About Us

Dr. John Schymanski

Dr. John Schymanski was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana, and he knew at a very young age that his dream was to become a dentist. He attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He went on to graduate from the Northwestern University Dental School in Chicago, Illinois. He has been practicing in the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana area since 1985. In August of 1997, he opened his own dental practice here in Schererville, Indiana — Forest Ridge Family Dentistry. As a dentist, Dr. John wants to offer his patients the best overall oral healthcare that he possibly can. His biggest concern in the dental field right now is gum disease and the effects it can have on a person’s overall health.

Meet Our Team

Discover our dental team at Forest Ridge Family Dentistry. Dr. John Schymanski and his office work together to create a place where everyone feels at home. If you would like to plan your visit with us today, phone our practice at 219-756-2345. A member of our team or our dentist can meet with you at our dental office in Schererville, Indiana.

Debbie - Hygienist

Debbie was born and raised in central Indiana before moving to Colorado and living there for 10 years. She graduated with an associate degree in dental assisting from the Community College of Denver in 1978. She practiced as a dental assistant for two years before continuing her education in dental hygiene at Northwestern Hygiene School in Chicago, Illinois. She graduated from Northwestern’s Hygiene School in 1982 and has been practicing as a dental hygienist ever since her graduation. She has been working at Forest Ridge Family Dentistry full-time since 1999. Debbie became a dental hygienist because she wanted to experience the dental field beyond assisting, but she did not wish to become a dentist. Her favorite part about being a dental hygienist is helping patients acquire and maintain a healthy mouth.

Kara - Dental Assistant

Kara was born in Valparaiso, Indiana. She moved to Crown Point, Indiana, at a young age and has lived there ever since. On a whim, she decided to apply to Everest College in 2008. Once she began her education at Everest College, she discovered that she found the dental field most intriguing. She then decided to pursue her education in dental assisting. In 2009, she completed her internship here at Forest Ridge Family Dentistry and graduated as a dental assistant from Everest College. She has been working here as a full-time dental assistant alongside Dr. John since January of 2010. Kara’s favorite part about her job is being able to give our patients the perfect, life-changing smile that they are looking to achieve.

Jackie - Receptionist

Jackie has been helping out at her parent’s practice since she was 15. She started working full time in October of 2018 — helping answer incoming calls, file insurance and manage patient accounts. For her, being involved with the patients is the best part of the job. When they come in, she makes sure that our patients enjoy their experience at our practice.

Jackie graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry. When not at the practice, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, as well as reading and dancing.