Meet the Team

Dr. Bruce M. Pope received his degree in dental surgery from Creighton University. He received additional training in surgery and hospital dentistry while in the US Navy, having served in Japan and Oakland Naval Hospital. He retired from the US Naval Reserve as a Captain (06). He continues to keep at the very cutting edge of dental science by frequently attending continuing education conferences. In recognition of his efforts, he was awarded a fellowship from the Academy of General Dentistry.

Active in our community, Dr. Pope has been president of the School Board, Chamber of Commerce, and Lions Club. It was under his leadership of the Lions Club the Community Building was constructed. He served many years in the Live Oak Little League as a coach, umpire, and board member.

Born in San Francisco, Dr. Pope graduated from Westmoor High School in Daly City where he was captain of the football, wrestling, and track teams. He completed his undergraduate studies in just three years at St. Mary's College of Moraga. That was followed by the acceptance of a Navy scholarship to Creighton University School of Dentistry.

The family has always been a big part of his life. He has three daughters and four grandchildren. One evening each week is Pizza Night with the grandkids!

While his interest and hobbies over the years have varied, he currently enjoys traveling, martial arts, wine, and art.

Juana has been a resident of Live Oak for most of her life. She has a lot of relatives and friends in the Live Oak area.

Juana worked for Dr. Pope part-time while still in High School as an office helper and Spanish translator.  After high school, she married Carlos.  Juana has three children named Dirceo, Yadira, and Juan Carlos.

In 1997 Juana returned to work as a sterilization assistant.  She took on the challenge to become a Registered Dental Assistant.  After graduating from Sacramento City College in August of 2000, She received her x-ray, RDA, and coronal-polishing license.  In March 2008, Juana took a pit and fissure sealant course and received a sealant certificate. 

Juana loves being a part of Dr. Pope's great team.  She loves to spend the holidays in Mexico with her family. In her spare time, she enjoys sewing, walking, Zumba, and spending time with friends and family.

Julie graduated from Oregon Health Sciences University in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in Dental Hygiene.  She returned to Reno where she had grown up and previously attended the University of Nevada, Reno.  In 1996 she moved to Northern California, where she married her husband Jerry who works for PG&E.  She worked in a couple of offices in Yuba City including Dr. Cole's periodontal office where she gained valuable experience in treating periodontal disease.  Julie joined our office in 2005 when her friend Taryn retired from the Practice.Julie and Jerry married in October 1997 and have three beautiful children.  Their oldest daughter Makenna loves animals and will start 4-H this year.  Their son Garrett spends his time playing any and all sport; golf, basketball, and baseball (coached by his dad and team mom).  He also loves to go hunting with his dad.  Nicole, the youngest, is interested in gymnastics and is scheduled to start soon.  She and her brother also like to ride horses, making it a total family affair.In 2008 Julie and her family purchased a walnut orchard. In her spare time, she helps in the farming business and breeds South African Boerboels.

Amanda graduated from Marysville Dental Assisting School in 2002.  In 2005, she went on to pass the State Boards to become a Registered Dental Assistant. Amanda joined our team in November 2007, after working for Dr. Kimball in Yuba City for 4 years.  In 2013 Amanda went back to school to further her dental education to become an RDAEF2.  She passed the boards in October 2013.  With her new license, she works directly under the dentist, placing restorations and cementing indirect restorations. Amanda currently lives in Virginia and travels back to California seasonally to work in our office.  She teaches in a Dental Assisting program when she is not working with us. 

Amanda is a Butte County native growing up in the small town of Gridley.  The luxuries of being raised in a small, country setting rich in agriculture, made Amanda recognize the value of hard work and cherish the simplicities of life.  Amanda is one of seven children and credits her siblings for her success.  The love and support from her family in all her life endeavors gave her the strength and ambition to achieve her goals.

Amanda received her Bachelor's degree from Chico State University, emphasizing in health, sociology, and nutrition.  She continued her pursuit of becoming a dental hygienist by receiving her Associate in Science degree in Dental Hygiene from Shasta College in Redding.  Her strong educational background coupled with her clinical experiences has enabled her to become a competent and compassionate dental hygienist.  As a dental hygienist, Amanda believes that her calling is to serve people and develop lasting relationships by promoting not only oral health, but overall health and wellness, through the provision of dental hygiene care,  She strives to achieve good oral health from each of her patients by tailoring treatment specific to their individual oral health care needs.  Amanda is very passionate about her career and looks forward to many years as a dental hygienist.

Aside from her career, Amanda is an extreme sports fan with her favorite being college football.  She enjoys many outdoor activities, traveling, spending time with friends and family, and taking advantage of every opportunity that arises.  

Laura was born and raised in Yuba City.  She graduated from Yuba City High School in 1998.  She attended Yuba college where she studied Administration of Justice, then went on to study Public Administration at CSU, Chico between 2001-2003.  She worked in Law Enforcement and corrections for 5 years before making a career change into the dental field.

Laura studied Dental Assisting at Maric College in Stockton, CA. where she received her DA certificate in 2007.   She worked for Peach Tree Clinic on the Sutter and Yuba Dental Vans for nearly 4 years, before coming to work for Dr. Pope in Dec. 2011.

Laura passed the California dental board to become a Registered Dental Assistant in August of 2014 and also received her sealant certificate in November 2014.

Laura has 5 boys, ages 4, 7, 14, 14, and 16, and 1 girl age 13 that consumes all of her spare time.  She enjoys spending time with her kids doing things such as; camping, hiking, traveling, family trips, biking, and going to the movies.

Laura finished the RDAEF program in Sacramento in 2019 and is now licensed as an RDAEF she loves utilizing her skills in our office.

Mikayla graduated from Marysville High School in 2013. She started classes at Yuba College to become a Registered Nurse before deciding to join the dental field. Mikayla received her x-ray license in September of 2018 and her RDA license in 2019.

Mikayla loves working in the dental field and has been with Live Oak Dentist since 2016. Aside from work, Mikayla is very involved in her church and enjoys spending time with her family.  She enjoys camping, hiking, fishing, and just about anything that has to do with animals. 

Kelley has been practicing hygiene for 19 years with 6 years in working for a periodontist, then went into general practice and for the past few years working here with Dr. Pope and his staff.  She loves helping people regain or maintain their oral health. Kelley lives in the country with dogs, cats, and horses.  Her son is a basketball and baseball athlete at Del Oro High School in Loomis and keeps her very busy. Kelley is also continuing her education online at Brandman University. 

Ana was born and raised in Yuba City. She attended Sacramento City College where she graduated as a dental hygienist. Prior to hygiene, she was a dental assistant for 9 years in the Yuba Sutter area. Ana has always had a passion for helping others.  She volunteers at Stand Down every year to help out veterans.  She enjoys hiking and outdoor activities in her spare time.  

Jezael was born and raised in Yuba City.  She went to school to become a dental assistant in 2009 and began to work as an assistant up until 2013 when she then decided to take a leave from work to be a stay-at-home mother.  Jezael recently came back to the dental field in 2018 and has been working with Live Oak Dentist since that time.  She has 4 children, 2 boys, and 2 girls who she homeschools, they keep her and her husband very busy.