Meet Your Friendly Dental Team – Lake Zurich, IL

Tania Paoli, Dental Hygienist

Tania was born and raised right here in Illinois! After graduating from Lakes Community High School, she attended the College of Lake County and Wichita State University. In addition to being certified in CPR, she is certified in nitrous oxide and local anesthesia. For her, the best thing about her job is meeting and connecting with others. The instant gratification from cleaning a patient’s teeth and having the opportunity to explain the importance of oral health are two of the many reasons she’s proud to be an RDH!

In her free time, Tania and her husband enjoy hiking, doing family game nights, and cruising around town on their motorcycle. She also likes biking through her neighborhood, watching true crime media documentaries, and spending quality time with her nieces and nephews. Here’s something you may not know about her: she reached her optimal height in fifth grade (5 ft).
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Bert Delgadillo, Dental Hygienist

Bert Delgadillo graduated from Harper College as a registered dental hygienist. He was born in Mexico but grew up in the Chicagoland area. His hobbies depend on the season. In nicer weather, he likes to go rollerblading or ride his bike. He is always in search of the next big adventure. In colder weather he likes to stay in and work on his art. He finds biology fascinating and understands the importance of oral health on overall wellness. He chose dental hygiene as a career because it gives him the opportunity to educate and improve patient health one mouth at a time.
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Katie Leiva, Dental Hygienist

Katie has been working in the dental field for 15 years and counting. She graduated from Lake Land College and then went on to study at O’Heir University to earn her license as a dental hygienist. She’s undergone training in advanced subjects, including laser dentistry, and has completed certifications from the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) and the Public Health Dental Hygienist. Today, her favorite thing about her job is connecting with each patient and using the latest technology to improve their pearly whites.

Whenever she isn’t at the office, Katie enjoys spending time with her children and loved ones, doing fun activities such as biking, recreational hiking, and going poolside during the summer. Other than eating out with friends, working in her yard, or salsa dancing, she also has a side business where she can share her dental expertise with peers. One interesting thing about her: she learned Olympic weightlifting to keep herself strong and healthy for the long run.

Tawanna Nickelson, Team Lead

Tawanna has been working in the dental field for well over a decade. Born and raised in Chicago, she studied at Northern Illinois University and has gained experience through various positions, including treatment coordinator, insurance specialist, practice manager, and revenue cycle manager. Her favorite part of the job is building strong relationships with her co-workers and patients.

At home, Tawanna loves being with her family. She enjoys watching her son play basketball, volunteering with the deaf and hard-of-hearing society, trading stocks, and going to the gym. One fun fact about her: she has an identical twin sister!