L Life Smiles Dental Care
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Our Team

The people behind the smiles.

Three credentialed doctors. A hygiene team with decades of combined experience. Coordinators who know your name, your insurance, and your last appointment by heart. We've built Life Smiles around the people who walk through the door, and the people who greet you when you do.

Meet us in person Meet the doctors
3
Credentialed dentists practicing at the office
18+
Named team members caring for your visit
5.0
Google rating across 1,770+ reviews
2
Doctors who are bilingual in Spanish
Dentists

A three-doctor practice with master-level training.

Between MAGD, FAGD, and military service backgrounds, our doctors have invested years past their dental degrees in continuing education, technology, and complex case work.

MAGD
PN

Dr. Paul Nielson

DDS, MAGD

Dr. Nielson earned a zoology degree from Brigham Young University before completing dental studies at the University of Washington, Seattle. He has practiced dentistry for over a decade and has pursued continuing education well beyond Arizona's licensing requirements.

He is a Master in the Academy of General Dentistry — a designation held by a small fraction of practicing dentists — and his clinical focus spans implants, cosmetic dentistry, sedation, and full-mouth rehabilitation.

Implants Cosmetic Sedation Full-mouth rehab Bilingual: Spanish
FAGD
TS

Dr. Timothy Schmidt

DMD, FAGD

Dr. Schmidt studied in Utah and Oregon, then served at the University of Washington School of Dentistry as an affiliate instructor before returning to Arizona to serve his local community. He is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry and a member of several prestigious dental organizations.

His aim is to deliver natural-looking, long-lasting results through ongoing education, modern technology, and the simple practice of listening carefully to patient concerns.

Restorative Cosmetic Faculty experience Bilingual: Spanish
U.S. Army
JB

Dr. Jared Bishop

DMD

Dr. Bishop earned his undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University in Utah, then completed dental school at Midwestern University in Glendale. After a one-year residency, he was honored to practice dentistry in the U.S. Army for five years.

A member of the Academy of General Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and the Arizona Dental Association, Dr. Bishop stays current with the latest dental technology, techniques, and materials to deliver the highest standard of care.

General dentistry AGD member Military veteran
In the patient's words
"From the friendly front desk team to the hygienists and dentists, everyone is welcoming, professional, and genuinely attentive. We've never had a negative experience."
KM
Kaydee Marler
Google review • ★★★★★
Our shared standard
  • • Highest OSHA sterilization compliance across every operatory
  • • Continuing education tracked individually, not just by the practice
  • • Time built into the daily schedule for same-day emergencies
  • • Comfort options including conscious sedation and nitrous oxide
Registered Dental Hygienists

Cleanings done by hands that have done thousands of them.

Our hygienists make up the largest part of your visits. Several have been with Life Smiles for over a decade, and that continuity is the reason regular cleanings feel less like a procedure and more like catching up.

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Kelli

Registered Dental Hygienist

A practicing dental hygienist for more than a decade and a firm believer in preventive care and patient education. Outside the office she enjoys family time with her two daughters, the outdoors, road trips, and swimming.

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MaryEllen

Registered Dental Hygienist

A Rio Salado College graduate with over 14 years in dental hygiene. She takes special interest in educating patients on the mouth-body connection and lives for the daily walks at Phoenix Mountain Preserve she takes between visits to family in Florida and New York.

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Jackie

Registered Dental Hygienist

An Arizona native who began at Life Smiles in high school by shadowing hygienists. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in dental hygiene at Northern Arizona University. Hiking with her husband, son, and dogs is a weekend ritual.

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Hilary

Registered Dental Hygienist

A Brigham Young University graduate with a Registered Dental Hygienist degree from Clark College in Vancouver, Washington. Practicing hygiene since 1999 and a Life Smiles team member since December 2013, she loves meeting a different person each hour of the day.

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Mya

Registered Dental Hygienist

Originally from San Diego, Mya started at Life Smiles as a dental assistant over seven years ago, learning chairside alongside Dr. Nielson and Dr. Schmidt before completing Fortis College's Dental Hygiene program. A proud Auntie and devoted Seahawks fan.

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Olivia

Registered Dental Hygienist

An Arizona native who completed her studies at Northern Arizona University, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Dental Hygiene. Gentle and thorough — patients leave smiling. Outside work she's a sneaker collector with two rescue dogs, Lilly and Theo.

Dental Assistants

The hands that keep every procedure moving.

Our assistants work at the elbow of every doctor — preparing trays, coordinating with the lab, settling nerves, and quietly making sure no detail of your treatment is missed.

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Heide

Dental Assistant
Whitening specialist

Nearly 25 years of experience in dentistry; a Life Smiles team member since 2007. Born in Germany, Heide is known around the office as the whitening expert and the one who helps anxious patients relax before treatment.

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Mayra

Dental Assistant

Assists the doctors across a broad range of procedures and keeps the operatories organized and spotless. Her workplace passion comes from seeing the impact that thoughtful dental care has on the lives of patients.

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Tori

Dental Assistant
Since 2015

Joined Life Smiles in 2015 and expands her knowledge of dentistry daily at the elbow of our experienced doctors. Her favorite part of the job is helping patients feel better and achieve smiles they've always wanted.

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Janet

Dental Assistant
Bilingual: Spanish

Originally from California, Janet began assisting in Arizona in 2012 and joined Life Smiles in 2017. Fluent in Spanish — one of several team members, along with both doctors, who can speak with patients in their first language.

Coordinators & Front Office

The team that handles everything before and after the chair.

Scheduling, insurance, treatment planning, follow-up — handled by people with decades of dental office experience between them. You don't navigate this alone.

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Mari

20+ years experience
Treatment Coordinator

Over 20 years of customer service experience in dentistry. Mari works closely with the doctors to customize each patient's treatment plan and maximize insurance benefits, and considers Life Smiles "a dream come true."

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Meg

20+ years experience
Treatment Coordinator

A proud Arizona native and Northern Arizona University graduate. Meg handles insurance submissions, presents treatment plans, and coordinates financial options to fit needed dental care into your budget.

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Valerie

20+ years experience
Treatment Coordinator

Over 20 years of experience in the dental office. Valerie provides detailed treatment plans, helps patients utilize their insurance benefits, and works to create a smooth, comfortable dental experience start to finish.

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Keri

15+ years experience
Hygiene Coordinator

Over 15 years in the dental field, starting as a dental assistant before moving up front. Keri loves getting to know patients and their families and helping them schedule appointments that fit real life.

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Cristina

Patient Coordinator

Often the first voice you'll hear when you call or the first face you'll see when you walk through our door. Cristina makes sure every patient's visit starts on the right foot.

The room you'll wait in

The team is one half of why patients stay. The space is the other.

Our office is bright, modern, and cheerful, with views of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve from inside. Treatment chairs are paired with televisions and noise-cancelling headphones, with the option of oral conscious sedation or nitrous oxide whenever you need it.

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Inside the Life Smiles Dental Care office
Treatment area at Life Smiles Dental Care
Reception area at Life Smiles Dental Care
Ready to meet us?

Three dentists. A whole team. One phone call.

New patients of all ages are welcome. Same-day emergency appointments are available, and telehealth virtual consultations let you start before you ever walk in.

Call (602) 786-5484 Request an appointment
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