Category: Business

By Kathleen Schiop & Gary Nager | June 8

With the positive upsurge in the economy, more and more homeowners are considering adding improvements to not only increase the value, but also the esthetic appeal, of their residences. One of the ways many homeowners choose to add such value is to install new flooring, whether it be carpeting, tile or wood.

And if you’ve ever had flooring installed in your home, apartment or even your business, you know that it can be a stressful experience. Between the cost, having to tear out the existing carpeting, tile or floor and having to move your furniture, you know you want the job done right the first time.

That’s one big reason why you should visit our friend Andy Dunning of American Wood Flooring, located in the SuperTarget-anchored Northwood Shopping Center (next to Marshall’s) on Bruce B Downs (BBD) Blvd., if you’re planning to take the plunge and replace those old, pet-stained carpets or cracked tile with a new hardwood, laminate or tile floor.

“We are the only flooring vendor in Wesley Chapel,” says Andy, “and we have better prices than most and with quality installation you can trust.”

Andy speaks from years of experience working in the family business. “This is an independent, family-owned company that has been selling and installing floors in the Tampa Bay area for about 20 years.”

Andy’s family’s first store, started by his father and stepmother 20 years ago (on U.S.19 in New Port Richey), moved to the corner of Mitchell Blvd. and Little Rd. in 2005 in what is now called the Trinity area. The Wesley Chapel/New Tampa location has been open for almost six years now, and offers a wide variety of tile, wood flooring and carpeting to add extra appeal to any home.

“A few of the newer items we’ve added in the past few months are wood-look ceramic tile, which combines the rich, beautiful look of wood and the durability of tile, and hand-scraped, or ‘distressed’ finish hardwood flooring.”

He also notes that wood-look tile has the advantage of being water resistant (“which can be important in flood situations,” he says) and that the pre-scratched wood also is a great floor in homes with kids, since any “accidents” that may happen just add more “character” to the look of the flooring.

Andy says that American Wood Flooring specializes in both real hardwood and laminate flooring and has access to literally hundreds of colors and styles from all of the major manufacturers, including Armstrong, Bruce, Tarkett, Beaulieu and Columbia, to name a few, and higher-end companies like Mirage, Indus Parquet and Robbins, which provide a variety of exotic hardwoods, such as Brazilian cherry, Santos mahogany and amendoim (also known as Brazilian oak).

Noticeable Differences

“We’re not the only local company you can find that carries the major manufacturers,” he admits. “But, not only are our prices at least competitive with other companies, we also offer a lot of extras most of the others don’t.”

For example, all of the prices per square foot quoted at American Wood Flooring include delivery, installation, moving all of your furniture for you, removal of your old carpeting, tile or flooring (with no charge for disposing of it) and, “all of our installers are in-house and have been certified to install Armstrong, Bruce and the other major manufacturers’ flooring. We also give you a free cleaning kit and free felt pads to keep your furniture from scratching the floor. A lot of places charge extra for many of those same services, so our prices really are even better than they seem.”

Oh, and there’s never sales tax charged on the floors (because the government doesn’t collect sales tax for major home improvements), as long as you have American Wood Flooring install it. “We also warranty all of the floors we install for as long as you own your home,” Andy says. “Unlike the major home store retailers, the warranty is with us. At Lowe’s or Home Depot, the warranty is from the installer, not the store.”

That can lead to unexpected problems. Those warranties can be important, especially with laminate floors, which (unlike hardwood floors) are not glued to your concrete slab.

“Yes, gaps can easily develop in your laminate floors,” he says. “Usually, all it takes is a trained installer to fix those gaps, but a lot of people try unsuccessfully to do it themselves. I would say at least once or twice a month we do fixes on installation mistakes made by the national chains and do-it-yourselfers. ”

He adds that no matter how expensive your flooring may be, you still need it installed properly for it to look its best.

“You can buy the finest wood flooring for $20 a square foot, but if the installation isn’t done properly, it can still look like junk, so you’re not really getting the best value. It’s a good idea to check us out before going elsewhere. We have a wide variety of prices to fit most budgets, from just $3.99 per square foot for laminate, real hardwood starting at $5.99 a square foot, carpeting from $1.99 a square foot, and tile from $5.50 a square foot. And, all of those are installed prices, so you never have to worry about your bill inflating from charges you were never told about beforehand.”

