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National Dental Assistants Recognition Week is observed the week of March 3rd thru March 9th. This week recognizes the outstanding contributions of dental assistants whose efforts help give our nation and local communities the best possible health care. The Wagner Family Dental clinic has three wonderful dental assistants, Linsay Link, Nora Svatos, and Sara Shoemaker. These ladies deserve recognition and a big thank you for all of their services to the Wagner and surrounding communities.

Linsay Link

Linsay Link has been a part of the Wagner Family Dental team since it opened in 2018. Linsay has been working as a dental assistant for the past 18 years, the last five of which have been at the Wagner Family Dental clinic. There was nothing in particular that lead her down the path to becoming a dental assistant. Linsay knew that one day she would want a family and this field offered good hours while still allowing her to have a quality family life.

Linsay graduated from dental assisting school in 2003. After graduating, Linsay worked in Sioux Falls before moving back to Wagner. She took a short intermission as a dental assistant for five years to raise her children before starting at the Wagner Family Dental clinic.

When asked what she enjoys the most about her job, Linsay said that patients. She loves being able to visit with them. The opportunity to work for Wagner Family Dental came at the right time for Linsay and her family. It was nice to be able to return to work after being a stay-at-home mom. She knew that a dental office was very much needed in Wagner and she was happy to offer her experience and background in the dental world.

Linsay is married to Todd Link and they have three children, Brylie, Camry and Dax. She enjoys cooking, baking, cleaning and organizing. When she is not busy working, she and Todd are usually following their children’s’ activities and sports.

Nora (Gall) Svatos

Nora Svatos has been a part of the Wagner Family Dental team for the past four years. She has been working as a dental assistant for the past 45 years. Nora decided to go into the dental assisting field because she was interested in hygiene and wanted to see if the dental field truly held an interest for her.

After graduating high school in 1978, Nora attended Lake Area Technical College for dental assisting graduating in 1979. In 1980, she started working for Dr. David Isebrands, DDS in Wagner. Four years later, Nora moved to Cheyenne, WY and then to Denver, CO in 1986. When she was in Wyoming and Colorado, she worked for the Veteran Affairs (VA) dental clinics within the VA hospitals. In 1987, she moved back to Lake Andes and went back to working for Dr. Isebrands until his retirement in 2019. Nora then began working for the Wagner Family Dental clinic in February of 2020.

Nora loves the part of her job that allows her to be with people. She tried retirement, but missed the patients, the diversity of the work that dental assisting allowed her to do, and the satisfaction of helping others. Nora has found her fellow co-workers to be very welcoming and being a part of a very up to date facility with the latest equipment has been very enjoyable. She has learned many new things since working for the Wagner Family Dental clinic.

Nora is married to Terry Svatos. They have three children Joseph, Michael and Sierra. Sierra is married to Alec Weber and are parents to Nora and Terry’s three beautiful and fun granddaughters Marie, Zelie and Clare. When Nora is not busy working, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, playing games and doing jigsaw puzzles.

Sara Shoemaker

Sara Shoemaker has been a part of the Wagner Family Dental team for the last four years and has worked as a dental assistant for the past 17 years. Sara wanted to become a dental assistant because she has always enjoyed the medical field. Being a dental assistant is the best of both worlds. She gets to be a part of the medical profession and enjoys a wonderful schedule unlike other medical careers.

Sara attended Lake Area Technical College and graduated from there in 2007. She has worked in Yankton, Brandon, and Wagner through the changing periods of her life. Sara has really enjoyed learning and practicing with new technologies and advancements in the dental field.

Although a day full of fillings can be just as enjoyable for Sara. As a dental assistant, she always enjoys being able to take care of the patients. When asked why she wanted to work for Wagner Family Dental, Sara said that the clinic has a lot to offer all their patients. Sara is proud to be a part of a team that allows people from the Wagner and surrounding communities the ability to stay close to home and still be able to receive good, quality dental care.

Sara is married with four children. Her children keep her on her toes. All of her children play hockey, so most of her winters are spent at a hockey rink. During the summer, she looks forward to spending time with her family outside and on the water with the likelihood of there being more hockey even in the summer months.

Thank you Linsay, Nora, and Sara for all of your hard work and dedication to the dental assisting field. The community and your patients definitely appreciate all that you do.