Below are the descriptions of our dental team, designed to familiarize you with our team's training, professional credentials and work experience.

Dr. Stump graduated from the  Indiana School of Dentistry  in 2010. He graduated with a Research Honors Certificate and was inducted to the Omicron Kappa Upsilon dental honor society. From there he completed his 2 year pediatric dental residency at the  Children's Hospital of Wisconsin  in Milwaukee and served as his program's Chief Resident. After residency he and his wife (Lauren Stump, D.D.S.), moved to Charlottesville. 

He joined Charlottesville Pediatric Dentistry in 2012. In his spare time he loves hiking, biking, and running in the Blue Ridge. You can see him most weekends along the Rivanna River enjoying the outdoors with his family.

Professional Affiliations

•  Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry 
•  American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry 
• Charlottesville-Albemarle Dental Association

 Taylor Smith, D.D.S. 

 Board Certified Pediatric Dentist 

 Charlottesville, VA Dentist 

  Charlottesville Pediatric Dentistry  

A Richmond, Virginia native, Dr. Taylor Smith DDS earned an undergraduate degree in Biology at the  University of Virginia  . He then returned to his hometown of RVA to complete his dental education at  Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry  . After Dental School, he completed his pediatric and special needs residency at the renowned Children’s Hospital Colorado, where he served as the program’s Chief Resident.

In his spare time, you can find Dr. Smith and his wife, Courtney, enjoying live music at the Pavilion or dinner at their favorite restaurant, The Local. Dr. Smith is an avid UVA sports fan and was lucky enough to get tickets to see the UVA Men’s Basketball team win their first-ever national championship. Go Hoos! Dr. Smith also enjoys hiking, skiing, fly fishing, camping, and basically doing anything in the outdoors.

Dr. Dixon grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and graduated from Salem High School in 1995. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 1999, from  The College of William and Mary  , where she majored in Biology, minored in Chemistry. In 2003, she graduated cum laude from the  Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry  . Dr. Dixon continued her education at MCV, where she earned her specialty certificate in pediatric dentistry and her Master of Science degree in 2005. Dr. Dixon is a recipient of the prestigious Richard Pugh Award. She was recognized at the 2006 Annual American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Meeting for scoring in the top 3% in the country on her Pediatric Board Exam.

Dr. Dixon is happily married to her high school sweetheart, Mark S. Dixon. Dr. Dixon and her husband are the loving parents of Kate and Emma. In her spare time, Dr. Dixon enjoys cooking, entertaining family and friends, and taking her daughters on playdates.

Research

Dr. Dixon did her undergraduate dental research in the Department of Oral Craniofacial Molecular Biology.  Her research was titled The Genetic Analysis of Streptococcus parasanguis fim A.  The focus of this research was to develop a vaccine to help protect patients against developing bacterial endocarditis.

Dr. Dixon’s master’s thesis was on Child’s Temperament and Conscious Sedation Outcomes.  Her work in sedation dentistry has enabled her to understand and appreciate the unique relationship between child temperament and sedation outcomes.

Professional Affiliations

•  Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry 
•  American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry 
•  American Dental Association 
•  Virginia Dental Association 
• Charlottesville-Albemarle Dental Association

Dr. Stranix loves orthodontics because of the opportunity it gives her to improve the health and confidence of her patients. She is grateful for the chance to build relationships with patients and their families and watch as their smiles transform over time.

Dr. Stranix graduated with honors from UVA and then earned her dental degree at VCU, where she was a member of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon dental honor society. She completed a three-year orthodontics residency at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, where she learned the most advanced orthodontic techniques. She went on to become a board-certified Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. Before moving to Charlottesville, she practiced orthodontics in New York City and Philadelphia while her husband, JT, completed his residency and fellowship in reconstructive plastic surgery. To give her patients the best possible care, she regularly attends continuing education courses to stay up to date on the latest research and advances in orthodontics.

