We’re proud to introduce you to Dr. Allison Long, one of the dentists at Prairie Dental Group, one of the founding sponsors of SpringfieldMoms.org. Prairie Dental Group has provided first-class dental care has been recognized as the Best Dentist from the Illinois Times that past 8 years call 217.546.0412 for an appointment.
Tell Us About Yourself
I was born and raised in Springfield, IL. My sisters and I grew up racing Quarter Midgets (mini race cars) before competitive sports took over our weekends. I played volleyball, basketball, and softball throughout high school. A little fun fact about me is I hit a home run my very last high school at bat as our team won the Softball State Championship. I went on to play softball at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. While attending Glenwood High School, I met my husband. We got married in 2021 and live in town with our dog, Kenai.
What did you love most about growing up in Springfield?
I liked the fact that Springfield is basically a “big” small town. Over the years, I met people that attended different schools throughout the area. We would all meet up at the State Fair or have bonfires in the fall. Even to this day, I find it comforting knowing a wide range of people in the community.
Where did you go to school?
I went K-12 in the Chatham School District. I actually met my two best friends in 1st grade. There is an old photo of the three of us on the Ball Elementary playground. We always try to recreate the photo when we are together. After graduating from Glenwood, I went to Rhodes College in Memphis, TN where I played softball. I attended SIU School of Dental Medicine for dental school.
Why dentistry?
I think there are a lot of variables that led me to choose dentistry. I grew up missing two of my front teeth. Therefore at a young age, I started frequently visiting my dentist, Dr. Tanya DeSanto; who I now work with! I believe experiencing a wide range of dental procedures has made me a better dentist because I can relate with patients going through similar situations.
In addition, I was always interested in the arts and sciences. I took AP art and science classes in high school. I feel that dentistry is the perfect combination of both! Dentistry is based on evidence-based scientific research but every day I get to use my artistic side to sculpt fillings or design dentures and crowns.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I love trying new restaurants and coffee shops. However, my current go-to restaurant is El Dorado. In the summertime, I enjoy walking our dog and going to the farmers market.
What is a fun fact about Prairie Dental Group?
We have dentists who graduated from Springfield High, SHG, and Glenwood! We love our Springfield community!
Access more Ask the Dentist resource articles from Prairie Dental Group.
