Meet the Staff at Straits Area Dental

Christopher K. LaTocha, DDS

Dr. Christopher LaTocha graduated from Mackinaw City High School in 1984. He attended Central Michigan University where he completed requirements for Pre-Dental education. While there, his emphasis of study was Biology, Chemistry and Psychology. He was then accepted to Ohio State University College of Dentistry, where he completed his graduation requirements six months early.

Dr. LaTocha opened his first of three office locations in Mackinaw City in March of 1992. Mackinaw City was always home to the LaTocha family. The choice to return to the area stemmed from his love of the lakes and the desire to enjoy Michigan’s opportunities for hunting and fishing.  The Mackinaw City office maintains a strong, longstanding patient base that the represents a benchmark of high-quality dentistry in a small-town atmosphere. Dr. LaTocha’s commitment to quality, as well as his extensive continuing-education background, exemplify a small town office with many advantages for patient care and state-of-the-art equipment and procedures. 

With additional office locations in Alanson, Michigan, and Mackinac Island, patients have the convenience of choosing the location that is best for them. In addition, Dr. LaTocha makes many procedures available to the dental consumer because he performs many procedures that of often preformed only by specialists. His extensive continuing education in the fields of orthodontics (braces), root canal therapies and state-of-the-art implant options for teeth replacement represent his commitment to evolving educational advances in the field of Dentistry.

Kate Umbarger

Kate Umbarger spent most of her life in northern Michigan and has recently returned to the area after completing a Bachelors of Science in Interdisciplinary Health Services with a concentration in Psychology from Western Michigan University in 2010. Her passion for the healthcare field and helping others has brought her to Straits Area Dental, with hopes to create a positive and welcoming dental experience for all of their patients. Please contact Kate with any questions you may have regarding your account, or to schedule your appointment today! She would be delighted to meet you!

Linda Norris, RDH

A graduate of Oakland Community College, Linda received her dental hygiene license along with an Associate of Applied Science degree in 1998. She has worked in private practice now for the last 10 years, mainly in a general dental office, but has also worked in a pediatric office. She continues expanding her education through yearly continuing-education classes to learn new techniques and products.

Linda has been involved in many community activities over the past 10 years, ranging from speaking to children at schools, educating new parents about caring for their child’s dental needs, and visiting assisted-living facilities to aid in dental care for shut-ins. Her educational background allows her to evaluate and provide treatment of the teeth and supporting tissues, which is so important to our overall general health. Linda also has an extensive background in treating gum (periodontal) disease, which currently affects 60% of the population.

Beth Vale

Biography coming soon!

 

 

 

Jeff Yoder

Born and raised in Northern Michigan, Jeff loves the outdoors and outdoor sports. He was educated at North Central Michigan College for Criminal Justice before making the switch to Emergency Medicine and getting certification as an EMT. He worked for several years with local ambulance companies before leaving the fast paced life behind to start his family in the Cheboygan area. As a long time computer geek Jeff moved into the computer repair profession where he got his start with Straits Area Dental as a private contractor doing computer maintenance and repair. When the Office Manager position opened in the Mackinaw City office he gladly joined our team and became our full-time employee. Jeff is looking forward to his rewarding career taking care of the patients at Straits Area Dental and is proud to be a member of our dental family.