Meet the Team

Dr. Chris Gipe

DDS/Owner

Dr. Gipe graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1979. He regularly takes continuing education courses in orthodontics, cosmetic dentistry, implants, and Invisalign® treatment. In fact, our dentist is a preferred provider for Invisalign.

Our dentist helps patients achieve and maintain optimal oral health and smile aesthetics. He loves transforming a patient’s smile with orthodontic and cosmetic services because he can watch their self-confidence and self-esteem improve as he enhances the quality of their life. Dr. Gipe has also used his talents and skills to help those in need. He has volunteered to serve orphans and disabled America veterans through the Mariner’s Church and Dentists for Veterans organizations.

Dr. Gipe has been married to his wife, Cheryl, for over 42 years. They have two daughters, who have both worked in the office, and one son, who just graduated from law school. They also have three grandchildren. Dr. Gipe loves the ocean, water sports, sailing, and scuba diving.

Dr. Kevin Maeda is a SoCal native born and raised in Redlands, California. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Pepperdine University, where he was a Division I Cross Country and Track athlete and named Most Outstanding Chemistry Student of his graduating class.

He went on to earn his Doctorate of Dental Surgery at UCLA. Dr. Maeda gained valuable educational and clinical experience including the Venice Restorative Clerkship, a program reserved for the top 12 general dentistry students. After earning his D.D.S. at UCLA, Dr. Maeda completed his General Practice Residency at Loma Linda VA Hospital. Dr. Maeda happily served veterans and excelled in his clinical skills and expertise in restorative dentistry, oral surgery, implant surgery, and prosthodontics.

Most importantly, Dr. Maeda simply loves providing high-quality dental care and fostering relationships with his patients. One of his favorite quotes is, “They won’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Dr. Maeda is fueled by his desire to connect with his patients to serve them with the highest quality of care. His goal is always your comfort and happiness.

In his personal life, Dr. Maeda enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife and family. He loves to try new foods, go to LA Kings and Dodgers games, stay active, and balance a life of rest and adventure with his wife and pug, Frank.

Cindy Kasi

Registered Dental Hygienist

Cindy joined the practice on September 5, 2023, and has been dedicated to promoting dental health and patient well-being.

Originally from San Diego, California, Cindy has always been passionate about oral health. She is fluent in both English and Laotian. Her educational journey began at Southwestern College in San Diego, where she earned her dental hygiene degree. A mother to a college-aged son, Cindy moved to Los Alamitos seeking a change of scenery and new opportunities.

Cindy’s remarkable journey in the dental field started at the age of 16 when her family faced financial challenges due to her father’s battle with cancer. At that time, her orthodontist offered her a job cleaning chairs and instruments after school, sparking her lifelong commitment to dentistry.

What Cindy treasures most about her work is the opportunity to connect with her patients and coworkers. She is dedicated to ensuring that every patient’s experience is enjoyable and comfortable, making dental visits a positive and stress-free experience.

Over the years, as she ascended through various roles, from a chair and instrument cleaner to the front desk, dental assistant, and registered dental assistant, Cindy discovered her deep passion for the field. This realization led her back to school to become a dental hygienist, cementing her commitment to providing top-notch dental care.

Outside of her professional life, Cindy’s passions extend to food and canine companions. She has an adventurous spirit when it comes to food, often embarking on journeys to different cities to savor new culinary experiences. Her love for dogs shines through her heartwarming story of rescuing Kona, a loving pup she found four years ago, abused and abandoned at the Los Angeles riverbed. Kona has since become a cherished member of Cindy’s family, embodying the values of love and compassion that Cindy carries with her throughout her life.

Ginger

Dental Hygienist

Though Ginger grew up in Long Beach, she has lived in Texas, Arkansas, Utah, Hawaii, Arizona, and Nevada. She earned her bachelor degree in dental hygiene from the University of Southern California. What she loves most about our office is working in a pleasant atmosphere with great people while providing quality dentistry.

Ginger brings a sense of professionalism to our practice as well as many years of experience in the field. Ginger and her husband, Dan, have four children and six grandchildren. Some of Ginger’s hobbies include making handmade gifts, sewing, and reading.

Misty

Dental Hygienist

Misty is one of our Dental Hygienist and has 20 years experience. She is a people person. Because of her out-going personality, Misty has the ability to put even the most anxious of patients at ease.

Through the years she has created many friendships with our patients through lengthy conversations, and strives to provide each one of them the best care possible.

Quynh Duong

Dental Hygienist

With over 20 years in the field, Quynh Duong has served as a dedicated hygienist at Dental Wellness of Los Alamitos for 3 years. She graduated from Cypress College in 2002 and holds a Bachelor’s in Biology from UI.

Originally from Vietnam, Quynh now resides in Los Alamitos with her husband and two daughters. Outside of work, she’s passionate about yoga and holistic well-being.

Maria

Registered Dental Assistant

Maria has been working with our practice for 7 months, where she excels at making patients feel comfortable and helping give them gain a beautiful smile! By assisting Dr. Gipe change one smile at a time, Maria hopes to treat each patient with professional care, just like she would if she were the patient herself.

Maria graduated from Cerritos College and has been married for 18 years. When she isn’t spending time with her 11-year-old twins, Maria enjoys gardening, missionary work, and watching her kids play soccer. She is bi-lingual and would be happy to assist any of our Spanish speaking patients!

Lyndsay

Front Office Admin / Treatment Coordinator

Lyndsay attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks as well as Cypress College. She has also volunteered her time with other dental professionals to treat disabled American veterans.

What Lyndsay loves most about Preferred Dental Care is our amazing team and patients. As a people person, she is happy to have a job which allows her to interact with new and interesting patients every day. Some of Lyndsay’s hobbies include exercising and spending time with her two children.

Karen

Front Office

Karen has worked as a dental professional for 32 years. For the past 21 Karen has worked alongside Dr. Gipe. She enjoys her job partly because she works with wonderful people.

She is married to her loving husband and has six children. In addition, she has one granddaughter and one grandson. Being a grandmother has been a highlight in her life. “I LOVE IT!” In her free time when she is not playing with her grandchildren, you can usually find her at her sewing machine.