Our pediatric dental office is located in the heart of Lakeview in New Orleans, Louisiana. With over 40 years of combined dental experience, Dr. Claudia Cavallino and Dr. Kellie Axelrad work together as a team striving to provide their patients with the highest standard of dental care.
Our office is designed to create a warm, family-like environment, and extra effort is given to provide each child the time, special attention, and individualized care they need. We proudly offer the latest treatments and technologies available in the dental field to ensure that our patients achieve and maintain beautiful, healthy smiles while developing a positive relationship with our office that will transition them into a great adult patient.
Our mission statement is to provide our patients and their families with personal, individualized, quality-focused care resulting in a superior experience for all.
Meet Our Team
Our Hygienists
Abby Schaefer, RDH
Miss Abby is our long standing Registered Dental Hygienist, who studied her pre-dental coursework at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge and completed her Bachelor of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene at LSU School of Dentistry, New Orleans in May of 2011. Abby took an interest in pediatrics and special needs patients early on in her dental education. Our office is the perfect environment for Abby to let her personality and expertise shine through! From age one visits to periodontal screenings in our older patients, Abby’s extensive skill set in preventive care allows her to provide an individualized visit for your child. She also accompanies our doctors to the hospital for the care of our patients who require sedation. Abby attends both local and national continuing education courses with our doctors to maintain her knowledge of the most current evidence-based recommendations in our field.
Kristin Dorcey, RDH
Miss Kristin joined our office in 2019 with four years of experience working in the pediatric specialty. She completed her pre-dental requirements at Southeastern Louisiana University and Delgado University and earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene at LSU School of Dentistry, New Orleans in May of 2014. Kristin excels at calming nervous patients, with a systematic approach to communicating with them what to expect at each step of the visit. Her extensive knowledge in oral health and preventive care makes her an expert in our field. She also has specialized skills in the treatment of both medically compromised and special needs patients of all ages. Kristin completes her continuing education courses annually through regional and national meetings to keep her skill set up to date with the latest recommendations for our families.
Megan Leonard, RDH
Miss Megan earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene from the LSU School of Dentistry in New Orleans in 2022. Since graduating, she has been dedicated to pediatric dentistry, where she developed a passion for helping children build healthy, confident smiles. She also has experience caring for children with special healthcare needs and is committed to making every patient feel safe, comfortable, and excited about their dental visit. When she’s not in the office, you’ll often find her wearing her favorite fun, colorful socks or spending time with her beloved kitty cats. She is passionate about continuing her education and providing the highest quality, evidence-based care for every child.
Our Expanded Duty Dental Assistants
Ashleigh Chabert, EDDA/ Hospital Coordinator
Miss Ashleigh is a Certified Expanded Duty Dental Assistant with over 20 years of experience in pediatric dentistry. As our Lead Dental Assistant and Hospital Coordinator, she works closely with our doctors to provide exceptional care both in the office and during hospital procedures. Miss Ashleigh guides families through every step of the hospital process by coordinating with the hospital, pediatricians, specialists, and insurance companies to ensure everything is in place for a successful procedure. Whether she’s assisting chairside or helping at the front desk, Ashleigh is always ready to lend a hand. Her experience, leadership, and compassionate care make her an invaluable member of the New Orleans Children’s Dental Center family.
Monique Withers, EDDA/ Insurance Coordinator
Miss Monique brings over 28 years of experience in pediatric dentistry to her role as our Insurance Specialist. She verifies insurance benefits, obtains pre-treatment estimates, and helps families understand their insurance coverage and estimated financial responsibility before their appointments. She is also happy to assist families with any insurance questions or concerns along the way. Although her primary focus is insurance coordination, Monique is always willing to jump in wherever she’s needed. Whether she’s helping at the front desk, assisting with dental procedures, or providing dental cleanings, her experience and dedication help ensure every patient receives superb care. Her knowledge, compassion, and commitment to our patients and families make her an invaluable member of the New Orleans Children’s Dental Center team.
