Our Staff Members

Meet The Team of Metro West Orthodontics and Periodontics

We are Metro West Orthodontics & Periodontics, Omaha’s dental specialists in Orthodontic, Invisalign, Periodontal Reconstructive / Regenerative Therapy and Dental Implants. We believe that the growth of each team member is a critical component of our business model to be the leader in dentistry to exemplify excellence. 

Our key concept is "Growth of the team = Growth of the practice". Our expectation to our individual team member is quite unique. We ask each team member to grow 0.1 percent each day to improve professionally as well as personally. 0.1 percent growth per day will lead to 36.5 percent growth in one year and 365 percent growth in 10 years.

 

With the Growth mindset, we challenge the status quo, be champions of change agent, and be humble for future knowledge. Our practice is committed to invest time and resources on each team member to create an extraordinary experience for you.

Amy Murillo

Amy

Amy Murillo

Amy is the Insurance and Treatment Plan Coordinator at Metro West Orthodontics and Periodontics.

She was born in Faribault, Minnesota. Amy attended Mercy College of Health Sciences where she pursued an Associate of Science in Nursing degree.

Her attention to detail and excellent follow-ups are invaluable as our Insurance and Treatment Plan Coordinator. She helps patients navigate the complex world of insurance policies. Our patients can rest assured that they have Amy on their side, ready to help.

Amy loves to travel and spends most weekends going someplace new. When she is not traveling, she enjoys listening to music and spending time with her family.

Clarissa

Clarissa Jacinto

Clarissa is an orthodontic assistant at Metro West Orthodontics and Periodontics.

She was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. Her belief of "Listening is a foundation of communication" is well suited to Metro West and aids her as she helps patients to feel comfortable and valued. With 4 years of Customer Service experience, and having a bilingual background (English and Spanish), she is excited to assist our patients who are in need of someone to listen to or help them navigate through the world of dentistry where it can be complex and confusing at times.

Clarissa’s pastimes include drawing, listening to her favorite artists and spending time with her family and dog.

Clarissa Jacinto
Kanoe Sakamoto

Kanoe

Kanoe is the Director of Business Development for Metro West Orthodontics and Periodontics. Kanoe graduated from Creighton University in 2017 with a Bachelors of Science in Health Administration and Policy. She joined Metro West Orthodontics and Periodontics in 2017 where she worked as a periodontal dental assistant. Since then, Kanoe has developed a passion for sharing her knowledge of dental assisting as she recently created United Exchange Dental Assisting School in Omaha, NE.

She enjoys championing dental assistants to be servant leaders within the community and to be amazing support systems for their fellow dental assistants, dentists, hygienists and patients.

Kanoe has since rejoined Metro West Orthodontics and Periodontics in 2022 as the Marketing Director. She is beyond proud to be a team member of an office that is like family. Kanoe is excited to have you join us or keep up with Metro West Orthodontics and Periodontics, Metro West Seminars and Metro West CONTINUING EDUCATION!

Kassie

Kassie is the Lead Orthodontic Assistant at Metro West Orthodontics and Periodontics.

She was born in Kansas but grew up in Omaha. She graduated in 2014 from Central College with her degree in Exercise Science and a minor in Psychology. Her approach to a ‘Fun and Happy Life’ is contagious to everyone. You will often find her immersed in conversations with patients. Kassie also enjoys making our patients smile by encouraging their progress and celebrating their goals of a healthy smile.

In her free time Kassie loves spending time with her husband Austin, their two dogs (Denalei and Nala) and their cat (Sable). Kassie is a die hard Husker fan, enjoys playing sand volleyball, traveling, and spending time at the lake/pool. Fun fact about Kassie: She is an identical twin!

Kassie Tolle
Krin Solanki

Krin

Krin Solanki

Krin is a Dental Hygienist and has a passion for learning. She graduated in 2008 from the University of Nebraska at Omaha where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree. In 2010, Krin graduated from Vatterot College’s Dental Assisting Program. She then graduated in 2013 with an Associate of Art and Science of Dental Hygiene degree. Krin joined Metro West Orthodontics and Periodontics in 2018. She is gentle and kind, both inside and out.

