Meet the Team

Dr. Phyllis Seel

Business Owner

Dr. Phyllis Seel has been an integral part of Gentle Dental Associates since its inception in 1991. As the wife of founder Dr. Allen Seel, she spent many hours dutifully supporting his business pursuits while maintaining a business of her own in clinical psychology. Dr. Seel has risen to the challenge of keeping her husband’s legacy strong with the support of her family. Gentle Dental Associates has always been a family owned practice and will continue to be so, in honor of Dr. Allen Seel’s vision.

Dr. Seel attended the University of Detroit, as well as the Merrill Palmer Institute and Saybrook Institute. She has her PhD in Clinical Psychology and is on the Board of Trustees at the Michigan School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Seel has appeared numerous times on WXYZ TV and has made cameo appearances in Cincinnati and Los Angeles. She has also found comfort in working with cancer patients and their families.

Dr. Seel keeps busy in her personal life as well, with three children, ten grandchildren, and a community of family and friends she has known all of her life. She enjoys traveling and entertaining with her family.

Dr. Seel is an advocate of the city of Detroit, and enjoys giving back to the community. She is a patron to many Detroit museums and venues, and actively encourages others to explore the many wonders of the great city.

Robin Sternberg

Chief Financial Officer

I am in charge of the decision-making of expenditures, which includes new purchases, technology, and negotiating supplies and equipment from vendors. I also am a liaison between vendors and our office. I enjoy helping our fantastic office staff in any way possible. My interest in dentistry began with my father and the founder of this practice, Dr. Seel. He showed me how important dental education is, and instilled in me that helping patients achieve oral health is a privilege. This office is a family and treats each other with care and respect. I wish every work environment could model ours!

I am married to a wonderful man and have three children and three dogs. My husband is an estate-planning attorney with a Detroit-based firm. My children are all following in some form of healthcare as a profession. We enjoy traveling, reading, and spending time with each other.

Leila

Benefits and Scheduling Coordinator

I’ve been with Gentle Dental Associates since 2003 and my duties include answering phone calls, helping patients with their insurance benefits, and insurance coordinating. Specifically, I gather requested information that’s requested by insurance companies, send monthly statements to patients, and also help as a dental assistant when I’m needed. My favorite thing about dentistry is seeing our patients walk away with a smile. It makes me happy when our patients are happy!

I’m a native of Algeria in North Africa and speak French, Arabic, and English. My husband, Wahab, and I have four beautiful and energetic children: three daughters and one son. In my free time, I like to take my kids to the park and work in my yard.

Rebekah

Benefits and Scheduling Coordinator

Working for a busy office is so rewarding. Since joining the Gentle Dental team in 2010, I’ve been able to see many patients every day, and witness such beautiful results. I love the atmosphere at the office; it feels like we are all family.

I was born and raised in Michigan on our family farm. I am proudly married to my high school sweetheart and have three beautiful, healthy children. In my spare time, I love to spend time with my family, exercise, scrapbook, work in my yard, and travel to Northern Michigan and Kentucky to see family!

Tamika

Benefits and Scheduling Coordinator

I’ve been working with Gentle Dental Associates since March 2019. Prior to being hired, I was a patient for over 12 years and was excited to join as a member of the team. I really enjoy the warm, caring, and family environment in this office. I enjoy interacting with people and love to see them walk away smiling.

I am blessed to be married to my wonderful husband, with two beautiful children and our cat! We enjoy family time, attending Church, and being with friends!

Nicole

Clinical Team Lead, Certified Dental Assistant

I like to make sure everything is running nice and smooth in our community, and help out wherever I'm needed. I am still chairside some of the days of the week assisting our doctors in many procedures, but when I am not, I am completing multiple other tasks to keep things flowing for the office as a whole.

One of my favorite tasks is designing Same Day Crowns, so that I can mill, stain and glaze, and fire your crown, and have you out the door within a few hours! if you are interested in brightening your smile, I perform the Zoom whitening procedure in our office as well.

I began working with my family here in February of 2007, though I have been in the dental field since 2002. I love to help all my patients achieve their goals with their smile, and develop a great relationship with them in doing so. If my patients are happy, I'm happy!

I have a son who was born in 2008, Daunte, he is my everything, my heart and soul. I also have a dog, who my son calls his brother. We have a great time together, the three of us!!

Doreen

Certified Dental Assistant

I’ve been working with Gentle Dental Associates since 2000. I enjoy working with our doctors, especially when I see them change patients’ demeanor by giving them beautiful new smiles. My favorite thing about dentistry is watching people transform when they finish treatment.

I am married and have two daughters and three adorable granddaughters. When I’m not at work I enjoy hanging out with my family and my church family. I love to write music and dance, especially ballroom and line dancing. We do the annual zoo walk as a family to allow the grandchildren to be aware of the less fortunate. I enjoy helping to feed and house the homeless in Oakland County and volunteer my spare time at the Hope Clinic.

Ilham

Dental Assistant

I’ve been in the dental field since April 2015, and I really enjoy helping patients feel confident in their smile. I moved to Ann Arbor in August 2017 from Sunny Side California. I’m married to a wonderful man. My hobbies include shopping and traveling.

Renee

Lead Registered Dental Hygienist

I graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Dental Hygiene in 2009. I love to work with people, and I love to educate my patients about the importance of oral health. My favorite thing about being a hygienist is forming a relationship with my patients, allowing me to get to know them as a person, educate them about aspects of dental health that relate to them, and personalize treatment to suit their needs. I love working at Gentle Dental because I love the team we have; we are all very different but we get along so well, and work together.

I recently had a son, Griffin—he is my world! I enjoy spending time with my husband and my son doing anything we can think of: swimming, walking, shopping, zoos, etc. I really enjoy playing board games, scrapbooking, and cross stitching. I also enjoy time with my German shepherd named Miranda, and my cat named Mishka. I love life and try to fill my time doing the things I love with the people who I love.

Barb

Registered Dental Hygienist

I love to help people maintain good oral health by providing preventive care. I have been with Gentle Dental Associates since 2005, but I have been in dentistry since 1976, including practicing pediatric dentistry in my home country of Poland for seven years and two years in Nigeria before settling in America. I love working with the people and making them feel relaxed and good about their smile.

I live with husband, Janusz, and our extremely friendly orange cat, Toby. I love gardening, snow skiing, and sailing. I am involved with a Polish church, working mostly with children to organize our Christmas pageant and the children’s choir.

Jaime

Registered Dental Hygienist

I have been working at GDA for more than five years. I have an associate’s degree in dental hygiene from Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek, Michigan. My goal is to provide my patients with highest quality of care. If you are looking for a dentist that truly cares about you and your health, come and see us!

When I am not at work I enjoy spending time with family and friends. My spare time is usually filled with various projects such as renovations, or work that needs to done on the farm.

Debra

Registered Dental Hygienist

I graduated in 2008 from Mott Community College in Flint with an Associate’s Degree in Dental Hygiene and have been practicing in the hygiene field ever since. I love dentistry because even though I do the same thing every day, no day is the same around here. I work with a great group of diverse individuals who make my work day enjoyable. I get to meet new people on a daily basis and see long-term patients and their families that we have built relationships with. I love to educate my patients on their overall health in relation to their oral health to help keep their smiles happy and healthy!

On my off time, I spend time with my husband, two children, and our two dogs. In the summer, we enjoy hanging by the pool, grilling out, and working in our vegetable/flower gardens. In the winter, we enjoy sledding and four-wheeling on our ATV course. No matter the season, we enjoy working in our garage restoring project cars.