Alicia, Administration
Hi! I’m Alicia and I am one of Dr. Hovious’ Administrative Assistants. I have been working in dentistry since 2016 after my daughter was born. It gave me the opportunity to be with my daughter more often and have a consistent schedule.
My daughter and I moved to Tennessee from Florida in 2021 and started working for Dr. Hovious in 2022. I love being able to schedule patients as needed, helping patients figure out their insurance and benefits, and being a smiling face for patients in office and over the phone.
Outside of work I love spending time with my daughter. I volunteer with her Girl Scouts Troop and get to take her to so many fun and unique activities through this and her after school program.
Tanda, RDA
I’m Tanda and I started dentistry in 2005 as a dental assistant in Ohio. About 4 years later, I became the Lead Assistant for 15 years.
My favorite part of the job is being able to see how you can change somebody’s life by helping with their smile. It is very rewarding to be able to see the before and after both physically and emotionally.
I moved to Tennessee in 2021 with my husband of 21 years along with our son and became an administrative assistant for Dr. Hovious. It was tough to transition from clinical to administrative, but I now get to assist patients by maximizing their benefits, presenting treatment plans, and being able to schedule them for much needed treatment.
Mona, RDA
Hello. I am Mona. I am originally from Abingdon, Virginia, but moved to Knoxville in 1996. I have two sons, a daughter, and four grandchildren. I started working for Dr. Hovious in 1998. Originally, I applied for a position in the front office, but after talking with Dr. Hovious, she invested in my education and training, and I became a Registered Dental Assistant. Along with my training through Tri-County Dental Society, I received training of clinical skills and knowledge personally from Dr. Hovious. While working with Dr. Hovious, I have had the opportunity to continue my education through many courses. It is very important for us to keep up with the most current dental technology and ideas to better serve our patients.
As a dental assistant, I want to be sensitive to our patient’s needs and fears. I realize that coming to the dental office is not always something to look forward to. I would like to help make the experience more comforting and help relieve some fears. We always want to listen to what our patients desire and assist them in bettering their dental health. Our patients may not realize that while we are providing a service for them, they are touching and affecting our lives in personal ways as well. I will always treat our patients as I expect to be treated as a patient and provide quality care with a personal touch of caring.
Kaitlynd, RDA
Hi! I’m Kaitlynd and I started working for Dr. Hovious in 2021. I applied for an Administrative Assistant position because I wanted to focus on my career in dentistry. While working here, I finished my degree in science with a focus in biology. I furthered my education and became a Registered Dental Assistant. I have also received a vast amount of knowledge from Dr. Hovious. Working here, we continue educational training through many different courses to keep updated in the ever-so-changing world of dentistry.
As a dental assistant, it is my goal to make the experience not as nerve-wracking.
I have had family members with poor trips to the dentist in the past causing them to dread dental office visits. I wanted to be able to change those feelings and have them leave with a great experience. I also love being able to educate and help patients with their oral health. It is very rewarding to be able to help our patients and see the long-term effects of what we did. Everybody should be able to feel confident in their own smile. The mouth is a direct opening to the rest of the body, so it should be taken care of as well.
Stephanie, RDH
Hi! I’m Stephanie and I am Dr. Hovious’ dental hygienist. I began with Dr. Hovious in 2019. I graduated Hygiene School at Eat Tennessee State University in 1985 and have been practicing ever since. I am happily married, have two children, and two grandchildren. We enjoy quality time together at the beach and lake.
I love being able to serve my patients. I get to help them by working to achieve maximum oral health which effects their overall health. We do this by fine-tuning homecare, setting scheduled visits for maintenances, and recommending special treatment as needed for each individual.
Valerie, RDH
Hello, I’m Valerie. I have been employed with Dr. Hovious since November 1994. I graduated from Whitley County High School in Williamsburg, Kentucky in 1983. In 1984, I became an orthodontic assistant and in 1985 entered dental hygiene school at Western
Kentucky University, graduating with an Associate’s Degree in Dental Hygiene in 1987.
I married my high school sweetheart and moved to Louisiana to live with my husband who was active duty in the U.S. Army. After receiving my state license to practice dental hygiene in Louisiana, I worked full time in a periodontal practice from July 1989 to April 1993 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. My husband was transferred to Fort Hood, Texas, and I practiced there as well.
I thoroughly enjoy working with Dr. Hovious and the team in her practice. We are a family and we all work well together to help patients achieve their dental goals.
What I enjoy best about dentistry is being able to educate patients about caring for their teeth, gums, and dental implants. Seeing improvements with patient’s oral care is very gratifying and being able to help people keep their teeth strong and stable long term makes every day rewarding.