Meet Our Staff

Education:
• Bachelors, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
• Doctor of Dental Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
• Orthodontic Residency, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

Professional:
• Southern Association of Orthodontists
• American Dental Association
• American Association of Orthodontists
• Georgia Dental Association
• Georgia Association of Orthodontics

Personal:
• Hobbies include: Running, Golf, Watching the UK Wildcats
• Has a son in college at Samford University

Dr. Long has called Atlanta home for over 30 years, attending both Trinity School and The Westminster Schools. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Vanderbilt University, then continued on to The Medical College of Georgia where she received her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree in 2000. After dental school, Dr. Long pursued four additional years of training completing a General Practice Residency at the University of Florida and finally receiving both a Certificate of Orthodontics and Master of Science degree from the University of Kentucky. Dr. Long has been practicing orthodontics since 2005 and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. She attends continuing education courses throughout the year to stay current with the latest advances in orthodontics. She is a member of multiple professional associations including the American Association of Orthodontists, the Southern Association of Orthodontists, the Georgia Association of Orthodontists, and the American Dental Association. Dr. Long and her husband live in Atlanta. In their free time they enjoy traveling and a variety of sports activities.

Dr. Olivia Merandi is a proud native Texan. She earned her undergraduate degree in 2001, majoring in Art & Design while attending the University of Notre Dame on a volleyball scholarship. She received her Masters of Education degree in 2003 and enjoyed many years as a visual arts educator and volleyball coach. After witnessing a full-mouth reconstructive case, Dr. Merandi realized that dentistry was her calling because it combined her passions of art, science and serving others.
Dr. Merandi was awarded her Doctorate of Dental Surgery Degree in 2018 from the University of Texas School of Dentistry in Houston. She was elated to accept a position in Georgia and move with her family to start their new adventure here.
When Dr. Merandi is not in the office, she can be found on the sideline of one of her three sons’ sporting events. She and her family love to camp, fish and root for their Irish.

I would like to introduce myself. My name is Shikha Sharma and I am a pediatric dentist. I received my doctorate in dental surgery (DDS) with honors from New York University. Upon graduating in top 5% of my class, I was elected into the Beta chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon National dental honor society. After completing dental school, I worked as a General dentist for 7 years focused in pediatrics before deciding to undergo advanced specialty training in pediatric dentistry.

I completed a specialty residency training in pediatric dentistry at NSU in Florida. During my residency training, I treated wide variety of patient including medically complex and special needs. Our program is affiliated with Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, which is one of the leading children’s hospital and level 1 trauma center, that gave me extensive experience in treating patient with dental emergency and in hospital dentistry. In addition to extensive clinical training, I also received master’s degree in pediatric dentistry upon completion of my research in “Effectiveness and sustainability of ABA based desensitization on the success of dental treatment in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.” I am grateful for all this training and knowledge to make me prepared to provide highest quality care to my patient.

I am so excited to be part of Children Dental Center!! I embrace my profession with joy and happiness because as a pediatric dentist, I can be a positive influence in children’s lives. I enjoy forming lifelong relationship with my patients. Having 2 wonderful little kids, I’m passionate about helping children have a positive dental experience and empower them to take pride in their oral health.

Dr. Barbara Thompson was born and raised in Franklin, Tennessee. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from Tennessee State University in 2008. She then attended Meharry Medical College in Nashville, where she obtained her Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree in 2012. Dr. Thompson then went on to obtain her certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from Howard University, in Washington, D.C. Dr. Thompson became a board certified pediatric dentist in 2015, and is a Diplomat of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. Before relocating to Georgia with her husband, Dr. Thompson worked in private practice in Middle Tennessee and in public health in Troy, Alabama. Her professional memberships include the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association.

In her spare time, Dr. Thompson enjoys traveling, spending time with her family, cooking, and running.

Dr. Tyler Driggers was born and raised in Marietta, GA. He earned his undergraduate degree in organizational behavior and management from Brown University in 2001. He then attended Creighton University, where he earned his Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree in 2008. After finishing a General Practice Residency at the University of Nebraska, he went on to complete a Pediatric Dentistry Residency at the University of Iowa. He became board certified in 2012. Before moving home to Georgia with his wife and five children, he worked in private practice in Colorado.

In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children and fly fishing.