Published on August 3, 2026

By providing exceptional and compassionate care for more than 30 years, Dr. Rebecca Dunn has long been trusted as one of the most beloved dentists in the Edwardsville community. But even after decades of connecting with patients, it seems hardly possible to Rebecca that her career has spanned so long, and she still easily recalls her days as an ambitious student with a lofty goal.

When Rebecca began her education in the 1980s, there were very few women who became dentists, and initially, Rebecca had no plans to either. She enrolled at Lake Land College in 1981 with the goal of following her sister into the dental field and becoming a hygienist. But after learning hands-on and working directly with patients at Lake Land, Rebecca quickly discovered a deep passion for dentistry and decided to pursue a doctoral degree.

“I got a taste of dental hygiene right away at Lake Land,” Rebecca explained. “I got to work with patients in that setting, so it was a great steppingstone for me to see what I wanted to do. My instructors were also very supportive of my goals and helped me prepare to get into dental school.”

After graduating from Lake Land, Rebecca directly enrolled in the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine in 1985, and there, she would spend the next four years completing her dental studies. As a Lake Land graduate, she was also able to spend that time launching her career, and she used her associate degree to begin work as a dental hygienist.

“The advantage of starting at Lake Land was that, when I graduated, I had a degree and a license to practice,” Rebecca said. “A lot of people go into dental school with a bachelor’s degree in biology, but I already had direct dental experience. I had a good career already as a hygienist, so I was able to build some important experience and make good money to help with the rest of my education.”

In 1989, Rebecca completed her studies and officially became a doctor in dental medicine. She worked as an associate dentist for three years in several offices across southern Illinois, soaking in everything she could from experienced practitioners. She also learned the ins and outs of operating a dental office, patiently waiting for the right time to launch her own. The opportunity came in 1992, when Rebecca purchased an office in Edwardsville from a retiring dentist and began a new era in her career that would span the next several decades.

Rebecca has operated her private dental practice in Edwardsville for the last 34 years, striving every day to treat her patients with the level of care and diligence she’d expect to receive herself. She notes there are plenty of twists and turns when it comes to running a business on top of providing exceptional treatment, but she has always cherished the opportunity to build relationships with her patients. She loves treating people of all ages, getting to know them personally and playing a vital role in their health goals.

“I have patients I started seeing when they were three years old who are now bringing their three-year-olds,” Rebecca said. “It makes me feel good that they still want to come and see Dr. Becky.”

By operating her own private practice, Rebecca also enjoys the flexibility to spend time with her young grandchildren and travel the country to enjoy her favorite hobby of running. She notes that running has helped her stay physically fit throughout her career, and it gives her peaceful time to reflect and pray. But perhaps above all, it’s given her an outlet to fuel the same ambitious spirit that led to her becoming a dentist in the first place. As of Summer 2026, Rebecca has officially completed half marathons in 42 states, and she’s rapidly closing in on her goal of all 50.

“It’s given me reason to travel and see different places. I never would’ve gone to Newport, Rhode Island or Fargo, North Dakota otherwise,” Rebecca said with a laugh. “It’s such a rewarding feeling too, and it makes me feel accomplished. I’m a ‘go-getter’ type of person, like most dentists are.”