Our Team

After graduating from the University of Pretoria’s School of Dentistry in 2008, Dr. Leana Lundt practiced dentistry in South Africa for three years before relocating to Vancouver in 2011. As a general practitioner of family dentistry, she practices all areas of dentistry, with a particular interest in the oral development and care of children and teens.

Leana has always been passionate about dentistry and can’t remember a time when she didn’t want to become dentist. In fact, the time spent wearing braces as a child played a big role in her decision to join the profession.

Going back and forth between appointments gave her unique exposure to dental office processes and, while other kids couldn’t wait to get their braces off, Leana found herself drawn to a profession that would someday allow her to transform patients’ lives by restoring their oral health and improving their smiles.

Community activism is a central part of the JVR Dental ethos and Leana is dedicated to giving back to the Langley community through initiatives like community education programmes, toys drives, care packages for homeless shelters, and the Ride to Conquer Cancer. As part of its efforts to serve and support the local community, a portion of all new JVR Dental patient exams are donated to oral cancer research.

Leana is proud of the team at JVR Dental and their commitment to delivering personalized, quality care. “We’re all extremely hands on” she says, “and make it a point to get to know our patients on a personal level. And because Langley has a bit of a small town feel to it, personal relationships here are nurtured and valued.”

Outdoorsy and extremely active, one of Leana’s primary goals this year is to ride to conquer cancer. On weekends, you can usually find her sleeping in (as everyone in the office knows, she’s not a morning person) or – once she’s had her morning coffee – enjoying the great outdoors biking, skiing, or running one of Langley’s spectacular trails.

JVR Dental is excited to welcome our newest associate, Dr. Denise Lu, to the practice.  Denise received her Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) from the University of Sydney, Australia in 2015. While her training in family dentistry allows her to treat a variety of patient needs, including fillings, root canals, crowns, and bridges, she has a special interest in orthodontics and enjoys helping children and adults achieve beautiful smiles through discreet, clear aligners like Invisalign.

Born in Taiwan, Denise moved to Canada with her family when she was 12 years old. Even in primary school, she was aware of the immense joy she felt in helping others and dreamed of one day caring for her own patients as a dentist. Denise graduated from high school in Surrey, BC, then went on to major in Biology and minor in Commerce at the University of British Columbia (UBC). From there, she took the opportunity to travel to Australia to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a dentist.

During her final year of dental school in Australia, Denise volunteered to travel to Cambodia to help provide much needed dental and dental hygiene treatments to otherwise underserved children. It was during this period that she experienced, first-hand, the massive difference access to dental care can have on children’s health and well-being, and the lasting impact patient education can have on people’s lives.

In addition to patient education, Denise sees relationship-building as a rewarding part of her work, and one that is essential to delivering quality care to her patients. “I like helping people improve their oral health”, she notes, “To me, having a beautiful smile brightens people’s day, and being able to give them that beautiful, healthy smile is very satisfying. I enjoy building personal relationships with my patients. I value the trust they place in me and work hard to help them maintain a mouthful of healthy teeth and gums!”

“I like helping people improve their oral health. Having a beautiful smile brightens people’s day, and being able to give them that beautiful, healthy smile is very satisfying. I enjoy building personal relationships with my patients. I value the trust they place in me and work hard to help them maintain a mouthful of healthy teeth and gums!”

Fostering stronger relationships with patients helps them feel confident and comfortable, even while sitting in the dental chair, which for many, can be a scary experience. In fact, because she finds going to the dentist a bit unsettling herself, Denise is extra aware of, and sensitive to, signs of anxiety and dental phobia. “This is why I try to be extra gentle and understanding with my patients,” she explains, “because I’ve also sat in the chair, and I know that feeling!” 

Away from the office, Denise enjoys hiking and bike riding in the summer, and snowboarding in the winter. On weekends, she loves exploring the surrounding hiking trails with her husband and “fur-baby” Kobe. Having recently returned to BC to be closer to her parents, Denise hopes to purchase a new home and settle in within the year.

