Welcome To Desert Hills Dental
Come In & Join The Fun
When you become our patient you also become part of our dental family. We strive to provide high-quality dental care and education in a warm, comfortable, and fun environment. We hope you will feel at ease and at home the moment you walk in as if you were a member of our family. We take great pleasure in assisting you in attaining and maintaining excellent oral health for the rest of your life. Throughout your treatment, our experts will educate and guide you. Our office is committed to providing our patients with comprehensive, compassionate, and lifelong care.
Meet Our Doctors
Dr. Deborah Staten, DMD
DMD
Dr. Staten believes every patient is unique, so every treatment plan must be unique as well. One-size-fits-all dentistry has no place at Desert Hills Dental. Instead, she bases every treatment and procedure recommendation on a number of highly personalized factors.
Dr. Nepacena, DMD
DMD
Dr. Nepacena was born and raised in San Jose, CA. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of San Francisco and her DMD at UNLV School of Dental Medicine.
Meet Our Team
Teresa
Front Office Manager
Hi! I'm Teresa and I've been working front office in the dental field for 19 years. I love the relationships we develop with our patients. Helping patients improve their dental health and smile is so rewarding! I moved here in 2018 from Sonoma County with my husband Joel. I love the weather and endless supply of activities in Las Vegas but sure do miss the wineries! We have four grown kids between us, two grandsons and a granddaughter on the way! We love camping in our travel trailer and exploring new areas. It's always an adventure!
Amy
Practice Optimizer
Hi, I’m Amy! I have been a resident of Las Vegas for over 20+ years and even though I am originally from Southern California, this is “Home” to me. I have been in the dental field since 2008 and have been working for Desert Hills Dental since 2014. I enjoy working at Desert Hills Dental because of the response that patients have coming to our office. Going to the dentist is already a scary thing for people, but our patients, leave feeling like they just came from visiting, friends/family. Or they feel like they have just met a new group of friends and have changed their vision of going to the dentist. I work very hard at making sure everything runs smoothly at Desert Hills Dental and I am always ready to give a helping hand. I love seeing our patients leave our office with big smiles and hearing about their amazing experiences. When I am not in the office, I enjoy spending time with my long-time boyfriend and children. I love to shop! Especially for shoes and purses. I also love trying new places to eat (especially seafood) and going to concerts. =)
John Staten
Business Manager "The Mayor"
Hi! I'm John, the one man in the office who single-handedly gets it all done around here. LOL! But seriously, I am Dr. Staten's husband and opened the practice with her in 2013. My roles have changed over the years, but I currently help run the front office by doing most of the typical jobs required to keep the front office moving along efficiently. The real stars in the front are Amy and Teresa. My nickname around here is the "mayor," as I love interacting with the patients and doing everything I can to ensure the best possibly patient experience. I enjoy working at DHD as it allows me to be of service to other people and it is very rewarding to educate patients on their oral hygiene and helping people get the best smile they deserve. Outside of the office, I love to golf and do anything that gets me around water. I love to jump on a plane with my amazing wife as she is a fantastic travel buddy, and I couldn't think of going places with anyone else. We have so much fun doing it. I have two amazing, kind, and compassionate children that enrich my life and I couldn’t be prouder of them.
Marleny
Dental Hygienist
Marleny was born and raised in West Covina, California. She has been a hygienist since 2008. She relocated to Las Vegas with her family in 2011 and has been working at Desert Hills Dental for the past 9 years. Marleny is married and has 3 children. In her free time, she enjoys doing DIY projects, woodworking, or anything crafty.
Lisa
Dental Hygienist
I was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley area of Southern California. While living there I served for eight years in the California Air National Guard. I received my bachelor’s degree in forensic science from UNLV in 2007. After spending nearly eight years working as a crime scene investigator/forensic scientist, I decided to change career fields. I became a registered dental hygienist in 2022. Dental hygiene allows me to help enhance people’s quality of life, one smile at a time. I am married with two fur babies. When not working, we love traveling, camping, and spending time outdoors.
Bridon
Dental Assistant
Hi! I'm Bridon the newest assistant! I was raised in Pioche, Nevada. I have been an assistant for 4 years and went to dental assisting school in St. George, Utah! I just moved to Vegas in April of 2022 and waltzed into Desert Hills Dental to see if they would hire me! I have continued to take that opportunity and excel within the office.
Kay (Keneisha)
Dental Assistant
Hello, I’m Keneisha!
I am new to Las Vegas from sunny California but I was born and raised in Ohio. I am the newest dental assistant to the Desert Hills Dental team.
I’ve been in the dental field for about 7 years now. Interacting with patients, easing anxiety, keeping them comfortable throughout the procedure, and seeing them smile is a rewarding feeling. In my leisure time, I enjoy traveling, shopping, reading, going on spontaneous adventures, spending time with friends and family, and checking out new places to eat or grab a drink. I’m married with no kids yet, just a 5-year-old fur baby named Byon.
Shannon
Treatment Coordinator
Hi! I am Shannon. I have been in the dental field since 2008, starting as an assistant. I absolutely LOVE the relationships I have forged with patients and teammates. I find this profession to be very fulfilling. I have been married to an Englishman (accent and all) for 18 years, and I have two grown sons who I want to be like when I grow up. :) In my off time, I am currently in three bands as a vocalist and bassist. Music is my oxygen, my Zen, my happy place. I love the bond I share with my bandmates. Fun fact: I am an avid football lover. I played in the WFA, a pro women’s football team (yes, real NFL rules…pads and all), and coached peewee football. I am a huge Longhorns and 49ers fan!
Desert Hills Dental is without a doubt the best dental office I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing in my life. If I have to say, the one thing that sets it apart from all other dental offices is the people. They are the best! From the friendly greeting you receive the moment you step inside to the caring, professional, and, may I add, great sense of humor you experience from the entire staff. The entire experience is a true pleasure.
- Mark D.
I think Dr. Staten and her staff have created the best dentistry I have ever been a patient at. The staff are highly skilled, very friendly, and treat you with respect. You feel like a member of the family. In my opinion, they are the best dentists in Las Vegas!
- Jim W.
I’ve had a couple of dental procedures (including 1 emergency) with Desert Hills Dental and have been very happy with their work. Dr. Staten and her staff are very professional and truly care about your well-being. They go above and beyond to make you feel comfortable, and I feel they truly care. I highly recommend them.
- Kerry T.
Everyone is extremely friendly, and I feel very comfortable with Dr. Staten. I wouldn’t go to any other dentist in town. She’s the best! I’ve had several procedures done with her and she’s meticulous and professional. I just had my annual cleaning and Nicole, my hygienist, did a great job as well. I would highly recommend Desert Hills Dental to anyone. They go above and beyond for your dental needs.
- Tracy R.
They are wonderful. I am so glad I tried them out. I had been looking for a good Vegas dentist since moving here and went with this one based on the reviews. From the moment I walked in, I felt so welcomed. The front desk lady was so nice, as was all the other staff that cleaned and examined my teeth. They explained everything they were doing, and they were so patient, nice, funny, and helpful. I never felt rushed or like they were recommending services to get more money. They are all down to earth and genuinely want to help you. I would recommend this dentist to anyone. They are the best, and I am so relieved to have found a great dentist here.
