By Camille Gillies
“MyFamilySmile.com.” It’s an appropriate website moniker for a dental practice that prides itself on treating patients as if they were family and making sure those in their care leave the dental chair with radiant, healthy smiles. This aptly named site belongs to Arnold & Parkinson Dentistry of Wesley Chapel, and creating a warm, caring environment is among the goals that the two dentists set out to achieve when they started their joint practice five years ago.
Dentists Robert Parkinson, DMD, and Scott Arnold, DMD, FAGD, began their partnership in 2006 after being introduced by a fellow dental professional who thought they would make a winning team. The two University of Florida College of Dentistry graduates hit it off, joined forces and opened their first office together in Riverview. Seeing the growth potential in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, they expanded this year with a new office in the Cypress Glen Professional Park on Cypress Ridge Blvd. (off of S.R. 56, less than a mile from I-75).
With 30 years of experience between them, both dentists share a philosophy of providing personalized care, treating one patient at a time. If you’ve ever gone to a dentist and felt like a package lined up on an assembly line, you will surely appreciate the care and service you receive at this new practice. Dr. Parkinson insists that the assembly-line experience is exactly what you won’t find at Arnold & Parkinson Dentistry.
In fact, appointments are carefully scheduled to ensure individualized attention, and the dentists even give their patients their personal cell phone numbers. “Not only do we provide our patients with our cell numbers,” Dr. Parkinson says, “we also call our patients directly to check to see how they are doing (after a procedure).”
Advanced Training,
Education & Technology
Among the many general and cosmetic dental procedures performed by Drs. Arnold and Parkinson are everything from routine exams, cleanings and fillings to advanced cosmetic dentistry, root canal therapy and even dental implants. Both dentists are proud to have received advanced training from the prestigious Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies and they both focus on staying abreast of new techniques and technological advances, often attending continuing education classes that feature hands-on training in cutting-edge advances in all types of dentistry.
Dentists must fulfill continuing education requirements each year, and Dr. Parkinson says he and Dr. Arnold always exceed the required credits.
“Our education standards are extremely high,” says Dr. Parkinson. “We believe in staying on top of new techniques and changes in the field.”
In addition to his emphasis on cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Arnold’s post-graduate studies have included training in dental implants, dental lasers, computerized dentistry and tempromandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction treatment. He is a founding member of the Florida Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and a proud alumnus of the Dawson Center for Advanced Dental Services. He also is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry and the American Dental Association. Dr. Arnold has also been a member of the Academy of Laser Dentistry and The Academy of Computerized Dentistry. Dr. Parkinson also has received advanced training in the areas of dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, root canal therapy, Invisalign and tempromandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction treatment. He is a proud member of the American Dental Association, Florida Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, West Coast District Dental Association and the University of Florida College of Dentistry Alumni Association.
Unlike some dental practices that continue to line their walls with paper files and use the X-ray films of old, this practice has gone paperless, computerizing patient files and employing digital X-rays. “Digital X-rays give off much less radiation than traditional dental X-rays and offer a more detailed view of the teeth,” Dr. Parkinson says.
The updated technology and equipment are expensive, but Dr. Parkinson says he and Dr. Arnold feel the investment is well worth it. “We believe in getting the best of the best,” he says. “We put our money into the best drills and equipment – things that will directly benefit our patients.”
Both dentists also are certified in Invisalign orthodontic treatments, the innovative technology that straightens teeth without the bands, brackets or wires of traditional braces. Dr. Parkinson says, “If patients comply with the treatment, Invisalign technology can significantly reduce the time it takes to straighten the teeth and it’s much less painful than braces.”
He adds that part of the reason he and Dr. Arnold enjoy being dentists is the gratification they receive from relieving their patients’ pain. He says the whole team at Arnold & Parkinson strives to keep all procedures as painless as possible, from treating periodontal disease to restorations.
Sami, a patient at the Wesley Chapel office, agrees: “I have always been terrified of going to the dentist, but Dr. Parkinson is extremely kind and thorough and made sure that I was comfortable throughout my treatment,” she says. “His staff always goes the extra mile to keep me calm and relaxed. They always explain everything that they are doing and are extremely gentle. I have a lot of work to get done and I am so glad that I found Dr. Parkinson to complete it. I just completed my Invisalign treatment and I love my straightened smile. I’ve recommended him to several coworkers who have been pleased with his office as well.”
Comments like those are not surprising to Dr. Parkinson.
“People rave about the staff at both of our offices,” he says. “I’ll ask patients how they heard about us and they’ll say, ‘I read your reviews on Yahoo,’ or that they called five different dentists and the person they spoke to here was the nicest.”
You can even make an appointment at Arnold & Parkinson Dentistry online, as well as download new patient forms to complete in the comfort of your home. It’s also easy to determine your insurance eligibility, as the numerous insurance carriers in the practice’s network are listed on the Arnold & Parkinson website.
Visit MyFamilySmile.com or call 907-2228 to request an appointment or learn more about Arnold & Parkinson Dentistry. The practice’s Wesley Chapel office is located at 26851 Tanic Dr., Suite 101 less than a half-mile north of S.R. 56.
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