Outside of the office, Dr. Stranix loves spending time with her husband and her 3- and 5-year-old daughters, Caroline and Blair. She also enjoys playing tennis, taking walks, and soaking up all the fun Charlottesville has to offer!

Professional Affiliations

•  American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) 
•  American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) 
•  Southern Association of Orthodontics (SAO) 
•  Omicron Kappa Upsilon dental honor society 

Our Team

Brooke

Brooke has been working with us since 2017. She has a degree in history from Virginia Commonwealth University. Brooke enjoys spending time with her husband Bud, and their two sons, Kaleo and Kemper. In her spare time, she loves to garden as well as snowboard at Snow Shoe and wakeboard at Smith Mountain Lake.

1. Favorite Color: Purple
2. Favorite Disney Movie: Little Mermaid
3. Favorite Ice Cream: Butter Pecan
4. Favorite Restaurant: The Fitzroy on the Downtown Mall
5. Favorite Music: Americana/ Indie Rock
6. Favorite Flower: Hydrangeas & Peonies

Lia

Lia has been working with us since 2019. She has a degree in psychology from the University of Colorado in Boulder, where she lived for over 7 years before returning to the East Coast. In her free time Lia loves hanging out with her husband David and their three cats, Libby, Rigatoni and Ravioli. She and her husband are passionate about animals and plan to adopt many more rescues throughout their lives.

1. Favorite Color: Olive Green
2. Favorite Disney Movie: Flight of the Navigator
3. Favorite Ice cream: Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip
4. Favorite Restaurant: Lime Leaf
5. Favorite Music: Industrial
6. Favorite Flower: Black Dahlia

Carestin

Carestin has been working with us since 2015. Carestin enjoys spending her spare time with her husband and high school sweetheart, Kentry and their sons Hutton and Halston. She loves traveling and spending time outdoors.

1. Favorite Color: Navy
2. Favorite Disney Movie: Finding Nemo
3. Favorite Ice cream: Cookie Dough
4. Favorite Restaurant: Texas Roadhouse
5. Favorite Music: Christian
6. Favorite Flower: Daisies

Yessi

Yessi has been working with us since 2019. Yessi enjoys spending time with her husband, Ivan, and her Chihuahua, China. In her spare time, Yessi loves hanging out with family at their cookouts, as well as trips to the beach.

1. Favorite Color: Pink
2. Favorite Disney Movie: Frozen
3. Favorite Ice cream: Chocolate
4. Favorite Restaurant: Sakura
5. Favorite Music: All genres
6. Favorite Flower: Roses

Taylor

Taylor has been working with us since 2020. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Josh, their two kids, Walker and Gracelynn and theirdogs, Dixie and Moto. In her spare time Taylor loves participating in all kinds of outdoor activites

1. Favorite Color: Orange
2. Favorite Disney Movie: Fox and The Hound
3. Favorite Ice cream: Cookie Dough
4. Favorite Restaurant: Red Robin
5. Favorite Music: Country
6. Favorite Flower: Sunflowers

Amber

Amber has been working with us since 2020. Amber enjoys spending spare time with her husband Zack, son Hudson and dog Copper. In her free time, she enjoys visiting local wineries, cooking and embroidering.

1. Favorite Color: Teal
2. Favorite Disney Movie: Honey I shrunk the Kids
3. Favorite Ice cream: Half Baked by Ben & Jerry's
4. Favorite Restaurant: El Miriachi
5. Favorite Music: Country
6. Favorite Flower: Poppy

Megan

Megan has been working with us since 2020. She has her undergraduate degree in communication science and disorders from James Madison University and her master's degree in special education from Liberty University. Megan enjoys spending time with her husband Joe and their son Paxton. In her spare time, she enjoys playing board games, reading, and boating at Lake Anna.

