Karen Racki

Most people either loved going to the dentist as a kid—or absolutely hated it. Where did you fall? How come?

I always enjoyed going to the dentist as a kid. I thought everything in the office was cool and wanted to know what the doctor and hygienist were doing.
What (or who) inspired you to get into dentistry? How so?

My orthodontist inspired me when I was 9 years old. He had such a fun office and great staff that made me want to go into dentistry.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

Seeing patients improve their oral health and go from nervous patient to enjoying their appointments and having fun!

What’s your dream toothpaste flavor?

Mint chocolate chip with extra chocolate chips

What’s something your patients might be surprised to learn about you?

I have LOTS of animals. In the house I have 5 cats and 2 dogs, and outside I have 4 hens and 10 stray cats that are hilarious and walk with me and the dogs when we go to the park.

How do you recharge after a long week? What’s your go-to activity for hitting the restart button?

Visiting my chickens!

In another life, if you weren’t working in dentistry, what would you be doing?

Probably grooming dogs. This has been a hobby of mine for several years — being around dogs makes me very happy.