Meet the Staff

MICHELLE - Treatment Coordinator
PAULA - Office Manager
LESLIE - Registered Dental Hygienist
LINDA - Registered Dental Hygienist
AMANDA - Appointment Coordinator
LISA - Dental Assistant

Michelle started working for Dr. Licata in the year 2000. She was raised in St. Louis and graduated from Lindbergh High School in 1987. She attended Southeast Missouri State from 1987-1989 and then started on-the-job dental training. In 1995 Michelle passed her Dental Assisting Expanded Duties exam.

When not at work, Michelle is kept very busy with her two sons’ many sports teams, and is a certified “Hockey Mom”. She also enjoys reading and scrapbooking.

Michelle feels the most important aspect of patient care is maintaining open communication with our patients and being sure they are informed and comfortable. Michelle is very much a “people person”, and our patients are her favorite things about working in our dental office.

PAULA - Office Manager

Paula is a seasoned dental veteran, starting with Dr. Licata in 1989 when the office first opened. Paula was raised in Benton, IL and graduated from high school there in 1977. She then graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1981 and earned her teacher’s certificate in Business Education in 1984 from Southern Illinois University.

Paula is the person who keeps all the business operations running smoothly at Dr. Licata’s office. She feels that communication among staff members as well as with patients is vital to managing a pleasant and efficient office. She feels communication keeps everyone comfortable both physically and mentally.

Outside of the office, much of Paula’s spare time is spent involved with her children. She is always volunteering at her kids’ schools and church, and is the Brownie Troop Leader for her daughter. She also enjoys being outdoors as much as possible.

Paula says her favorite thing about working for Dr. Licata is “seeing the way Dr. Licata treats patients. She treats them just as she herself would want to be treated. She always keeps the patient’s best interest in mind.”

LESLIE - Registered Dental Hygienist

Leslie has worked with Dr. Licata since 2003. Leslie was raised in Wentzville and graduated from Wentzville Holt High School in 1999. Leslie spent two years at St. Charles Community College from 1999-2001, and then attended Lakeland College in Mattoon, IL from 2001-2003 where she graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Dental Hygiene. Leslie is a member of the American Dental Hygiene Association and the Greater St. Louis Dental Hygiene Association.

Beyond her career as a dental hygienist, Leslie’s main focus is her family. She enjoys spending time with them as much as she can, and also enjoys reading. Leslie has also done volunteer work for Give Kids a Smile.

Leslie feels the most important aspect of patient care is building a comfortable and trusting relationship with her many patients. She prides herself on being extremely comprehensive and thorough. The best part of working in Dr. Licata’s office is “how the whole staff strives to be comprehensive and punctual.” She feels it is “important to treat our patients as she would like to be treated.”

LINDA - Registered Dental Hygienist

Linda is another dental veteran, having worked in Dr. Licata’s office since 1997. Linda was raised in Wykoff, Minnesota where she graduated from high school in 1980. Linda earned her Associate’s Degree of Science in Dental Hygiene from Wichita State in 1995. While there, she participated in the Sigma Phi Alpha Dental Hygiene Honor Society, and also assisted with the publishing of an article in the Journal of Dental Hygiene regarding a study of tartar-control toothpastes. Linda is a member of the American Dental Hygiene Association and the Greater St. Louis Dental Hygiene Association. She has volunteered for Give Kids a Smile.

Linda has many interests outside of dentistry. She loves to scrapbook and read, and often swaps books with our patients! She participates in a Special Needs Ministry through St. Joseph Church, plays a role in the yearly Autism Speaks Walk, and participates in the Parents Group at the Center for Autism where she works on developing new adult programs for people with autism.

Linda feels her most important aspect of patient care is trying to make patients feel comfortable coming to the dentist, and she also enjoys motivating patients to achieve their optimal oral hygiene.

Linda states her favorite part of working at Dr. Licata’s office is “the great doctor and staff she gets to work with.” She also “loves the nice office environment as well, and feels that her patients are the greatest in the world.”

AMANDA - Appointment Coordinator

Amanda has the friendly voice you will hear when you call, and has the pleasant smile that will greet you when you enter our office. She started working for Dr. Licata in 2008. Amanda was born and raised in Dyersburg, TN and graduated high school there in 2001, then attended Dyersburg Community College before moving to the St. Louis area. Amanda holds a certificate in Advanced Dental Career Training.

When not at work, Amanda likes riding 4-wheelers, reading, and taking walks. She also enjoys camping, floating, and exploring the outdoors. While at work, she prides herself on helping patients feel comfortable and providing a positive atmosphere for patients. Amanda enjoys striving to provide the best customer service possible. Her favorite things about Dr. Licata’s office are “working with her very friendly co-workers and learning something new every day from the Dr., staff, and the patients, too!”

LISA - Dental Assistant

Lisa has worked with Dr. Licata since 2002. She was born and raised here in St. Louis, and graduated from St. Louis Gateway Institute of Technology in 1994. She is a licensed medical assistant from Missouri College, and is currently working on an RN degree through Meramec Community College.

In her spare time, Lisa has volunteered several times at the Give Kids a Smile Clinics. She also volunteers several times a month at a local food pantry. Her hobbies include reading and bicycling.

Lisa feels her most important aspect of patient care is to make the patients feel at ease, and to be sure that they are comfortable with our staff and with the treatment they are receiving in our office. Lisa has many favorite things about working for Dr. Licata, including “working for an excellent dentist, the overall comprehensiveness of our office, the staff’s desire to keep our patients happy and comfortable, and the high level of organization our office keeps.”