Our Practice Philosophy

At Weston Smiles, everything we do centers on meeting your individual dental needs. We will always work to educate you on the concerns we see, explain every option available for addressing these issues, and help you to make a thoroughly informed decision as to treatment planning. We will never pressure you into a service. We believe that dentistry should be pain free, regardless of the procedure, and our gentle practices ensure just that. Whether you’re a new patient or have been visiting us for years, we treat you like family, with the personalized, attentive care that we would expect for ourselves and our own families. We know that transformed smiles transform lives.

Our Team

Andrew Welles, DDS

Raised in Wausau, Dr. Welles graduated from Wausau East High School and continued his education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He graduated summa cum laude with a degree in biology. Staying true to his Wisconsin roots, Dr. Welles completed his dental education at Marquette University School of Dentistry. Serving four years as class president, he graduated summa cum laude with his DDS degree in 2015. He was awarded a four-year scholarship from the National Health Service Corps and completed his service in Madison, Wisconsin. Growing up as the son of a nurse, Dr. Welles was drawn to healthcare and dentistry, specifically, due to its unique combination of medicine and patient care. The ability to establish long-term relationships with people across generations is truly something he values. Dr. Welles enjoys working with his patients to help turn their dream smile into reality.

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Dr. Welles is passionate about providing optimal dental care for his patients. He is very active with both the Wisconsin Dental Association and the American Dental Association, serving in multiple leadership roles. He volunteers his time to advance the profession and promote oral health throughout the communities he serves. He also strives to stay on the forefront of dentistry through a variety of continuing education courses. Dr. Welles focuses on individualized comprehensive dental care for everyone he treats. His personalized approach promotes safe, reliable treatment for patients of all ages. He is excited to be practicing in the community where he grew up. Laying down roots amongst family and friends was an opportunity he didn’t want to pass up. He’s excited by the fact that Wausau Smiles provides outstanding dental care with its state-of-the-art facilities and patient-centered philosophy.

Dr. Welles is blessed to have the love and support of family throughout his practice. His wife, Ellie, is a speech therapist working with elementary school students. They have two young sons, Benjamin and Jacob, who are active and full of happiness. They both love to ride along in their stroller exploring all that the area has to offer! The Welles family is lucky to have all of Benjamin and Jacob’s grandparents living in the Wausau area. Outside of his work, Dr. Welles loves participating in anything active. In his spare time, you can find him enjoying the outdoors with his growing family: running, biking, golfing, playing sports – anything that gets him up and moving. He is a passionate fan of all Wisconsin sports and especially enjoys the Packers, Bucks, Badgers, and Brewers.

Ben Wasleske, DDS

Dr. Ben Wasleske was born in Stevens Point and raised in Kronenwetter, Wisconsin. A graduate of DC Everest High School, he attended UW-Stevens Point from 2008 through 2013 and graduated magna cum laude with a major in Biology and minors in Chemistry and Applied Mathematics. He went on to attend Marquette University School of Dentistry from 2013 to 2017, graduating magna cum laude with his DDS degree. Dr. Wasleske’s interest in dentistry grew out of three things: a desire to help people, work in science, and work with his hands. He also loves that dentistry is always growing and advancing as a profession, and there is always room for growth. His philosophy towards dental care is to work with patients as a team to find a comprehensive plan that fits their needs and meets their goals for their dental health. He strives to make patients feel as comfortable as possible and to create a low stress, relaxed atmosphere for dental treatment.

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Dr. Ben has a passion for helping patients work through dental anxiety and building a positive relationship with dental treatment. He enjoys all aspects of dentistry and is always staying up to date with continuing education. He is involved with Spear Study Club, which consists of other local dentists and specialists who meet monthly to discuss cases and share ideas in a collaborative learning environment. Having grown up in the Weston area, he is very excited to be able to work as a healthcare provider in his hometown and give back to his community.

Dr. Wasleske met his wife, Kaylee, in high school, and they were married in 2017 after 11 years together. Her support throughout his schooling is what Dr. Ben believes has helped him to be where he is today. They now live in Weston with their two young boys, Beckett and Jackson, as well as their golden doodle, Lucy, and their rabbit, Basil. Outside of the office, you’ll find Dr. Ben spending time with family, traveling, playing tennis and golf, catching up on TV shows and movies, and playing his guitar. He enjoys tasting foods from all over the world, especially the sweets!