Denise has completed a two-year orthodontic training program with Progressive Orthodontics and is a member of the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) and the British Columbia Dental Association (BCDA).

Dr. Klassen has lived, studied, and worked coast-to-coast in Canada. He completed an undergraduate degree in Biology / Microbiology at the University of Victoria before driving clear across the country to study dentistry at Dalhousie University in Halifax. 

During dental school, his fondest memories include connecting with Mi’kmaq First Nations’ culture, affiliating with the Global Health Office, contributing to the Faculty of Dentistry’s Alumni Anchor magazine as a writer and editor, launching an interprofessional student-led health initiative (HOPES Health Centre), and providing volunteer dental services to marginalized individuals locally and in rural Guatemala.

As a new dentist, he wanted to work on the front lines in an area where people have challenges accessing health care, so he set out as a travelling dentist in remote and rural Newfoundland and Labrador. Over 3 years, he rotated through dental clinics in 8 communities – most of which were attached to small health centres, and some were even fly-in only. 

He views dentistry through a public health lens and is a strong advocate for universal health care coverage of “medically necessary” dental care. Since dentistry remains separated from medicine, Dr. Klassen is set on reconnecting the mouth to the rest of the body through professional practice, policy and education. 

Inspired by the Evolution of Dental Medicine Summit in 2019 and being diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea shortly before, he set out to find a better way to manage his sleep-breathing disorder without a CPAP machine. 

This journey introduced him to James Nestor’s book “Breath” and one-on-one training with Dr. Ted Belfor on face and airway development. This ultimately led him to the specialized arena of treating craniofacial pain and sleep-disordered breathing under the guidance of Dr. Steve Olmos of TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centres International, who implements a holistic approach that targets the root cause of these issues. 

Dr. Klassen is pleased to offer comprehensive evaluations and non-surgical treatments for craniofacial pain & sleep-breathing disorders as part of the wonderful team at JVR Dental.

Outside of helping others breathe, sleep, heal and live better, Dr. Klassen loves spending time in nature, particularly the ocean, beachcombing, surfing, SCUBA diving, kayaking, camping, reading, listening to good vibrations, eating fabulous food, and, more recently, breathing through his nose.

MEMBERSHIPS

• British Columbia Dental Association
• Canadian Dental Association
• Canadian Association of Public Health Dentistry
• Canadian Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders Disciplines
• American Academy of Craniofacial Pain
• American Academy of Physiological Medicine & Dentistry
• American Academy of Oral Systemic Health
• International Association for Orthodontics
• American Laser Study Club

“Restoring the appearance of a patient’s smile is extremely rewarding. It takes both technical expertise and aesthetic vision to create a balanced, attractive smile. I love helping to restore a patient’s confidence with a healthy smile they can be proud of!” 

Dr. Dhaliwal received her Bachelor of Science from the University of British Columbia, majoring in Nutritional Sciences. In fact, it was studying the relationship between nutrition and oral health that first sparked her interest in dentistry. After graduation, she decided to pursue dentistry at the prestigious University of Sydney in Australia. 

While earning her degree in dentistry in 2022, Dr. Dhaliwal spent time gaining valuable experience in private and public dental hospitals. Not only is she skilled in all aspects of general dentistry, she has a particular interest in cosmetic dentistry.

For Dr. Dhaliwal, the main goal of cosmetic dentistry is to help patients feel great about their smile. “Restoring the appearance of a patient’s smile is extremely rewarding,” she notes. “It takes both technical expertise and aesthetic vision to create a balanced, attractive smile. I love helping to restore a patient’s confidence with a healthy smile they can be proud of!”

Community-minded and motivated to help others, Dr. Dhaliwal enjoys volunteering her time to give back to the community. While she certainly appreciated the sunshine and beaches in Sydney, she is excited to return home to beautiful British Columbia to practice dentistry in the community.

