Dental Team – Chevy Chase, MD
Trusted Dental Care
You Deserve
A welcoming and trusted dental team can make all the difference in a patient’s visit to our dental office. We know it takes more than just the dentist to keep individuals coming back, which is why Dr. Yu is pleased to work alongside Aycan, our patient care coordinator. When visiting our dental office, you can expect to have a positive experience when working with Aycan, who will go over your treatment and ensure you have all the information you need to feel confident in your dental treatment.
Ruffa, Patient Care Coordinator
We are excited to have Ruffa as the Front Desk/Patient Care Coordinator at Avant Dentistry, bringing a fresh perspective and a dedication to enhancing the patient experience. Ruffa enjoys working closely with Dr. Yu and has deepened her understanding of the importance of oral health. She also finds great joy in building relationships with patients and assisting them in small but meaningful ways.
Originally from Santa Barbara, Pangasinan in the Philippines, Ruffa attended Pangasinan State University. Before transitioning to the dental field, she spent a decade as a teacher in Asia and moved to the US at the end of 2021. She is pursuing certifications in Healthcare IT, including programs for Administrative Medical Assistant and A+.
Family is incredibly important to Ruffa, as the fourth of five children, and she has a close-knit relationship with her siblings and mother. Outside of work, she enjoys experimenting with new dishes, playing VR games, and watching movies with her husband. She also loves socializing, singing karaoke, and spending time with a vibrant community of friends. One unique dream of hers is to have Doraemon's 'Anywhere Door' to easily visit family in the Philippines and explore new places anytime. Ruffa is looking forward to contributing to the practice and getting to know our wonderful patients!
Michelle, Dental Assistant
Michelle is a dedicated Dental Assistant at Avant Dentistry, gaining invaluable hands-on experience and working closely with Dr. Annie Yu. This role provides not only mentorship but also a deeper understanding of patient care, dental procedures, and the latest dental technologies.
Currently, Michelle is a junior at the University of Maryland, College Park, majoring in Neurobiology and Physiology, with an expected graduation in May 2026. Alongside her studies, she is working towards a certification in Dental X-rays, which she will complete by August this year.
Outside of dentistry, Michelle is deeply passionate about research and works year-round as a research intern at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH-NIMH), studying light and circadian rhythms. She also enjoys reading, inspired by her dad’s podcast, "Pages of the Ages." One of her favorite hobbies is solving sudoku puzzles. Additionally, she loves tailoring clothes and has a knack for knitting and sewing.
An interesting fact about Michelle is that she has 33 first cousins and counting, which makes for a large and loving extended family. She is excited to be part of the Avant Dentistry team and looks forward to contributing to the practice while continuing her education and research endeavors.