Lana Fourdyce Kavetsis, DDS, FAGD
Dr. Kavetsis is dedicated to providing quality, compassionate dental care to her patients. From the young age of 10 growing up in Edwardsville, IL she’s known that she wanted to be a dentist. Since then all education and career efforts were directed at dentistry. She graduated in 2003 from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign with a BS in Biology and in 2007 received her BS in Dental Science and her Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She taught part-time for several years in the Restorative Department of UIC Dental School.
Dr. Kavetsis is passionate about continuing her education and takes about 100 hours of classes per year. She travels to Scottsdale, Arizona several times a year to train with some of the most respected and talented dentists at the Spear Education Center for Dentistry. She has worked very hard to add new technologies such as CEREC same-day crowns, cone beam 3D x-ray scanning, and advanced implant techniques into the practice. She loves using Invisalign prior to cosmetic treatment to allow for the most conservative restorative treatment possible. She received a Fellowship from The Academy of GP Orthodontics in 2010 and a Fellowship from The Academy of General Dentistry in 2018.
Dr. Kavetsis and her husband, Steve, are world travelers and enjoy exploring new places and faces. They have 2 young boys that keep them very busy. In her free time, Dr. Kavetsis is an avid yogi, plays the piano, and fancies herself an amateur chef. She always looks forward to dessert (and brushing her teeth after)!
Dr. Kavetsis’ treatment philosophy is to treat patients as if they were family members. She will always recommend the highest quality, longest-lasting, and most conservative treatment available. She looks forward to meeting you and helping you achieve your most beautiful smile.
Anthony Besse, DDS, MPH
Dr. Besse enjoys getting to know his patients so that he can understand their individual needs and concerns—a vital aspect of achieving a healthy long-term dental relationship. He encourages his patients to be informed and empowered so they can achieve a healthy, beautiful smile. He strives to stay current on dental advances and technologies in order to provide his patients with the most up-to-date and effective dental treatments. Dr. Besse takes pride in his profession and is grateful to have the opportunity to make such profound changes in people’s lives.
Dr. Besse attended The Ohio State University College of Dentistry and then completed a one-year general practice residency at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Dr. Besse is involved in organized dentistry as a member of the Chicago Dental Society, Illinois State Dental Society, and the American Dental Association.
In his free time, you can likely find Dr. Besse entertaining his rescue Corgi-Beagle, Sammy. He also loves to travel, get outdoors, and explore new areas of the city.
Cecilia Tran, DMD
Dr. Cecilia Tran was born and raised in sunny California. She attended the University of California, Berkeley for her undergraduate degree and went on to complete her Doctor of Dental Medicine at Midwestern University. Throughout dental school, Dr. Tran’s unwavering commitment to excellence propelled her to the top of her class, earning her the distinguished honor of entrance into OKU dental honor society. This accomplishment is a testament to Dr. Tran’s exceptional knowledge and skill in the field of dentistry.
Dr. Tran is driven by her passion for making a positive impact on her patients’ lives. With a firm belief in prioritizing her patients’ interests, Dr. Tran goes above and beyond to educate her patients and provide the highest level of care. She encourages her patients to take charge of their dental health as it will improve their overall well-being.
Outside of dentistry, Dr. Tran can be found indulging in her favorite pastimes. Dr. Tran enjoys playing tennis, embracing diverse cultures and experiences through travel, as well as, exploring the vibrant culinary scene in Chicago
Mary Hydes, DDS
Dr. Mary Hydes is a compassionate and highly skilled dentist dedicated to providing exceptional, patient-centered care.
After growing up in South Florida, she attended the University of Michigan, where she earned her Bachelor of Science, and went on to complete her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, one of the nation’s leading dental institutions. Her education instilled in her not only a strong clinical foundation but also a commitment to excellence and lifelong learning.
Known for her empathetic and approachable demeanor, Dr. Hydes strives to ensure every patient feels comfortable, heard, and informed. She believes that trust and communication are the cornerstones of quality dental care. To provide the best possible experience and outcomes, she stays current with innovative dental technologies and modern techniques, continuously enhancing her ability to deliver gentle, effective treatment.
Dr. Hydes is an active member of the Chicago Dental Society, Illinois State Dental Society, and the American Dental Association, reflecting her dedication to professional growth and her engagement in the broader dental community.
