Cyndy Patros2 months ago
★★★★★
Dr. G is an excellent dentist, gentle and caring on top of very skilled.
At Bluffside Smiles Dental, Dr. Carolyn Giannelli and our caring team provide personalized dental care in a welcoming environment. From our front-office staff to our clinical team, we work together to help patients of all ages feel comfortable, heard, and supported at every visit.
Serving individuals and families in La Crosse, Wisconsin, we offer comprehensive care, from preventive and family dentistry to restorative and cosmetic treatments. We take time to understand your concerns, explain your options, and recommend care that fits your needs—with clear communication and no pressure.
Dr. Carolyn Giannelli was born and raised in Chicago and is, unapologetically, a huge Cubs fan. Dr. G received her DDS in 1991 from Northwestern University Dental School after earning her B.S. from St. Mary’s University in Winona, MN, with a double major in Biology and Psychology and a minor in Chemistry. She practiced dentistry in the Chicago area in her own practice for 23 years, took on great adventures and in 2016 becoming a dental director for a community health center in Mankato, MN, overseeing 47 employees and providing services for well over 6,000 patients a year.
Dr. Giannelli has two wonderful children in college and a very large extended Italian family. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, biking, and taking in all the natural beauty around her. Though she’ll likely continue to cheer for her Cubs, she has found her forever home in the beautiful La Crosse area and is looking forward to meeting you and caring for your dental needs.
From the front desk to the treatment chair, our team works together to make every visit comfortable, organized, and personal.
Alyssa McGinley brings a warm, welcoming energy to the front desk that patients notice the moment they walk through the door. While she is newer to the dental field, Alyssa brings years of experience in leadership, administration, and customer service — along with a genuine passion for working with people and supporting families. She was drawn to dentistry because she wanted to continue doing what she does best: creating organized, positive experiences for the people she serves.
Alyssa understands that a dental visit can feel stressful for some, and she takes that seriously. She makes it her mission to greet every patient with a friendly face, answer questions clearly, and help each visit feel as smooth and comfortable as possible. Whether you’re a first-time visitor trying to figure out what to expect or a familiar face stopping in, you can count on Alyssa for a warm welcome, a little humor, and genuine care.
Patients often find it easy to approach Alyssa with questions — she’s friendly, organized, and truly enjoys getting to know the people who walk through the practice’s doors. Building real relationships with patients is something she values deeply.
Outside the office, Alyssa keeps life full and adventurous. She loves spending time with her dog, Masha, paddleboarding in the summer, gardening, trying new recipes, and exploring the outdoors whenever possible. She’s also an avid reader and music lover, always looking forward to her next great book or live concert.
Dianne, one of our talented dental hygienists, was born in Hawaii but grew up in Dubuque, Iowa. After graduating from high school, she made the decision to pursue her degree in Dental Hygiene because of her love of working with and caring for patients. In terms of her approach to dental care, she always prioritizes taking care of her patients’ needs, making sure they understand the importance of preventative care.
In addition to her years of experience, she has enriched our practice with her ability to gain the trust of patients by helping them understand how to care for their teeth in a fun, loving manner. Some of the things she enjoys most about working at Bluffside Smiles is that her coworkers are wonderful to work with, and Dr. Giannelli is the best dentist she’s ever worked for. When she isn’t helping our patients, Dianne loves spending time with her family, including her husband, Bob; her two children, Ben and Michele; and her grandchild, Addie. Some of her favorite activities are playing pickleball and biking.
Barb is from West Salem, Wisconsin. After working in another field for a number of years, she earned her associate’s degree in Dental Hygiene from MATC in 1996. She joined our Bluffside Smiles team in the spring of 2023. What first drew Barb to the dental field is that she loved her dentist when she was younger, and he encouraged her to go into hygiene.
Her main focus when it comes to patient care and education is encouraging them in the importance of good home care and how essential that is to overall health. In addition to her years of experience, she brings to our office a dedication to building trust and understanding patients’ needs. What she enjoys most about working at Bluffside Smiles is our great staff, particularly our helpfulness, teamwork, and commitment to our patients. When she isn’t in the office, Barb loves to golf and travel.
Sabrina grew up in Kronenwetter, Wisconsin. After graduating from Northland Lutheran High School, she earned her degree in Dental Hygiene at Northcentral Technical College. After working for a few years at a dental office in Wausau, she joined our Bluffside Smiles team in the summer of 2025. What drew her to the field of dentistry is that she always wanted to work in healthcare, and dental was the best fit for her. Her approach to care is to have patients leave better — happier and healthier — than when they arrived. In addition to her experience and dedication to patient care, she brings to our office a welcoming and helpful personality and a strong desire to learn.
What she enjoys most about being part of our team is that she is constantly learning new things and getting to interact with so many wonderful people. In her free time, Sabrina enjoys spending time with her friends and family, including her mom and dad; her two brothers; her two foreign exchange brothers; and her dog, Champ. Some of her favorite things to do are shopping, playing sports, and walking her dog. Interesting fact about Sabrina: before getting them removed, she had seven wisdom teeth!
Melissa has been a part of our Bluffside Smiles team since the spring of 2016. She earned her degree from Western Wisconsin Technical College (now Western Technical College) in 2001, and she’s worked in the dental field since. What she likes best about being a part of this office is our team: she loves the staff and our two amazing dentists. She likes that our team is a fun and energetic one, and she knows that our patients appreciate that. Melissa thinks the most important things she brings to Bluffside Smiles Dental are her knowledge and almost 20 years of experience.
Leann is originally from Caledonia, Minnesota, and she graduated from Caledonia High School in 1993. After graduation, she attended Riverland Technical College in Rochester. She’s been working as a certified dental assistant since 1999. What made her want to enter the field of dental care is that she loves working with people and helping them to keep their smiles. Leann loves the fact that our office puts people first and focuses on a great patient experience for everyone who walks through our doors. She’s excited to bring her 20+ years of experience to this staff of professionals who all work together so well as a team. Outside of work, she loves spending time with friends and family, especially her husband, Jeff, and their two daughters, Alyssa and Brianna. Leann also enjoys scrapbooking, working with her flowers, and feeding the birds.
Dr. G is an excellent dentist, gentle and caring on top of very skilled.
I highly recommend Dr Gianelli she & her staff are very friendly, professional and caring
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The staff, service and care provided by this location have been top notch. I have...
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I am normally terrified of the dentist. In fact I’ve never not dreaded going to...
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Comfortable, personalized dentistry for every stage of life. Tell us how we can help and our friendly Bluffside Smiles team will take care of the rest.