Meet Our Waco Dental Team
First-Rate Service & Care from Beginning to End
Our team is top-notch! Each one of these professionals navigates patients through their office experiences and keeps our Waco dental practice running smoothly, cleanly, and efficiently! If you love our dental practice, tell your friends and family about us! Please let Dr. Lassetter, Dr. Rivacoba, or Dr. Dhaon know so that we can recognize and celebrate specific, above-and-beyond service! If you can offer us ways to improve, never hesitate to let us know!
GAIL, REGISTERED DENTAL HYGIENIST
Gail worked as an orthodontic assistant for 25 years. She returned to school, was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa sorority, and then graduated from Temple College as a registered dental hygienist. Gail tailors her clinical skills for each patient and helps each one achieve optimal oral health while stressing its connection to systemic whole-body health. She stays current on new research and advancements in care for periodontal disease. Her patients are her extended family and energize her each day!
Horses are Gail’s passion! She loves to ride her horse or take long walks in nature with her dogs to admire God's work. She loves her fur babies! Gail is most at peace in the mountains or Arizona desert.
JENNIFER, REGISTERED DENTAL HYGIENIST
Jennifer is a registered dental hygienist and a 2000 graduate of Coastal Bend College in Beeville. She was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She has a great deal of insight on how to keep your mouth healthy. Jennifer enjoys taking the time to develop a relationship with each patient. Patients love her joyful personality and benefit from her thorough and specialized skills.
Jennifer is married and has three sons. They enjoy spending time together as a family and stay very busy attending all the boys’ activities. You might see them out at Poppa Rollo’s or the downtown farmer’s market.
ASHLEY, REGISTERED DENTAL HYGIENIST
Say hi to our newest hygienist, Ashley, who was born and raised right here in our hometown. She is very passionate about serving our Waco community. Ashley began her career in 2014 after graduating from Tyler Junior College. You may find her in Lorena where she, her husband, their 3 boys, and 4 dogs reside. She enjoys reading, gardening, and all things yoga. In the office, you’ll experience her contagious laugh throughout our halls.
KAITLYNN, REGISTERED DENTAL HYGIENIST
Kaitlynn graduated from Texas A&M University in 2014 and later pursued dental hygiene at Temple College. She enjoys meeting new people while providing the most comfortable dental experience possible for her patients. While not at the office, Kaitlynn enjoys spending time with her baby boy, husband, 2 dogs, and 3 horses.
HALEIGH, REGISTERED DENTAL HYGIENIST
Haleigh was born and raised here in Waco and began her hygiene career in May of 2021 after graduating from UT Health School of Dentistry. Haleigh recently welcomed her baby boy, Mason, into her family! She enjoys spending her free time with her family and friends, along with her sweet fur babies, Kori and Daphne! Haleigh strives to build trust with her patients and maintain long and healthy relationships.
DENISE, REGISTERED DENTAL HYGIENIST
Denise is a registered dental hygienist. She completed dental hygiene school where she received the Outstanding Dental Hygienist Award and was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Denise is laser-certified and enjoys staying current with the latest advancements in dentistry. She also enjoys educating patients on the importance of oral health and providing excellent patient care. Before joining the Heart of Texas Smiles General & Cosmetic Dentistry team, Denise worked for a cosmetic dentist in Houston for 28 years. Here, she provided concierge service to her patients and built many meaningful relationships.
Denise loves spending time with her husband and two Yorkies. She moved to Waco to be closer to family where she can now spend more time with her daughter, son-in-law, and two grandsons.
VIRGINIA, REGISTERED DENTAL ASSISTANT
Virginia Diaz graduated from TSTI-Waco as a registered dental assistant in 1977. After graduation, she worked alongside Dr. Jim Morton as his lone assistant for 35 years until his retirement, and then as Dr. Nick Cobb’s primary chairside beginning in 2011. In her 40+ years of dental experience, Virginia has witnessed the renowned advancements in dentistry, which has helped perfect her skill set. While maintaining her accreditation through continuing education courses, she is also certified in nitrous and is bilingual which helps with our Spanish-speaking patients. Virginia has an excellent rapport with patients. She is highly skilled, witty, and a devoted hard worker.
