Welcome, Dr. Ridenbark!

My name is Dr. Tarah Ridenbark. I am happy to announce I am joining the fantastic team at Healthy Smiles full time! I have met many of you already, but for those I have not, I cannot wait to meet you. Before I do, I thought you might like to learn a few things about me. I am from the small town of Staunton, Illinois where I grew up on a farm raising various animals and growing crops. I have a wonderful, large family of two older brothers and two younger sisters. And I have recently been promoted to auntie! As a child I enjoyed trips to the dentist and knew that’s what I wanted to do. I received my Associates of Applied Science from Lewis and Clark Community College, Bachelors of Science in Biology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and my Doctorate of Dental Medicine from Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine. During dental school I was able to provide many hours of community service and education, and continue to volunteer in the community when I can. I also had the opportunity to attend a mission trip to Jamaica, where dental care was provided to thousands of people in need. I intend to volunteer for more missions trips in the future.

I have enjoyed following in the footsteps of Dr. Flavin by participating in the Give Kids A Smile organization.What I like most about dentistry is the ability to communicate with and educate my patients about their dental health and improving their oral condition. I pride myself in being an accessible and personable professional, dedicated to the care of my patients. Dr. Flavin has been a wonderful mentor to me during my time at Healthy Smiles. Not only has he taught me about dentistry, but his compassion toward each and every patient has made a huge impact on how I practice dentistry. I intend to follow the same practice philosophy and treat each patient as family, just as he has done for many years. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, and traveling. I am a big fan of the Harry Potter book series, Taylor Swift, and the St. Louis Blues. Most of all I love spending time with my dog, Doc, and fiancé, Tyler. I look forward to seeing you in the office, and in the community. Please do not hesitate to say hello!