Sandy

Orthodontic Assistant

Sandy went to Kirkwood Community College, starting in the dental field in 2006. She graduated with an Associate of Applied Science Certified Orthodontic Assistant, a certification as a dental assistant, and has been a Registered Dental Assistant since 2008. Sandra specializes in taking and managing patient records, adjusting a patient’s braces, sterilization, lab work, and chairside assistance.

Sandy loves getting to meet and know all the patients and families that come into Croco Orthodontics. She also loves that everyone on the team gets along together so well, making the work environment fun.

Sandy is married to her husband, Mark. They have two kids, Karrigan and Maddux, and a dog named Herky. She and her family love going to Hawkeye events, whether that be football, basketball, volleyball, baseball, or gymnastics meets. They also enjoy any activities that involve being outdoors, such as riding bikes, hiking, running, playing games, swimming, and more.

Trina

Business Manager

Trina started working in the dental field more than 25 years ago. In Seattle, she worked for an orthodontic office for four years and worked for a periodontist for ten years. She has also attended many AAO sessions and conferences. Trina specializes in office management, practice analysis (monthly reports), staffing, insurance, financials, scheduling, seeing patients, and everything and anything else that does not include clinical work.

Trina loves her patients, their families, and her amazing co-workers. Her appreciation for dentistry knows no bounds, as she has more than 25 years of experience in the dental field. She appreciates Dr. Croco’s enthusiasm for orthodontics, as well as his skills and what he has accomplished thus far. Trina’s favorite thing about orthodontics is the changes that can be seen in each patient’s smile; not just on the outside, but on the inside too.

Trina is a native of Seattle, Washington, and has lived in Iowa City since 2008. She has a son who is a senior in high school and a daughter who is a sophomore in high school. In her free time, she loves spending time with her children and family, being outdoors, and doing hot yoga.

Kayla

Dental Assistant

Kayla graduated from Kirkwood Community College in 2014. Soon after, she worked in a general dental office for two years before starting to work for Croco Orthodontics in 2016. Kayla specializes in chairside assistance, sterilization, 3D printing, taking intraoral scans, taking X-rays, and making retainers.

Kayla loves the work she does because it allows her to build relationships with the patients and their families. Easing a patient’s anxiety and fears about the initial unknown of braces and sharing in their excitement about seeing their beautiful new smile are a couple more things she enjoys about her job. She also loves the family feel the Croco Orthodontics team provides, saying, “Everyone is always there for each other.”

Kayla is married to her husband, Austin. They live out in the country with their chocolate lab, Ruger, and two horses, Joy and Bree. They enjoy doing anything outside, like riding horses, boating, having bonfires, doing yard work, or grilling with family and friends. Kayla also loves country music and is passionate about volunteering at her church.

Deb

Scheduling Coordinator

Deb works in our front office, where she can be found checking patients in and out, answering phones, scheduling appointments, and providing great customer care while tending to patients’ questions and needs. She has been with Dr. Croco since 2017, though her experience in the dental field goes back for more than 30 years. Deb enjoys seeing the life-changing result of each patient’s smile journey. She finds joy in getting to know our patients so well and seeing them grow into more confident individuals.

In her spare time, Deb enjoys time with family and friends, especially her three little grand babies. Her adorable rescue pup, Luna, keeps Deb and her husband very busy!

Hannah

Treatment Coordinator

When new patients come for their initial exam, Hannah is the one to review financial estimates and insurance coverage. She also handles our marketing. Her goal is to build connections with children and families, and set their minds at ease prior to starting treatment. She is an amazing part of making every day fun and interactive for our patients!

In her free time, Hannah enjoys staying active with her two children, Eli and Adele. They like hiking, doing anything outdoors where they can enjoy the sunshine, and trying out new healthy recipes!

Kyra

Orthodontic Assistant

Kyra is an RDA and received her degree from Kirkwood Community College. She started working in the dental field, as well as at Croco Orthodontics, in 2021. Kyra specializes in taking new patients’ X-rays, taking photos, sterilization, chairside assistance, and using iTero®.

Kyra loves seeing kids get excited about braces and the change she sees in their faces when they get their braces off. Kyra enjoys working on the Croco Orthodontics team because everyone is so nice and understanding. She feels as though they’re all a big family.

Kyra enjoys being with friends and family. She has a twin brother and an older brother. She recently also got a Holland lop bunny and he’s only a couple months old. Kyra also loves to be adventurous, to be outside, and to try new things.

Emily

Scheduling Coordinator

Here at Croco Orthodontics, you'll find Emily checking in patients, scheduling, and assisting Dr. Croco with patient appointments before they start treatment. She enjoys getting to know patients and their families, especially as she meets most of them at the beginning of their time with us. Emily’s eagerness to help, along with her wonderful, positive attitude, has made her a great addition to our team!

In her free time, Emily enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She and her fiancé love camping, hiking, playing games, and taking their dog Pierce on walks. Their other interests include finding new restaurants and going for drives.

Julia

Dental Assistant

Julia attended Kirkwood for her Associate’s degree in applied science. A recent addition to our team, she works alongside Dr. Croco during patients’ adjustments, in addition to taking and managing patient records. Julia is a friendly, fun-loving person who loves being a part of making our patients smile.

Julia enjoys riding her bike and exploring the trails with her dog, a boxer named Stella. She also likes cheering on the Hawkeyes during football and wrestling season!