Meet Our Dental Team – Denison, IA
Here to Help You Smile
Whether we’re answering your phone call, helping you schedule treatment, taking your dental X-rays, or cleaning your teeth, our team members strive to give you the best dental experience you’ve ever had. We strive to go the extra mile to help you feel relaxed and welcome here in our Denison dental office. We look forward to meeting you, but you can get to know more about us by reading the information below.
Erika, Office Manager
As a previous rehabilitation director for a large therapy company and an occupational therapist, Erika has always had a passion for helping people and supporting them as they work towards their personal goals. As our dental office manager, she goes above and beyond to help patients feel overjoyed with their smiles. It’s always amazing to hear about how much the team has touched their lives for the better!
Erika and her husband Dr. Bygness have four very active and involved kids (Quinlan, Roman, Monroe, and Ezra) who are their world. Outside of dental office hours, they enjoy attending all of their various activities – all four kids play sports and also practice piano. As for personal hobbies, she loves traveling. Tropical destinations are her personal favorite, as she’s a warm weather girl and is always up for doing all sorts of stuff outside in the sun, including boating, working in the yard, and much more. She also really enjoys trying new restaurants and has a long-standing love/hate relationship with running.
Gabrielle, Dental Hygienist
Originally from Manilla, Gabrielle attended Des Moines Area Community College for her prerequisites before going to Iowa Central Community College to complete the dental hygiene program. With several years of experience in the dental field, she loves making people’s smiles healthier and creating a positive difference for every patient who walks through our doors.
When she isn’t at the office, Gabrielle lives with her husband and spends much of her time with family and loved ones. She likes putting puzzles together with them and going boating in Lake View during summer.
Hilda, Receptionist
Hilda loves helping patients keep track of their dental schedules and seeing them walk into our office looking forward to their appointments. Ensuring that their visits are comfortable and a smooth process makes her happy. She’s a native of Denison and enjoys making a significant difference in the lives of others both in the office and in her community.
At home, Hilda lives with her partner, their children, and her pet Pitbull named Mila. She enjoys a simple life and spends most of her time with her family and friends. She loves trying new foods and going on adventures—she even ziplined over the biggest maze located in the mountains of El Salvador once!
Tia, Dental Hygienist
Born and raised in Schleswig, IA, Tia has been in the field of dentistry for a couple of years now and she loves the work she does. She studied at the University of South Dakota to achieve her Bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene. Today, she enjoys getting to meet new people as well as helping out others that she’s known all her life growing up in the area.
Other than spending time with her family and friends, Tia is soon to be married in 2025 and she’s over the moon about it! Other than treating patients’ pearly whites, she also loves being outside, helping on her father’s farm, doing yard work, and going on walks. She also enjoys watching crime documentaries in her spare time. One fun fact about her is that she and her sisters look so alike that they’re often mistaken for triplets!
Anna, Dental Assistant
Anna is from Manilla, and she is a graduate of Western Iowa Tech in Sioux City. She is a certified dental assistant who has had the opportunity to visit different offices to see how they provide dental care. She loves the work environment at our practice and greatly enjoys getting to talk with all our patients.
Anna’s family includes her mom, her dad, and three sisters that she gets along great with. She happens to be a triplet! When she’s not at work, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her loved ones.
Yahaira, Dental Assistant
Originally from Denison, Yahaira first entered the dental field when Dr. Bygness gave her the opportunity to be a dental assistant trainee. She eventually passed the board exams and became a certified dental assistant. As a people person, she considers getting to meet so many amazing patients to be the best part of her job!
Yahaira is from a traditional Mexican family. She has five brothers, two sisters, two nephews, and a niece. Her hobbies outside of the dental office include spending time outside, working out at the local gym, running, cooking, and watching Netflix.
Nancy, Financial Coordinator
Nancy comes from Lynwood, California. As our financial coordinator, she is proud to work with such a supportive team of colleagues. She enjoys how her current position is giving her the chance to learn new skills and grow in the industry.
Nancy is the middle child of three sisters. She has enjoyed over a decade of marriage and has two wonderful children. Outside of the office, she likes to go to her son’s soccer games and watch her daughter enjoy tumbling, tap, and jazz.