About us
A neighborhood practice with time to talk
Brightside has been on Clover Street since 2016.
Our story
Why we opened
Dr. Elena Marquez spent eight years in a big group practice where each checkup was scheduled to the minute. In 2016 she opened Brightside with a different idea: longer visits, X-rays on the screen in front of you, and prices in writing.
Dr. Paul Hendricks joined in 2021. Today the team of nine sees about 40 patients a day, many of them families who’ve come since the beginning. We’re general dentists, which means checkups, fillings, crowns and emergencies, and a referral to a specialist when that’s the better choice.
- 2016Opened on Clover Street
- 2General dentists
- 9People on our team
- 4.9★Google rating, 312 reviews
Meet the team
Our dentists’ schools and years in practice are listed below. Our hygienists are registered and licensed in New York.
Dr. Elena Marquez, DDS
Owner and general dentist
Opened Brightside in 2016 after eight years in a large group practice, to have time to explain things and stop when a patient asks.
DDS, University at Buffalo, 2008. General dentist, 18 years in practice.
- DP
Dr. Paul Hendricks, DMD
General dentist
Joined in 2021. Does most of our crowns, extractions and emergency visits, and loves a good explanation with the X-ray on the screen in front of you.
DMD, Tufts University, 2014. General dentist, 12 years in practice.
Hannah Brooks, RDH
Lead hygienist
Fourteen years of cleanings and a calm voice. Hannah is who many of our nervous patients ask for by name.
Registered dental hygienist, licensed in New York since 2012.
- MD
Marcus Dell, RDH
Hygienist, our kids’ favorite
Counts teeth with toddlers, lets six-year-olds hold the mirror, and has never once rushed a child.
Registered dental hygienist, licensed in New York since 2019.
- LO
Luis Ortega, CDA
Dental assistant
Sets up every room, takes X-rays and keeps you comfortable in the chair. Speaks Spanish with patients and their families.
Certified dental assistant. Se habla español.
- TG
Tasha Greene
Dental assistant and sterilization lead
Runs our sterilization room. Every instrument comes out of a sealed pouch that she opens in front of you.
Trained in infection control and radiography.
- RK
Renee Kowalski
Office manager and insurance coordinator
Fifteen years of reading benefit booklets so you don’t have to. She’ll tell you your share before the visit, in writing.
Our privacy officer for HIPAA questions.
- JP
Jamal Peters
Patient coordinator
Answers the phone, finds you a time and sends your forms. Learning American Sign Language and happy to practice with you.
Safety
How we keep things clean
Every instrument goes through our sterilization room and comes out of a sealed pouch, which Tasha opens in front of you. We wipe down and set up each room between patients, and we check our sterilizer with a monthly spore test.
If you ever want to see how it works, ask. Tasha will show you.
Join our team
We’re hiring a part-time hygienist.
- View job
Part-time dental hygienist (RDH)
Two or three days a week, including Wednesday evenings or Saturday mornings. We keep our hygiene schedule unhurried.
Come meet us
A first visit takes about an hour, and you’ll know what it costs before you leave.