Outside the office, Dr. Dhaliwal likes spending time with friends and family, and traveling whenever the opportunity arises. She is also an avid hiker who loves connecting with nature and exploring the scenic hiking trails near her home.

Registered Dental Hygienist – Jayne

“My hygienist growing up made going to the dentist a great experience. She always made everything dental sound super fun! I would love to have the same impact on one of my patients.”

Jayne started her dental journey as a CDA, where she received her certificate from the University of the Fraser Valley. After confirming that she was in the right career path, she decided to continue her education by going to the Vancouver College of Dental Hygiene to get her RDH diploma. Furthermore, Jayne is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s of Health Science at Thompson Rivers University, in the hopes to one day be a dental hygiene instructor.

Jayne’s interest in the dental field began at an early age. It was actually her childhood dental hygienist who inspired her to join the dental field! “My hygienist is the main reason why I became a hygienist. She always took the time to explain everything to me, and made going to the dentist a great experience.” Jayne’s favourite part of her job is getting to see the before and after results. Whether it be removing staining, or the progress of gum health after laser, there is always something new and exciting to learn.

You will often hear Jayne chatting through her appointments, as she loves getting to know her patients so the visit feels like a trip to see your friends, rather than a typical trip to the dentist.

In her off time, Jayne loves spending quality time with her nephews or hiking one of BC’s beautiful mountains with friends.

Although singing isn’t one of Jayne’ strongest talents, that won’t stop her! There is never a moment when she won’t try to sing along to a Bruno Mars song. If she could pick any talent, it would be to actually sing on-key to music!

Registered Dental Hygienist – Jessica

“As a dental hygienist, you get to play a key role in improving people’s health every single day!”

In addition to her RDH Certification, Jessica has experience with local anesthesia and Clear aligner ortho treatment. Most recently she has also been certified as a myofunctional therapist. Her interest in dentistry was encouraged by her father who saw the importance of teaching good oral hygiene to his kids. Having a father who was vigilant about caring for his children’s teeth played no small part in her decision to join the profession.

Respectful and dependable, Jessica is a true team player with a natural talent for putting nervous patients at ease with her gentle touch. With Jessica’s 15+ years of experience as a dental hygienist, she has strong communication skills that allow her to effectively present treatment plans and recommendations to patients without pressuring them or making them feel self-conscious about their teeth.

In her off time, Jessica enjoys pursuing self-improvement goals and continuing education. She loves socializing and, on weekends, can often be found catching up with friends over brunch, or hanging out with her husband and adorable dog Nash.

Few people realize this, but Jessica is actually a twin! If there’s one talent she wishes she could have – it would be to play a musical instrument.

Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) – Julianne

“I love being in a profession where I can build meaningful relationships with patients and help them achieve optimal oral health.”

Before earning her RDH Certificate from Vancouver College in 2014, Julianne worked in insurance for several years. While she enjoyed being an agent, she always knew that her passion was elsewhere. It wasn’t until she entered the program to become a hygienist that he knew she’d found her niche. 

For Julianne, helping patients achieve their ideal smile is one of the most satisfying parts of the job. “Not only do I get to give them a healthy, polished smile,” she explains, “but I get to help raise their smile confidence!” According to Julianne, there’s nothing like seeing difference a new smile can make. “I love being in a profession where I can build relationships with patients and help them achieve optimal oral heath.”

Easy going and personable, Julianne fits effortlessly into the JVR Dental family. Her collaborative attitude means she’s always willing to help support the team and contribute to the goals of the practice. Her flexibility, experience, and eagerness to take on new challenges make her an ideal team player and an outstanding member of the team.

Away from the office, Julianne loves spending time with her husband and two daughters. She is a gardening enthusiast who likes camping and spending time outdoors. Few people know she also has an artistic side and enjoys expressing her creativity through arts and crafts!

Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) – Sukhman

“As a little girl, I loved going to the dentist and was always extremely curious about my teeth. Whenever I had a loose tooth, I’d wiggle it around and brush and clean it for the tooth fairy. Now – I am a tooth fairy!”

A graduate of the University of British Columbia (UBC), Sukhman earned her degree in Dental Science in 2020. After graduating, she worked as a dental hygienist in South Okanagan for two years. During this time, Sukhman gained valuable experience working with patients and learning how a dental practice operates. She’s excited to share her knowledge, passion, and purpose with the team.

Sukhman loves working in a fast-paced environment where she can see “lots of beautiful smiles”. Friendly and compassionate, she’s thrilled to be in the profession she’s loved since childhood. “As a little girl, I loved going to the dentist and was always extremely curious about my teeth,” she explains. “Whenever I had a loose tooth, I’d wiggle it around and brush and clean it for the tooth fairy. Now – I am a tooth fairy!”

In her free time, Sukhman is happiest being outside in the sunshine, playing with her dogs, exploring new places to eat, and working out. One of her not-so-secret goals this year is to learn to become a morning person, and the other is to become a better singer. Few people know that Sukhman grew up in the Organic Farming Capital of Canada (Cawston, BC) and was raised on an orchard!

Certified Dental Assistant – Claire

“One of the most rewarding aspects of working in dentistry is getting to work with a variety of people each day. I’m a very social person and I love helping patients feel comfortable and relaxed!”

Claire loves working alongside the dentists and hygienists at JVR Dental. As a working mom, her day begins quite early. After an early morning workout at the gym, she rushes home to get the kids ready for school and then heads to the office to meet the day head on.

The routine of a dental assistant generally involves prepping treatment rooms, assisting with procedures and helping patients with treatment-related questions. But for Claire, one of the most satisfying aspects of the job is getting to interact with a variety of personalities each day. Social and highly communicative, she excels at helping patients feel comfortable throughout their appointment.

In her off time, Claire likes to keep things social by relaxing with friends and family whenever she can. Given her hectic work and parenting schedule, she feels her life can best be summed up by the movie “This is 40” and, in fact, plans to slow things down a bit this year to enjoy more quality time with her kids.

It’s a little-known fact that, while she’s not quite a concert pianist, Claire has been known to hammer out a tune or two on the piano. Not only has she mastered “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” but she’s completely self-taught!

Certified Dental Assistant – Jasmeen

“What I love most is the variety in dentistry. What I enjoy most is the craftmanship that takes place every day!”

A graduate of the Certified Dental Assistant program at the University of Fraser Valley, Jasmeen is an attentive team player who excels at multi-tasking and anticipating the needs of the dentist. “I feel the CDA needs to be one step ahead of the dentist to help run the day to the best of our abilities,” she explains, “and being highly organized plays a huge role in that.”   

Passionate about oral health, Jasmeen is excited to work in a profession where no two days are alike. While she enjoys the technical side of the job, she also appreciates the artistry that goes into improving the aesthetics of a patient’s smile. “What I love most is the variety in dentistry. What I enjoy most is the craftsmanship that takes place every day.”

Jasmeen takes pride in being an effective advocate for her patients. This involves making personal connections and identifying their individual needs. “From morning meetings, to audits and setup, to taking on procedures one by one, I always keep patients’ needs top of mind.” Approachable and communicative, Jasmeen consistently delivers a high level of personalized patient care. 

In her off time, Jasmine enjoys spending time with loved ones. A travel enthusiast who loves nature, she hopes to explore the beauty of our planet by visiting several places on her bucket list this the year!

Dental Anaesthesia Assistant (CDA) – Catarina

“Making a positive impact in people’s health and smiles makes me happiest. Visiting the dentist can be stressful, and I love being able to reassure my patients and make them comfortable.”

We’re excited to welcome Catarina to the team in the role of Certified Dental Assistant! Catarina earned her CDA certification from CDI College in Winnipeg. With 9+ years’ experience, she’s an expert in delivering high quality clinical assistance and providing the dentist with an extra set of hands. 