Lina Nguyen, DDS

Dr. Lina Nguyen was born and raised in Garden Grove, California. After graduating from high school there, she went on to attend California State University-Long Beach, where she majored in Biology and minored in Chemistry and graduated Cum Laude. She then attended dental school and earned her DDS at the University of Iowa. From an early age, Dr. Lina wanted to choose a profession that would allow her to help people, especially in underserved communities. Wanting to give back to her community, coupled with her need for a hands-on profession, led her to dentistry. First and foremost, Dr. Lina believes in treating every patient with dignity, respect, and empathy, as if they were her own family. She believes in providing personalized care and is firmly opposed to a one-treatment-plan-fits-all approach or the over-treatment of patients. A quote from one of her mentors, “The mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body,” sticks with her to this day and summarizes her belief in a holistic approach to dentistry.

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Dr. Nguyen brings an upbeat, lighthearted, and positive disposition to our office. She knows that the success of a practice is built on trust and integrity, which she always exudes in her interactions with patients and colleagues. She values her relationship with her peers, and she works to foster a positive work environment in which everyone can excel as a team. When it comes to things she enjoys best about working at Weston Smiles, her absolute favorite moments are with her patients. Seeing their smiles and newfound confidence is the very reason she chose this profession. She cannot wait to have more of these experiences with our Central Wisconsin patients.

When not helping our patient family, Dr. Lina is often interacting with her own family. She grew up in a large household: she’s the youngest of eight children and has 15 nieces and nephews (and counting!). In her free time, she really likes to travel (she’s visited over 15 countries) and find new places to visit, especially new restaurants. When she’s not traveling or hanging out with her family, Dr. Lina loves to spend time with her fiancé and her two puppies, Thor and Lulu.

Administration

Jen – Office Manager

Jen joined our team in 2020 and made an immediate positive impact on our patients and staff. Her certification as a dental assistant makes her a versatile and knowledgeable team member who is crucial to our office’s success: On any given day, she might be answering calls, processing patient treatment plans, assisting on a procedure, or conducting a meeting with our staff. Some of the things she loves most about Weston Smiles are our amazing team and doctors, along with the quality of patient communication that goes on in our office. Jennifer works every day to make sure our patients are happy, fully educated about their dental health, and receiving the best treatment possible. Outside of work, Jen enjoys working out, reading, playing with her kids, and just being with family. Fun fact: Jen is certified in dental photography.

Jenny – Administrative Assistant

Jenny was born and raised in the Fox Valley area where she graduated with a Dental Assisting degree from Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton. She joined our Weston Smiles team in early 2021. It has always been Jenny’s goal to work in a healthcare setting and to be a part of making a difference, big or small, in people’s lives. She felt there was no better way to do that than to improve people’s dental health and self-confidence, one smile at a time. Being in the dental field for over 25 years in an administrative capacity has allowed her to help patients navigate the processes involved in achieving their dental goals, whether it’s understanding their dental insurance plans, explaining treatment plans, or helping ease any dental concerns. It’s her ultimate goal to make sure that every patient has the best experience possible and to make sure they feel like they’re part of our dental family. She loves that every member of our dental team has the shared goal of providing each patient with the highest quality dental care and experience possible. Outside of the office, Jennifer enjoys spending time with friends and family, especially her husband of almost 30 years, Kurt, and their 2 adult sons, Justin and Ryan. In her free time, she enjoys scrapbooking, genealogy, traveling, and ATVing.

Stacy – Administrative Assistant

Stacy was born in Wausau and has lived in the area her entire life. She graduated from DC Everest and went on to attend UW-Marathon County for two years. She did not know what she wanted to continue studying, so she took some time off and ended up never going back. She happened to stumble into the dental field but is very glad she did. Her past employment taught her to be a detail-oriented person, but after years of being in the wedding industry, she decided she no longer wanted to be in that field. She wanted to be an administrative assistant in healthcare, and dental was the first field in which she was offered a job. Serving others is the reason that Stacy comes to the office every day. She strives to genuinely listen, understand, and partner with our patients to help them understand not only their insurance but their overall dental care. Her personality and customer service skills are wonderful additions to our team, and her knowledge of insurance makes our office run smoothly. Her favorite thing about working at Weston Smiles is the people she works with, who work hard together for the good of our patients but also know how to have fun. When she isn’t at the office, Stacy loves to spend time with her family, especially her husband, Tony; her sister, Kristine, and her dad, Mike. Some of her interests include home renovation projects, cooking and baking, watching movies, having fires, and taking her dog Dio on walks. She and her husband also enjoy spending time at their family cottage in Tomahawk.

