Meet our dentists below as well as our talented and friendly staff, who are our most valuable asset. Our administrative side of business runs smoothly because of our front desk team and our hygiene department is amazing thanks to our two wonderful hygienists. We have been very fortunate in being able to hire three excellent dental assistants. You can read more about their education and qualifications in the individual profiles below.
We are excited to meet you and hope you can learn a little more about us here!
Dr. Steven D. Crognale, DDS
Steven D. Crognale earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Temple University in 1979. Upon graduation, he worked as an associate in a dental practice in Allentown, Pennsylvania before opening his own dental practice with his wife, Dr. Patricia A. Collins, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1981. Dr Steve was a 1970 graduate of Greenville High School in Greenville, PA, a 1974 graduate of Albright College with a degree in biochemistry, and completed one year of a biochemistry masters program at the University of Pittsburgh before pursuing dentistry.
Over the years, Dr. Crognale has taken extensive training in implant dentistry. Most recently attended an extensive surgical course at The University of South Carolina School of Medicine. He has restored hundreds of cases and has placed over 300 dental implants.
Dr Crognale also completed the curriculum at the Dawson Academy for Advanced Dental Studies. This is additional training in complex restorative dentistry.
Dr Crognale has 30 years of experience in cosmetic dentistry. He was an early user of veneers to improve smiles. You can see his work in the smile gallery. All the cases you see there were done by the doctors in this office.
Dr Steve has a number of interests outside of the dental office. He is an avid golfer, and enjoys hunting and fishing. He can often be found at Stern's Lake, north of Scranton, reconnecting with his college buddies while fishing. He has recently taken up woodworking, and enjoys home improvement projects.
Dr. Patricia A. Collins, DDS
Patricia A. Collins earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Temple University in 1979. She completed a BS in Chemistry at Chestnut Hill College in 1974, and was a 1970 graduate of Central Catholic High School in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
After graduation from dental school, Dr Collins entered a one-year general practice residency at Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania before joining her husband, Dr. Steven Crognale, in Lancaster in 1981.
Dr Collins has always pursued continuing education on a variety of subjects. She was an instructor in Radiology at Temple. Her radiologic interpretation skills are exemplary.
Dr. Melissa M. Crognale, DMD
Melissa M. Crognale earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Temple University School of Dentistry in 2008 with honors. She completed a BS in biology at Dickinson College in 2004 and is a 2000 graduate of Lancaster Catholic High School.
Dr Melissa is a member of the Pennsylvania Academy of General Dentistry and is currently pursuing her Fellowship in the Academy. She has studied under Gordon Christensen in Provo, Utah, and is beginning to study under Frank Spear.
She spent six years working at SouthEast Lancaster Health Services, the Federally Qualified Health Center in Lancaster City. She was a member of the National Health Service Corps for three years while there.
Dr Melissa is passionate about public healthcare and outreach, and has completed four international medical mission trips to the countries of Haiti, Brazil, and Guatemala (twice).
Dr Melissa resides in Lancaster with her twins, and enjoys long distance running, reading the New York Times, listening to NPR, and getting away to the beach.
Danielle, RDH
Danielle is our full-time dental hygienist. She graduated from Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, PA in 2003 and joined our team the same year. She has been a valuable addition to our dental staff for the past 20 years.
Danielle takes great pleasure in getting to know our patients on a personal level. She finds great satisfaction in providing them with superior care in a relaxing atmosphere.
Heather, RDH
Hygienist
Heather is one of our dental hygienists. She has been working as a dental hygienist ever since she graduated from Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, PA in 2007. She joined our practice in the summer of 2022. Heather loves meeting new people, making them comfortable, and providing compassionate care for her patients.
On the weekends, Heather loves spending time with her husband and two daughters at the Chesapeake Bay enjoying the water and soaking up the sun.
Kathy
Expanded Function Dental Assistant
Kathy is an EFDA (expanded function dental assistant). She first entered the dental field in 1981 as a dental assistant. She joined our office in 2004 and has been a helpful and enthusiastic addition to our team ever since.
When not at work, Kathy enjoys spending time with her 2 children and 5 grandchildren.
Kim
Expanded Function Dental Assistant
Kim became a dental assistant in 1995. She furthered her education by becoming an expanded function dental assistant in 2005. Kim places filling and polishes our patients teeth in our office. She has worked for our office since 1999 and knows all of our patients very well. Her attention to detail and extensive experience keeps our office running smoothly.
Heather
Expanded Function Dental Assistant
Heather became a certified dental assistant in 2001 and an expanded function dental assistant in 2003. She has been with our practice since 2001. She routinely places fillings and polishes teeth for our patients, and takes great pride in a job well done.
Outside of work, Heather is busy raising her young daughter, and spending time with her family.
Jenny
Receptionist
Jenny joined our front desk staff in 2013. She loves meeting new people and facing the everyday challenges of a dental office. Jenny's warm personality and smile will be the first thing to greet you as you walk through our front door. Jenny handles all of the billing inquiries for the front desk.
Jenny has worked in the dental field for 18 years. She enjoys spending time outside of work with her husband and three children and three grand children, and traveling to warm sunny places.
Amy
Receptionist
Amy has been in the dental field for 41 years. She is currently working at our front desk, but has extensive experience as a dental assistant. In her free time, Amy enjoys spending time with her husband and two adult children. She loves creating art work and and baking tons of yummy treats. Amy is very good at explaining patients treatment plans, and answering questions about all the dental procedures we offer in our office. Fell free to give her a call if you have any dental questions.
Amazing practice! I started going to Crognale and Collins as a young child, and I always looked forward to going to the dentist. Not only did they take exceptional care of my teeth, they helped nurture my own love for dentistry. Currently, I am a pediatric dentist in the reading area. I have nothing but warm memories of this practice and the caring people that work there!