Dentists
 Derrick Smith, D.D.S.
Dr. Smith is a native of the Atlanta area.
He attended Emory University for his undergraduate studies from 1974 until 1978 and earned a B.S. degree in Biology and a B.A. degree in Chemistry.
Afterwards, he attended Emory University School of Dentistry from 1978 until 1982. He graduated second in his class while receiving his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. He was awarded membership in the honorary Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Society for these academic achievements.
Dr. Smith attends numerous hours of continuing dental education classes each year to constantly learn about new trends in dentistry.
In 1978, he married his wife, Angelia, and they have twin sons, Andrew and Cameron, born in 1984. He is an avid water skier who loves it so much that on January 1st of each year he makes sure that he is on the lake.
A note from his staff…
Dr. Smith is a very genuine Dentist who will always take great care of you. He is very laid back and makes his patients feel very comfortable. Many of his patients comment on how great he is in giving injections. Many of the children we see don’t realize they have had an injection for dental treatment. Dr. Smith tells them he is giving a mosquito bite and has the child close their eyes and they never realize it was an injection!!
He does beautiful cosmetic work and has created many beautiful smiles!!! We have seen tears of joy as we watch an amazing transformation for patients. Many of these patients have wanted to change their smile or look for years, but just finally got around to it, or could now afford it. It is amazing to see what a cosmetic dentistry can do to a persons complete look as well as their out-look. It is wonderful and heart-warming to see someone that has not smiled for years, finally be able to do that one simple thing.
Thanks for being a great boss and taking care of us.
Love,
Your Staff
 Lisa Kirshenbaum, D.M.D.
Dr. Kirshenbaum is originally from Jacksonville, Florida.
She attended the University of Miami and majored in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and English. As a result of academic performance, she was accepted to Boston University School of Dental Medicine as a third year undergraduate student. She then received her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree in 1997.
Dr. Kirshenbaum remains current with the latest trends in dentistry by participating in continuing education courses including but not limited to: cosmetic dentistry, implantology, forensic odontology, and oral surgery.
Dr. Kirshenbaum is married to her husband, Robert and they have three children: Leah, Renee, and Benjamin.
A note from the staff…
We call her Dr. K for short. You can too! She is a lot of fun. She does a great job at putting our patients at ease with her witty personality. She does beautiful cosmetic treatment and it is amazing how fast she can prepare a crown. Many of our patients are amazed at how quick and pleasant that visit is. She is great with kids, as she has three of her own. Many of them end up drawing her a picture or letting her know much they like her. She is always doing nice things for us. It may be a simple card or she make take us to lunch. She is always concered about her patients and what's going on in their lives. She always takes a moment to drop them a note or send flowers for different occasions.
Dr. K. Thanks for being a great boss and friend.
Love,
Your Staff
back to top
Hygienists
 Amy Payne graduated from the Medical College of Georgia in 1998 with an associate degree in Dental Hygiene. She continued her education at Shorter College earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She has been a valued team member since 1998. Amy has 2 children, Hunter and Kylie and a wonderful husband Cory. She also has a Cocker Spaniel named Presley who she enjoys spending time with.
A note from the doctors…
Amy has been a valued team member for 10 years. She is great with adults as well as kids. Many of our patients comment on how gentle and thorough she is. She always has great stories to tell and many of her hygiene patients request her for their return cleaning visits time and time again.
 Pam Osborn graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in Community Health Science Education. She then went on to Pearl River Community College in 1996 earning an associate degree in Dental Hygiene. She enjoys playing tennis and taking Latin dance classes.
A note from the doctors…
Pam is one of our newest members on our team. We are lucky to have her. In the short time she has been here, she has become an integral part of us. Our patients have found her to be friendly and many people tell me that we better not let her go! We agree. She does an excellent job at explaining your dental needs and helping you understand what’s going on with your dental health.
 Jana is a graduate of West Central Technical School. She has been practicing hygiene for eight years and has been a part of the Dental Excellence of Kennesaw family for since 2002.
A note from the doctors…
Jana has a great personality and is always willing to help out wherever needed. She has a wonderful attitude that always adds a ray of sunshine to anyone that she comes in contact with.
 Denise Maus is a graduate of Palm Beach Junior College with an AS degree in dental hygiene. She has been practicing for 20 years. She has been with Dental Excellence for over 6 years. In her spare time she enjoys tennis, boating, and spending time with her family. She has 2 boys, Alex-18 and Ryan-16. Her husband Jim has been with Home Depot for 15 years. Her son Alex will be attending Truman State University in Missouri to continue his academics and participate in Division II wrestling. Ryan will be a junior at Kennesaw Mountain, where he also wrestles.
