The Whitehaven Dental Team
Dr. David Ripplinger
Dr. Ripplinger's passion is in cosmetic and full mouth reconstruction, especially watching a patient smile with new confidence! Dr. Ripplinger has been interested in dentistry since he was a teenager. He attended Utah State University followed by dental school at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Giving back has been a big part of his career as he regularly travels to remote areas on various humanitarian groups such as Choice Humanitarian, Ghana Make a Difference and Traveling Doctors of Mercy as local Genesis Community Health.
Dr. Ripplinger opened his first practice in Cortez, Colorado in 2004, in area with few specialists, where he continuously pushed his skills and worked hard to stay in the front of the latest in dentistry. Since then he has been the owner of two other practices, Victory Dental in Boise and Cascade Dental. He is excited to open this new location in Nampa, Idaho!
Kristina - Office Manager & Dental Assistant
Kristina has worked alongside Dr. Ripplinger since 2011 in several facets of the dental office as lead dental assistant, front office receptionist, marketing, and office manager. This has equipped her with comprehensive knowledge of dental practice operations and puts her in the perfect position to ensure an exceptional patient experience across all aspects of the practice.
Kristina is married to Wade and has had five boys. She has been a stay-at-home-mom for the past few years and was excited to get back into dentistry with Dr. Dave in his new office! She loves spending time outside with her boys on their 2.5-acre homestead, making gluten-free sourdough bread, and just being a mom.
Tara - Front Office
Tara is often the first smiling face you see when you come to Whitehaven Dental. She is passionate about creating a welcoming and comfortable environment for our patients. With 7 years of experience in the dental field, she takes pride in providing exceptional customer service, efficiently managing appointments, and ensuring smooth patient flow throughout their visit.
Tara has been married to her best friend Mike for 28 years. They have 3 sons and 1 daughter-in-law. She enjoys hanging out with her family, watching her son play college Baseball, traveling to anywhere there are palm trees, and going to concerts with friends.
Lupe - Dental Hygienist
Lupe is a proud graduate of Loma Linda University. She has 21+ years in the dental field and has developed not only strong clinical skills, but has also formed many lasting relationships with patients. You only need to meet her for a few minutes to know she is passionate about dental health. She has helped patients all around the valley - from Boise to Caldwell.
Lupe enjoys giving back and has participated in several free dental clinics within our community. She loves seeing the difference a healthy smile can make in someone's life. She is married and is a mother of two daughters and a son. In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
"Lupe is great! She is fast, gentle and thorough." "She makes me feel so welcome, comfortable and she truly cares and takes her time." "She is the best, and I've seen many."
"Lupe is great! She is fast, gentle and thorough." "She makes me feel so welcome, comfortable and she truly cares and takes her time." "She is the best, and I've seen many."
Sheila - Dental Hygienist
Sheila has over 30 years in patient care, most of which were spent in Guam, where she was raised. Her career there included working at a US Naval hospital and dental clinic, volunteering in the SDA Dental Outreach Program to the Micronesian Island of Chuuk, and teaching dental hygiene to children in Guam.
In 2017, Sheila and her family relocated to Idaho. She brings a wealth of experience and compassion to Whitehaven Dental. She is known for being extremely gentle, but thorough and excellent at helping patients understand how they can keep their smile healthy. In her free time, Sheila enjoys hiking the trails of Idaho and paddleboarding on the lake.
"Sheila was very passionate in my care and explained everything in detail. Made it very comfortable and painless and she was very thorough." "Sheila is an amazing Dental Hygienist! She was friendly and knowledgeable." "My Dental Hygienist was Sheila, what a gal. The best Hygienist I have ever encountered, & I've had a few being 62 yrs young."
"Sheila was very passionate in my care and explained everything in detail. Made it very comfortable and painless and she was very thorough." "Sheila is an amazing Dental Hygienist! She was friendly and knowledgeable." "My Dental Hygienist was Sheila, what a gal. The best Hygienist I have ever encountered, & I've had a few being 62 yrs young."
Katie - Dental Assistant
Katie has been a dental assistant for over 20 years with experience in general dentistry, endodontics, oral surgery, and orthodontics - which makes her a rockstar assistant! She knows all the in’s and out’s of dentistry making her the ideal person to have at your side while you are in the dental chair. She is passionate about helping patients feel at ease and confident in their smiles.
Outside of work, Katie owns her own photography business creating professional photos and videos! She also loves traveling and spending time with family. She has been married for 28 years an has amazing kids who keep life fun and full.