Meet Our Team

Abby, Dental Assistant

Abby joined our practice in 2024. She enjoys connecting with patients while they are here for their appointment and doing her best to brighten their day.

For Abby, dentistry is all about making sure her patients always have a comfortable and pain-free experience with us. Her favorite moment so far was when a patient left with a brand new smile. Seeing the boost in their confidence was incredible and emotional for both the patient and Abby!

Abby’s favorite hobbies include thrifting/antiquing and taking outdoor walks with her friends.

April, Dental Assistant

April became a member of the dental profession in 2009; she joined our practice in 2015 and has been a cherished member of our dental family ever since.

Passionate about helping others, April finds joy in the opportunity dentistry provides to serve her patients, especially in restoring smiles and confidence to those who haven't experienced it in a long time.

At home, April enjoys family time playing with their two dogs and exploring the great outdoors together, whether it's camping, kayaking, fishing, or hunting.

Brittany, Patient Care Coordinator

Brittany's background is in banking and customer service. She became part of our team in 2023 and skillfully assists our patients with scheduling their treatment and maximizing their insurance benefits.

Dentistry suits Brittany perfectly; she feels privileged to have the chance to help others smile again and treasures the relationships she has built with our team and our patients.

Brittany loves spending family time with her two children. She also has a green thumb and enjoys all things gardening.

Charles, Dental Hygienist

Charles has been a dedicated dental healthcare professional since 2013. He holds a B.S. in Oral Health and is a licensed Georgia Registered Dental Hygienist.

Charles chose us as his dental family in 2024. He is proud to serve our patients alongside our wonderful team as they work together to make each patient feel at ease with their dental care.

Charles' education and professional experience have made him an enthusiastic advocate for raising awareness about the vital link between oral health and overall well-being. He believes in forming strong connections with his patients to fully understand their health needs, while also helping them improve their dental health.

A proud dad of two amazing boys, Charles cherishes every moment with his wife, children, and their family pets. His favorite pastimes include attending concerts and enjoying outdoor activities, including nature hikes, camping and bike riding.

Christina, Dental Assistant

Christina joined the dental profession in 2017. She has a B.S. in Biomedical Science and has worked in both clinical and administrative roles in general dentistry and orthodontics. Christina enjoys helping people with dental anxiety overcome their fears by making sure they have a positive experience as they achieve their healthy and confident smile.

Family is important to Christina, whether she is at home or with her dental family of team members and patients. She enjoys off-road sports, traveling and decorating for events.

Donna, Patient Services Coordinator

Donna came to Winterville Dental in 2003. Before joining our team, Donna worked in AR, AP and Payroll for a contracting firm for 10 years and also spent 15 years in the banking industry.

Donna helps all of our patients with scheduling, financial questions and patient treatment education. She has completed several continuing education courses in Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction, Total Team Training and Invisalign®.

Donna is a self-motivated, customer-service oriented team member. She enjoys working with both the clinical and administrative employees to coordinate all the aspects of our practice.

Donna is married to Curtis and is the mother of 3 boys and stepmother to a son and daughter. She has 11 grandchildren to spoil and enjoy and she loves working in her yard whenever possible.

Donna retired in 2021 after 18 years' of compassionate care and amazing service to our Winterville Dental patients and team. We wish her great happiness as she begins her next chapter!

See Donna's retirement video and photo album»

Hannah, Dental Assistant

Hannah joined our practice in 2024 and plans to pursue dental school. She loves interacting with her patients and continually learning about dentistry.

Although new to dentistry, Hannah already has a deep appreciation for the significant impact our care can have on patients' lives. She is moved by the honor of seeing the tears of joy when patients see the results of their treatment and their radiant, healthy smiles.

Hannah loves the camaraderie at Winterville Dental. She treasures the trust and respect that comes with being part of such a dedicated and caring team.

Favorite activities for Hannah include going out for sushi, working out at the gym, and cheering for the Dawgs at UGA football games. Go Dawgs!