Felicia – Administrative Assistant

Originally from Colby, Wisconsin, Felicia is currently a resident of Stratford. After graduating from Colby High School, she went on to attend Northcentral Technical College for their Dental Assisting program as well as for her general studies. When she was a freshman in high school, she made the decision to pursue a career in the dental field after she wrote a paper on dental hygiene. Felicia’s top priority is ensuring patients receive great care in our office, and she is dedicated to advocating on their behalf while also educating them on the importance of their oral health. Her bubbly and easygoing personality keeps everyone in the office in a good mood, and her dental assisting background is a valuable asset to our team. When she enjoys most about working at Weston Smiles is how welcoming our team is — she loved how fast everyone started treating her as though she’d work her for five years. She loves how kind and fun our team is. When she isn’t in the office helping our patients, Felicia spends most of her time running her photography business, helping her boyfriend with his projects, or playing with her black lab, Bella.

Dental Hygienists

Kara – Registered Dental Hygienist

Kara is originally from Thief River Falls, Minnesota. During high school, her family moved to our area, and she graduated from DC Everest. She went on to earn her degree in Dental Hygiene from Northcentral Technical College. What initially drew her to the dental profession is her desire to help people. She was later introduced to the idea by a former hygienist who was a family friend. Part of Kara’s overall approach to care is helping people overcome their fear of going to the dentist. In addition to her reassuring manner, she brings to our Weston Smiles office a great deal of experience and an excellent rapport with patients. Her favorite part about working here is the team of dental professionals around her. Outside of the office, Kara loves spending time with friends and family, especially her husband and their two kids. Some of her favorite activities are horseback riding, watching her daughter play hockey, and traveling with family.

Stacy – Registered Dental Hygienist

Stacy grew up on the outskirts of Pulaski on a small dairy farm. Eventually, her parents and brothers ended up moving to Antigo, where she currently lives. After high school, she went on to graduate from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay with an associate degree in Dental Hygiene. She was drawn to this field because being a dental hygienist gives her a chance to change lives for the better. She loves helping scared patients become more relaxed in the dental office, and finds it the ultimate success when she has patients who can’t wait to come back. Working as a dental hygienist gives Stacy the opportunity to encounter a range of patients, and strives to provide every one with a specialized treatment adhering to the highest standard of care and with the most up-to-date treatment owing to her commitment to continuing education. She always works to enhance people’s dental experience while providing them with an experience built upon trust, honesty, and privacy. She never judges patients, but she instead focuses on attaining their optimum health—oral and overall—changing their concept of what dentistry is through knowledge and understanding. What Stacy enjoys most about working at Weston Smiles is that it gives her the opportunity to work with amazing dentists, knowledgeable front desk support personnel, attentive dental assistants, and other diligent hygienists. She also finds that our variety of services, modernized technology, and compassion sets us apart from others. Outside of work, Stacy loves to spend time with her family, especially her two amazing sons, Kaden and Easton, and an adventure-seeking boyfriend, Butch. Some of her favorite activities are refurbishing furniture, gardening, landscaping, and running. She believes that it’s good to have a bucket list—no matter your age—and recently checked one item off hers when she jumped out of a perfectly good airplane.

Leah – Registered Dental Hygienist

Leah was born and raised in Wausau and graduated from Wausau West High School. After a time working in another field, she attended and graduated from Northcentral Technical College with her degree in Dental Hygiene. The dental health profession appealed to her because of the fact that she likes teeth and appreciated that it allowed her a good career in position that was in high demand. She joined our Weston Smiles Dental team in the summer of 2021 and had an immediate positive impact through her experience, skills, and dedication to a positive patient experience. Her knowledge and willingness to help others makes her an invaluable part of our team. Outside of work, Leah loves spending time with her husband and their two rescue mutts, Gertie and Rhoda. Her favorite ways to pass the time are watching true crime shows and podcasts and going to concerts, musicals, and the theater.

