Meet the Doctors of Martin Dental Care
Proud to be part of the Kent community
At Martin Dental Care, we are a team of caring, experienced dental professionals who use only the most advanced technologies, materials & procedures. At our community-focused practice, your comfort & satisfaction come first. We offer early morning, late evening & Saturday appointments, so you don’t have to miss work or school for your care, something our team feels strongly about.
We pride ourselves on taking the time to listen & get to know each patient as an individual. The entire team at Martin Dental Care looks forward to seeing you soon & developing a relationship with you to build the bridge toward long-term trust & successful dental care. See why our patients can’t stop smiling!
Doctors Christopher & Carol Martin
After receiving his B.A. from Ohio Wesleyan University, Dr. Christopher Martin earned his D.D.S. from Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine. He is active in the dental community as a member of the Akron Dental Society, Ohio Dental Association & the American Dental Association. Dr. Martin is a lifelong resident of Kent & Portage County & a member of the Kent Rotary Club. He also serves as a council member for the Akron Dental Society.
His wife, Dr. Carol Martin completed her Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry at John Carroll University. She also attended Case Western University School of Dental Medicine where she earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. Following dental school, Dr. Carol Martin completed a one-year post-doctoral general practice residency at the Cleveland Veteran’s Administration Hospital. Dr. Carol’s focus in the practice is treating & caring for our youngest patients. She frequently organizes classroom educational visits at our area elementary schools & preschools.
Drs. Chris & Carol Martin live in Kent, where Dr. Chris is an alumnus of Kent Theodore Roosevelt High School. Having raised four daughters in Kent who are very active in sports, Drs. Chris & Carol have become very interested in sports dentistry. They have seen & treated numerous sports related dental injuries & are committed to protecting their athlete patient’s dentitions. They provide properly made, custom fitted, pressure laminated mouth guards for all their recreational & competitive athletes!
Outside the office, the Drs. Martin enjoy visiting with their family, traveling, camping & hiking. They are avid gardeners & amateur photographers.
Dr. Laura Martin Miller
Dr. Laura, a Kent native, graduated from Kent Roosevelt High School. She attended the University of California, Davis, on a Division I lacrosse scholarship, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in managerial economics. She received her dental degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, where she earned the Dean’s Clinical Scholarship Award & the Academy of Operative Dentistry Award. She was the recipient of the Ohio Dental Association Foundation scholarship & Akron Dental Society scholarship over multiple years.
Dr. Laura is an advocate for dental research & was selected to present her research findings at the American Association of Dental Research National Conference in North Carolina. She is a member of the Akron Dental Society, Ohio Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry & the American Dental Association. She has been inducted as an officer for the Akron Dental Society as well as the Cleveland Chapter of Delta Sigma Delta, an international dental fraternity. She enjoys volunteering regularly with the Rotary Club of Kent & as a doctor for TeamSmile & Give Kids A Smile. Possibly her most noteworthy achievement was being inducted into the prestigious & highly selective Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society, after graduating in the top 4 of her dental class.
Dr. Laura continued her dental education with an elective post-doctoral residency in general dentistry at Akron City Hospital’s Summa Center for Dental Health, serving the Akron community. This advanced education program included multifaceted comprehensive treatment planning, care of medically complex patients, advanced training under direct supervision of oral maxillofacial surgeons, endodontists & periodontists. It also included performing dental & minor oral surgery procedures in the hospital’s operating rooms with patients under general anesthesia, further expertise in biopsies, conscious sedation, trauma & emergency management. She is a certified Invisalign orthodontic & KöR whitening provider & has a strong interest in sports dentistry.
When Dr. Laura is not seeing patients, she enjoys playing in local soccer, lacrosse & volleyball leagues, traveling, photography & spending time with her husband, two children & giant schnauzer, Rue. Dr. Laura is excited to be “back home” with the team at Martin Dental Care & serving the Kent & Portage communities.
From the Doctors
We have found dentistry to be an exciting & wonderful profession. There have been many amazing advances in the treatments, & materials we use in dentistry. New ceramic restorations, composite resins with nano-fillers, better bonding materials, dental implants, teeth whitening, minimally invasive dentistry, sealants, electric tooth brushes, new ceramic & zirconia restorations, etc. have all contributed to making dental care easier & more comfortable, while making your teeth & smile look more natural & attractive.
Dentistry is continually improving & it can be quite challenging to stay abreast! Our strong commitment to continuing education is indispensable in our practice. We regularly attend numerous continuing education courses, meetings & dental conventions to stay informed of the newest techniques & the latest products & equipment that we can utilize to provide the quality dental services that our patients deserve. Our membership in various dental professional associations also helps us stay ahead of changes & recommendations for our profession.
Currently, we are seeing a wealth of knowledge in dentistry about the interrelationship between a person’s oral health & their systemic health. This emerging information has confirmed the importance of controlling & preventing periodontal (gum) diseases. Numerous studies are showing that the inflammation-mediated tissue destruction seen in the mouth as a result of chronic periodontal diseases also appears to contribute to or exacerbate cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, pre-term & still births & some cancers. We now know that gum disease is not just a disease of the mouth, but has far-reaching effects throughout the body! In fact, our very own Dr. Laura was published in the American Dental Association News & ADA’s consumer website: Mouthhealthy.org, on the strong association between diabetes & periodontal disease. Click the link below to read her article:
www.mouthhealthy.org
Because of this oral-systemic relationship of diseases, we have instituted at our office a soft tissue management protocol to better treat periodontal diseases. This program is customized to each patient’s individual needs & is designed to keep the bone & gums that support the teeth healthy & reduce the need for periodontal surgery or eventual loss of teeth. However, soft tissue management may be even more significant in preventing or reducing these other systemic diseases!
