Dental Team – Marana, AZ

Mariela,
Front Office

Mariela originally hails from New Jersey, where she attended dental school. Today, her career in this field spans over five years. She loves her job because everyone in the dental office shares the same vision, which creates an amazing family environment where the entire team looks out for one another. At home, Mariela is happily married and is the proud mom of three rescue dogs. Away from work, you can typically find her reading a good book or playing with the pups!  

Rhiannon,
Office Manager

Rhiannon brings diverse expertise to Sweet Smiles Family Dentistry, with certifications in x-ray and coronal polish, plus specialized training in laser dentistry, sleep apnea treatment, and iTero scanning. Originally from Benson, Arizona, she honed her skills at Pima Medical Institute after studying at Pima Community College. Her experience spans pediatrics, orthodontics, periodontal care, and oral surgery. Rhiannon values creating a laid-back, comfortable environment while delivering quality patient care. Outside the office, she enjoys hiking, camping, reading, and spending time with friends. Fun fact: Rhiannon was once a collegiate pole vaulter!

Savanna,
Dental Hygienist

Savanna is a Dental Hygienist at Sweet Smiles who is passionate about helping patients achieve healthy smiles while building lasting relationships along the way. She earned her dental hygiene degree from Northern Arizona University after beginning her career as a dental assistant. During her education, she gained valuable experience treating a wide variety of patients through rotations on the Hopi Reservation and a summer externship at a Federally Qualified Health Center. She is certified to administer local anesthetic, nitrous oxide, and laser therapy, allowing her to provide comprehensive, comfortable care. Originally from Mammoth, Arizona, Savanna enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, watching movies and TV shows, and trying new restaurants. She also loves learning random facts and is always excited to keep expanding her knowledge both in and out of dentistry.

Mariah,
Dental Assistant

Mariah is a Dental Assistant at Sweet Smiles Dentistry who loves helping patients while continuing to grow toward her goal of becoming a Dental Hygienist. She attended Pima Community College and began her dental career with Aspen Dental before joining the Sweet Smiles team. Originally from Tucson, Arizona, Mariah enjoys learning something new every day and takes pride in providing compassionate care to every patient she meets. Outside the office, she loves playing volleyball, PC gaming, fishing with her husband, and spending time with family and friends. She and her husband also enjoy taking their two pugs, Lucas and Sedona, on walks and consider them part of the family. Above all, Mariah values creating meaningful memories and cherishes every opportunity to spend time with the people she loves.

Erin,
Dental Assistant

Erin is a Dental Assistant at Sweet Smiles Family Dentistry and Orthodontics who enjoys building relationships with patients and helping them improve their oral health. She attended the University of Arizona and is certified in dental X-rays and surgical assisting, allowing her to provide skilled support to both patients and the clinical team. Originally from Glendale, Erin also spent time living in England before returning to Arizona, giving her a unique perspective and appreciation for new experiences. Outside of the office, she enjoys photography, dancing, and creating nail art. Erin is passionate about learning and looks forward to continuing to grow in the dental field while providing exceptional care to every patient she meets.

Kayli,
Dental Assistant

Kayli is a Dental Assistant at Sweet Smiles who is passionate about creating positive experiences for every patient she meets. She attended the University of Arizona and discovered her love for dentistry while volunteering at free clinics in Mexico, where she enjoyed helping patients find relief from pain and maintain healthy, confident smiles. Kayli values working alongside her team to make each visit as comfortable and welcoming as possible. Originally from Yuma, Arizona, she credits her family's unwavering support for inspiring her to continue her education and pursue her goals. Outside the office, Kayli enjoys traveling, spending time with her dog Pua, building LEGO® sets, cooking, going to the gym, and watching movies. Her favorite destination is San Diego, California, where she hopes to one day own a home.

Zainab,
Scheduling Coordinator

With several years of experience in the dental field, Zainab brings a unique combination of clinical knowledge and administrative expertise to the Sweet Smiles Dentistry & Orthodontics team. She holds a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree from Altamash Institute of Dental Medicine and spent four years working as a clinical associate dentist in Pakistan. Today, she uses that background in practice administration and scheduling, combining her understanding of patient care, HIPAA compliance, and practice operations to help keep each day running smoothly.

What Zainab enjoys most about her role is connecting with people and helping them feel genuinely cared for. As the oldest of four siblings with three younger brothers, taking charge and staying organized come naturally to her. She loves spending time with her family and her two pets, a black cat named Bunty and a very vocal Sun Conure named Cookie.

Outside the office, Zainab is an avid reader who considers books her favorite way to travel when she can't physically get away. She describes herself as "pathologically curious" and loves learning about just about everything. Her goal is to be thoroughly educated on every subject under the sun!

Muhammad,
Billing Specialist

With five years of experience in the dental field, Muhammad brings a strong background in dental billing and revenue cycle management to the Sweet Smiles Dentistry & Orthodontics team. His experience includes insurance verification, claim submission, payment posting, denial management, appeals, accounts receivable follow-up, and patient billing. He has worked with a variety of dental insurance plans and developed much of his expertise through hands-on experience with dental practices, insurance companies, and patient accounts.

What Muhammad enjoys most about his role is solving problems, helping others, and making a meaningful impact. He also values the opportunity to continuously learn and improve his skills while working alongside a great team. Originally from Lahore, Pakistan, Muhammad comes from a close-knit family that values respect, honesty, hard work, and supporting one another.

Outside the office, Muhammad enjoys running, strength training, exploring technology, working on personal projects, and spending time with family and friends. He is passionate about personal growth and considers himself a hybrid athlete, enjoying the challenge of balancing long-distance running with strength training and continually setting new fitness goals.