Meet Our Team
Dr. Andrea Wimmergren, DDS
Once upon a time, a little girl had a dream of becoming a ballerina. As she grew up, it became evident that her dance moves were not her strong suit, so at the age of 14
she set out on a new career path–dentistry. Dr. Andrea Wimmergren has a nice ring, doesn’t it? A unique combination of Doctor, ENgineer, and arTIST, this new passion took her to many different places. Duluth was the first stop on the journey, where she completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology while soaking up knowledge in her job as a dental assistant. After years of training, she was accepted into dental school.
Onward, she traveled to the University of Minnesota to learn the required skills to earn a Doctorate of Dental Surgery. She conquered every test to familiarize herself with preventative, restorative, cosmetic, surgical, and pediatric dentistry and graduated with distinction as one of the top of the class. Along the way, she met her prince charming, and they were married despite the illness plaguing the land. The two settled down in the South Metro for a while before finding the perfect castle and making the North Metro their home.
Although this tale has a happily ever after, the story is not over. Dr. Wimmergren seeks to maintain a high level of care to better serve and comfort patients through numerous hours of continuing education courses. Through these courses, she has found an affinity and proficiency for cosmetic and aesthetic dentistry. Her quest is to provide excellent care by illustrating treatment options to empower you to make informed decisions tailored to your unique smile goals. She treasures the relationships that come from continuous care in a comfortable and patient-centered environment.
Behind the scenes, Dr. Wimmergren enjoys traveling and spending time in the water. She has a fondness for Disney magic and can often be found at home elbows deep in another project or craft. If you need any recommendations for trips to Walt Disney World, definitely ask!
Karen Steffens, RDH
Karen is part of our great team of dental hygienists here at River’s Bend Family Dental. She brings a very
personable, caring demeanor to our team. Karen enjoys connecting with her patients on a personal level while educating them on oral health and the periodontal disease process in a non-judgmental manner that motivates change.
Before becoming a registered dental hygienist in 1999, Karen worked as a medical assistant for 11 years and briefly as a dental assistant while enrolled in hygiene school. She knew at an early age that she wanted to work in healthcare. Karen graduated with high honors from Normandale Community College in Bloomington, MN.
In her spare time, Karen likes to RV and travel. She also spends a lot of time with friends and family. She and her husband are both from large families and enjoy all the organized chaos that brings—there’s rarely a dull moment!
Karen’s 1st priority is to make sure her patients are comfortable and at ease. She creates an environment where her patients feel confident in asking all the questions they need to make well-informed and educated decisions about their oral health.
Elma, DA Client Care Representative
If you meet Elma, you won’t forget her! She is our awesome Licensed Dental Assistant, working side-by-side with Dr. Wimmergren to make sure any dental procedures you come in for are not only comfortable but FUN!
Elma graduated from Herzing University, class of 2009. She always planned to work in healthcare, initially thinking medical, but after a family member introduced her to the dental field she found her career home.
Along with her husband and kids, she enjoys traveling and visiting national parks. Elma is an animal lover; her family includes two cats, a dog, and a bearded drag.
Jillian, RDH
Jillian is a registered dental hygienist who provides a thorough periodontal exam and dental cleanings for all of her patients. She enjoys
connecting with her patients while educating them on their dental health.
She began her dental career when she was in high school, working part-time after school as a sterile technician. She wanted to make sure the dental field was something she wanted to pursue before heading to college. She graduated from the dental hygiene department at the University of South Dakota and has held a hygiene license in 4 different states, calling Minnesota home for the last 13 years.
Jillian chooses to work part-time, providing the perfect work/life balance. She enjoys traveling, spending time at the lake, and listening to concerts and as many theater shows as she can get tickets to.
She enjoys being part of the River’s Bend Family Dental team and says, “We are like a family and are here to support each other in and out of work.” Jillian also enjoys getting to know her patients while providing customized care for each one.
Jackie, RDH
Jackie is the newest addition to our Dental Hygiene team! She received her Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from
Jackie is the newest addition to our Dental Hygiene team! She received her Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from
Emily, RDH
Emily grew up in beautiful mountains in northern Utah. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from
Weber State University. She loves being a hygienist because she meets new people, has fun conversations, and makes lasting relationships with people in our community. Emily enjoys spending quality time with her family. Her children keep her and her husband busy, playing sports, watching games, and enjoying outdoor activities together. They love to go for rides on their side-by-side and four-wheelers, snowmobiling, fishing, hunting, and visiting the mountains out west!
Leah, Office Manager
a Dental Assistant in 2003 and transitioned into teaching dental assisting at a college in Denver starting in 2008.
After starting her family, Leah took a break from teaching to spend some time at home to raise her young kids. She was excited to get back into the dental field when she joined our team in 2022!
She enjoys camping with her husband, three kids, and two dogs. Leah works hard to make sure you’ll always have a great experience here at River’s Bend Family Dental.
Cindy, Insurance Coordinator
Sarah, Office Manager
Sarah, our Office Manager, joined the River’s Bend Family Dental team in 2022. Her dental career began after
graduating from Herzing University in 2009 as a Dental Assistant. Her time as a dental assistant helped her to better understand how best to support her clinical team and our patients.
Early in her career, she worked at a dental sedation clinic, where most of her patients came in with severe dental anxiety. Sarah carries these experiences and interactions with her today and prioritizes our patients’ needs. She wants you to feel comfortable and heard each time you visit our clinic.
As an Office Manager, one of her favorite ways to support you is to be your advocate when your dental insurance is denying a claim or being difficult.
Sarah spends most of her free time with her kids, exploring MN parks and finding fun activities to do. She enjoys drawing, watercolor painting, or reading a good book when waiting for the next episode of Yellowstone to stream!
