Meet The Team
Our compassionate & professional dental care staff is prepared for your every concern & need.
Gina Collins Mancini, DMD
Founder & Dentist
Welcome to our Meet the Team page and thank you for your interest in our practice. I am blessed to be able to spend my days with this team and I look forward to getting to know you and you getting to know our ABS Family.
A little about my background is that I was born in High Point, NC and moved to Jacksonville when I was three years old. I attended North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC and then attended Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, MA. I graduated in 2000 and continued my training at Harvard School of Dental Medicine as well as a prosthodontic private practice in Cambridge, MA. I loved my time in Boston, but I also missed my family back here in North Carolina.
I came back and began my dental career at Anderson & Slack Dentistry, which just so happened to be my dentist as a child. It was a great learning experience and I had the opportunity to work with several dentists that mentored me and I am grateful for the 10 years I spent there.
I then decided to open my own practice and it has been incredibly rewarding. I truly love coming to work and treating my patients, getting to know them, and being able to work with the people I have as part of my team. I am truly blessed.
I am a member of The Onslow County Dental Society, American Dental Association and North Carolina Dental Society. I enjoy spending time with my husband and my children. I also enjoy writing and because of this, I decided to write a children’s book a few years ago, Tabitha and Tanner the Tooth. I wrote this because over the years, I treated a lot of children and I wanted to create something to help ease their anxiety and help make dentistry fun. This journey with Tabitha and Tanner the Tooth has been even more than expected. It has allowed me to reach children beyond my private practice. The books and buddies have been taken to children on mission trips, been purchased from people all across the country and I am very proud of this. We use the lessons in my book in our office and it has helped many children conquer their fear of dentistry and improve health care habits and nutritional habits that will last them a lifetime.
Thank you for taking the time to read about me and I look forward to meeting you.
Whitney Mitchell, DMD
Associate Dentist
Hello patients of ABS! I am so excited to get to meet all of you! I am Whitney Mitchell and will be the new Associate Dentist at ABS. I could not be more excited to join the amazing team of ABS and bring my love of dentistry back to the Jacksonville area. I am honored that I have been trusted to take Dr. Savanna’s position as Associate Dentist with ABS. I look forward to getting to know you at your future appointments, and building a personal relationship with you and your family. Getting to know my patients is the most rewarding part of dentistry, sharing all the trials, tribulations and small victories of life.
I grew up in Greene County, NC so I am a good ole’ country girl at heart. My husband is from Jones County, which is where I now call “home”. After spending 8 years practicing dentistry in Richlands, NC, it became obvious that this area is very special to me. I am very much looking forward to returning to the people of Onslow County and surrounding areas to provide exceptional dental care.
Samantha
Office Manager & Insurance Coordinator
Hey there! My name is Samantha, and I was born and raised in the suburbs of St Louis, Missouri. “GO CARDS!”
In 2005 I graduated high school and married my high school sweetheart, Tony, who is a US Marine. We have moved around every 2-3 years since then and have been stationed in North Carolina, Oklahoma, Hawaii, and Iowa. In 2017 our family moved back here to Jacksonville, NC where we are planting our roots. We have two beautiful children. Our daughter, Kierstyn, was born in 2007 here, in Jacksonville, NC and our son, Blake, was born in 2011 in Lawton, OK.
I like to stay busy and enjoy spending my time with my family and friends, but my favorite is watching my daughter Cheer for Highschool and at the Competitive level and watching my son play Travel Soccer for OCSA. In the remainder of our free time, I love to be in the sun, taking boat rides, collecting treasures along the beach.
I came to A Beautiful Smile in the Fall of 2017. Prior to working here, my background was primarily in the medical field. I have enjoyed transitioning from medical to dental. I couldn’t have asked for a better team to work with, and I am so grateful to be a part of it!
LaRissa
Dental Hygienist
I was born and raised right here in Onslow County. My dad was a Marine and retired after serving 26 years as a helicopter pilot. I grew up a country girl and graduated from Richlands High School in 1999. I went on to obtain my dental hygiene degree from Coastal Carolina Community College and graduated in 2001 and have been working locally since. I married my high school sweetheart in 2001, and God blessed us with our son in 2009. I enjoy spending time with my family in the outdoors hunting and fishing. I love the career I have chosen and enjoy serving my local community and church. I joined Dr. Mancini’s team in 2011 and couldn’t ask for a better place to work!
