Our Pediatric Team
Surfin’ Small Smiles And Big Waves
At Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry, we are proud to serve Wilmington’s budding smiles! Our experienced, gentle and dedicated team truly loves working with children. As specialists in fun and kid-friendly dental techniques, we love what we do and look forward to coming into work every day. Our methods are rooted in conservative methods and comprehensive dental care, all in a fun, beachy and coastal environment.
Meet the team responsible for your child having a swimmingly good time in the dental chair!
Meet Dr.
Skip Tyson
Dr. Skip founded Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry with his wife, Susan, charting the way for happy, healthy smiles for nearly 30 years. Since our doors first opened in 1997, Dr. Skip has focused on cultivating a unique and positive dental experience for your child like no other. He works closely with children and their parents to create tailored dental plans focused on setting sailing your child’s long-term oral health, all the while having fun along the voyage!
Meet Dr.
Stephanie Heaney
Dr. Stephanie looks forward to caring for your child’s oral health in a warm, nurturing environment. As a pediatric dentist and expert in little smiles, she combines expert dental techniques with a friendly, understanding approach tailored just for kids. Your child’s comfort is of the utmost importance, and she focuses on making connections with patients and their families built on trust, fun and great oral health.
Meet Dr.
Katie Benson
Dr. Katie brings a high-energy, enthusiastic feel to pediatric dentistry, making sure every child feels welcome and comfortable at every visit. She blends both expertise and advanced techniques with a fun and caring approach for dental care that truly stands out. Learn more about Dr. Katie and how she aims to help your child feel confident enough to take on anything with their smile!
Meet Our Team
Get to know the crew behind your child’s best and healthiest smile! We value education and preventative care and teach you and your child how to take care of their teeth to prevent dental problems before they can start. As they grow and change, our team helps those beachy smiles sail forward with strength and confidence. Above all, we thrive on fun, and our team comes to work every day ready to help your child smile, laugh and help make visiting the dentist an overall warm and exciting experience—every time.
Beth
Office Manager
Beth | Office Manager
Believe it or not, Beth was Dr. Skip’s very FIRST employee and has been with Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry since it opened its doors in 1997! Beth started out as a Certified Dental Assistant and learned the ropes all the way up to being our jack of-all-trades and office manager. She can usually be found at the front desk in the Teen Zone!
Beth is a native of Wilmington, and is an active part of the Wilmington & Carolina Beach Community so be sure to say hey if you see her around! Beth and her husband, Anthony have an awesome son – Kendall, and two dogs – Buster and Milo.
Lisa
OR Coordinator
Lisa | OR Coordinator
Lisa joined our team in May 2024. She has been in the dental profession since 1985! She had been a dental assistant for 25 years – over that time she explored every career in the field as a hygienist, expanded functions dental assistant placing fillings! In 2016 she decided to move to a dental administrative position – and she was AMAZING AT IT!
When the opportunity arose to come join our team she was so excited! Lisa loves interacting the kids and their parents. She has been known to give away toys at the front desk!
Lisa has been married for 40 years to her husband, Harold and has 3 adult children that are all married and scattered around! She loves going to the beach, reading, cooking and traveling with her family. She has 2 dogs – Jenny and Daisy.
Kristen
Insurance Coordinator
Kristen | Dental Assistant
Kristen rejoined the Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry crew in 2020 as our Insurance Coordinator, bringing with her years of prior experience with our practice. After two decades assisting little smiles, Kristen now focuses exclusively on insurance coordination, helping families navigate coverage with ease. She often figures things out with just a splash of information, so parents can spend less time worrying about benefits and more time enjoying life with their little ones
A Long Island native from Suffolk County, Kristen loves spending time with her nephew and niece, taking strolls with her dog, Spence, getting lost in a good book and letting her creativity shine through crafts.
Krystal
New Patient Coordinator
Krystal | New Patient Coordinator
Krystal has been part of our Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry team since 2020! She came to us as a dental assistant after graduating from Cape Fear Community College’s dental assisting program. She maintains her status as a Certified Dental Assistant and is a great asset to our team up front and in the clinic!
Krystal loves helping patients overcome their dental anxiety by welcoming them with kindness, answering their questions, and making their dental visits as comfortable as possible! She uses these skills up front to help make it easier for parents and calm any “first visit” jitters they might have!
Krystal is from Leland and loves the beach and the sunshine. She is happily engaged and a proud mom to her beautiful and spirited daughter, Kenleigh Marie. Kyrstal enjoys spending time outdoors, relaxing at the beach, and making memories with her family and friends. She also enjoys playing with her sweet dogs – River and Dottie.
Abigail
Greeter & Front Desk Associate
Abigail | Greeter & Front Desk Associate
Her favorite part of the job is seeing all the kids light up when they see the playhouse in our waiting room. She enjoys helping kids feel comfortable at the dentist and talking with kids to brighten their day (and hers!)