And if that isn’t enough, Andy says there are always bargains to be had at American Wood Flooring, because, “We’re always being offered specials by the different manufacturers.”

Part of the reason Andy is so knowledgeable about all aspects of the business is that he also spent some time (in 2007 and 2008) as a territorial sales manager for a flooring distributor covering Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia. “It was a great experience for me to be on the distributor side,” he says. “I really learned a lot about which floors sell and why.”

And yes, American Wood Flooring does carry and install both carpet and tile, as well as wood and laminate floors.

Andy says that many of the jobs the store does are from referrals from satisfied customers. Bhavana, a resident of Richmond Place, installed cherry wood flooring, and was so satisfied with the results that she referred American Wood Flooring to several of her neighbors.

Another happy customer is TammyHellman, a realtor at Prudential Tropical Realty. Tammy hired American Wood Flooring to install her laminate floor and has since referred all of her real estate customers to Andy.

“We’ve probably gotten at least 15 or 16 jobs from her alone in the past three years. We love it when our customers love our work.”

American Wood Flooring’s WesleyChapel location is at 1285 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.. The store is open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.­­-6 p.m., and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. For more info, visit AmericanWoodFlooringFL.com or call 991-7999.

 

By Gary Nager | June 8

I’ll admit it. Even though I worked as a research editor for a major Wall Street investment firm 30 years ago, I still know precious little about investments. And, even though I’m a whole lot closer to retirement age than Derek Ifasi of Ifasi Financial Group (an independent financial firm located in the Tampa Palms Professional Center off Commerce Park Blvd., just south of the Bruce B. Downs Blvd. exit of I-75), the difference between what Derek knows about how to successfully plan for retirement and what I know on the same subject is like the difference between night and day.

Although he looks even a little younger than his 27 years (“I know I have a baby face,” he admits), I promise that if you spend even five minutes with this very personable and obviously very knowledgeable Certified Long Term Care (CLTC) specialist, you’ll end up at least wanting to know more about everything from the many different types of annuities you can set up to Social Security benefits, IRAs, Roth IRAs, life insurance and so much more. But, I’m telling you, if you do end up meeting Derek, you’ll probably end up wanting to hire him to handle your retirement planning.

“Our goal is to provide individuals with the knowledge and understanding about how to protect their current and future retirement income. We have the skills and experience required to help meet our clients’ established goals. Our company goal is to become a resource for each and every client. We abide by a strict code of ethics to ensure our social responsibility. We believe that every financial product is equivalent to an individual tool in a tool belt.”

Ifasi Financial Group specializes in deferred compensation planning and retirement income planning. “We understand that each client’s interests and needs vary, and offer products to help them maximize their goals,” Derek says. Ifasi uses a variety of phone, face-to-face and internet-based tools to ensure that each client is comfortable speaking with a representative.

“Being a younger man in this business hasn’t really been a problem for me,” Derek says. “I’ve been involved with financial planning for seven years and all of my professional training has been in this business. In this profession, some people who have worked in other businesses first decide to get into retirement planning in their 40s or 50s, as they near retirement age themselves.”

Ifasi is a native of Bethpage, Long Island, NY, who graduated from USF with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. He started his career at age 20, when he worked with his brother Anthony and the financial advisors at an Allstate Insurance office in Brandon while still in school. Then, after he graduated from USF, he worked with Northwestern Mutual and then MetLife for a couple of years.

“But, I saw I could offer more value as an independent than I could working for someone else,” he says. “I specialize in all types of retirement income planning. Most of clients start looking into retirement options about 10-15 years before they retire.”

Derek adds that his average client is about age 55, “although my oldest is 98 and my youngest is in his mid 20s.”

Among the products and services Derek handles/offers are different forms of life insurance, investing rollovers of existing IRAs (individual retirement accounts), Roth IRAs, Keogh plans and annuities (investment plans which offer fixed sums of money paid to someone each year, typically for the rest of their lives) and many more.

“In other words, I can help you create your own pension plan, even if you never had one at work, or I can rollover your existing pension or retirement plan into an annuity that will guarantee you a fixed income for the rest of your life that you literally can not outlive.”