Karlee – Registered Dental Hygienist

Karlee was born and raised in Wausau and graduated from Wausau West High School. She then went on to earn her associate degree in Dental Hygiene from Northcentral Technical College, where she was the recipient of the Donna Fogarty Memorial Award for demonstrating total quality care in patient treatment. Her chosen career path was a result of her love of people: she knew being in the field of dental care would allow her to meet a bunch of new people every day. Karlee cares very much about each and every one of her patients, and she always tries to educate patients as much as she can so they can understand why it’s important to maintain a healthy mouth. She focuses a great deal on patient care and patient education, stressing the importance of periodontology so they have a better understanding of the work she does and how to better care for their own oral health. What she enjoys most about our office is being a part of an amazing dental team and making connections with our wonderful patients. When she isn’t helping out our patients and team, Karlee loves baking, boating, fishing, hunting, downhill skiing, and enjoying the outdoors.

Nicki – Registered Dental Hygienist

Nicki grew up in the Antigo, Wisconsin, area. After high school, she became a dental assistant and quickly became passionate about dentistry, which inspired her to further her education. Nicki went on to graduate with her dental hygiene degree from Northcentral Technical College. After over 15 years of practicing hygiene, she joined our Weston Smiles team in 2021. Her gentle yet thorough approach to hygiene have had an immediate positive impact on our office, as have her understanding and friendly nature. Apart from the great care we provide, Nicki really appreciates the welcoming atmosphere and teamwork. When she isn’t in the office, Nicki loves spending time with husband and son. She also enjoys being outdoors and baking up a storm in the kitchen.

Dental Assistants

Sarah – Dental Assistant

Sarah hails from the Town of Weston and has called this area home her whole life. After graduating from high school, she began working in the dental field in 2001. She joined our Weston Smiles Dental team in 2015. Her approach to dental care is always treating every patient with the same care and respect she would want. Due to her experience, Sarah is known as one of the office elders (she jokes that she came with the furniture), but she prefers the term “work mom.” What she enjoys most about working at our office is watching families grown and building relationships with all the patients over time. When she isn’t working with our team and patients, Sarah loves to spend time with her family, especially her husband, Brad; their two sons, Dakota (wife Kirstin) and Teagan; and their granddaughter, Aubreigh. Some of the activities you’ll often find Sarah taking part in involve water: fishing, ice fishing, kayaking, and swimming.

Terika – Dental Assistant

Terika is originally from Wittenberg, and she graduated from Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School. More than anything else, she chose to enter the dental field because she wanted to be a part of a career that helps others every day. She is someone who understands how important dental care is, and she applies and shares her knowledge so that she can help our patients to have the best oral health possible. Terika’s commitment to her teammates and patients, her way with people, and her listening skills all make her an invaluable asset to our team. She loves it when patients walk out of our office feeling confident and not judged, knowing we are here for them. Outside of the office, Terika loves being a mother. Her favorite activities involve spending time outdoors.

Alexis – Dental Assistant

Our certified dental assistant Alexis is originally from Marquette, Michigan, and lived in the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan her whole life before moving to the Weston area in 2022. She did her training in Dental Assisting in Appleton, Wisconsin, and she joined our Weston Smiles team in the summer of 2022. She wanted to enter the dental field because she loves working with people. Her primary concern when it comes to patient experience is making sure all of our patients are as comfortable and well-informed as possible. Alexis brings to our team an excellent work ethic, interpersonal skills, and a genuine concern for our patients. One of the things she enjoys most about our office is that our team always puts the patient first. Outside of the office, two of Alexis’s favorite activities are kayaking and traveling.

Paige – Dental Assistant

Paige is a Wausau native who graduated from Wausau East High School and attended Northcentral Technical College to finish her senior year. In 2020, an opportunity presented itself to work at a dental office, and she’s been in the dental field ever since. When it comes to her philosophy of dental care, Paige believes that being thorough is crucial—she understands that no one wants to be remembered by the piece of broccoli in their teeth. Paige works hand in hand with our doctors to make sure our patients get the very best care they deserve. What she likes best about working in our Weston Smiles office is the staff — she loves how welcoming and nice our team is. When she isn’t at work, Paige loves to spend time with her boyfriend, Jean, and their two young children, Nani and Leo. She loves doing crafts, watching movies, and cuddling with her kiddos.

Brianna – Dental Assistant

Brianna joined our team in May of 2018. She’s worked in the dental field for a number of years and is excited to be serving our wonderful Weston Smiles patients here in our newly updated facility. Her favorite part about being a dental assistant is getting to know her patients and coworkers, and she trusts that her attentive care will make this practice a better place for everyone. When she’s not working, Brianna likes visiting her cabin in Minocqua, hunting, playing summer volleyball and spending time with friends and family, especially her husband and their baby daughter.