Krin is quick to make her patients feel at ease and comfortable. She educates and encourages her patients to maintain good periodontal health. Our patients love her gentle approach which makes them feel comfortable.

In her downtime Krin enjoys being with her six-year-old son by going to the zoo, hiking, walking, riding bikes and taking trips.

Tami

Tami is the Office Manager at Metro West Orthodontics & Periodontics. She grew up in a small Iowa town called Schleswig. Tami graduated in 1999 from IWCC’s Dental Assisting Program and worked as a dental assistant for 18 years. For the last 10 of those years, she worked at Creighton University Dental Schools’ Pediatrics department before she transferred to the department of Periodontics with Dr. Takanari Miyamoto and Dr. Melissa Lang. She joined Metro West in 2017 to fulfill her dream of working in healthcare management and leadership roles.

Tami says her favorite part about working for Metro West is that “We all come from different backgrounds and walks of life, but we come together as a team to give our patients the best care possible. We are a big family and take care of each other”. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Science and Health Studies and a minor in Leadership in May 2020 from Fort Hays State University.

Tami and her husband Ken have 6 children. Some of her favorites are time spent with her family, family cookouts and Husker Football.

Tami Paass
Baillie Paass

Baillie

Baillie is a Dental Hygienist at Metro West Orthodontics and Periodontics. She was raised near Lake of the Ozark’s and moved to Kansas City where she graduated from Dental Hygiene school in 2017. Baillie completed a Myofunctional Therapy course in November 2022 that she is eager to continue to educate herself on and implement those services within our office.

In the summer you will find Baillie near any body of water; she loves to swim, kayak, and horseback ride with her daughter and boyfriend. In the winter, you won’t catch her outside… She’ll likely be trying new recipes to cook while watching the Chiefs games and hanging out with her two cats.

Justin

Justin is a periodontal assistant at Metro West Orthodontics and Periodontics, he joined the team in March of 2021. Justin was born and raised in Papillion, Nebraska.

In his free time he likes to exercise, read, watch tv and spend time with his dog, Chloe. He graduated from UNO in 2021 and currently is working towards his goal of becoming a dentist. Justin previously worked as a certified nursing assistant and as a pharmacy technician. Working at Metro West has given Justin many different opportunities to learn about the dental field and what it has to offer.

Justin Paass
Jacquelyn Paass

Jacquelyn

Jacquelyn is a periodontal assistant at Metro West Orthodontics and Periodontics. Jacquelyn was born and raised in Omaha and is the oldest of 7 siblings. She graduated from Omaha Bryan High School in 2018. After graduation she attended Central Community College on a Scholarship to play Softball.

Jacquelyn joined Metro West in March of 2022. Her favorite part of working for Metro West Orthodontics and Periodontics is we are all like family and we strive to learn something new everyday.

In her free time, Jacquelyn enjoys going to the gym and spending time with her boyfriend, Dylan, two cats (Nalo and Aspen) and hanging out with her friends.

Izzie

Izzie is the Front Office Coordinator at Metro West Orthodontics and Periodontics. She joined Metro West in December of 2021. Izzie was born and raised in Littleton, Colorado.

She moved to the Omaha area in October of 2021. Every chance she gets, she goes back to Colorado to spend time with her two younger sisters and attempts to convince her mom to let her bring her two cats (Athena and Cricket) and two dogs (Mia and Dozer) to Omaha.

What Izzie likes most about Metro West Orthodontics and Periodontics is the many opportunities to grow and learn more about the dental community.

Izzie Paass
Grace Kurane Paass

Grace Kurane

Mako Grace Kurane was born in Michigan and grew up in Tokyo, Japan. She has a dental license in Japan where she studied Periodontology at Tokyo Dental College. In the future, she hopes to further her education and periodontal training.

Grace’s is excited to be apart of Metro West Orthodontics & Periodontics. Working at Metro West has given Mako many professional skills and knowledge to study dentistry in America.

She has a curious, positive personality and enjoys talking to people. In her free time she enjoys traveling, watching movies or musicals and spending time with her cat.

Driving directions
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12225 W. Giles Road La Vista, NE 68128

Mon 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Tue 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Wed 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Thu 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Fri-Sun Closed