What Makes A Good Dental Practice Excellent?

Amazing dentistry and warm customer service are a positive attraction for new dental patients. When the team is amazing, patients feel at home. We invite you to visit our “home” and experience our warmth and care.

The Qualities of Our Dental Practice

  • Exceptionally trained team
  • Communication
  • Comprehensive dental health
  • Kindness
  • Tooth preservation
  • Comfort
  • Extraordinarily skilled doctors

Meet Our Encino Dental Team!

For Dr. Tatsuta

Brittany – Front Office Administrator & Public Relations Coordinator

Hi my name is Brittany. I am Dr. Tatsuta’s Receptionist, Scheduling, Treatment and Public Relations Coordinator. I love working with the very best restorative doctors’ offices in the San Fernando Valley.

I am grateful for the great doctors, staff and patients that refer and entrust their family and friends with our care. Since April 2011, I have continued to gain knowledge and skills to provide the best customer service in a comfortable, healing state of the art office. I began in the dental field in January 2009 as a chairside assistant and transitioned to the front office where I found my niche. I love interacting with everyone making them part of our family.

Our team strives to customize our care to your individual needs. We do care about YOU and want you to have the best experience in our office. The additional communication, customer service, CPR and medical emergency training give me the confidence and skills to more safely and efficiently care for and comfort our patients.

Outside of my professional life, I am a mother of a beautiful 6 year-old son, named Caiden. I enjoy spending time with him playing outdoors, watching movies, wrestling, reading, making forts and just having a good time.

Please if you have any questions, concerns or just want to say hello, give our office a call. I look forward to speaking with you and scheduling your positive, memorable experience.

Yvette – Dental Assistant

My name is Yvette.  I graduated from Charter College with a dental assisting certificate in September 2010.  After my internship I joined Dr. Tatsuta’s dental team.  Most of my training has been in the office where I have learned six-handed assisting under a surgical microscope for safe, efficient, comfortable dental care and care of IV sedated patients.

I love seeing the detail from the “high tech” 3D x-ray images that help us diagnose and treat infections more predictably and successfully.  Advanced educational seminars continue to improve my customer service and overall patient care.

I enjoy hanging out with friends and family and attending sporting events and concerts.

Mina -Dental Assistant

My name is Mina.  I have been assisting Dr. Tatsuta since December 2010.  I focused my efforts in general dentistry for three years prior to becoming an endodontic assistant.  I love assisting in Dr. Tatsuta’s office because I enjoy the continual training and making patients comfortable and happy.

Six-handed assisting with a surgical microscope and using state of the art technology is exciting and helps us heal, save teeth and promote smiles. On my days off I enjoy spending time with my two kids, riding horses and eating sushi and Thai food.

For Dr. Okui

Sarah Money – Office Manager

Hi, my name is Sarah and I am the Office Manager and Financial Coordinator for Dr. Matthew Okui. I feel so fortunate to have been given the opportunity to work at Akemi Dental with an amazing Periodontist and Endodontist.

I began working in the dental field 5 years ago with Dr. Okui as his scheduling coordinator and insurance processor. With the support of a wonderful staff and my background in Insurance and Marketing it made my transition into dental management easy.

Not only have I completed a 2 year management and treatment coordination training program with an outside dental management corporation, I’ve also continued my education with office training meetings on all of our state of the art equipment, CPR and medical emergency training.

Not only is our staff is fully trained in surgical and periodontal procedures, we also pride ourselves in the quality of customer care provided to our patients. Having worked here for 5 years I’ve found that I not only love the doctor and staff I work with but that I also have a passion for helping and interacting with every patient making them a part of our dental family.

Nora Bright – Appointment Secretary, Hygiene & Marketing Coordinator

Hi, my name is Nora Bright and I am the Appointment Secretary/Hygiene Coordinator for Dr. Okui. I have the pleasure of working with great patients, as well as their referring doctors.

I coordinate the hygiene and help our continuing care patients with anything they need. I started out as a front/back office assistant in December 2004.  I have worked in General Dentistry, Pediatric, Orthodontics and Periodontics.

What I have learned from working with Dr. Okui for the past year is excellent patient care. We strive to make every patient a priority!

As part of proving the best care possible, we continue our education regularly in office and through seminars. Every office member is educated on quality Customer Service, Office Safety and CPR/Emergency Training.

Outside of the office I enjoy spending my time off with my beautiful daughter Audrey. We enjoy sporting events, cheerleading, beaches and girls night out!

