Katelynn – Registered Dental Hygienist

Katelynn graduated from Shawnee State University’s Dental Hygiene Program in 2020. She’s excited to help others embrace their smiles and takes care of each patient to make sure they are comfortable and at ease! When not in the office Katelynn enjoys traveling, trying new foods and spending time with her family.

We are proud of Katelynn for taking the necessary steps to obtain her General Supervision license, which has been a great help to our practice. We appreciate and are so thankful for Katelynn’s dedication and way of keeping patients at ease while in the chair. If you haven’t yet met her, we sure hope you will!

Tonia Brown, Patient Concierge

We are fortunate to have Tonia as our Patient Concierge at Commonwealth Smiles. She is a valuable member of our team. With more than 10 years of experience, she studied Healthcare Administration at Brown Mackie College. It is her passion to make sure every patient feels welcome, comfortable, and has a wonderful experience at our office.

“I enjoy helping our patients and give 120% every day,” says Tonia. “It brings me great joy to know that I have just contributed to the transformation of our wonderful patients’ lives. We have a wonderful team at Commonwealth Smiles, and we treat everyone as if they were family.”

She is the proud mother of four beautiful but needy children/adults. She has two boys and two girls: Tre (20), Bo (23), Tatee (24), and Teoni (16). In addition, she has two granddogs, a Yorkie (Creed) and a Shitzu (Rho). Her family has a strong military background, which is why she ended up in Kentucky. Lexington has been her home for a little more than two years. During her free time, she enjoys traveling and cooking delicious new recipes.

Amelia, Sterilization Technician

Amelia is a Sterilization Technician and a student at the University of Kentucky, majoring in Biology with a Pre-Dental focus. She plans to attend dental school upon graduating in 2025, and enjoys learning about all of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into owning a dental practice. 

Amelia is passionate about working for Commonwealth Smiles, where the team is willing to help aspiring dentists like her. Patients enjoy interacting with Amelia, as she always does her best to provide a positive and safe environment for them. 

When she is not at work, she enjoys running, reading, and playing card games with her friends and family. Amelia is excited to continue her education in the upcoming years and to pursue her dreams of becoming a dentist.

Kanaysha, Sterilization Technician

Kanaysha is a Sterilization Technician and a student at the University of Kentucky pursuing a pre-dental degree. As an aspiring orthodontist, Kanaysha finds her job to be highly rewarding and educational. She loves interacting with patients and puts them at ease with her kind and friendly demeanor. Kanaysha truly enjoys working at Commonwealth Smiles with Dr. Kress, and even more so since she was a patient before starting there, and Dr. Kress inspired her to pursue a career in dentistry. Watching her expand her business and accomplish other amazing things has further reinforced her desire to become a dentist. 

When Kanaysha is not working, she enjoys riding roller coasters, cooking, baking, and playing video games. She is a dedicated student, and is determined to make her dream of becoming an orthodontist a reality. Kanaysha is passionate and driven, and will no doubt be successful in her chosen field.

Elizabeth, Clinic Assistant

Elizabeth is a dedicated Clinic Assistant at Commonwealth Smiles. Elizabeth brings a passion for learning and a warm, friendly approach to her role.

What Elizabeth enjoys most about being a Clinic Assistant is the opportunity to connect with wonderful patients and continually expand her knowledge of dentistry. She strives to create a relaxed and non-judgmental environment, where patients can feel at ease and be themselves.

Beyond work, Elizabeth is part of a loving family with a younger brother and sister. She also shares her life with her cherished dog, Angel. In her free time, Elizabeth actively participates in mission trips with her church, and she has a strong passion for teaching and tutoring kids in math.

One of the reasons Elizabeth enjoys working at Commonwealth Smiles is the fast-paced nature of the office, which provides valuable hands-on learning opportunities from the experienced team. Elizabeth is excited to be part of a team that prioritizes growth, patient care, and maintains a supportive work environment. We are so proud of and excited for Elizabeth who plans to one day become a dentist herself!  If you know Dr. Kress, you know she loves mentoring awesome students just like Elizabeth.