Krissy
Dental Hygienist
Hi my name is Krissy! I was born in the Philippines and grew up in Okinawa, Japan due to my father being in the military. I returned to North Carolina shortly after graduating Highschool and met my soulmate/husband here in Jacksonville while he was stationed at Camp Lejeune, the rest is history! We have 5 beautiful children, 1 boy and 4 girls.
I enjoy spending time with my family, cooking, reading, gardening, traveling, and attending our church.
I have been in dentistry for 28 years, and I’ve loved every second of it! I started out as a Dental Assistant and continued to become a Dental Hygienist graduating from CCCC. I actually had the pleasure of working with Dr. Mancini as a Dental Assistant while I was attending CCCC for Dental Hygiene school, and then filling in as a Hygienist once I graduated! I absolutely love working with Dr. Mancini and I am so happy to be a part of A Beautiful Smile!!
Tricia
Dental Hygienist
Hey ya’ll!!
My name is Tricia, and I was born a military brat in Hawaii. Being in a military family we moved around a lot, but Richlands, NC is my home. Go Wildcats!!! I graduated from Richlands High School in 1998 and then attended the Dental Assisting Program at CCCC. I went on to work as an orthodontic assistant while going back to school for Dental Hygiene. I graduated from CCCC, Dental Hygiene in 2002. I have been fortunate enough to have worked with Dr. Mancini since | graduated!
I married my best friend, Bill in 2003, and we have our amazing, Carly Paige, born in 2006. Family is my everything!!
I have been truly blessed with the most amazing family, both at home and work. As you will notice we are one big happy family here!
When I am not at work I enjoy spending time with family, traveling and soaking up the NC sun on the boat and camping!
Megan
Dental Assistant
Hi my name is Megan. I am from Ohio, and I am the youngest of 4. I received my bachelor’s in education but then realized that wasn’t what I wanted to do. I then took a year off from school to figure out what I wanted to do. I decided I wanted to go to school for dental hygiene, but there was a waiting period, so I went to school for dental assisting to get my foot in the door. I graduated from dental assisting in 2012 and have never looked back, I’ve been assisting for 12 years now, and I absolutely love what I do. I moved from Ohio to North Carolina in 2014. I met my husband here who is from Richlands North Carolina, and we married in 2019. When I gained him, I gained my bonus daughter who is almost 13 and we have 2 girls together Emily born 2021 and Harper born 2024.
When I am not working I enjoy spending time with my family, walking/working out and being outside with my kids.
I am new here with A Beautiful Smile but so excited to join the team!!
Michaela
Dental Assistant
Hi there, my name is Michaela! I am originally from Rochester, New York and moved down to North Carolina with my husband Jake to escape the cold in 2018. When I’m not at the office you can find me baking, reading, and taking trips with our dog Ellie. I have been with Dr. Gina Mancini since 2021 and couldn’t be happier to be part of such an amazing team! I love being able to help people feel comfortable and helping them leave with a great dental experience!
Heather
Dental Assistant
Hello, my name is Heather! After receiving my education in San Diego, California, I became a Certified Dental Assistant in June 2003. I moved to North Carolina in June of 2004 and have been working for Dr. Gina Mancini for 20 years. My daughter, Taylor was born in 2006. She will be going to Boston University in the fall of 2024. I enjoy hanging out and walking my dog Cooper, spending time with my friends and family, being outside, reading and watching movies. I enjoy being a Dental Assistant and caring for our patients is my passion! I love working with Dr. Mancini and our awesome team.
Brittany
Patient Coordinator
Hi! My name is Brittany! I am one of the newest members here at A Beautiful Smile. I was born and raised in southern Indiana where I graduated high school in 2004. I went on to college at Northern Kentucky University. While attending college and working, I met boy who would become the love of my life, husband, and father to my children. Zach and I were married in 2007 and he joined the Marine Corps in 2008. I have been following him around the world ever since. Our son was born in 2007 in Indiana and our daughter was born in 2010 here at Onlsow County Hospital. We have been stationed in North Carolina, Arizona, Okinawa, and back here to North Carolina in 2021. I am so glad that Dr. Mancini and the staff decided to take a chance on me since I was busy raising my family for a few years. So happy to be apart the family here at A Beautiful Smile.
