Meet The Team

Becky Ciccione

Dr. Ciccione is a passionate dentist as well as a dedicated mother to three young children. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry in 2010, and over the past decade, she has honed her diagnostic and clinical skills to provide exceptional patient care. Dr. Ciccione is passionate about delivering quality care, listening attentively to her patients, offering tailored treatment options, and building long-lasting relationships. She thrives on the technical, hands-on aspects of dentistry and has a particular passion for surgical procedures. She can provide services ranging from extractions to cosmetic veneers/crowns and everything in between including headache/sleep apnea appliances, Invisalign and compassionate pediatric care.

Since moving to Charlotte in 2017, Dr. Ciccione has enjoyed balancing her professional life with her family life, alongside her husband Joe and their three children. Compassionate, energetic, and positive, she is family- oriented and often spends her free time exploring parks, nature preserves and children’s activities around Charlotte. Dr. Ciccione’s commitment to her patients and her community is evident in every aspect of her practice.

Michael Danze

Dr. Michael Danze is a general restorative, cosmetic dentist who began practicing dentistry in Charlotte and Matthews in 1991. He has over 33 years of experience and knowledge in his field of general dentistry. He received his undergraduate degree in microbiology from the University of Florida in 1984, and his DMD degree from the University of Florida College of Dentistry in 1990. Dr. Danze is a current member of the American Dental Association and the North Carolina Dental Society.

Dr. Danze grew up in New Jersey and South Florida. He and his wife Lori have been happily married for 37 years. They are proud parents of four children: two young men, Adam and Matthew, and two young women, Gillian and Sydney. Their son Adam, and his wife Kaitlin, recently began their dual Orthodontist/Pediatric dentistry practice in Charlotte. Their daughter Sydney is currently a first-year dental student attending the UNC Dental School in Chapel Hill, NC. Their daughter Gillian works in the Public Health field in Asheville, NC, and their son Matthew is currently a graduate intern student at Sherman College of Chiropractic in Spartanburg, SC. Dr. Danze has been active in the NC Missions of Mercy free dental clinics.

During his free time, Dr. Danze enjoys cheering on the Florida Gators basketball and football teams, and the Carolina Panthers. He also loves traveling with his wife, Lori, gardening, and spending time with his family, his two dogs and his cat.

Angie Dunkling Averill

Dr. Angie Dunkling Averill is from Vermont where both of her parents are General Dentists. Dr. Averill attended The University of Vermont and received a Bachelors of Science in Biology, graduating from the Honors College. She knew that a career in Dentistry was right for her after shadowing both in general and oral surgery offices. Dr. Averill continued her education at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, earning her DMD degree.  Following in both of her parent’s footsteps, she was accepted into a General Practice Residency program at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, VT, where she was one of four dental residents in the entire state of Vermont and was exposed to all aspects of general dentistry and private practice. Upon successfully completing the GPR, Dr. Angie Averill and her husband Dr. Gordon Averill settled down in Santa Monica CA to begin their careers. They purchased a practice together and worked side by side for 5 years. After having two children and navigating the pandemic away from family, they ultimately decided to sell their practice to move back east to be closer to relatives. They both have immediate family in the Charlotte area.

Dr. Averill is a general and cosmetic dentist who enjoys restoring patient’s function and esthetics. She is invisalign certified and sees children. Dr. Averill is committed to advanced continuing education, attending lectures throughout the US, focusing on restorative and cosmetic procedures. She is dedicated to doing quality dentistry in a relationship-based practice, focusing on individual needs of each patient.  “I always believe that we need to put the patient first, making decisions together, like they are our family members.”

When not practicing dentistry, Dr. Dunkling enjoys spending time with her husband, two children and two dogs.

Jasenna Johnson

Dr. Jasenna Johnson is a native North Carolinian. She completed her undergraduate studies at UNC-Chapel Hill and went on to earn her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee.  After graduation, Dr. Johnson relocated to our nation’s capital where she completed her specialty training at Howard University’s College of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics.  

In her spare time, Dr. Johnson and her family enjoy traveling and trying various cuisines.

Renu Virdi

Dr. Virdi is a dedicated general dentist with a primary mission of examining, diagnosing, and treating oral diseases. She values integrity and respect as aspects that will build better confidence and trust from the patients towards her. She has also acquired membership with the American Dental Association and the North Carolina Dental Society.