A note from the doctors…
Denise has been a great asset to our practice. She is friendly and caring. She is a very out-going person and has enthusiasm in all things she does. She always takes her time and spends quality time with each of her patients. Her first priority is making sure that each patient is comfortable and well informed.
back to top
Dental Assistants
 Kathy graduated from the Atlanta College of Medical and Dental Assistants in 1976. She began working with Dr. Smith in 1984. Kathy is married with two grown children, Jonathan and Autumn. She and her husband Norm enjoy camping and hiking. She is an active member of The National Parks and Conservation Association, The National Wildlife Federation and The Defenders of Wildlife Association.
A note from the doctors…
Kathy has been a huge part of this practice for over 20 years. She is wonderful at putting our patients at ease. Her love and caring for people have made her irreplaceable in our practice. She always has a kind word for people and her need to make sure things are done, have made her an invaluable asset to our practice. We constantly have patients who request her and come by just to tell her hello.
Thanks Kathy for all you do!
 Sandy Teixeira graduated from Beth Israel School of Dental Assisting in 1975, and has enjoyed 22 years as a dental assistant. She has 3 children, 2 girls and 1 boy. She recently became a grandmother for the first time. She enjoys teaching Lyrical Ballet and Tap at her church, Trinity Chapel in Powder Springs, and is the director of the Dance and Worship Flag Ministry.
A note from the doctors…
Sandy has a unique sense of humor. She has a wonderful, compassionate heart that is always willing to serve our patients. She will go the extra mile to make sure our patients are comfortable and cared for. She makes beautiful temporaries for our patients. Thank you Sandy for all of your dedication and hard work.
 Jeanne Pigg has been a dental assistant since 1987. She has been with Dental Excellence of Kennesaw for 3 years. She has been happily married for thirteen years. She has an 18 year old son, who just graduated high school. In her spare time she enjoys her 3 dogs and 2 cats. She also enjoys working in the yard and spending lazy afternoons by the pool with her family.
A note from the doctors…
Jeanne’s attention to detail always keeps us on our toes. Sometimes she is able to see things that we may have overlooked. This is an invaluable asset to our practice, because we continually are looking for ways to improve and perfect our office look and care for our patients.
 Amy Shipp has been a dental assistant for over 16 years. She has been a team member for over 6 years. She has a wonderful husband, Wesley, and two beautiful twin daughters, Ella and Gracie. In her spare time, she is very busy taking care of her daughters.
A note from the doctors…
Amy is the kind of person all doctors wish they had. She will do anything you ask her to do and never give any indication that she would rather not. She is wonderful with her patients and constantly strives to come up with better ways to be of service to her patients as well as fellow employees.
back to top
Front Desk
 Jennifer Peters has been with Dental Excellence of Kennesaw since 1987. She is a graduate of Middle Georgia College. She has taken many hours of continuing education to stay abreast of the newest trends in dentistry as well as researching new and better ways to take care of our patients. She has 2 daughters, Jill and Christina Peters. Jill is in Nursing School and Christina is a Junior at Armuchee High School. Her husband Bill is a Contractor. During her spare time she loves going to the lake and spending time with her family.
A note from the doctors…
Jennifer’s enthusiasm for her job is contagious. She will go out of her way to make our patients feel welcome and completely cared for. She always has a smile on her face and never forgets a name. Her main focus is you, our patient. She will help each of you with your insurance concerns and be very inventive in helping you find just the right way to get your dental needs taken care of.
 Amy Carruth has been in the dental field for 13 years. She has impressive office administration skills. Amy has two children, Ryan 8 and Addie Grace 4. She has been happily married to her husband Ken for 9 years. In her spare time she enjoys reading books and gardening.
A note from the doctors…
Amy has been a terrific addition to our team. She is energetic, fun, and excited about dentistry. She enjoys finding ways to help our patients and loves dealing with Insurance Companies. She is always friendly and personable and eager to help whenever she is needed. She will be the first shining smile you see when you enter our practice.
 Carrie attended the University of Georgia and was an Office Administrator for ten years before joining the dental field. She has lived in Kennesaw for the past twelve years and enjoys reading fiction and playing tennis. She and her husband, Keith, have three boys.
A note from the doctors…
Carrie has a wonderful, outgoing personality. She spends a lot of time on the phone, as she is our Hygiene Coordinator. She always offers friendly service and seems to always place a smile on the face of the person she is talking to.
back to top
|