When she’s not caring for patients, Dr. Hydes and her husband, Tyler, are kept busy finding ways to entertain and keep up with their energetic toddler.
Bozena Ligas, DMD
Bozena Ligas was born and raised in Poland, but has resided in Chicago since the age of 10. She obtained her bachelor’s in psychology from DePaul University and then attended SIU School of Dental Medicine, graduating with high honors. She completed her residency program in orthodontics at UIC College of Dentistry. She is a strong believer in being a lifelong student and regularly takes continuing education courses.
A smile is a universal sign of happiness, the most recognizable facial expression. People can spot a smile from up to 300ft away. Smiling relieves stress, boosts your immune system, makes you more attractive, more likely to get a promotion, and it’s contagious! I can’t think of a better profession to have picked than to be able to make my patients more confident in their smiles.
“I have always been a detail-oriented person and combined with a love for working with my hands, dentistry was a natural choice. In college I worked as a dental assistant for several years, where I was reassured that I was making the right choice for myself. Although I loved every area of dentistry, I excelled in orthodontics. Everyday I get to witness my patients’ smile transformations and that in turn puts a huge smile on my own face,” says Dr. Ligas.
She is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, Midwestern Society of Orthodontists, Illinois Society of Orthodontists, and the Polish American Medical Society.
Other than orthodontics, her other passion in life is traveling. Having the privilege to experience different cultures and see all the natural beauty of our planet has truly shaped who she is as a person. Along with traveling she developed a hobby in photography. Whether across the globe or walking the streets of Chicago, she has her camera in hand.
She looks forward to meeting you, and being witness to your very own smile transformation.
Matthew Tokarski, DMD, Periodontist
Dr. Tokarski is a licensed Periodontist and Dental Implant Surgeon who was born and raised in Downers Grove, Illinois. He attended Iowa State University, where he served as both the Scholarship and Alumni Director of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. After graduating magna cum laude with a degree in Microbiology in 2017, Dr. Tokarski matriculated into the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Dentistry, earning his Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree in 2021. While at UIC, he remained actively involved in the American Student Dental Association and focused heavily on community outreach and pre-dental student engagement.
In addition to his DMD, Dr. Tokarski completed a General Practice Residency at the Order of Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois. This experience emphasized orofacial trauma, wisdom tooth extractions, oral infections, and the complex medical management of patients.
He then returned to UIC to complete his specialty training in Periodontics and Dental Implantology through the Postgraduate Department of Periodontics, where he also earned a Master’s degree in Oral Biology. Dr. Tokarski is passionate about continuing his training in complex dental implant rehabilitation and is committed to delivering clinical excellence.
Outside of dentistry, Dr. Tokarski enjoys cheering on his Green Bay Packers and Chicago White Sox, as well as exploring the city. Community involvement remains a core value—rooted in his experience as an Eagle Scout—which he continues to honor through outreach initiatives. Most of all, he’s excited to stay close to “home” and explore Chicago alongside his bluetick coonhound, Maple.
Triet Vuong, DDS, MSD
Dr. Vuong was born in Vietnam and moved to Urbana, Illinois at the age of 9, where he was raised. He obtained his undergraduate training at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, majoring in Biochemistry. He attended dental school at the University of California, San Francisco, where he was awarded the Global Oral Health Fellowship for conducting oral health research in Vietnam as a dental student.
After obtaining his DDS, he went on to complete a General Practice Residency at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, Washington where he got experience rendering dental care for medically-complex patients such as those with head & neck cancer treatment, organ transplants, and developmental disabilities.
He then practiced as a general dentist in Seattle, Washington for several years before returning to academia to obtain his specialty training in Endodontics at Virginia Commonwealth University. He also obtained his Master in Science in Dentistry at the same time. During his years as a general dentist, he has honed his skills at making dentistry as comfortable as possible for patients and is passionate about doing the same with endodontics. His favorite thing about endodontics is pleasantly surprising patients with how painless a root canal can be.
When not at work trying to save teeth, Dr. Vuong likes to travel, get outdoors, enjoy Chicago city life, and visit his family who still reside in Central Illinois. He is excited to be back in the Midwest.