Dr. Virdi obtained a dental degree in India before going on to earn her Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University Of Minnesota in 2020, and has been practicing ever since. She has also done dental mission work in the USA and India. 

Dr. Virdi makes strives to stay up-to-date with current developments in dentistry. To that end, she maintains the highest levels of accreditation and takes advantage of ongoing education in both general and cosmetic dentistry. 

When not in the dental office, Dr. Virdi spends her spare time traveling and living in the moment with her family.

Rossi M. Williams

Rossi M. Williams DDS was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio.  He attended Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry.  After graduation, he taught a G.E.D. program for at-risk young adults in Columbia, Tennessee before attending Meharry Medical College where he obtained his Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree.

After his completion of dental school, Dr. Williams chose to strengthen his skillset by attending a General Practice Residency program at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio. It was there he realized his passion to help children, which lead him to completing his Pediatric Dentistry training at Howard University’s Department of Pediatric Dentistry in Washington, D.C. He is a member of several professional societies including the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists, American Dental Association and the National Dental Association. 

In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, finding new adventures with his sons, traveling, sports, and volunteering. He has a passion for working with at-risk youth as well as being an advocate for the underserved throughout his community. 

Emily C. Dunlap

A native of North Carolina, Dr. Dunlap completed her undergraduate education at Campbell University in 2000, graduating Magna Cum Laude. In 2004, she received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and participated in rotations at the Oral Surgery Department of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Pediatric Dental Clinics of Cumberland and Orange Counties.

Dr. Dunlap is a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, North Carolina Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, and Southeastern Society of Pediatric Dentistry.

Dr. Dunlap and her husband are the proud parents of one son, Carson, and two daughters, Caroline and Campbell. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, baking, and watching college football.

About Dr. Rafael Torres

Dr. Rafael Torres obtained a bachelor’s degree in Biology in 1999. He then graduated with honors from the University of Puerto Rico Dental School in 2004. After graduating from dental school, Dr. Torres worked as a lieutenant and Chief Dental Officer for the U.S. Public Health Service in Three Rivers, Texas. During this time he also graduated from the Federal Law Enforcement training center in Georgia.

Later, he practiced in Washington, D.C. where he enjoyed treating personnel from foreign embassies, the Spanish Catholic Center and the Hispanic community in general.

After moving to North Carolina, he practiced for several years at the Bernstein Community Health Center and at a private practice in New Bern. Dr. Torres is also a member of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI). In 2014, he obtained his fellowship status with the ICOI.

Dr. Torres enjoys spending time with his wife and daughters, and participating in water sports and scuba diving.

About Dr. Rafael Mendez

Dr. Rafael Mendez graduated from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, in 1998 with a degree in Natural Sciences.
He then attended the University of Puerto Rico, School of Dental Medicine, where he graduated in 2002 and won the Raymond Baralt Award for his professionalism, leadership, civism, and love for the dental profession.

Dr. Mendez is a member of the International Association for Orthodontics. From 2008-2009, Dr. Mendez was the Vice President of the Lions Club in his hometown of Manati, Puerto Rico.

Before joining Friendly Dental in 2023, Dr. Mendez had a practice in Puerto Rico from 2002 to 2009, he practiced at the Kinston Community Health Center and The Bernstein Clinic in Greenville, NC. from 2010 to 2013. He practiced at The Dental Care Center, Greenville, NC from 2013 to 2014 and was Co-Owner of Earp Dentistry in Greenville, NC from 2014 to 2022.

In his spare time Dr. Mendez enjoys spending time with his wife, Wanda, his two children, Cesar and Gaby and his granddaughters Aileen and Mia. As a family they enjoy traveling and visiting the beach. Photography is one of Dr. Mendez’s passions, and he enjoys taking pictures of their travels to make the memories last a lifetime.

About Dr. Chun Peng

Dr. Chun Peng is well-equipped to meet all your general dentistry needs and then some. The Taiwan native honed his skills at Temple University’s Kornberg School of Dentistry, from which he graduated in 2009. He then went on to serve his country as a General Dentist in the U.S. Navy.
Dr. Peng continued building upon his expertise by training in dental implantation through Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland and the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. A dedicated foodie, he spends his free time sampling new dishes – when he’s not teaching his dog to do new tricks.
Thanks to a specialized skill set and years of experience, all patients – whether in need of routine dental care or a dental implant – can turn to Dr. Peng with confidence for a quality, successful result.