For Dr. Janet Ruopp, the path to dentistry began in 1947, watching her father practice in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She spent lots of time in her father’s office and even met her husband, Patrick, there in 1967. Inspired by her father’s passion and her husband’s encouragement, Dr. Ruopp graduated from the University of Missouri at Kansas City in 1976, and together, she and her husband built a practice rooted in community and care.
But the story didn’t end there.
Growing up, their daughter Dr. Alyssa Ruopp Baker was always drawn to the dental office, finding a genuine interest in the work her parents and grandfather did every day. She spent her childhood watching her grandfather create dentures and seeing the joy her parents found in their work. Choosing dentistry wasn’t just about a career for Dr. Baker – it was about continuing a family legacy she’d grown up with.
After graduating from A.T. Still University’s Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health in 2018, Dr. Alyssa Baker joined the family practice, eventually purchasing it in 2020. Today, the roles have shifted in a way that Dr. Janet Ruopp calls “a gift”. As Dr. Baker has stepped into the role of boss, Dr. Ruopp found a new freedom to focus solely on the patients she enjoys helping.
The Impact of a Mother and Daughter Team
“While working across different generations can occasionally be a challenge, it is incredibly rewarding, and we frequently consult each other for second opinions,” shared Dr. Ruopp.
She brings decades of wisdom, while Dr. Baker utilizes modern resources and fresh perspectives from dental podcasts and professional support groups.
“It’s amazing to spend time with my mom every day,” Dr. Baker shares. “Mom has taught me, ‘Treat everyone with kindness and success will follow’. This has been true in many aspects of my life.”
That kindness extends beyond their private practice, as the Ruopps are committed to giving back to their community through Dental Lifeline Network’s Donated Dental Services (DDS) program. Dr. Ruopp’s started her dental philanthropy at the Missouri Mission of Mercy and now both mother and daughter work together to provide lifechanging dental care to vulnerable adults through the DDS program.
“Giving back is essential and doing so as a family makes it even more meaningful,” shared Dr. Ruopp. “There is nothing like seeing a patient relieved of pain or gifted with a new smile.”
Through the Donated Dental Services program, Dr. Janet Ruopp has helped 22 patients since 2006, providing $73,000 in donated treatment. Dr. Alyssa Baker joined the DDS program 7 years ago, providing $4,000 in donated treatment to one patient in need.
As Dr. Ruopp and Dr. Baker share brunch together this Mother’s Day, they’ll celebrate — their relationship, shared career, and the impact of their service through the DDS program.
