Meet Our Stratford Dental Team

We Treat You Like Family

Stratford dental team member smiling as she listens to a patient

Our dental team at Stratford Smiles is energetic and caring, and we pride ourselves on creating a warm, welcoming environment for all who visit. When you first set foot in our office, you are part of the family!

Betsy, Registered Dental Assistant

Registered dental hygienist Betsy

Betsy has been part of the dental world for well over four decades, and she’s just as passionate about her work as the day she started. The best part of her job is building long-term relationships and trust with patients, and she also feels grateful to be a major part of their wellness journey. She studied at the University of Bridgeport, Fones School of Dental Hygiene. She’s also a proud member of Sigma Phi Alpha International Society, honoring the top 10% of hygienists globally. Her experience includes pediatrics and geriatrics, and she was the dental director of St. Joseph’s Manor in Trumbull, CT, from 2003-2006.

Outside of dentistry, Betsy spends much of her time with her mother, two daughters, her grandchildren, and her sweet rescue dog named Chloe. Other than being with her loved ones, she enjoys simple adventures, such as walking, kayaking, enjoying Lake Winnipesaukee with family, visiting her brother in Ireland, and attending musical concerts from the Bleachers to the Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra!

Aniya, Dental Assistant

Dental team member Aniya

Originating from Bridgeport, CT, Aniya has been in the dental field for half a decade and counting. She attended Porter and Chester to achieve her certification in dental assisting, and she’s had experience working in small and larger practices, allowing her to learn how to adapt to any situation. She’s currently studying at the University of Bridgeport to become a dental hygienist.

Away from the office, Aniya lives with her family and daughter, who are all very supportive of each other. She also enjoys cooking, trying new restaurants, traveling, and having small get-togethers with friends. She loves to do graphic design for small businesses and anyone in need of custom visuals, as she’s creative at heart.

Junita, Front Office Administrator

Dental team member Junita

A Bridgeport native, Junita has been part of the dental field for close to two decades. The thing she loves most about her job is that she gets to work with a team that encourages her growth and to explore her potential, where she can use her creative skills to be an incredible asset to the team. She enjoys the fact that she gets to contribute to patient care as well as the overall growth of the practice.

Aside from dentistry, Junita loves being with her beautifully blended family, who is her greatest blessing. She and her husband work hard to raise a loving, faith-filled household, and they enjoy the journey every day. Other than the dental world, she is also a multi-passionate entrepreneur and content strategist, as she runs a brand called Momma Work It University, where she helps mothers and women turn their creativity, skills, and personal stories into income through coaching, publishing, e-commerce, and digital branding. She’s also the founder of The BrandHer, where she offers branding and marketing services for small businesses. Other than being a wife, mother, and business owner, she also finds time to write books and help other women launch theirs, too!

Maria, Front Office Coordinator

Dental team member Maria

Originally from Derby, CT, Maria attended a training program to become a dental assistant. She later made her way to working as a front office coordinator, where she gets to help manage the practice and create a plan for our team to work as efficiently as possible. With nearly two decades of experience and counting, she loves knowing that she helps make a difference in someone’s life, whether it’s offering a kind word or simply making a patient feel safe and cared for during their dental journey. Being a source of comfort and positivity for others is incredibly rewarding for her.

If you don’t find her at the office, Maria is typically spending time with her family. She’s a proud mother of three beautiful girls and a grandmother to a sweet little boy. Family is everything to her, and she cherishes going on trips and sharing Sunday dinners with her loved ones to stay connected. She also has a passion for cooking—her creative outlet—and running a small catering business. No matter how busy life gets for her, she always enjoys being the person who lifts others when they need it most.

Rynhia

Dental team member Rynhia

Bio Coming Soon

Satira

Dental team member Satira

Bio Coming Soon

Erika, Dental Hygienist

Dental team member Erica

Erika loves being able to help patients improve their oral hygiene habits while building strong relationships with her patients. She studied at Fones School of Dental Hygiene at the University of Bridgeport, and she’s also certified in local anesthesia and Basic Life Support.

Originally from Milford, CT, Erika has a rescue terrier mix named Starr that she enjoys spending time with. All of her immediate family lives nearby, allowing her to have more frequent gatherings with them. She enjoys taking day trips to Rhode Island and New York, swimming by the pool or local beaches in the summer, being outdoors, and reading on her Kindle. Other than hanging out with friends, she enjoys watching sports like baseball and NASCAR, and she loves forensic shows in the evenings.