 

Different Types Of Annuities

Most people know how life insurance and even IRAs work, but there are several basic types of annuities you (and I) may not fully understand, only one of which Derek says he and his staff of retirement planning pros do not recommend for their clients.

Deferred – An annuity which begins with an accumulation or savings phase, but then enters the income phase on its annuity starting date, when it is converted into a stream of income for the beneficiary.

Immediate – An annuity with only an income phase, which generally starts with a single premium that is converted immediately or shortly after it is purchased into an income stream for the beneficiary.

Fixed Interest – A fixed interest annuity pays a fixed rate of interest on the premiums invested in the annuity contract.

Variable – During the accumulation phase of variable annuities — which are the only types of annuities that Ifasi says he does not offer to his clients — the premiums paid on the contract, less any applicable charges, are placed in a separate account of the insurance company, where the annuity owner can invest them in one or more stock and bond “subaccounts.

During the income phase, the amount of each income payment may be fixed and “guaranteed” (all guarantees referred to in this article are based on the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company) or variable, changing with the value of the investments in the separate account. “I tell my clients that most people planning for retirement don’t want that much risk associated with their annuities,” Derek says.

Indexed – Indexed annuities combine characteristics of both fixed interest and variable annuities. Like a variable annuity, the insurance company pays a rate of return based on a stock market index (such as the Standard & Poors 500), but only the interest earned on the annuity is based on the fluctuations of the market, not your principle.

“Hybrid” annuities – “Hybrid” annuities are the same as indexed annuities, but with an income rider, also offering the benefit of no risk to the principle.

“Hybrid annuities go up when the market goes up, and flatline if the market goes down. In other words, a hybrid annuity has a floor, but no ceiling.” Derek adds that when the market is solid, a hybrid annuity can earn 20 percent or more a year, and that he gets business referred to him by other retirement providers because, “I have access to the highest income riders in the business for hybrid annuities, with a guaranteed floor of 7-8 percent per year.”

He adds that you can even have an annuity as your IRA or roll over your existing IRA into an annuity with a guaranteed income rider. “I can find you the best way to roll over your IRA, no matter what type of IRA it is now.”

 

Education Is The Key

If all of this sounds as confusing to you as it is to me, don’t sweat it. Derek’s website has more than 70 free, educational videos on a variety of retirement subjects that walk you through the complex world of IRA rollovers, annuities and more, as well as a radio show on NewsRadio WFLA-AM (540) & FM (104.5) Orlando. The show airs Tuesdays, 7 p.m.-8 p.m., & Sundays, 7 a.m.-7:30 a.m.

His website (RetireSharp.com) is divided into four sections — one that focuses strictly on annuities, one for those who are at retirement age or already retired, one for those who are pre-retirees and one for those who have changed jobs.

“I’m open to hosting seminars for a company or even an entire family looking for different retirement investment plans,” he says. “The most important products we offer are myself and my staff.”

Ifasi Financial, which is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and the National Ethics Assn., can and does sell education funding plans and life insurance, too.

“We have access to many great life insurance companies and can get the best policies to suit your needs,” he says.

In addition to being a CLTC, Derek has his Series 6 and Series 63 licenses and also is certified to sell life and health insurance and annuities. He and his fiancée, Jenna, a teacher with Hillsborough County Public Schools, live in Tampa Palms.

Ifasi Financial Group is located at 17427 Bridge Hill Ct., Suite J, in the Tampa Palms Professional Center. For

By Matt Wiley | June 8

With the passing of every NFL football season, it seems that concussions continue to make even more headlines. Luckily for local athletes, no matter the sport, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) is now a certified concussion treatment center, the only one of its kind in Pasco County. The concussion center is part of the hospital’s new Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute.

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC), more than 1.7 million traumatic brain injuries occur each year, 75 percent of which are concussions. Whether it’s from sports, a car accident or a fall, identifying concussions can be difficult, as the symptoms of some concussions can be milder than others, even though the condition still exists.

Enter Dr. Jonathon Phillips, MD, CAQSM (Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine), and founder of the FHWC Concussion Center, which is located on the first floor of the recently opened FHWC Wellness Center. Dr. Phillips is educating parents and athletes, alike, on the dangers and proper treatment of concussions.