Jessica, Patient Care Coordinator

Jessica joined Winterville Dental in 2018. She has been a member of the dental profession since 2008 and has served in both front office and dental assisting roles, including as a dental assisting instructor. Jessica holds an A.S. in Business Management, no surprise there because she is one of the most organized people we know!

Jessica works closely with our patients on staying up to date with their dental hygiene visits and educating them about periodontal care. Her understanding of dentistry is invaluable to our patients and our team in this role. Jessica is always willing to go the extra mile to help our patients keep their smiles healthy and looking great!

Jessica loves spending time with her family and friends, going on trips together to the beach and shopping.

Jessica P., Dental Assistant

Jessica is a graduate of Oglethorpe County High School. She trained as a dental assistant in 2011 and has been proud to serve the dental profession ever since. Jessica joined our practice in 2024.

Our patients and co-workers genuinely appreciate Jessica's clinical experience and kind-hearted manner. She loves being a part of helping our patients ‘get their smile back’ and feels inspired by having the opportunity to see their transformation firsthand.

Jessica loves spending time with her husband and two daughters, exploring the great outdoors together. She is a devoted Georgia fan - go Dawgs!

Kalin, Dental Assistant

Kalin graduated from Madison County High School; she completed her dental assistant training in Winder before joining our team in 2020. Kalin chose a career in dental assisting because she loves learning and helping people smile! She always wants her patients to feel comfortable, confident and welcome in our practice.

We have known Kalin for years as our dental patient. We are beyond proud that she was inspired to pursue dental assisting training and chose Winterville Dental as her work family.

Kalin loves spending time with her family and friends, and her blue heeler mix, Dixie-Belle. She also enjoys riding horses, camping at the lake and being outdoors.

Karen, Dental Hygienist

Karen began her career as a dental assistant in 1986. After realizing how much she enjoyed patient care, she decided to become a hygienist. She graduated from Gainesville College and Lanier Tech in 1995 and joined Dr. Durden's practice. Today she enjoys working with both of our dentists as part of the Winterville Dental Team.

Karen feels it is very rewarding to work in a practice that continues to update with new technology. Continuing Education has been an integral part of her hygiene program as she strives to bring her patients the best information available about the connection between oral health and overall wellness.

Karen values her relationships with her patients; she loves sharing her favorite books with them and is devoted to helping everyone maintain a healthy smile. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her nieces and nephews, needlework, gardening, hiking and church activities.

Katie, Business Manager

Katie joined our team in 2021. She loves having the opportunity to help people by not only bringing their smile back to life but also positively impacting their overall health and self-confidence.

As our business manager, Katie is fantastic with both our patients and our team. She and our team collaborate and work together to make sure that every patient has a positive, memorable experience from the moment they walk in to the moment they leave.

Katie really connects with patients who feel a bit nervous about visiting the dentist. She understands their fears because she once felt the same way. But with our dentists, she immediately felt comfortable thanks to their encouraging manner, incredible knowledge, and clear explanations. They make sure patients understand their treatment every step of the way, which helps to ease any anxiety.

Family time is extra special for Katie, she and her family are always on the go with some new adventure every weekend! Her favorite hobby is traveling, but crafting and singing run a close second.

Keli, Dental Hygienist

After completing her bachelor's degree in English, Keli continued her education to earn an A.S. in Dental Hygiene. She joined our Winterville Dental team in 2022. Keli enjoys getting to know her patients and helping them feel confident about their smiles. She is committed to continual study in advanced topics in dentistry, including dental-medical wellness health connections, nutrition, and periodontal research.

Along with listening to Elvis music, Keli's favorite pastimes include reading, traveling, and playing with her dog Gabby.

Krista, Scheduling Coordinator

Krista began her career in dentistry with Winterville Dental in 2023 after working for several years in banking and retail management. She completed her Associates in Business Administration degree at University of North Georgia.