Passionate about making nervous patients feel at ease in an environment that can be intimidating, Catarina enjoys working within a patient-centered model of care where she can make a difference in people’s lives. “Making a positive impact in people’s health and smiles makes me happiest,” she notes. “Visiting the dentist can be stressful, and I love being able to reassure my patients and make them comfortable.”

On weekends, Catarina can often be found enjoying the outdoors, hanging out with family, travelling, or learning new recipes. Over the next year, her goal is to go back to school on a part-time basis. Few people know how well travelled she is—that’s she’s lived all over Canada, Italy, and Portugal—and that one of the movies that best describes her life is “Eat, Pray, Love”!

Certified Dental Assistant – Karlee

“Growing up, my mom was very scared of the dentist. I believe that’s why I most enjoy helping people overcome their fear and have the most comfortable dental experience possible.”

A graduate of CDI College’s Dental Assisting Program in Surrey, BC, Karlee joined the practice with 4+ years’ experience in the field. As a valued member of the team, she excels at preparing patients for treatment and supporting our dentist through a variety of procedures.

Having heard her mom describe her deep fear of the dentist, it’s no surprise that Karlee has taken an interest in helping patients overcome their dental anxiety and dental phobia. “Growing up, my mom was very scared of the dentist. I believe that’s why I most enjoy helping people overcome their fear and have the most comfortable dental experience possible.”

For Karlee, this means developing trust through good communication. “During my workday, ensuring patients are comfortable involves lots of smiles, patience, and organization,” she explains. “I try to put them in a relaxed state of mind by encouraging them and projecting a warm and positive attitude. Establishing trust and anticipating their needs is a big part of what I do.”

Away from the office, Karlee can usually be found hanging out with friends and family, taking care of her pets, painting, and enjoying the outdoors. Few people know she loves 80s power ballads and that, while she does speak French, she hopes to begin learning a new language this year!

Office Manager – Mauritz

“Being involved in hiring, training and management of staff has been immensely rewarding. I like keeping everyone engaged and motivated, and helping to lead the team toward a common goal.”

Mauritz Lundt, office manager at JVR Dental, didn’t follow a typical career path to get to his current role. Having worked many years as a process engineer for engineering firms in Canada and abroad, he was looking for a career change and an opportunity to transition into an industry that was uniquely tailored to his skills, talents and interests.

Given his engineering background, Mauritz knew an important part of his skill set involved optimizing processes, reducing costs, and maximizing profitability. When JVR Dental needed an office manager due to shifting staffing needs, he saw the opportunity to use his existing skills and abilities to improve efficiencies and find new opportunities to innovate and grow the business.

After joining the team, Mauritz quickly discovered there is no such thing as a “typical day” for an office manager. It is a unique and demanding position that requires having your hands in virtually every aspect of the business. The ability to adapt and improvise is critical, particularly when it comes to managing office finances and finding ways to keep costs down. Mauritz enjoys this part of the job immensely and has found that many of the skills he developed in engineering are perfectly suited to this new role.

While his engineering training gave him the knowledge and skills to run business operations, Mauritz was pleasantly surprised to discover just how much he also enjoyed working directly with the team. “Being involved in hiring, training and management of staff has been immensely rewarding”, he says, “I like keeping everyone engaged and motivated, and helping to lead the team toward a common goal”.

Naturally positive with a warm demeanor, Mauritz uses his leadership skills and sense of humour to create a culture of engagement and an environment where staff members want to spend their time. When not at work, he loves relaxing with his lovely wife and daughters. He is an avid outdoors person who, along with his wife Leana, likes to make a difference in the community by participating in fundraisers such as the BC Cancer Foundation’s Ride to Conquer Cancer. Mauritz has always enjoyed pushing his limits physically. This year, he hopes to complete at least one Olympic distance triathlon.

