Meet the Team
Dr. Novak
Dr. Novak has over 20 years of experience as a practicing dentist. He is dedicated to helping his patients preserve their smiles in health, comfort, and function throughout their lives. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland Dental School and completed a General Practice Residency at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA. Dr. Novak regularly participates in a broad range of continuing education courses. He is a member of the American Dental Association, the Vermont State Dental Society, the Champlain Valley Dental Society, and participates in local dental study clubs.
Dr. Novak feels fortunate to be a member of the dental profession and donates his time by organizing foreign mission trips to provide dental treatment for those who have no access to care.
He is also a member of the Williston Richmond Rotary. Rotary International is a world-wide organization that works to make positive, lasting change in communities at home and abroad.
Dr. Novak and his wife Janice live in Williston. They have two daughters, Jessica and Alex. He enjoys reading and many outdoor activities including skiing, biking, and snowshoeing.
Dr. Allison Besse (née Giroux)
Dr. Besse is a native Vermonter who grew up in the neighboring town of Hinesburg, VT. She finds the trusting relationships she develops with her patients to be the most rewarding part of her career. Eager to help patients reach their goals, she is known for her compassionate demeanor and attention to detail. Dr. Besse feels as though it is an extreme privilege to be able to care for members of her community.
Dr. Besse graduated cum laude from The Honors College at the University of Vermont with a degree in neuroscience. Dental school brought Dr. Besse to Connecticut, where she completed both her dental doctorate as well as a Certificate in Public Health at The University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. When COVID altered the typical dental school curriculum, Dr. Besse sought out the opportunity to further her knowledge base and completed a Certificate in Business Foundations through the Wharton School of Business (University of Pennsylvania). Dr. Besse finished her years of formal education by completing a rigorous general practice residency through the Yale School of Medicine at the Yale New Haven Hospital. She has been humbled by several awards throughout the years, in particular those from The American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry and The American Prosthodontic Society.
Dr. Besse is passionate about serving the community beyond the walls of the office. She volunteered to teach health education at the American School for the Deaf for several years while in CT. Visiting multiple elementary schools, shelters for unhomed individuals, Special Olympic events, and farms with migrant workers, Dr. Besse has provided oral screenings and fluoride applications to a wide range of valued members of her community. Her service trip to the mountains of Chile sparked a strong desire to participate in further foreign mission trips.
When not in the office, Dr. Besse and her husband are passionate about traveling near and far, skiing in the beautiful Green Mountains, and trying new hobbies. In the kitchen, Dr. Besse is most likely baking something sweet to share!
Michele
Michele loves working with and getting to know patients and providing them with quality dental care as a dental hygienist with many years of experience.
Michele is a native Vermonter living in Williston with her husband and 3 busy boys. When she is not in the car transporting her children to various sporting events, she enjoys cooking and spending time with family and friends.
Cynthia
Cynthia graduated from the Dental Hygiene program at the University of Vermont. Born and raised in Vermont, she has recently moved to Richmond.
She enjoys spending time outdoors camping, hiking, fishing, gardening, and skiing with her husband and their two young daughters. She has enjoyed being a new member of the Richmond Dental team and looks forward to seeing our patients for their dental care.