1. Favorite Color: Green
2. Favorite Disney Movie: Hercules
3. Favorite Ice cream: Mint Chocolate Chip
4. Favorite Restaurant: South Street
5. Favorite Music: Pop
6. Favorite Flower: Daisies

Lori

Lori has been working with us since 2021. She enjoys spending time with her husband Aaron and two children, daughter Mackenzie, and son, Drewry. She also enjoys spending time with her multitude of animals which includes dogs, cats, reptiles & chickens. Lori loves taking short trips with her family, reading, crafting and camping around the blue ridge mountains.

1. Favorite Color: Lime Green
2. Favorite Disney Movie: Monster’s Inc.
3. Favorite Ice cream: Chocolate Fudge
4. Favorite Restaurant: Texas Roadhouse, Sakura & The Melting Pot
5. Favorite Music: Country
6. Favorite Flower: Calla Lilies (especially dark purple)

Sara

Sara has been working with us since 2021. She returned to Charlottesville in 2020 after living in San Diego, California for many years. Sara loves to travel, especially to the beach or to explore around the mountains. Outside of work she enjoys hanging out with her kitties, Vader and Sabrina. Most of all she loves spending time with her two nieces, Henley and Arrow.

1. Favorite Color: Yellow
2. Favorite Disney Movie: Aladdin
3. Favorite Ice cream: Cookies and Cream
4. Favorite Restaurant: Citizen Burger
5. Favorite Music: Alternative rock and Indie
6. Favorite Flower: Protea and Peonies

Chentell

Chentell has been working with us since 2022. She enjoys spending time with her husband James and their son Christian. Chentell loves art of all kinds and in her spare time she likes to paint and do photography. She also loves to sing karaoke, especially when no one is around to hear her.

1. Favorite Color: Gray and Yellow
2. Favorite Disney Movie: Encanto and Mulan
3. Favorite Ice cream: Strawberry Cheesecake
4. Favorite Restaurant: Long Horn and Asian Bistro
5. Favorite Music: Anything but Screamo
6. Favorite Flower: Lillies and Sunflowers

Destiny

Destiny has been working with us since 2022. She enjoys spending time with her fiancé Patrick and her children Emma, Kaybree, Khloe and Everleigh. Destiny loves watching her kids play sports, UVA sports and spending time with her family.

1. Favorite Color: Teal
2. Favorite Disney Movie: Princess Diaries
3. Favorite Ice cream: Cookie dough
4. Favorite Restaurant: Texas Roadhouse
5. Favorite Music: Country
6. Favorite Flower: Sunflowers

Skyler

Skyler has been working with us since 2018. She took a 9 month maternity leave to spend extra time with her son Brady. She returned to our office in 2022. She enjoys spending time with her husband Jake, son Brady and step daughter Riley. In he spare time she loves to bake.

1. Favorite Color: Lavender
2. Favorite Disney Movie: Sandlot
3. Favorite Ice cream: Vanilla with sprinkles
4. Favorite Restaurant: Bodos Bagels
5. Favorite Music: Love it all
6. Favorite Flower: Wild Flowers

Savanna

Savanna has been working with us since 2023. Savanna is working hard towards her bachelor's in health management from Liberty University. She enjoys spending time with her fiancé Adrian and their sweet daughter Isabella, while they wait for their little boy to join them in August 2024. In her spare time she loves to be outside or cooking something yummy in the kitchen.

1. Favorite Color: Baby blue
2. Favorite Disney Movie: Finding Nemo
3. Favorite Ice cream: Snickers ice cream bars
4. Favorite Restaurant: Cracker Barrel
5. Favorite Music: A little bit of everything
6. Favorite Flower: Sunflowers and Roses

Sam

Sam has been working with us since 2024. Sam enjoys spending her free time with her husband Gage, two sons Lucas and Grayson and all of their animals at home. In her free time, she loves cooking, baking and painting when she isn't at the ballfield.

1. Favorite Color: Pink
2. Favorite Disney Movie: Tangled
3. Favorite Ice cream: Butter Pecan
4. Favorite Restaurant: Pinto Thai
5. Favorite Music: Pop
6. Favorite Flower: Tulips