“It’s very important for parents and kids to get educated about concussions because they don’t always consider (every minor brain injury to be) a concussion,” Dr. Phillips explains. “It’s not always the concussion that knocks someone out that is the bad one. There are a lot of little things that can happen. A player may come to a coach or parent with a headache or an inability to concentrate, but there wasn’t a major incident on the field. Those are the kinds of concussions that can last one to two months instead of 5-7 days.”

Dr. Phillips explains that knowing where to go to get treatment for a concussion also is important.

“There isn’t really a wide range of physicians you can see to get the appropriate concussion management,” he says. “Most folks aren’t educated about which providers to visit. You have to go to a place that is known to manage the condition. Imaging capabilities are not always necessary, just the proper training. Usually, the doctors with the proper training are primary care physicians who also specialize in sports medicine, or neurologists, pediatricians and physiatrists (physical rehabilitation physicians). However, not every one of those types of physicians is always trained, which is why it’s good to go a certified concussion center, like we have here.”

 

A Full Gamut Of Tests

As Dr. Phillips explains, there are a multitude of tests that you have to do to come up with the clinical concussion diagnosis, One of the most simply administered, but actually most complex, tests — called an ImPACT evaluation — is actually done completely on the internet.

“It’s a very visual, spatial test that challenges memory, reaction time and a couple of other parameters done completely on a computer,” Dr. Phillips explains. “It takes about 25 minutes to do.”

I actually took the test to get a better idea of what Dr. Phillips meant. It’s a good thing it wasn’t for a grade because it turned out to be much more complex than I expected, which is the point.

The tests vary from remembering a series of numbers, shapes or words to determine if the color spelled out inside a shape matches the color of the letters. However, for the best results, athletes are encouraged to take the test before ever stepping onto the field

By taking the test before a concussion can occur, doctors, such as Dr. Phillips, can establish a baseline with which to compare the test results if the athlete does end up suffering from a head injury on the field and takes the test again. By comparing the numbers, the doctors at the FHWC concussion center can determine how severe a concussion an athlete has suffered and take the necessary steps to treat the condition.

“This whole idea of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of concussions is so critically important,” says Tracy Clouser, director of marketing for FHWC. “We know that the schools and athletic associations and youth leagues are strapped for resources, so if we can provide some of those resources through education and training, we’re really excited about that.”

In addition to being the official orthopedic and sports medicine and outpatient rehabilitation provider of the Tampa Bay Storm Arena Football League team, FHWC also is the lead sponsor of this summer’s Josh Freeman Football Camp, which is being held June 19-20 at Wesley Chapel High on Wells Rd.

During the camp, hosted by the Tampa Bay Bucs’ starting QB, on Thursday, June 20, Dr. Phillips will be giving a lecture for parents about concussions, including how to identify signs and symptoms, the next steps to take for treatment and the importance of ImPACT evaluations. FHWC’s Dr. Christopher Baker, MD, an orthopedic surgeon, also will be on hand to speak with parents about sports injuries.

The concussion center is just one part of FHWC’s new Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute, which also offers other orthopedic services and specializes in treating injuries to the musculoskeletal system sustained from playing sports. Due to its location on FHWC’s campus, the Institute is able to provide diagnostic digital imaging using the hospital’s state-of-the-art imaging technology, such as its 128-slice CT scanner, to determine treatment options.

Depending upon the severity of an injury, the Institute also can offer surgical intervention, as well as extensive therapy and in-patient or out-patient rehabilitation, in the FHWC Wellness Center’s new rehab center to help athletes get back in the game faster. The rehab center even features an “Alter-G” (or anti-gravity) treadmill, which can support up to 80 percent of a patient’s body weight, allowing patients to walk on lower-body injuries much sooner than normal. From personal experience, I can say, “it’s almost like running on the moon.”

For more information about the FHWC Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute, please visit FHWesleyChapel.org. For info about the Josh Freeman Football Camp visit ProCamps.com/JoshFreeman.