We are fortunate to be in a profession in which we often experience first-hand the appreciation of a patient following treatment to relieve the pain of a dental emergency, the satisfaction of restoring a diseased mouth to health, or the positive influence on a patient’s self-image & self-confidence following smile enhancing cosmetic dental procedures!
At Martin Dental Care, we believe education & preventive care are the keys to optimal dental health. Allow our team of doctors & hygienists to evaluate & design a customized oral health care plan for you & your family.
Today, with regular & proper dental care, people can keep their teeth healthy & smiles attractive their entire life!
We thank you for allowing us to take care of your dental needs & look forward to serving you.
—Drs. Christopher, Carol, Laura & Team
The Martin Dental Care Team
Our exceptional, friendly staff is our greatest asset. All of our dental assistants & hygienists are licensed professionals who pride themselves on their current dental techniques & outstanding patient communication. With unmatched quality & integrity, they are dedicated to achieving the best possible results for you & your family.
Since your comfort & health are our top priorities, Martin Dental Care’s staff is glad to assist you in any way. If you have any questions at all, from treatment options & sterilization to insurance concerns & paperwork, we’re here for you! We can assure you that you’ll enjoy your dental visit!
Julie is one of our EFDA’s (Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary). She is also a Certified Dental Assistant & Licensed Dental Radiographer. She attended Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine for her EFDA training. Julie has a good eye for color & dental aesthetics & she assists & places (restores) many of our tooth-colored fillings. Julie is a Kent native & a graduate of Theodore Roosevelt High School. She has over 30 years of experience in dentistry! She currently lives with her husband & three children. They have a small horse farm & raise miniature horses. Julie hopes to soon add miniature cows to her stables.
Danielle, our other talented EFDA, also trained at Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine. In addition, she is a Certified Dental Assistant & Licensed Dental Radiographer. We are quite pleased to have Danielle on our team as she is one of our longest continually employed team members at Martin Dental Care! She has been helping care for our patients since 1983. Out of the office, Danielle is actively involved in her church & enjoys painting, bowling, her dog Bogart & pet chickens.
Christina is a dental assistant at Martin Dental Care, but she also shares her time helping patients up at the front office. She completed the dental assisting program at Maplewood Career Center. Christina lives in the Brimfield area & enjoys reading, fishing & running. She has completed numerous half & full marathons around Ohio. In the past, she enjoyed helping at May’s Farm harvesting & selling fresh produce. She is musically talented in singing, playing her guitar & piano. She is also currently learning how to play the ukulele. Christina has a strong work ethic, is compassionate with patients & has a keen interest in dentistry.
Lisa, another one of our dental hygienists, has over 37 years of dental experience. She enjoys meeting new patients & having the opportunity to provide oral hygiene care. Lisa earned her dental hygiene degree from Youngstown State University. She has four children, a German Shepard named Benson & a Golden Retriever named Finnigan. Besides dentistry, she loves hiking, swimming & traveling.
Sarah, is our dental administrator & the friendly face you will see at the front office. She is thorough & efficient & enjoys multitasking. She is a proud part of the Martin Dental Care team & looks forward to serving our patients with the highest level of care & attention. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys anything outdoors, including hiking at the Metroparks, watching her children’s sports games & camping. Sarah also started & manages a non-profit to help people in the community who are struggling with cancer. Most importantly, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family, including her husband, two sons, daughter & extended family. Fun fact: Sarah comes from a family of 16 children, so they have some wonderful family get-togethers!
Christina S. is another one of our Dental Hygienists & is also a qualified Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary. She studied at Stark State College where she obtained the two associates degrees above & is working on completing her Bachelor’s degree in education at OSU. Outside of the office Christina enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and three kids. They enjoy traveling, hiking, biking, hunting & fishing. Fun fact, Christina has traveled to 17 of the 63 National Parks in the U.S. so far, & plans to visit all 63!
Mary When you arrive at our office, you’ll be greeted by Mary’s friendly voice & welcoming smile. As our receptionist, she will schedule convenient appointments at times that work best for your needs. She loves getting to know our patients! In her free time, Mary likes to spend time with her family. She is also quite the foodie (pizza is her favorite). In addition, she is passionate about photography & has experience as a talented wedding & real estate photographer. She is a joy to have on our team!
Libby is our other lovely Front Office Receptionist! She is known for her attention to detail & genuine love for connecting with patients. Libby graduated from Kent State University. Beyond the front desk, she indulges in the joy of reading, playing board games, capturing moments through photography & cherishing quality time with her husband, friends & family.
Jen is a skilled & personable full-time dental hygienist at Martin Dental Care. With 20+ years of experience in the dental field, Jen is known for her warm chairside manner & ability to create a comfortable environment for patients of all ages. She excels in conducting thorough dental cleanings, oral assessments & developing personalized hygiene plans tailored to each patient’s unique needs. Jen earned her dental hygiene degree from Youngstown State University. When not in the office, she enjoys spending time with her husband & two daughters. She also loves thrifting & exploring new places!
The doctors & the entire Martin Dental Care team share the same priorities—patient comfort & satisfaction. We look forward to your visit to show you the many ways in which personalized dental care can improve your life.