Abigail is originally from Virginia but now lives in Wilmington. When she is not working, she loves crafting, baking, cooking, painting and spending time with her friends outside, either going to the beach or exploring a new city. Weekend trips out of town are her favorite!
Megan
Dental Assistant
Megan | Dental Assistant
Megan is a Certified Dental Assistant and has been with us for 25 years! Megan is also on staff at New Hanover Regional Medical Center, where she assists with dental surgeries. Megan is also our office inventory specialist – she keeps us stocked and running. She’s been known to be our repair-person too when things go awry!
Megan is a family centered person – which is why so many of our patient families know and love her! She loves spending time with her family, especially her daughters – Melody, Madison, and Ashly and sweet grandson – Kai. Megan also enjoys arts and crafts and often surprises us with some of our favorite sweet treats!
Liz
Dental Assistant
Liz | Dental Assistant
Liz is a familiar face for a lot of folks as she has been with us since December 2026! Liz is a dental assistant, our clinical liaison keeping us running smoothly, and our in-house lab tech! She also is part of our OR team and goes with us to Novant New Hanover Regional Medical Center to assist with our little ones who need general anesthesia for treatment.
Liz has a huge family that she loves spending time with! She can often be found hanging out with her husband, Cliff, her daughter, Morgan and her furbabies – Molly, Lacy and Slate.
Staci
Dental Assistant
Staci | Dental Assistant
Staci joined our team in May 2014. Staci is a dental assistant, and has been for 20 years!! Staci has a passion not only for helping us take great care of kids – but she is also our dental assistant education coordinator and works closely with Cape Fear Community College mentoring assisting students during their rotations in our office!
When she isn’t working, you can find Staci on the water, gardening, or in the mountains with her husband, Tom, their son, Emrick.
Krystal
Dental Assistant
Krystal | Dental Assistant
Krystal joined our team in May 2016. She has been working in the dental field since 2012 and enjoys her experiences in pediatric dentistry the most. We call her “the four-year-old whisperer” – you have to see her magic in action! Her skills getting our little ones comfortable in the big kid chair are out of this world!
Krystal, has two children – Ty & Kailani. She’s enjoys poolside moments, and reading and fishing.
Candice
Dental Assistant
Candice | Dental Assistant
Candice joined our team in 2017 and – except for a brief hiatus to welcome her newest baby girl, she has been with us ever since! She is a dental assistant and a whole lot of fun – she loves working with kids and you can really tell when you see her around the office! She is our resident prankster and keeps us and our patient’s laughing.
Candice has three beautiful children – Paislyn, Camden, Haven Jo. She and her family are super active in sports, dance, and the Burgaw community!
Kate
Dental Assistant
Kate | Dental Assistant
We were lucky to have Kate join our team in 2023. She came to us with several years of experience in dental assisting, and an amazing background of working with children and individuals with special health care needs. She knows so many of our patient families from her work in the community and is such an asset to our team!
Kate and her husband, Ryan, are enjoying spending time with their beautiful little boy, Hudson and their crazy schnauzer, Banks!
Alayna
Dental Assistant
Alayna | Dental Assistant
Alayna joined our team in 2023, and we are so happy to have her! You’ll find Alayna around the office serenading our patients, or challenging them to a Mario Kart race. She helps our patients feel comfortable with her playfulness!
Alayna and her husband are expecting their first baby in July! She loves spending time with family, going to TJ Maxx and Chilis!
Sarah Beth
Dental Assistant
Sarah Beth | Dental Assistant
Sarah Beth joined our team in March 2024. She has been a Pediatric dental assistant for over three years. She hopes to further her dental knowledge by becoming a dental hygienist in the future! Sarah Beth has a knack for making our kids feel comfortable and talking sports with the patients!
She enjoys every aspect of pediatric dentistry and is passionate about dental health for all. Fun fact – she has a bunny named Bugs!
Jocelyn
Dental Assistant
Jocelyn | Dental Assistant
Jocelyn graduated as a certified dental assistant in 2024 and followed her heart into pediatric dentistry shortly after. Jocelyn is a newer addition to our team but feels like she has been here forever! She loves helping little ones feel safe, brave and excited about their smiles!
Jocelyn loves to spend time on the water with her husband, her family and her dog – Sailor!
Healthy Smiles Start at Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry
Expert Pediatric Dental Care
At Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry, we make it easy to schedule your child’s next visit! Whether it’s their first dental checkup or a routine cleaning, our friendly team is here to ensure every experience is positive and stress-free. Give us a call at (910) 791-7380 and our team will confirm your preferred date and time. We look forward to helping your child enjoy a lifetime of healthy, happy smiles!
Catching Waves, Creating Smiles