Dr. Gerald Kushner, DDS
Dr. Kushner grew up in Detroit, Michigan and attended the University of Michigan and Wayne State University earning his Bachelor of Science degree in 1975. He is a 1979 graduate of the University of Detroit School of Dentistry and had accumulated well over 3000 hours of continuing dental education since graduation, earning certificates in the practice of neuromuscular, reconstructive and cosmetic dentistry from Myotronics -Noromed of Seattle Washington and the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies in Las Vegas, Nevada.

After developing a successful dental practice in suburban Detroit, he and his family moved to Southern California in 1987. Happily married for 25 years, he and his wife have raised two sons and have been involved in their religious, school, and community activities. He has had a keen interest in the treatment of TMJ and bite disorders, prevention of athletic injuries, and treatment of Sleep Disorders. He is a past President of the Neuromuscular Study Club of Southern California and is an active member of the Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, the Academy for Sports Dentistry and the International College of Craniomandibular Orthopedics. Currently in partnership with Dr. Brown, together they focus on Cosmetic, Implant, and Restorative Dentistry, TMJ Disorders, Sleep Disorders and Sports Dentistry.

Dr. Charles Brown, DDS
Dr. Brown was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1975 from Wayne State University and then attended the University of Detroit Dental School with Dr. Kushner, graduating in 1979. Shortly afterward, he moved to Boston, Massachusetts to practice in a prosthodontic group, specializing in full mouth reconstruction, implants, and cosmetic dentistry at a time when the idea of creating a smile was brand new. The group was chosen by dental material manufacturers to be evaluators of their dental products, allowing him the experience of working with innovators in the dental industry.

In 1989 he moved to Southern California, joining Dr. Kushner’s practice in Irvine. Combining their technological training with their expertise, they built a practice that offers Irvine caring and competent conservation cosmetic and restorative dentistry.

Currently, Dr. Brown has developed a keen interest in the new CEREC® technology based CAD-CAM (Computer Aided Design) System for creating beautiful, durable, custom colored metal free porcelain fillings, crowns, and veneers. He has completed the Advanced Comprehensive CEREC® Training course in Cosmetic, Implant and Restorative Dentistry.

Adrienne Hill – Dental Assistant and Treatment Coordinator
When Adrienne decided to go back to work after being a stay-at-home mom, she noticed an abundance of ads in the newspaper for dental assistants. So, she enrolled in a training program, became a certified dental assistant, and went to work for Drs. Brown and Kushner and has been a valuable team member since 1993. Adrienne helps with everything in the office from ordering supplies to confirming appointments and working on insurance claims. She likes being with people, however, so it is no surprise that her favorite part of the job is the one-on-one interaction with patients when she assists the doctors.

Sloane Birke – Treatment Coordinator 
Sloane collects all the information from the dentist and the insurance company, and then helps patients determine the best way to use their dental benefits. Then, when they come in for treatment, patients can focus on their time with the doctor, not on doing paperwork. She went to school to become a dental assistant. However, in early 1996, she was referred to Drs. Brown and Kushner, when they needed someone to work in the front office. She tried it, liked the work, and has been doing front office work at the office for over 9 years and particularly enjoys seeing the transformation of our patients’ smiles as they complete their treatment plans.

Van Nguyen – Dental Hygienist 
Van has been with us for ten years. She has always liked the idea of working in the health care field, where she could meet and help people and make a difference in their lives. Since she grew up in a “dental” family - her sister, aunt, uncles, and cousins all practice in dentistry-related professions, it was only natural that she would look to the dental field. While Van was still in high school, she had the opportunity to try out her career choice by working as a dental assistant. She enjoyed the work and the people, and therefore decided to pursue a dental hygiene education. Van graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1990 and moved to California to practice dental hygiene.

Loriann Murillo – Registered Dental Assistant
Loriann joined our staff in June 2005 after attending the American Career College where she graduated with honors (valedictorian) as a dental assistant. In 2005, she passed the state board exams to become a registered dental assistant. She sums up her feelings about the office and staff this way, “ The people I work with make all the difference. Everyone is so sincere that it is almost like a family. This applied not only to the staff, but also to the patients. I feel really blessed to be working here.”

Joan Woodring – Receptionist 
Joan has been our patient since moving from Chicago to California in 1994 and joined our dental team in March of 2005. Having the unique distinction of being a patient and employee, she ensures that the individual needs of each patient are met each time they visit our office. Her duties include answering the phone, greeting patients at the front desk and managing their charts. She also manages the appointment system, from setting appointments and making friendly reminder calls to follow-up reports.