Meet the Five Points Family Dental Team
Merissa Nelms, DDS, CCA
Dr. Nelms is a natural-born perfectionist with an eye for detail. She loves the human connection within dentistry and looks forward to seeing patients to help them achieve better oral health and beautiful smiles each day. She graduated at the top of her class from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Dentistry, earning awards in prosthodontics, and was inducted into the prestigious national dental honor society Omicron Kappa Upsilon.
She completed her undergraduate degree in studio art at the University of Pittsburgh and was awarded for her sculpting abilities. Combining her love for art with her expertise in science, she is board-certified in anaplastology (CCA), a branch of medicine dealing with the prosthetic rehabilitation of absent or malformed parts of the face. She completed her anaplastology training at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine and the Bronx VA Hospital and earned her CCA while working in the Department of Prosthodontics at UCSF.
Dr. Nelms believes that learning should be a lifelong commitment, especially in a field as dynamic and evolving as dentistry. She regularly attends the most advanced workshops and conferences, eager to absorb the latest advancements in dental technology and techniques. She looks forward to bringing these new advancements to her patients and continuing the legacy of dental excellence that Dr. Hulsey started in Five Points.
A native New Yorker, Dr. Nelms met her husband while they were both completing their education in Northern California. They are both foodies with a love for the outdoors and traveling. They relocated to Athens where Professor Nelms runs a research lab and teaches plant biology and genetics at The University of Georgia – Go Dawgs! They love the food, art, and music culture that Athens offers and couldn’t imagine a better place to raise their family.
Dr. Nelms is a member of the Georgia Dental Association, American Dental Association, Athens Dentofacial Interdisciplinary Study Club, and the International Anaplastology Association.
Kathy
Office Manager
Kathy came to Five Points Family Dental with Dr. Nelms, previously working as her dental assistant and deciding that she never wanted to work for anyone else. Kathy is excited to meet all of the existing and new patients at Five Points Family Dental and help with all the scheduling and insurance needs. Kathy is a true team player. She is also a certified dental assistant and helps with all practice operations. After working as a pharmacy technician for 16 years, she graduated from Athens Technical College with a degree as an expanded functions dental assistant. She was awarded the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership, the top award annually! Kathy and her husband Scott are high school sweethearts and natives of Gainesville, GA. They moved to Athens to raise their son Christian who attended Clarke County schools and graduated with a degree in computer science from UGA. Christian made Kathy’s dream of becoming a “Momma” to a daughter when he married Diamond in September 2021 who is Kathy’s “daughter in love.”
Christy
Registered Dental Hygienist
Christy is a Georgia state board licensed and registered dental hygienist. She has been a registered dental hygienist for over 20 years and a part of our team since 2018. She earned a dental assisting diploma from Tri-County Technical College in Pendleton, South Carolina in 1995. She then received an associate of applied science and dental hygiene degree at Athens Technical College in 2001. She enjoys getting to know her patients and aspires to treat each patient as an individual, giving them the best treatment she can while providing education on oral health. She is a native of Elbert County and resides there with her husband David and their three boys. She enjoys spending time with her family and attending Dewy Rose Baptist Church.
Alyson
Registered Dental Hygienist
Alyson is a Georgia state board licensed and registered dental hygienist. She has been practicing for over five years, joining our team in June 2021. She received her associate’s degree in applied science in dental hygiene at Central Georgia Technical College in Macon, Georgia in 2018. Alyson loves getting to know her patients and educating them on oral health. She has additional experience in pediatric dentistry as well as periodontics. She grew up in Madison, GA but now resides in Bishop, Georgia with her husband Connor and their two daughters, Lilly and Lucy. Alyson enjoys hunting, spending time with family and friends, and playing with her two dogs!
Brandi
Expanded Functions Dental Assistant
Brandi is our chairside dental assistant and calls the charming town of Gillsville, Georgia her home. With 24 years of experience as a certified dental assistant, her career has been dedicated to the dental field, where she has found immense joy in providing exceptional care to patients. Brandi graduated from Lanier Technical College in 2000 with an expanded functions dental assistant diploma, which has been the foundation of her ongoing commitment to advancing in the dental profession. She loves ATV riding, camping, cooking and cherishes these moments spent with family and friends. At home, Brandi is greeted by her husband Dustin and two beloved dogs, Winston, and Stella, who add joy and companionship to her life. She has two grown children and is looking forward to welcoming her first grandchild in 2025!
