Meet Our Doctors
Pediatric Dentist - Dr. Steven E. Ripple, D.D.S.
Dr. Steven Ripple is a New Orleans native and a graduate of Jesuit High School. He attended Louisiana State University for his undergraduate degree and was a member of the LSU Football Team, serving as team captain and MVP in 1977. Following completion of his undergraduate, he received the Butch Duke Award for leadership, the Chancellor's Award as the senior with the highest scholastic average. He earned his Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree from the LSU School of Dentistry and completed his Pediatric Residency program at the University of Kentucky with extensive training in anesthesia, as well as training medically compromised, disabled and special needs children. During his Dental School years, Dr. Ripple was selected as school president for his junior and senior years. He also received the Pediatric Dentistry Award and the Operative Dentistry Award, both for outstanding proficiency and excellence in those.
Dr. Ripple has spent over 40 years not only practicing dentistry, but has incorporated the experiences from his personal athletic and academic endeavors into coaching and mentoring others in the area of fulfillment of potential and service through personal sacrifice.
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Coaching, Athletic Development, Fulfillment of Potential: The beginning and driving force into his passionate development in the profession of coaching was training his wife Jan, a collegiate swimmer, in the sport of triathlon. Under Steve's tutelage, she achieved national and international recognition as one of the top triathletes in the world. Competing in over twenty countries and spanning five continents, Jan held the title of U.S. Triathlete of the year, World and National Champion. With over forty-five professional victories during the eight years of competition, the foundation for coaching multisport, functional, dynamic performance was developed.
Following Jan's professional career, Dr. Ripple served as his daughter Shelly's strength and conditioning coach as she burst on the national and international elite swimming scene. Shelly's development of functional strength contributed to her achieving four national age group records, U.S. senior national champion, American record holder, World Champion, NCAA champion and 24-time NCAA All American at Stanford University.
Serving as coach to numerous local high school athletes along with his son Kyle and daughter Kate, Dr. Ripple continued to develop champions. His teams at Parkview Baptist High School combined to win six state titles in swimming, six titles in cross country and one state title in track and field. His son Kyle continued his athletic career in collegiate basketball, while Kate excelled at collegiate soccer, signing with Texas A & M, and completing her career at LSU as team captain and leading scorer.
Keeping children active and healthy while instilling lifelong values of success is a passion of Dr. Ripple's and is apparent through his outreach. His pursuit of positively impacting the youth of all abilities through athletics was the driving force for opening and development of Crawfish Aquatics in 1998. Under his guidance and leadership Crawfish Aquatics established a second home in Lafayette in 2010 and then a third location on the campus of Nicholls State University in Thibodaux in 2013. The goal of the additional locations was to continue to meet the needs of those communities through aquatics.
During the local expansion of Crawfish Aquatics, Dr. Ripple continues to be involved with the development and pursuit of excellence at the elite level. From 2005-2012, he served as the voluntary strength and conditioning coach for the Stanford Men's swim team. Under his tutelage and guidance in this area Stanford athletes continue to achieve national and international recognition individually and collectively. Exerfit and Crawfish Aquatics served as the host to the Stanford Men's swim team Fall Training Camp from 2006-2011.
Crawfish Swim School, a year round lessons facility opened in January of 2017 on Siegen Lane in Baton Rouge. The Bayou Oaks development followed in 2018 as the home for the second Crawfish Swim School and the second Smile Stars Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics to serve the Prairieville and surrounding areas. These companies emphasize health, fitness, overall development of mind, body, and fulfillment of potential; each with an individual niche of community service.
Orthodontist - Dr. Matthew Leftwich, D.D.S., M.S.
Dr. Matthew Leftwich is a New Orleans native who graduated from LSU School of Dentistry before completing his orthodontic residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He graduated in the top 10% of his class and was recognized for academic excellence throughout his training.
As an orthodontist, Dr. Matt loves helping patients feel confident in their smiles. His genuine love for people shines through in the way he connects with families and makes a positive impact on both their smiles and their lives.
Dentist - Dr. Kaede Collette , D.D.S
Dr. Kaede Collette was born and raised in Henderson, Louisiana, where his interest in healthcare began early. He earned his Bachelor of Science from UL Lafayette and his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from LSU School of Dentistry.
Through his work with the LSU Pediatric Clinic and the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Dr. Kaede discovered a true passion for caring for children and young adults.
Patient-centered care is the core of Dr. Kaede's philosophy. He strives to create a welcoming environment and help patients build dental habits that support lifelong oral health.
Outside the office, he enjoys camping, biking, fishing, photography, music production, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.
Dr. John Sisney, M.D.
Diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology
Board Certified Pediatric Anesthesiologist
Dr. John Sisney is a true Louisianian who grew up in the New Orleans area. He earned his undergraduate degree from LSU before leaving the US to complete his medical degree across the world in Australia at the University of Queensland in Brisbane.
After his adventures abroad, he returned to the US to complete his Anesthesiology Residency at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and a Pediatric Fellowship at Nationwide Children's in Columbus, OH.
He visits our Prairieville office once a month to provide IV sedation for our patients.
Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, golf, fishing, and spending time with his wife, their child, and their golden retriever, Sir Jasper.