Veronica Salazar – Front Office, Insurance Processor 

Hi, my name is Veronica Salazar and I am the front office secretary & insurance processor. I have been in the dental field for 2 years with a background in general dentistry and Periodontics. Here at Akemi Dental I make it a priority to make our patients feel comfortable and welcomed.

As we all know, insurance company policies can be a little confusing and complicated to understand. I’ve completed dental as well as medical billing & coding to help assist our patients in understanding their policy.

With our new technology and continuing education, our team makes your visit as easy and comfortable as taking a walk in the park.

When I’m not in the office helping patients my free time I spend going to the park, theme parks and taking trips to the beach with my son Ayden.

Back Office 

Cynthia Sanchez – Head Surgical/Back Office Assistant

Hi ya’ll, my name is Cynthia Sanchez and yes I’m originally from Dallas, Texas. In 2001 I received my RDA License from Collin County Community College in Plano, Texas.

I have worked in several areas of the dental field including Periodontics, General Dentistry, Prosthodontics, Oral Surgery; all while helping patients chair side as a surgical assistant.  I joined the team at Dr. Okui’s office in 2008 and I’ve grown from a surgical assistant to the lead assistant over the past four years.

I have continued my education regularly with the latest technology training with our state of the art equipment. As well as expanding my knowledge through outside seminars polishing my customer service and dental care skills.

When I’m not in the office I enjoy dancing, traveling, exploring new adventures, going to the movies and learning about other cultures in our community.

Shonte Brown – Back Office Surgical Assistant

My name is Shonte and I am a back office surgical assistant for Dr. Okui. I am privileged to work in a state-of-the-art office. We use computers and microscopes for surgical procedures. TV monitors are in every operatory, giving patients the pleasure of watching TV during their dental appointment.

My position allows me to comfort each patient in my care. I have had the pleasure of being a surgical assistant for over 15 years. I’ve acquired my knowledge through working for a General Dentist, Endodontist, Prosthodontist and Pediatric offices as well as an Oral Surgery office for 5 years. I have certification as an OMSA.

Since I have been with Dr. Okui, I have accumulated experience in different Implant Systems such as Nobel, Straumann, Southern and Astra.

I enjoy the privilege of meeting all kinds of patients that have different dental needs and fears because part of the job is relaxing those fears of the unknown. I love hearing patients say, “Thank You! Dr. Okui and his staff are wonderful people.”

When I’m away from the office I love spending time with my beautiful family. My husband Daniel and 3 year-old daughter, Saharah.

Veronica Giron – Surgical Assistant

My name is Veronica; I am a surgical assistant with knowledge in Periodontics and general dentistry. I have the privilege to work and learn from Dr. Okui on a daily basis. I’ve gained an array of knowledge in CBCT 3D X-ray image, iTERO digital impressions, our state of the art microscopes, digital X-rays and completed periodontal charting.

I continue to further my knowledge by attending seminars and continuing education courses to improve skills and learn new techniques and to provide professional quality care for our patients.

I have an RDA license, CPR license and through the supervision of Doctor Okui I assist him in IV conscious sedations.

I am bilingual and have tutored Spanish dental terminology to students at Utah College of Dental Hygiene to help them communicate with Spanish speaking patients. I have volunteered at Give Kids a Smile providing free dental care and educating for underserved children.

My priority at Akemi Dental Specialists is to serve and provide Professional quality care and educate our patients on dental hygiene.

When I’m not expanding my knowledge in the office my husband and I avidly volunteer in our community through fundraising, local charity events and teaching primary children at church. Hobbies I enjoy are hiking, photography, sporting events and traveling.

Judith Banaag – Dental Hygienist 

Hi, I am Judith Banaag and I graduated with honors from University of Southern California, School of Dentistry with a Bachelor Degree in Dental Hygiene in 2004.  During my final year in the dental hygiene program, I became one of the USC Preventive Oral Health Care Faculty responsible for implementing and teaching second-year dental students the periodontal disease process and periodontal instrumentation.

I have certification in local anesthesia administration, nitrous oxide sedation, soft tissue curettage and in CPR/BLS training.

I have worked in the dental field for 9 years for a Cosmetic Dentist as a Registered Dental Assistant and 8 years as a Registered Dental Hygienist.

I joined Akemi Dental Specialists team in 2005. I continue to further my knowledge by learning and implementing new techniques, and by taking CE courses yearly to provide patients with the utmost care.