Meet the team · Independence, Kentucky

Big-city training.
Deep Kentucky roots.

Our founder trained in California, at UCLA and then dental school at the University of the Pacific in San Francisco, and chose to put down roots in small-town Independence. He built a team that's unusually local and unusually credentialed.

Dr. Sam graduated top of his class at the University of Kentucky and completed an oral-surgery fellowship at UK Hospital in Lexington. Dr. Masters and Dr. Carver are both Northern-Kentucky natives from Taylor Mill who trained at the University of Louisville and came home to practice. So you get a neighborhood family practice that can also do surgical-center-level work: implants, full-mouth rehabilitation, and sedation, without sending you across town.

Book a visit (859) 356-2000

The dentists

Four dentists, one standard of care

Every credential below is real and verifiable: the education, the training, and the story each doctor brings to the chair.

Dr. Danny Nakhla, DDS

Founder

Over a decade in dentistry. Trained in California, then made his home in Independence and opened the practice in 2010. He keeps up his continuing education so the care here stays current, and he likes to keep visits personal and comfortable. Outside the office he's into travel and sports.

Education: B.S. in molecular, cell & developmental biology, UCLA; Doctor of Dental Surgery, University of the Pacific School of Dentistry, San Francisco.

Established the practice in 2010
UCLA undergrad
University of the Pacific

Dr. Sam Muwafaq, DMD

Oral surgery & implants

Spent two years at an oral-surgery center before joining the practice. His areas of expertise include IV sedation, complex full-mouth rehabilitation, dental implants, root canal therapy, and removal of impacted wisdom teeth. Board certified for Botox and dermal fillers. His implant and full-mouth-rehabilitation work has been featured on national digital platforms.

Education: Graduated top of his class, University of Kentucky College of Dentistry; GPR residency and oral-surgery fellowship at UK Hospital, Lexington.

Top of class, UK College of Dentistry
Oral-surgery fellowship, UK Hospital
IV sedation & full-mouth rehab
Board certified, Botox & dermal fillers

Dr. Joshua Masters, DMD

General & family dentistry

A Kentucky native who practiced five years in Wisconsin before moving home to Taylor Mill to be near family. He's calm and thorough in the chair, and patients tell us how carefully he explains everything. A new dad, he now spends his free time chasing an energetic toddler.

Education: Doctor of Dental Medicine, University of Louisville School of Dentistry.

Kentucky native, lives in Taylor Mill
University of Louisville
Returned home after 5 years in Wisconsin

Dr. Sarah Carver, DMD

General & family dentistry

Grew up in Taylor Mill and has served the Northern Kentucky community since graduating in 2012. She lives in Alexandria with her husband and three children. The part she loves most about dentistry is the long-term relationships she builds with patients and their families.

Education: Doctor of Dental Medicine, University of Louisville School of Dentistry, 2012.

Grew up in Taylor Mill
University of Louisville, 2012
Serving Northern Kentucky 10+ years

Why it matters

Surgical-center skill, neighbor's-table warmth

Most family practices refer the hard cases out. Ours doesn't have to. With Dr. Sam's oral-surgery fellowship and IV-sedation training in-house, implants, full-arch rehabilitation, and impacted-wisdom-tooth removal happen in the same room where you get your six-month cleaning, with people you already know.

And because the team is genuinely local, the relationship outlasts any single procedure. Several of our patients have been coming for years; some bring three generations of the same family. That's the practice Dr. Nakhla set out to build in 2010, and it's the one we run today.

See what we do Our technology

New patients welcome

Meet your dentist in person

One practice for cosmetic, restorative, and preventive care, with real sedation options for anxious patients. We'll build a plan together and explain every step.

Book a visit Call (859) 356-2000