A Central Texas native, Virginia and her late husband, Lupe, have three sons, Ron, Louis, and Richard, and three grandchildren - Louis III, Howard, and Jenni. Virginia enjoys get-togethers with family and friends, cooking, gardening, and traveling! Ask her about her more recent Europe adventures!
KIM, REGISTERED DENTAL ASSISTANT
Kim was raised right here in Central Texas. She graduated from TSTC-Waco as a registered dental assistant and holds many certifications in dental assisting. Dental technology and our scope of services are always moving forward, and Kim is quick to adapt and advance. Kim develops her skills continuously to provide you with the best possible care. While Kim is Dr. Lassetter’s primary chairside assistant, she performs innumerable tasks with patients and behind the scenes to make your experience an exceptional one. We hope you love her gentle demeanor, efficiency, and expert care.
Around Waco, you may see Kim and her husband enjoying local eateries and listening to live music. She enjoys cooking and entertaining family and friends, traveling, hunting and fishing, and hanging out with her hubby and chi-weenie fur baby.
ALLISON, REGISTERED DENTAL ASSISTANT
Ally was born and raised here in Central Texas. She always knew she wanted a career in the healthcare field to help others in some way. After deciding to enter the dental field, she graduated from TSTC in 2017 as a registered dental assistant. She gained knowledge and experience in general dentistry before training as an orthodontic assistant. Joining us at Heart of Texas Smiles General & Cosmetic Dentistry, she strives to give you the smile you deserve during your orthodontic journey. Ally resides in Lorena with her fiancé, Alex, her three sons, and a bonus daughter. She enjoys traveling, staying active, and being outdoors.
PAULA, REGISTERED DENTAL ASSISTANT
Paula has a great passion for dentistry and has been serving the field as a registered dental assistant for 33 years. Paula and her husband, Rick, have a ranch in Rosebud where they have their dogs Tucker, Bailey, and Dixie running the ranch. Paula and Rick love to tend to their horses, cows, and goats! Her daughter, Leanne, along with 2 grandchildren live in Georgia. Paula enjoys her time on the ranch, going with friends to listen to Texas country music, and loves exploring the Stockyards!
MARIA, DENTAL INSURANCE COORDINATOR
Maria is an enthusiastic insurance coordinator who graduated from Remington College in 2017 as a registered dental assistant. Having moved to the Waco area from Navasota, Maria is eager to use her skills in dentistry in our office to take great care of our patients and build relationships with our patient families. Maria loves to help patients in any way possible to help maintain and improve smiles. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Chris, and their children, Aidan and Carolina.
MELISSA, DENTAL PRACTICE MANAGER
Melissa was born and raised in the East Texas area. She spends most of her summer on the lake camping, fishing, and cruising the waters on the boat with her family. Melissa has 3 wonderful kids, Chelsey, Cassidy, and Aiden. She has been in the dental industry for over 13 years and served as a manager for 10 of those. She loves all things dental! What she loves most about this industry is seeing patients smile.
CHRISTY, PATIENT EXPERIENCE COORDINATOR
Christy grew up in Lorena and graduated from the TSTC dental assisting program in 1988. She has over 20 years of experience in all aspects of the dental field. Patients love Christy’s efficient work and warm personality, and she performs a range of tasks for patients at each visit, treating each one of them like family. Christy greets each patient as they arrive with a warm smile and is quick to answer any questions our patients may have.
She and her husband own Playdium Pool Company in West. This keeps her very busy in the summertime! She loves spending time with her family, Jimbo, Karson, Kristyn, her son-in-law, Corey, and her grandchildren, Parks and Perry.
KALLI, HYGIENE COORDINATOR
Kalli was born and raised here in Central Texas. She has always had a niche in the healthcare field and is currently in school pursuing a major in health professions! Kalli joins us on the administrative side of the practice! When she is not in the office, Kalli enjoys spending time with family, traveling, shopping, and on her family’s ranch in Valley Mills where they raise exotics!
JENNIFER, TREATMENT COORDINATOR
Bio coming soon!
LAURA, SCHEDULING COORDINATOR
Bio coming soon!