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Our Team

At Lamorinda Tooth Buds, Smiles are Contagious

At the heart of our practice are exceptional doctors and a team who are warm, caring, and a little bit silly! We love coming together to provide the best care for our patients in a nurturing and fun environment. We are proud to be a woman-owned and operated business.

Meet The Doctors

Dr. Barnali Roy

Dr. Barnali Roy

  • DDS, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine
  • Recipient, Award for Academic Excellence in Pediatric Dentistry
  • Pediatric Dentistry Residency, Columbia University-New York Presbyterian Hospital
  • Diplomate, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.
  • Board Member, Contra Costa Dental Society
  • Member, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, California Dental Association, American Dental Association.

Dr. Barnali Roy grew up in Southern California, where she developed an early interest in healthcare and helping others. She pursued her undergraduate studies at the University of California, San Diego, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry with a minor in Psychology. Her academic journey took her to the East Coast, where she spent a year conducting research at Harvard Medical School.

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Dr. Katie Kim

Dr. Katie Kim

  • DDS, University of Southern California
  • Pediatric Dentistry Residency, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
  • Diplomate, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.
  • Member, California Society of Pediatric Dentistry and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

Dr. Katie Kim grew up in the Bay Area. She received her Bachelors of Science degree in Biology at the University of California, Irvine before moving to Los Angeles to complete her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree at the University of Southern California, where she discovered her passion for working with children while volunteering at community clinics.

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Dr. Stephanie Moniz

Dr. Stephanie Moniz

  • DDS, University of the Pacific School of Dentistry
  • Pediatric Dentistry Residency, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
  • Assistant Professor (past), University of Pacific School of Dentistry Pediatric Dental Clinic
  • Member, American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, California Dental Association and California Society of Pediatric Dentists.

Dr. Stephanie Moniz is a Bay Area native, having grown up in the South Bay. Dr. Stephanie has always enjoyed working with children and was a babysitter and nanny for many families throughout high school and college. She attended the University of California, Santa Barbara and earned a degree in Pharmacology, graduating with highest honors.

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Meet Our Team

Jacqueline Varela Rodriguez
Jacqueline

Patient Care Coordinator
Jacqueline is a seamstress who loves to go to art galleries, concerts, be around animals and nature, and travel. Some of her comfort foods include a coffee made by her mom, Toblerone chocolate, and pomegranates!

Mel Vargas
Mel

Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)
Mel loves children’s bright spirits, and making their dental visits a positive experience brings joy to her heart. When she’s not at the office, she enjoys baking, cooking, sharing time with loved ones, spending time outdoors, traveling, and staying connected with her community.

Mari Fuentes
Mari
Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)
Mari truly enjoys working with children and being able to provide a safe space to teach children about their oral hygiene, as well as building relationships and gaining trust with patients and their parents. She is happily married and is a proud mother of two beautiful children and one fur baby.
Mel Vargas
Jenna

Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)
Jenna loves kids, and working in pediatric dentistry allows her to make a positive impact on children at an early age. She loves helping kids feel safe, comfortable, and confident during their dental visits. When she’s not working she enjoys traveling and spending time with her boyfriend and dog Kuma.

Mel Vargas
Lyla
Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)
Lyla loves to bring warmth and compassion to every child’s dental visit, aiming to make each appointment feel safe and comfortable. Outside of the office, she loves exploring new hiking trails, diving into a good book, and planning her next travel adventure.
Dollie Schaefer, Dental Assistant
Dollie

Dental Assistant
Dollie is afriendly and compassionate dental assistant who enjoys working with kids, with a strong focus on educating children and encouraging healthy dental habits. She takes pride in creating a positive and comfortable experience for every patient. Outside of work, she enjoys snowboarding, mountain biking, and camping. 

Buddy Roy the dog

Buddy has retired!

We thank him for his service and wish him the best in his Golden Years 🙂

Tooth Buddy, Therapy Dog, and Super Mutt*

It is with immense gratitude that we announce the retirement of our sweet little Buddy from Tooth Buds! Buddy joined our office as a total surprise in 2018. His name was perfectly serendipitous as he was already named Buddy and our office was already named Tooth Buds. It was like he was meant to be our Tooth Buds Buddy!

While he was Dr. Roy’s dog & sidekick first, he quickly became a beloved member of our team. Over the past eight years, Buddy has brought so much joy to our patients, parents, and our team. His gentle loving snuggles & feisty sassiness brought both comfort and comedy in a truly unique, only-Buddy way! Some of our families have chosen dogs of their own specifically because they wanted a dog like Buddy. I have friends who have followed in our footsteps, adding comfort dogs to their offices to help their patients. Buddy has truly been a leader in his pack and inspirational for many.

As he is now entering his early 60s (in dog years), Buddy will be enjoying a slower pace in his life— filled with long naps on the couch, snuggles from his family, beach days with his mama, and walks at the park. While he may not be a regular at the office anymore, you may find our sweet boy frequenting some local Lamorinda favorite spots. Please don’t hesitate to show our little guy some love if you do!

Thank you Buddy for your years of dedication and service to Tooth Buds. There will always only be one like you. We adore you and are so grateful that you shared part of your journey with us!

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The staff at Lamorinda Tooth buds is amazing. They take great care in helping my children understand procedures and ease anxiety every step of the way.”
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We look forward to welcoming you to our Tooth Buds Family.