Dental Receptionist – Jennifer

“It’s a busy job, and you have to manage your time well and know how to juggle competing priorities. At the end of the day, it’s about making sure our patients have the best experience possible.”

With her cheerful personality and professional demeanour, Dental Receptionist Jennifer Freda is the ideal first point of contact for our JVR patients. Having started out as Chairside Dental Assistant in 1992, she went on to earn her Dental Office Receptionist certificate from University of the Fraser Valley (UVF) in 1994.

Compassionate and detail-oriented, Jennifer excels at building relationships and supporting the business in its day-to-day operations. Her friendly smile has a positive impact on everyone around her, and she makes it a point to ensure patients feel at ease and always leave with a positive impression.

From appointment scheduling to insurance billing, Jennifer is laser focussed on supporting the team and ensuring patients receive the highest quality dental care. “It’s a busy job,” she says, “and you have to manage your time well and know how to juggle competing priorities. At the end of the day, it’s about making sure our patients have the best experience possible.”

In her downtime, Jennifer enjoys gardening and spending time with her family and four dogs. She’s a devoted soccer parent who can be found, most weekends, enthusiastically cheering her son and his teammates on from the sidelines!

Dental Receptionist – Charity

“The front desk is an extremely busy place, with tons of activities and responsibilities. No matter how busy I am, though, I genuinely enjoy getting to know our patients and their families. I believe in creating an enjoyable, stress-free environment, where patients feel well-cared for and appreciated”.

We’re pleased to welcome Charity Cripps as the newest member of the JVR Dental team. Charity received her Dental Receptionist Certificate through continuing education, and has over 9 years’ experience as a dental office receptionist.

Passionate about helping others, Charity was attracted to dental reception because it allows for extensive patient interaction. Drawing on her exceptional organizational and administrative skills, she supports our patients on a number of levels, including assisting with insurance processing, scheduling appointments, answering patients’ questions and ensuring they feel comfortable and well-cared for.  

Energetic, fun and creative, Charity is known for her witty sense of humour and uncanny ability to put even the most apprehensive dental patients at ease.  Her warm and humorous approach to patient interaction is an important part of her skill set, and is demonstrated by how much she enjoys conversing with patients while they wait. “The front desk is an extremely busy place,” she says, “with tons of activities and responsibilities. No matter how busy I am, though, I genuinely enjoy getting to know our patients and their families. I believe in creating an enjoyable, stress-free environment, where patients feel well-cared for and appreciated”.

On weekends, Charity usually spends time outdoors, enjoying nature with her family and dog. Whether it’s going for sushi with her daughter, dancing, boating, or helping her partner drag race, you can be sure she brings a ton of positive energy and excitement to the activity. She loves embracing new adventures, and is currently planning a trip to Mexico, where she hopes to spend quality time with her family exploring Mexico’s unique culture and history.

Dental Receptionist / CDA – Ashley

“I worked sterilization in my first office when I was 14. Since then, I knew I wanted to be in the dental industry!”

After completing a Diploma of Heath Science at Douglas College, Ashley attended CDI College where she earned her Certificate of Dental Assisting (CDA).

As a teenager, one of her first jobs was to assist with sterilization in a dental office. Even then, she found working alongside dental professionals and helping in the sterilization of their tools and equipment to be an enjoyable and exciting experience. “I worked sterilization in my first office when I was 14,” she notes. “Since then, I knew I wanted to be in the dental industry!”

These days, Ashley is still drawn to the hustle and excitement of a dental office. She loves putting her exceptional organizational and critical thinking skills to use in an environment where the work is rewarding, and no two days are the same. In her capacity as dental receptionist, Ashley’s industry experience, cheerful attitude, and outgoing demeanor make her huge asset to the clinic.

Athletic and constantly active, Ashley spends much of her free time playing hockey and softball. In fact, she played Team Canada softball for two years and spent time in the US on a scholarship. Away from the office, Ashley is happiest at the ball field or camping with her dogs.