GET TO KNOW US
Our mission is to provide oral health education to our neighbors and deliver compassionate, high quality dental care to underserved children and families across Arizona through mobile outreach and community partnerships.
We proudly serve children from diverse backgrounds, including those in underserved communities, the foster care system, and children with special healthcare needs. Many of the children we meet face barriers such as limited access to care, developmental differences, high anxiety, or experiences of trauma. We believe every child deserves access to quality dental care, regardless of their background, circumstances, or abilities.
By providing preventive dental services, oral health education, and essential dental hygiene supplies, we equip children and caregivers with the tools they need to maintain healthy smiles for a lifetime.
Your invaluable support is the cornerstone of our success. With your help, we can reach more children, remove more barriers, and give even more kids a reason to smile. #ToothHeroes
Featured in
The 2025 Denobi Awards
We are thrilled to announce that our founder, Dora Pesqueda, has been featured in the 2025 Denobi Award Special, an esteemed online magazine. This recognition is a significant milestone in the Mobile Dental industry, underscoring her exceptional leadership and our organization’s commitment to excellence.
Leadership
Dora Pena Pesqueda
President and Chief Executive Officer
Hi, my name is Dora Pena Pesqueda and I am the Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer for TheSmileZone. My story started back when I was a single mother. I had 4 children and the simple task of taking them to medical, vision or dental appointments was tough, it meant taking time off work, caring for my children or providing for them. Not everyone has a solid support system of people they can depend or rely on. I was in the pediatric dental field at the time, and most people will tell you dental is the least important check-up for children. Some would say, you can put it off, but I know better. I am in the dental field, and I know how important dental care is. I worked for a dental outreach program at the time, and it felt great to be a part of something that was so helpful to those like me. I had wished we had it in my own hometown. How convenient to sign a consent form and the school was not only taking care of my child(ren)s education but physicals, vision, immunizations AND DENTAL! What a beautiful idea!
I know there is a huge gap with children receiving dental care, for many reasons. As I continue to work in a pediatric dental setting, the two biggest reasons why parents and guardians break or cancel appointments are work and school – those two things will always come first. So, that is how my journey began. I truly care about children getting their regular dental visits, they deserve it. The secondary piece is parents or guardians no longer have to take time off work and choose between preventive dental care and being able to provide for their families.
Raymond Pesqueda
Vice President and Executive Director Assistant
Hi, my name is Raymond Pesqueda, I am a Founder, Board Member and Executive Assistant for TheSmileZone. This organization started off with just an idea, the true concern and lingering question of “how?” How can we help the children and the families that can not come into a brick and mortar office? My wife (Dora) has worked in Dental for a great length of time. Her passion for dental was undeniable and I fell in love with the need and the world of dental through her. Dora would come home and tell me numerous stories that reflected a need in dental: accessibility. The stories included parents cancelling appointments for a number of reasons due to not wanting to miss work, children not missing school, and financial strain. In some instances the children really needed dental attention, but they were unable to obtain it due to these various circumstances. This was heartbreaking, and really resonated with me. I had been in the same scenario- Choosing work to provide for my children versus taking care of “minor” health needs that eventually became bigger issues. Sometimes it’s not just about oral health, but overall health and stability for our families in need, TheSmileZone recognizes this! It took some time for our idea and dream to come to life, but we are very proud to be involved in this organization and hope we can make a lasting difference in families, the community, and most importantly the children of Arizona❤️
Alyssa Apodaca
Director of Operations
I have been working in the dental field since 2016, and it has truly been a joy. The majority of my career has been dedicated to pediatric dental care, where I developed both expertise and a passion for providing care and supporting children and families. Over time, I expanded into leadership and business roles within the dental field, gaining a well-rounded understanding of systems of care and practice management. Today, I am proud to serve as the Director of Operations at The Smile Zone, where I continue to combine my clinical background with operational leadership to make a meaningful impact.
My current role as the director of operations for The Smile Zone has been such a blessing. My daily tasks include overseeing daily operations, developing strategic initiatives, optimizing processes, and ensuring operational efficiency to drive business growth and maintain longevity. I am responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing business operations to maximize efficiency and achieve organizational goals.
Our mission is to provide access to quality dental care in rural and underserved areas in the State of Arizona. We aim to improve oral health, overall well-being and empower our youth to lead healthier lives. Our dedicated team of dental professional’s plan to provide dental services to as many children as possible, ensuring no child in Arizona suffers from preventable dental issues.
In this way I am able to transform lives through compassion, dedication, and selflessness. I am committed to providing access to care and oral health that is everlasting. With passion, teamwork, commitment, The Smile Zone can change the world one tooth at a time. I am so grateful to be a part of the meaningful journey.
Meet the Doctors
Nikita Kuppanda DDS
Dr. Nikita Kuppanda was born and raised in Corona, California. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from the University of the Pacific's accelerated dental education program. She then went on to attend Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry where she earned her Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree. After dental school Dr. Kuppanda worked at a National Health Service Corp site in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was there that she treated predominately children and where her passion for pediatric dentistry grew. She completed her pediatric dental residency from NYU Langone Dental Medicine- training site in Tucson, AZ. She has received extensive training in moderate sedation, general anesthesia and patients with special healthcare needs. Her sincere commitment to the profession of pediatric dentistry and overall healthcare is why she makes a positive contribution to the dental team. In her free time she enjoys swimming, running, hiking and other outdoor activities.
Lisa Bienstock DMD
Dr. Lisa Bienstock is a Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist, a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and served as Vice President of the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners until March 2026. She is the Associate Director of NYU Langone’s Advanced Education in Pediatric Dentistry program in Phoenix and the proud owner of two thriving private practices dedicated to creating positive, prevention-focused dental experiences for children.
A graduate of Columbia University/NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Center’s prestigious Pediatric Dentistry residency program, Dr. Bienstock has held hospital privileges at Phoenix Children’s Hospital since 2013. Beyond the clinic, she is a passionate educator, national speaker, and philanthropist, with a growing presence on social media where she shares oral health tips (and plenty of real-life parenting humor) on platforms like TikTok and IG. Most recently, she did a commercial for Sensodyne Pronamel Toothpaste.
But Dr. Bienstock’s proudest title? Mom. She and her husband—her biggest supporter and partner in all things—are raising three amazing kids: a curious toddler, a spirited grade-schooler, and a wise-beyond-his-years teen. Life at home is joyful chaos, filled with family dance parties, sticky fingers, and endless laughter.
When she’s not practicing dentistry or mentoring the next generation of pediatric specialists, Dr. Bienstock recharges by traveling, listening to audiobooks while running on her treadmill, and treating herself to the ultimate indulgence: a Dairy Queen Blizzard with Oreos and cookie dough. (Trust her—it’s the perfect combo.)
Dr. Bienstock brings heart, humor, and a whole lot of hustle to everything she does—and she’s on a mission to help children thrive through comprehensive, compassionate and innovative care, leaving the world a better place.
