Katie, RDA
Katie is fairly new to the practice. She will be the first person you see when you arrive at our office. She will help you with any forms you need to fill out and will update your existing information. She grew up in Lebanon and recently graduated from Kaplan Career Institute earning her license as a Registered Dental Assistant. Katie spends her time chasing around her 2 year old daughter Addison. She also enjoys spending time with her fiance' Brett, watching movies and cooking for her family.

Kellie, RDA, CTA Lead Business Assistant
Kellie's dental career spans more than 20 years. She is trained in and has been responsible for performing duties in all aspects of dentistry from assisting to office management. Kellie enjoys helping our patients with their questions and concerns regarding insurance, financing and treatment planning. She also does a lot of our public relations and marketing . Kellie is our lead business assistant and does many duties of an office manager. She is also licensed in both California and Tennessee as a Registered Dental Assistant and received her Certified TMJ Assistant accreditation in 1996. Kellie is happily married to her husband Jim and they have six children(three currently residing in Tennessee) and 4 grand children They enjoy vacationing all over the United States, camping, fishing, and touring on their Harley and spending time with family.

Jill, RDA Business Assistant
Jill is a Registered Dental Assistant and part of the front office team. Jill attended Volunteer State's Dental Assisting Program where she received her Registered Dental Assisting License in 1988. She has worked for Dr LaFever since 1998. Jill enjoys assisting patients with their scheduling and insurance needs. She is very capable of answering any of your clinical questions as well. Born and raised in Mt Juliet, she graduated from Mt Juliet High School, where her daughter Kenzie is currently a student. Jill enjoys spending time with her family attending Hermitage Hills Baptist Church, reading and shopping.

Amanda, RDA Business Assistant
Amanda was born and raised in Smyrna, She started working with Dr LaFever in 2008 as a part time "scanner" while she attended MTSU where she received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2010. Since that time she has also received her Registered Dental Assistant license and now works as part of the front office team. You will most likely meet Amanda as you leave the office after your appointment. She has a young son, Jaxson who was born in 2010. Amanda enjoys reading shopping and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Patsy, RDA
Patsy Clay has worked as Dr. LaFever's main chair side assistant since 1993, and has been in the dental field since 1972. Patsy is a natural when it comes to working with children as well as nervous adults. She has soothed and relaxed many an anxious patient in her 34 years of dental assisting. Patsy grew up in the Madison, Tennessee area and attended Madison High School. Patsy states that "our staff is so friendly that our patients often say that coming here is like being with family."

Kristi, RDA
Kristi joined the practice in May of 2008. She was born in Indiana but raised in Tennessee. Kristi graduated from Lebanon High School. After high school she attended Remington College to pursue a career in Dental Assisting where she maintained a 4.0 average. Kristi enjoys working as a dental assistant and it is her goal to make your dental visit both a positive and pleasant experience. She says the best part of her job is getting to know our wonderful patients and treating them all as if they were her own family. When Kristi is not at work she enjoys spending time with her two sons, camping, fishing, bike riding and participating in cub scout activities with the boys.

Stefanie RDA
Stefanie was born and raised in Lebanon Tennessee. She is married to Jared and they have two small children Bryson, 3 and Addy Jo, 1. They just recently purchased a home in Lebanon and are very excited to move in. Even as a small child Stefanie was fascinated with the dental office. She knew eventually she would make a career in that field. Stefanie graduated from Volunteer State College in 1998 with her technical certificate and received her Registered Dental Assisting license in 1999.She loves everything about her job, her co workers, returning patients and the new patients she meets every day. Stefanie is passionate about her role in Dr. Gunnels office and the satisfaction she gets in knowing she helped to make a difference in someones smile. She enjoys shopping, reading chasing around her children and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Rachel RDA
Rachel was born and raised in Mount Juliet. She attended Mount Juliet High School where she met and married her high school sweet heart Brandon. They currently live in Gladeville with their two daughters, Taylor and Madisyn. Rachel obtained her Dental Assisting License in 2010 and has just recently took on the role as Dr Gunnels second assistant. Prior to that she was the first person you saw when you entered the office. Rachel has always had a desire to be a clinical assistant and was thrilled when an opening became available in the back office. She can bring a smile to any ones face and has the ability to calm down the most nervous patients. Rachel is very active at Gladeville Baptist Church, She loves to spend time outdoors, riding her horses, reading on the beach and spending quality time with her friends and family.

Beth, RDH
Beth is an Old Hickory native and attended the former DuPont High School in Hermitage. During this time, at age 15, she began working for an area dentist after school and on weekends. It was at this time she developed an interest in the "tooth business". Beth attended the University of Tennessee at Martin and then transferred to Tennessee State University where she graduated with her Dental Hygiene Degree in 1985. Currently living in Hermitage, she has worked with Dr. LaFever since 1998 as one of two dental hygienists on staff. She has one sonTyler, who studies Bio Medical Physics at Lipscomb University.Beth states that "the staff here at Dr. LaFever's office is one of the most caring I have ever worked with, and it shows in our treatment of patients, who are THE most important part of the practice. As a patient, you will most assuredly be treated with the care and respect we would expect for ourselves and our families and friends".

Heather T., RDH
Heather grew up in Northern Indiana. She grew up knowing she wanted to work in the health care field. Heather worked as a Pharmacy Technician while attending Indiana State University, where she earned her degree in Dental Hygiene. Heather married her husband Bobby in 2009 and after falling in love with Mount Juliet they bought their first home here in 2010. She also began her career with Providence Dental Care in 2009 where she enjoys working in such a caring and professional environment. Heather and Bobby attend Victory Baptist Church. In their free time they enjoy visiting family and friends in Indiana and Chicago and just traveling in general.

Heather J., RDH
Heather was raised in Mt Juliet where she attended Donelson Christian Academy. She then went on to attend Tennessee State University where she earned her Dental Hygiene Degree. Heather and her husband Donnie met in high school, later married and have two children. In her free time she enjoys being a busy mom to an 8 and 2 year old and spending time with her family and friends. Heather says she feels blessed to be in a profession that allows her to provide care for, educate and build lasting relationships with every patient she comes into contact with. She loves being a hygienist and is committed to providing the best care possible to all her patients. Heather is very proud to work for Dr Gunnels "A great dentist who truly cares about his patients' happiness and well being." She looks forward to making you visit to our office a pleasant one.

Jenna, RDH
Jenna was raised in Mount Juliet where she graduated from Mount Juliet High School. Jenna attended Western Kentucky University where she received her degree in Dental Hygiene and graduated at the top of her class with Summa Cum Laude honors. Jenna has worked for several years in Memphis and Nashville as a full time hygienist but now enjoys being a stay at home mom. Jenna and Josh (aka Dr Gunnels) met in high school and married in 2001. Aubrey Katherine, their 1st child, was born in Memphis in 2008 while Josh was finishing dental school. Addison Leigh was born March of 2010 in Nashville. Jenna does "fill in" for the practice and would love to return to doing hygiene when their daughters are older and both in school. The family attends Providence United Methodist Church. Jenna enjoys running, keeping active and "do it yourself" craft projects.