For three consecutive years, the Best of Fort Myers Award in the dentist category has been presented to Fort Myers Laser Dentistry, owned by Dr. Gerald and Dr. Suzanne Lorino. A key consideration influencing this Fort Myers Award Program with respect to the chosen recipient is that the business enhances a positive image through its service to customers and the community. This factor alone could easily be the reason Fort Myers Laser Dentistry secured its winning place, even when other factors were determined based on information gathered internally and by third parties.

“I think what truly makes us stand out in this category is our philosophy, which is the foundation of our practice. Fundamental to this is our systems approach to the body, our emphasis on offering conservative and biocompatible options for restorative dentistry, and treating each patient as a very important person, just as if they were a valued member of our family. We give a high level of attention and courtesy to patients, and our treatment approach takes into consideration the interconnectedness of the whole person, not just the teeth. In other words, we consider that oral health is connected to your overall health and well-being,” says Gerald.

The Lorinos prefer a much gentler and less aggressive approach to restoring teeth, whether it is a fracture, decay, missing teeth, or periodontal disease. Their choice of biocompatible materials such as ceramics and the use of the most up-to-date materials and techniques available has won them accolades, as well as repeat customers.

Rather than performing typical aggressive treatments and using modalities that have been common for the past 50 years, the Lorinos are outside-the-box thinkers who do not use metal, amalgam, or mercury. “From the body’s perspective, these materials are incompatible. For example, a patient with a missing tooth would be offered the option of a ceramic implant rather than the standard titanium implant. These offer less chance of toxicity, and ceramics are much more biocompatible. They’ve been a big hit in our practice,” advises Suzanne.

Regarding the periodontal challenges of gum disease, which can lead to inflammation of the tissues around the teeth, the Lorinos try to determine what is causing the periodontitis. Is it diet-related or the result of oral hygiene habits? “Often, we isolate the bacteria and create a specific treatment focused on eliminating it. Since it may be specific to the patient, we might employ a modality of topical antibiotics. We don't like to introduce systemic antibiotics too often because that disrupts the gut flora. If we’re unable to correct it, then we use site-specific modalities with antibiotics that are delivered directly into the site rather than systemically. We have special types of antibiotics that will eliminate any bone loss for a period of six months to a year.”

Site-specific treatment is a new type of conservative treatment as opposed to typical periodontal surgery, which is aggressive, painful, and requires a long recovery.

Laser therapy is another modality used by the Lorinos to destroy and eliminate the bacterial load in specific sites, in conjunction with the specifically placed antibiotics. The two work together to help arrest periodontitis.

To stay up-to-date on the latest in dental techniques, the Lorinos attend educational workshops and enroll in continuing education provided by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. The organization focuses on not quite holistic dentistry, but more of a biological approach.

Fort Myers Laser Dentistry is located at 1550 Matthew Dr. Phone 239-936-5542 or visit FortMyersLaserDentist.com.