By Matt Wiley | June 8

Honesty, integrity, leather couches. None of those things are exactly what comes to mind when thinking about getting your car serviced. But, these are just a few of the many “amenities” that separate the recently opened Christian Brothers Automotive franchise on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in New Tampa (less than a mile south of the Pasco County line) from the usual greasy car shop.

“Notice anything about our waiting room?,” asks Marty LaBarbera, owner of the New Tampa Christian Brothers Automotive franchise on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. behind Auto Zone auto parts store in the Trout Creek area next to Burger 21. “There’s no one sitting in it, but the garage is full.”

LaBarbera says that the garage has been pretty full since the shop­ — which services nearly every make and model across the automotive spectrum (including BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Porsche, Nissan and most other European, Asian and American makes and models) opened on January 2. Whether it’s a “check engine” light, brakes, A/C or transmission service, or just scheduled maintenance, Christian Brothers has New Tampa and Wesley Chapel covered.

“This is retirement for me,” LaBarbera explains, after a long career in the prison system in Texas. “About six years ago, I was planning ahead to retirement, knowing that I wanted to get into something else. Cars have always been a hobby for me. I knew I wanted to get into some kind of automotive business for retirement. I stepped into a Christian Brothers in Austin, TX, near where I lived. I was amazed by the appearance and the cleanliness of the place. I knew I had found what I wanted to do.”

LaBarbera says that he was instrumental in bringing a Christian Brothers franchise to New Tampa when company officials decided to expand to Florida from Texas. When company officials expressed interest in the Tampa Bay area, LaBarbera scouted for locations and suggested New Tampa since it is a modern and still-developing community. New Tampa is the 111th location for the auto shop franchise, which has a separately-owned location on S.R. 54 in Land O’ Lakes.

“It took about two years to get everything worked out, to purchase the property and get the construction done and all those things,” he explains. “So it’s been kind of a long process, but it just takes that long, I guess.”

In the time it took to open the New Tampa location, Christian Brothers already had opened two other locations in the Tampa area, one in Westchase and the S.R. 54 location. Each shop is built exactly the same and is run the same way.

“They learn as they build and collect best practices,” LaBarbera says. “Their operating protocol is consistent. As franchisees, we have to agree to that entire protocol. My attitude is that, if there were 110 shops before me and not one has failed since 1983, why would I not want to run it according to that plan?”

Besides the iconic brick look to the outside of the shop, the first thing that catches most customers’ eyes is the waiting area, which is void of the stereotypical TV playing the usual daytime programming and uncomfortable chairs. Instead, the waiting area offers a clean environment, leather couches and coffee that a Christian Brothers employee will make fresh just for you. And it’s usually empty.

“Every shop has a courtesy car,” LaBarbera explains. “The mindset is this: ‘Why don’t you drop your car off, I’ll take you to work and pick you up when we’re done.’ And now your Saturday is free. Don’t you have something you’d rather be doing on a Saturday than sitting at an auto repair shop for a few hours? So, I’m on the road most of the day most days.”

LaBarbera says that what really sets Christian Brothers apart from other auto repair shops is its foundation as a Christian organization.

“The auto repair industry has developed a bad reputation because it’s easy to take advantage of people since we’re working in an area that most people are unfamiliar with,” LaBarbera explains. “You have to trust us. We’re just honest. We may not tell you what you want to hear (about your car), but we’re still truthful with you.”

 Another Factor Is Quality

“I don’t apologize for our prices,” LaBarbera says. “We’re not competing to be the lowest cost repair shop in the area. You can get things done cheaper; even we could do things cheaper. We could use cheap oil, cheap filters and hire inexperienced workers for low wages. But, we believe it’s the quality that really sets us apart. When you drive out of here, I want you to be confident that a good job was done on your vehicle.”

LaBarbera, his service manager and two technicians share more than 50 years of combined experience in the auto repair industry. Each technician holds a Master certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.

“On a typical day, customers will come in and tell us their car is making a noise,” LaBarbera explains. “Greg, my service manager, will ask questions and focus the issue down to something more specific and give the info to the technicians. Then, they spend about 60 percent of their time on diagnostics. They plug a computer into a customer’s vehicle that reads all of the vehicle’s system computers to see where a problem may be occurring. When a check engine light, or other notification, appears on your dashboard, it provides the computer with a code, which serves as a clue as to what could be causing a problem.”

But, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Christian Brothers’ master techs do additional extensive diagnostics research to see what problems other people have previously had with whatever vehicle is being worked on to see if a similar problem could be occurring in your vehicle.

“The old school way is part-swapping,” says LaBarbera. “A shop will look at symptoms, and tell the owner, ‘It could be this,’ and replace that part. Then it doesn’t fix the problems and you’ve spent the money on that new part.”

Instead of “swapping,” LaBarbera says that when it comes to parts, Christian Brothers works as a value shopper for you.

“When we put a part in your car, we make sure we get the right part from the right vendor for the right price–and that probably isn’t the cheapest one,” he explains. “So, bargain hunters may not want to come here, but if you’re value-conscious, and you want something done well and are willing to pay for quality and longevity, without paying the sun and the moon, we’re here for you. We make the recommendations for you and then you make the decisions.”

New Tampa resident Sherry Laursen is happy to speak to the quality of Christian Brothers.

“I’m a local real estate agent with Coldwell Banker and people always are asking me where a good place would be to take their car,” Laursen explains. “There really isn’t a place in New Tampa except for those quick shops that have bad reputations. My 17-year-old son, Dylan, took his 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix there after school recently. They gave him ‘above and beyond’ customer service. I was super impressed with them. They easily could have taken advantage of him, but didn’t even try.”

Having car issues? Stop by Christian Brothers Automotive, located at 20303 Trout Creek Dr. behind AutoZone, or give them a call at 402-1262. For more information, please visit CBAC.com.

 

By Bonnie Mason | June 8

Nowadays, many children in the New Tampa area actually look forward to going to the dentist — something most of their parents can hardly imagine. From the underwater treasure décor in the reception area and the video game stations located in the waiting room to the flat-screen televisions above playing favorite shows as patients lay in the dental chair, Paul Duga, DDS, (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and Shawna Adams-Feeney, DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine), of Dr. Duga, Dr. Feeney & Associates Pediatric Dentistry in Tampa Palms are helping children adopt healthy dental habits, while having fun in a kid-friendly environment.

Dr. Duga explains that the entire office’s mission is to provide a good experience at a young age so that children feel comfortable and identify a trip to the dentist’s office as one of excitement and fun — not fear or dread. Dr. Duga always has had an affinity for kids, even though he first practiced adult dentistry before he found his calling in early orthodontia and pediatric dentistry.

“I found my passion,” Dr. Duga explains. “I enjoy going to work where there is fun and silliness; where you can be relaxed. When I came here from Louisiana, I saw a real need for children’s dental care.”

Conveniently located in Tampa Palms in the Somerset Professional Park on the corner of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and Amberly Dr. (only 10-15 minutes south of the Pasco County line), Dr. Duga, , who earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and his DDS degree from the Marquette University School of Dentistry in Milwaukee, WI, opened his practice at the Amberly Dr. location in 2003 and Dr. Feeney joined the practice as a full partner in 2005. “We work so well together,” says Dr. Duga, who earned his Pediatric Dentistry Specialty Certificate from Louisiana State University School of Dentistry/Children’s Hospital of New Orleans and was a faculty member at the LSU School of Dentistry and is president of the Tampa Bay Pediatric Dental Association.

Dr. Feeney earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida, Gainesville, and her DMD degree from the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, MA. Her general practice residency was at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Long Island, NY, and her Pediatric Dentistry Specialty Certificate from the University of Connecticut in Farmington.

 

A Shared Mission

Both dentists wholeheartedly believe in the mission of their pediatric dental practice, which is to provide a special environment for infants, children, teens and even children with special needs to assure they receive the highest standard of care. Pediatric dentistry services available include routine cleanings, sealant protection, extractions, teeth whitening/bleaching and fillings, all while using the latest dental equipment for all ages from infants to college-age young adults. Drs. Duga and Feeney also assess a young patient’s need for braces and may perform orthodontic work at the office, or for specialty cases, refer patients to a local orthodontic dental specialist.

The patients and their families have the opportunity to actively participate in acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary to practice effective dental care, resulting in lifelong dental health.