Cinthia Marquez, EDDA
Miss Cinthia joined our team in 2024 and has been a welcome addition to our clinical staff! She has 6 years of experience as an expanded duty dental assistant, and it shows. Cinthia’s expertise in preventative and restorative dentistry shines through at every appointment. She is excellent at explaining procedures to both parents and children, and she has a gift for calming our most anxious patients. Cinthia is bilingual, which is extremely helpful for our Spanish speaking families. She also accompanies our doctors to Ochsner hospital for treatment of our patients in the surgical setting.
Madeline Roy, EDDA
Miss Madeline has been a dedicated dental assistant since 2017 and is a valued member of our team as an Expanded Duty Dental Assistant. She enjoys helping children feel comfortable and confident while assisting our doctors in providing exceptional pediatric dental care. Madeline assists with dental procedures, dental cleaning appointments, and hospital procedures, helping ensure each patient receives compassionate, high-quality care. Her friendly personality and gentle approach make every visit a positive experience for our patients and their families. Madi loves spending time with her dogs and her nephew on her days off.
Laila Reed, EDDA
Miss Laila is one of our newest Expanded Duty Dental Assistants, and her bright, bubbly personality makes her a wonderful fit for our pediatric dental office. She enjoys helping children feel comfortable and at ease while providing exceptional care. Laila can be found assisting with restorative procedures, taking dental x-rays, performing dental cleanings, helping in our lab, and accompanying our doctors to the hospital to care for patients requiring dental treatment in a hospital setting. Her willingness to jump in wherever she’s needed and her cheerful spirit make her a valued member of our team. Laila is truly a ray of sunshine, and we are so happy to have her as part of the New Orleans Children’s Dental Center family!
Amanda Malloy, EDDA
Miss Amanda joined the field of pediatric dentistry in 2015 and brings years of experience and compassionate care to her role as an Expanded Duty Dental Assistant. She assists our doctors with dental procedures, dental cleaning appointments, and hospital procedures, helping ensure every patient receives personal and individualized care. Amanda has a special gift for helping nervous patients feel calm and comfortable, making each visit a positive experience for both children and their families. Whether she’s chairside assisting, caring for patients in the hospital, or lending a hand at the front desk, Amanda is always willing to step in wherever she’s needed. Amanda has 3 amazing sons who keep her busy on the weekends!
Our Office Team
Taylor-Marie Fincher, Office Manager
Miss Taylor-Marie is our Office Manager and has over 18 years of experience in customer service and patient relations within the dental field. She oversees the day-to-day operations of our practice, working closely with our doctors, team, patients, and families to ensure every visit is a positive experience. Taylor-Marie manages office operations, staff, patient scheduling, insurance, billing, and office policies, helping to keep our practice running smoothly and efficiently. She is passionate about creating a welcoming environment for every family while supporting our team in providing exceptional pediatric dental care. Her leadership, dedication, and commitment to outstanding patient service make her an essential part of the New Orleans Children’s Dental Center family.
Kathryn Warner, Front desk associate
Miss Kathryn joined our practice in 2025 and has been working in healthcare since 2022. As one of our Front Desk Associates, she is dedicated to providing a welcoming and organized experience for every patient and family who visits our office. Kathryn is an excellent multitasker with a strong work ethic. You will often find her checking patients in for their appointments, taking payments, scheduling new and future appointments, and requesting records from your child’s specialists to help ensure each visit runs smoothly. Her attention to detail, willingness to help, and commitment to outstanding patient care make Kathryn a valued member of the New Orleans Children’s Dental Center family.
Jaime Bullock, Front desk associate
Miss Jaime is one of our fabulous Front Desk Associates whose warm personality and friendly smile help make every family feel welcome from the moment they walk through our doors. Since beginning her career in healthcare in 2023, she has been dedicated to providing compassionate, professional service to every patient and family. You will often find Jaime greeting patients, checking them in and out, taking payments, filing insurance claims, confirming appointments, and scheduling future visits. She is always eager to learn and continually strives to provide phenomenal customer service while ensuring every family’s experience at our office is a positive one. We are grateful to have Miss Jaime as part of the New Orleans Children’s Dental Center family!