Barbara LaMere-Heck was born and raised in Hammond, Indiana. She attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in biology in 1976. After graduating from Indiana University School of Dentistry in 1980, she worked as an associate dentist for a year before opening her own practice in Gosport, Indiana.

Dr. Heck is a 26 year member of the American Dental Association, the Indiana Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, the International Organization of Orthodontics for the General Practitioner, the American Society of Female Dentists, and the Green District Dental Society. She has been a member of the MESOGP (Mid Eastern Society of Orthodontics for the General Practitioner) for over 22 years. The MESOGP is one of the longest running study clubs in the country, educating general dentists and pediatric dentists in the practice of traditional orthodontics and TMJ treatment. The combination of this study club and thousands of hours of continuing education classes has allowed Dr. Heck to receive an advanced education in cosmetic dentistry, prosthetics, pediatric dentistry, oral surgery, implantology, endodontics (root canals), and periodontics. Just recently, she has added “Invisalign” (invisible braces) to her practice.

Being a small town dentist is not just about dentistry, it is about being part of a community. The saying “It takes a village to raise a child,” is not just a saying in this economically challenged community, but a way of life. Over the years, Dr. Heck has sponsored numerous girl’s softball, basketball, volleyball, and gymnastic teams. She is also active in the community schools by performing free exams and donating tooth brushes, working with the State Board of Health by promoting free sealants for school children, and also by volunteering her time by doing free exams, dentures, and dental repairs at reduced prices for the residents of the Gosport Nursing Home. Dr. Heck is also known for making house calls (or nursing home calls) to do extractions which are extremely helpful in a community where geriatric residents make up approximately 5% of the population.

Family is very important to Dr. Heck. She and her husband Terry just recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. Terry has taught junior high and high school students in the Spencer Owen School System for 35 years. He has just recently retired to stay home and take care of the farm. Dr. Heck is the mother of 3 children. Nicholas, 24, is in Missoula, Montana working for a PH.D in clinical psychology. Michelle is a junior at Franklin College where she is active in cross country and is majoring in biology with the intent of joining her mother in practice in 2012. Alexis, 10, is keeping her parents young, or making them old, by being involved in every sport and organization offered to children her age. The Heck family lives on a farm outside of town where they raise horses, chickens, goats, rabbits, dogs, cats, and a hamster. In her very limited free time, Dr. Heck is trying to catch up on 20 years of reading. She loves to work in her garden, as well as attend Michelle’s cross country meets and Alexis' ball games.

Our Philosophy

We are committed to offering you the most comfortable dental experience possible. Dr. Heck and her staff have over 100 years of combined experience.

We are committed to providing you the most optimal dental health possible. We make every effort to listen to your concerns about your dental needs. Our emphasis is prevention which we accomplish by seeing children as young as 1 year of age before they have cavities. Cleaning and check ups are routinely done 2 times a year to detect decay and gum disease at its earliest stages, or ideally before it starts. We also employ the “Diagnodent” laser decay indicator in order to detect decay at its earliest stages.

We pride ourselves in offering what we refer to as “Common Sense Dentistry.” We would love to do “Extreme Makeovers” on all our patients, but we realize that it is not always financially possible. We are all unique individuals and no set treatment is right for everyone.

We promise to listen to you closely and address your needs and concerns in helping you achieve a healthy and beautiful smile for a lifetime.

"I always hated my teeth so much that I was afraid to smile. Dr. Heck and her staff were so caring and efficient that now I have beautiful teeth and can’t stop smiling."

- Tim Lighter, Spencer In. –

What Makes Our Practice Unique

Gosport’s rural location makes it 30 minutes to an hour to the closest specialist. For our patients' convenience, we strive to offer almost all dental procedures available on site. We refer only the most difficult cases to a specialist.

We make every effort to take care of all your family's dental needs on site. We offer every aspect of Cosmetic Dentistry, root canal, oral surgery, extractions, periodontal or gum treatment, as well as braces. Dr. Heck has 20 years of experience in traditional orthodontics and also offers "invisalign," the invisible braces.

The Gosport Dental Clinic has an in-house dental lab which allows us to do same day denture repairs as well as denture and partial denture relines. We also specialize in custom beautiful dentures made from start to finish in our own dental lab.

We offer all aspects of cosmetic dentistry including all porcelain crowns and bridges, inlays and onlays , porcelain veneers and tooth colored filling in both the anterior and posterior teeth. You can have your teeth whitened in 1 hour with the “Zoom” bleaching system as seen on "Extreme Makeovers," or you can opt for our economy bleaching trays.

Whatever your dental expectations, our promise to you is the most beautiful and healthy smile possible.

"With a family of 5, I was tired of going from dentist to dentist for all different procedures. Dr. Heck has taken care of my husband and children for the past 5 years. We’ve gone from the gentlest and most thorough cleanings, to painless filling and wisdom teeth extractions. She recently took my daughter’s braces off and bleached her teeth and she now has the most beautiful smile. I’ve just started my invisilign orthodontic treatment, and I’m finally going to have the smile I’ve always dreamed of."

- Ali DeVerter, Spencer Ind. -