austin, their two dogs (Denalei and Nala) and their cat (Sable). Kassie is a diehard Husker fan, enjoys playing sand volleyball, traveling and spending time at the lake and pool. Fun fact about Kassie: She is an identical twin!
Clinical Team
Baillie
Dental Hygienist/ Myofunctional Therapist
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Baillie
Dental Hygienist/ Myofunctional Therapist
Baillie is a Dental Hygienist/ Myofunctional Therapist at Metro West Orthodontics & Periodontics. She was raised near Lake of the Ozark’s and moved to Kansas City where she graduated from Dental Hygiene school in 2017. Baillie completed a Myofunctional Therapy course in November 2022 and is eager to continue to educate herself on and implement those services within our office.
In the summer you will find Baillie near any body of water; she loves to swim, kayak and horseback ride with her daughter and boyfriend. In the winter, you won’t catch her outside … She’ll likely be trying new recipes to cook while watching the Chiefs games and hanging out with her two cats.
Krin
Dental Hygienist
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Krin
Dental Hygienist
Krin is a dental hygienist and has a passion for learning. She graduated in 2008 from the University of Nebraska at Omaha where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree. In 2010, Krin graduated from Vatterot College’s Dental Assisting Program. She then graduated in 2013 with an Associate of Art and Science of Dental Hygiene degree. Krin joined [practice_name]. She is gentle and kind, both inside and out. Krin is quick to make her patients feel at ease and comfortable. She educates and encourages her patients to maintain good periodontal health. Our patients love her gentle approach which makes them feel comfortable. In her downtime Krin enjoys being with her 6-year-old son by going to the zoo, hiking, walking, riding bikes and taking trips.
Courtney
Dental Hygienist/ Director of Clinical Research
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Courtney
Dental Hygienist/ Director of Clinical Research
Dr. Courtney Rudick began her education at Truman State University where she received her B.S. degree in Health Science. She then moved to the University of New Mexico where she received her B.S. degree in dental hygiene and passed her licensing exams to become registered dental hygienist.
She moved to Idaho to begin her graduate education where she worked with dental and dental hygiene students and recent dental graduates. While working on her master’s at Idaho State University she was the Director of Dental Services at the Pocatello Free Clinic and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the ISU Department of Dental Hygiene.
Upon completing her M.S. in dental hygiene, with a focus in dental hygiene education, Dr. Rudick moved to Omaha, NE, to begin her doctoral work at Creighton University. While at Creighton she completed a graduate certificate in Clinical and Translational Science along with her Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology and Immunology where her studies focused on UTI’s caused by ST131 E. coli.
Dr. Rudick is an international lecturer in the topics of periodontal diseases, oral microbiology, immunology and preventative dental care. She is a Fellow in the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and holds professional memberships with the International Association for Dental Research, American Association for Dental Research, International Federation of Dental Hygienists, American Dental Education Association and the Western Society of Periodontology.
Justin
Periodontal Assistant
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Justin
Periodontal Assistant
Justin is a periodontal assistant at Metro West Orthodontics & Periodontics. He joined the team in March of 2021. Justin was born and raised in Papillion, Nebraska.
In his free time, he likes to exercise, read, watch TV and spend time with his dog, Chloe. He graduated from UNO in 2021 and is currently working towards his goal of becoming a dentist. Justin previously worked as a certified nursing assistant and as a pharmacy technician. Working at Metro West has given Justin many different opportunities to learn about the dental field and what it has to offer.
Jacquelyn
Periodontal Assistant
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Jacquelyn
Periodontal Assistant
Jacquelyn is a periodontal assistant at Metro West Orthodontics & Periodontics. Jacquelyn was born and raised in Omaha and is the oldest of seven siblings. She graduated from Omaha Bryan High School in 2018. After graduation she attended Central Community College on a Scholarship to play Softball.
Jacquelyn joined Metro West in March of 2022. Her favorite part of working for Metro West Orthodontics & Periodontics is that we are all like family and we strive to learn something new every day.
In her free time, Jacquelyn enjoys going to the gym and spending time with her boyfriend, Dylan, two cats (Nalo and Aspen) and hanging out with her friends.
Mako
Periodontal Assistant
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Mako
Periodontal Assistant
Mako was born in Michigan and grew up in Tokyo, Japan. She has a dental license in Japan where she studied Periodontology at Tokyo Dental College. In the future, she hopes to further her education and periodontal training.
Mako is excited to be a part of Metro West Orthodontics & Periodontics. Working at Metro West has given Mako many professional skills and knowledge to study dentistry in America.
She has a curious, positive personality and enjoys talking to people. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, watching movies or musicals and spending time with her cat.
Clarissa
Orthodontic Assistant
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Clarissa
Orthodontic Assistant
Clarissa is an orthodontic assistant at Metro West Orthodontics & Periodontics.
She was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. Her belief of “listening is a foundation of communication” is well suited to Metro West and aids her as she helps patients to feel comfortable and valued. With four years of customer service experience, and having a bilingual background (English and Spanish), she is excited to assist our patients who are in need of someone to listen to or help them navigate through the world of dentistry where it can be complex and confusing at times.
Clarissa’s pastimes include drawing, listening to her favorite artists and spending time with her family and dog.
If you share our values and can see yourself as part of our team, we would love to hear from you! We are always on the lookout for passionate individuals to join us.