“I always loved to go the dentist growing up,” says Dr. Feeney. “And I love having the chance to work with kids before they have any preconceived ideas about visiting the dentist. We have the opportunity here to provide positive experiences that will create a foundation children can build on for the rest of their lives. We recommend that your child see a pediatric dentist by 12-18 months of age. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, we should start cleaning a baby’s mouth even before the teeth start coming in.”

Also, Dr. Feeney advises to start early and be consistent. “Young children really need parental assistance with caring for their teeth,” Dr. Feeny explains. “They do not have the manual dexterity to do an appropriate job on their own.”

The child’s first appointment is for evaluation and education. At this visit, a complete exam is performed and recommendations are given for home care and correct use of toothbrushes and fluoride toothpaste. Dr. Feeney says that parents who help their children follow this routine can detect and take care of problems before they lead to serious and costly types of treatment.

Parents are a valued partner in the care of the patients at Dr. Duga, Dr. Feeney & Associates. Traditionally, dental offices don’t allow the parents of patients beyond the patient room door. However, Dr. Duga and Dr. Feeney encourage parental involvement, even while the child is in the chair. In other words, the office has an “open patient door” policy.

The staff takes the time to explain each diagnosis and treatment option and always works at the pace of each child — and his or her parents.

Dr. Duga explains that he and his staff present available treatment options to the patient and parent so they can make an educated decision on the care of their child.

“I think parents help so much when they are involved and in the patient room,” he says. “It helps to instill confidence in the kids; it’s a real benefit to our patients.”

“(Dr. Duga) is wonderful,” says Leslie Mellin, a Meadow Pointe resident who has been bringing her two sons, Josh, 12, and Benjamin, 9, to Dr. Duga for more than 10 years. “I recommend him to everybody.”

Pediatric dentistry does not stop with young children. Dentistry for teens is a part of the advanced education pediatric dentists receive. Drs. Duga and Feeney are trained to deal with adolescent behavior, to restore and guide teeth, and teach preventive dental health care with your teen in mind. When they follow your child from early youth into the teen years, Dr. Duga and Dr. Feeney also change the approach to your child’s own special needs in a sensitive, caring and professional manner.

The office environment is even designed with teens in mind. Younger patients enjoy the larger-than-life décor, while the older kids like the popular video games, and the opportunity to choose age-appropriate movies, listen to music with headphones or sit and read in a quiet, comfortable area. The idea behind routine visits in a comfortable environment is to increase the chance that the patients will continue their dental care as adults.

“They won’t be afraid of the dentist the way many adults are now due to unpleasant experiences in their past,” Dr. Duga says.

Dr. Duga is no stranger to teenagers. He and his wife Sue live in Tampa Palms and have three teenagers, two sons, 17 and 12, respectively, and a 16-year-old daughter.

Dr. Feeney and her husband Jack live in South Tampa and have two young children, a boy and a girl.

“Most pediatric dentists cut their patient population after the patients graduate from high school,” Dr. Duga says. “We see many of our kids through their college years. Often, college kids don’t take the time to get their teeth cleaned, especially if they are away at school.”

The staff reminds their college student patients to schedule appointments when they plan their visits home from school. Not having to change dentists is one less concern for college kids and their parents during what is often a stressful time. This helps foster a lifelong healthy attitude toward dental health.

Emergency dental care is another way that Dr. Duga and Dr. Feeney carry on their mission of providing their patients with a lifetime of beautiful smiles.

“We’re always available for our patients,” says Dr. Duga, who recently was called to the emergency room by a young male patient who fell and injured his mouth and teeth. The boy was happy to see the friendly face of his dentist and happy to go to Dr. Duga’s office after he was discharged from the hospital’s emergency room. Not many children can brag to their friends that they had a dentist appointment at midnight! Dr. Duga and Dr. Feeney share emergency calls outside of regular office hours.

Dr. Duga, Dr. Feeney & Associates Pediatric Dentistry is located at 15293 Amberly Dr., three miles south of the BBD exit off I-75. The office is open Monday-Wednesday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., 8 a.m. -5 p.m. on Thursdays, and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Fridays, but vary depending upon school holiday schedules.

For appointments and more information, visit PediatricDentistTampa.com or call 631-1100.