Meet Your Friendly Dental Team – Wilmington, IL

Brook Howard, Hygienist

Brook has been a hygienist for 11 years and joined Grand Dental - Wilmington three years ago. After gaining experience in a wide variety of dental settings, she can honestly say “Grand tops them all. I love being a hygienist at Grand Dental - Wilmington because I am provided with every resource available to give my patient the best possible treatment I can give. Grand Dental - Wilmington uses the newest technology to diagnose, educate, and treat patients. I am given ample time to listen to my patients and build relationships, so they don't feel like just a number.”

In true Route 66 fashion, Wilmington native, Brook and her family love to road trip across the U.S.A. picking a new destination for each outing. Brook enjoys hiking, yoga and reading non-fiction books. She quenches her taste for adventure by enjoying Chicago’s expansive ethnic dining scene. “I love trying new foods. If I wasn’t a hygienist, I would be a travelling food critic!”

Susie Pogliano, Hygienist

Susie joined our dental office in 2018 and brings 28 years of experience to Grand Dental - Wilmington. A proud Wilmington native, she loves working in her hometown and is thrilled to be part of such an excellent team. On top of her hygiene training, she is also certified in laser therapy, nitrous oxide sedation, and local anesthetic.

Susie is married to her high school sweetheart, Ed, and they have three sons, two dogs, and one cat. In the summer, her family enjoys cooking out and spending time in the pool. When it’s cold outside, she says “there is nothing better than binge watching Netflix.” She also likes hanging out with her co-workers, who she calls her “Grand family.”

Kristen Stupak, Hygienist

Kristen’s career in dentistry spans nearly two decades so far, but that isn’t the only impressive thing about her! She also earned her associate degree in dental hygiene from Prairie State College, completed her bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and obtained her certification in local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, and laser therapy. Now, she loves building relationships with her patients while simultaneously helping them to achieve their oral hygiene goals.

Kristen married her high school sweetheart, and they now have three children together. Since she’s a self-proclaimed homebody, she loves cooking for her family, reading, and watching horror movies at home in her free time. Here’s a fun fact about her: she’s gone to Guatemala, Puerto Rico, and Belize on dental missions!

Allie Rush-Unger, Registered Dental Hygienist

With a decade of experience in dentistry and counting, Allie loves interacting with her patients while helping them achieve their healthiest smiles. Creating strong connections with others is incredibly important to her, and creating a positive environment for people to learn about their oral health and improve it is one of her favorite things about her job. She studied at Prairie State College for their Dental Hygiene Program, and she’s certified in nitrous oxide, local anesthetics, and laser dentistry.

Outside of the office, Allie is married and has four amazing children. She and her family spend much of their time together going to sporting events and making memories while swimming, fishing, and having cookouts. She also enjoys crafting and party planning, as she dreams of being a wedding/party planner someday.

Dee, Team Lead

An Illinois native, Dee has an impressive 25+ years of experience in the world of dentistry. Since joining our team, she has thoroughly enjoyed meeting people in the community, building relationships with patients, and creating a fun and comfortable environment for their treatment. These are just a few of the many aspects of her day that make her job so rewarding!

Dee has a son and daughter (who are twins!), a daughter-in-law, and a grandson. When she isn’t spending time with family, she enjoys watching movies, visiting libraries, and hiking!