Dentistry has won Krista's heart, and it shows. She loves seeing a patient's self-confidence soar when they are happy with their smile. She feels honored to be a member of a profession and team that can make a big difference in the lives of others.

Leigh B., Dental Assistant

After 21 years of working in retail for a large supermarket chain, Leigh joined our practice in December 2003 and enthusiastically trained as a dental assistant with Dr. Durden in our office.

Leigh has completed numerous continuing education courses in TMJ Dysfunction, Cosmetic Dentistry, CEREC® Dentistry, Full Mouth Reconstruction, Radiographic Imaging, Invisalign® and BioResearch Associates training for computerized TMJ diagnostics. She is in charge of our in office lab, coordinating patient cases with our scheduling coordinator and overseeing quality control. Leigh also assists our dentists and patients with chairside whitening.

Leigh is married to Kenny and has one daughter, Ashley, who is married and lives in Thomasville, GA. She enjoys reading, painting, working in her yard and spending time with her family.

Leigh L., Dental Hygienist

Leigh received her Associates Degree in Dental Hygiene from DeKalb Community College in 1981. She began practicing in Atlanta and moved to Athens in 1991. She joined our practice in 1997. Over the years, Leigh has enjoyed building close relationships with her patients and helping them have the continuity of care they need to keep their smile healthy.

Leigh has kept current with the latest information in hygiene and other aspects of dentistry through various continuing education courses. Topics range from orthodontics, including Invisalign®, periodontics, nutrition and health management, and TMJ dysfunction.

Leigh is an avid Georgia fan and likes to read and cross stitch in her spare time. She is married to Athens native, Mike. Leigh has 3 daughters, Meredith, Jamie and Kelly and step-daughter, Olivia. She is the proud grandmother of eight grandchildren.

Leigh retired in 2023 after 42 years of dedicated service to dental hygiene. We are so proud and honored to celebrate Leigh's accomplishments with her. She will always be a member of our Winterville Dental family, so you may see her in the office on occasion helping us out (and making us laugh!)

See Leigh's retirement video and photo album»

Miranda, Certified Dental Assistant

Miranda completed her dental assistant training in 2019 and joined Winterville Dental in 2020. She thrives in our family atmosphere and takes great pride in making sure her patients always know they are VIPs. Miranda is mindfully attentive to the details of assisting our dentists to help our patients enjoy excellent dental health.

Miranda loves spending time with her wonderful husband and their little boy. Her favorite hobbies are swimming and reading.

Sarah, Patient Care Coordinator

Sarah joined our practice in 2022 after working in the banking industry. She loves helping people and is passionate about continually learning about dentistry to serve our patients with excellence.

If you hear a ‘Go Dawgs!’ cheer while you are in our practice, it is probably Sarah! She and her husband Ben are devoted Dawgs fans. Sarah and Ben have two incredible kiddos, Eleanor and Grayson, and two pups. They enjoy spending time together as a family, going camping and doing anything outdoors, especially deep-sea fishing.

You may speak to Sarah when you call our office. She will always greet you with a warm welcome and is more than happy to assist you with your dental needs.

Shae, Dental Assistant

Shae joined our team in 2021. She quickly become passionate about her career as a dental assistant after working with patients to help them feel more confident about their smile. The team and patients at Winterville Dental have become part of Shae's extended family, she loves being around her awesome ‘people’.

Shae enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, and doing anything outdoors.

Shannon, Patient Care Coordinator

Since joining our practice in 2021, Shannon's healthcare background in chiropractics and sports medicine continues to be a valuable source of knowledge for our patients and a great complement to our team.

Shannon deeply values the compassionate and friendly environment at Winterville Dental. She loves seeing the transformation in our patients' smile health and self-confidence as they receive exceptional care provided by a dental team dedicated to excellence and attention to detail.

A proud mom of her two grown-up children, Brandon and Sarah, Shannon is devoted to her spirituality and continually seeks to deepen her understanding of her faith. She and her husband love spending time with their blended family, including their English Lab Ellie Mae.