Stellenwerf Dental is a new practice in Lake Houston, but its orbit stretches further than its opening date. For Dr. Stellenwerf, dentistry is not just a profession. It is a continuation of service woven through her family for generations. She is part of a lineage of Houstonians who gave their work, their time, and their heart to this community. Her great-grandfather helped shape Houston's identity as Space City through his work with NASA. Her father spent more than thirty years caring for local families as a dentist. Now, she carries both their stories forward as she builds a modern practice grounded in the values she grew up watching.
Inside her office, those generational ties are impossible to miss. The walls display photographs that once hung in her father's practice, along with black-and-white NASA images from her great-grandfather's time working in the space program. Patients can pause in front of them, to learn about those who worked at the Johnson Space Center and of the era when Houston became the gateway to the stars. For her, those images are not décor. They are reminders that the work she does each day is part of something larger, a family legacy.
She grew up in her father's office, learning by observation long before she ever held a dental instrument. The way he greeted patients, the calm he brought into the room, and the honesty he carried into every decision became the blueprint for her own career. When he retired during her time in dental school and sold his practice, she faced a choice: step into an existing, non-family-owned practice with a safety net or build one of her own. She chose the more courageous path. In May 2024, she opened Stellenwerf Dental from the ground up. She decided to invest in a place she has lived in since she was three years old, and Lake Houston is where her father built his career and reputation.
The early months of starting a practice with no patients were daunting, but her father's faith in her never faltered. He believed she could create something meaningful, and that belief carried her through the uncertainty. Today, he still comes into the office a few days each week to help behind the scenes. His presence brings comfort to longtime patients who once sat in his chair and now sit in hers. They see a familiar name and recognize a familiar integrity. Even though technology changes and the building is different, the values feel the same.
Those values appear in small but powerful moments. She now cleans teeth in a way that reminds her of her own childhood appointments. She was once the child looking up at the light; now she is the doctor leaning in with reassurance. She talks with patients about their lives, remembers the details that matter.
For now, she wears a lot of hats at work. Currently serving as both the dentist and the hygienist at times, giving her an opportunity to know every person who walks through her doors. She plans to grow her team in the future and hopes to expand into cosmetic services, but her foundation will always remain. She chooses high-quality materials, uses local labs, and gives fully in every experience because she believes patients deserve nothing less.
Her growth has mainly been word of mouth in her first year, something she is deeply grateful for. Three generations of her family have contributed to Houston in ways that reflect the city's tenacity. Her great-grandfather helped to build Space City, a name that still defines Houston. Her father cared for local Lake Houston families with heart for decades. Today, Dr. Stellenwerf honors both legacies while building her own.
Love local means choosing a practice rooted in this community, shaped by family history, and committed to providing honest, stellar quality care you can trust.