Park Smiles Dentistry is taking the fear and stress out of a trip to the dentist with its innovative approach to care.

When Dr. Drew Byrnes was growing up, he usually dreaded trips to the dentist’s office. Now that he is an adult and actually a dentist himself, he wants to make dental visits easier for everyone.

Of course, he is not alone in that feeling, as many people experience dental anxiety for a variety of reasons. That is why Dr. Byrnes and the rest of the team at Park Smiles Dentistry have made it their mission to treat patients of all ages with compassion, allowing them to stay up to date on their oral health in a stress-free environment.

Whether it’s providing laughing gas, sedation or simple TLC for a nervous patient, or easing people’s concerns about cost or recommended treatment, it is clear that Park Smiles Dentistry goes above and beyond in caring for its patients.

“We post our core values where all of our team and patients can see them and our No. 1 core value is, ‘Always do the right thing,’” Dr. Byrnes says. “When it comes to recommending treatment, we will only ever recommend what we would want for ourselves. We offer transparent pricing, we don’t nickel and dime people and we are very conservative in our treatment recommendations.

“Our goal is for every person who leaves here to find the experience so pleasant that they actually look forward to their next visit and tell their friends about how easy dentistry can be.”

This year marks the 80th anniversary of Park Smiles Dentistry’s founding, as it was started in 1939 by Dr. Wilbur Jennings. A Rollins College graduate, Dr. Jennings was the longest owner of The Capen House in Winter Park and left quite a mark on the area, treating generations of local patients.

It is important to Dr. Byrnes that the practice continues to honor the principles of its founder. The staff knows every patient by name and nobody who walks through the doors ever feels like a number.

“Dr. Jennings had a great reputation in the area for taking good care of people and it is our goal to carry his legacy forward by treating people right; the way that we would want to be treated,” Dr. Byrnes says.

“We have patients who have been part of our practice for over 40 years. All of their children and grandchildren come to us as well. In my opinion, you can’t be a good dentist unless you want to build these types of relationships with the people who are trusting you with their health care.”

Obviously, much has changed since Park Smiles Dentistry’s founding, and that is evident with the opening of its brand-new office. Visitors enter into a comfortable reception area complete with a coffee/welcome bar, and each treatment room is equipped with noise-canceling headphones as well as an Apple TV above the dental chair for music, games or Netflix.

There is a relaxation room with a professional-grade massage chair and a photo studio to take pictures of cosmetic makeovers. Parents can reserve the family room so their children can watch TV or play games while mom and dad are getting their teeth cleaned.

“Our new office is not just a game-changer for Park Smiles, but it’s a game-changer for dentistry as a whole,” Dr. Byrnes says. “We aim to change the dental experience. Gone are the days where you have to reluctantly sit in a cold waiting room and ‘white knuckle it’ through what should be a simple teeth cleaning.

“My wife, Julie, is an interior designer. I told her that I dreamed of a space where people actually look forward to visiting every six months and she made it come to life. I put in all of the technologies and amenities that I would want as a patient.”

Park Smiles Dentistry—which also utilizes the latest advancements in dental care such as digital impressions and a low-radiation, 3D X-ray machine—will hold an open house for anyone who would like to see the new office on Nov. 6 from 4-8 p.m.

Dr. Byrnes raves about his staff, which also includes Dr. Erik Holz. They are able to handle most procedures in-house, such as cosmetic makeovers, dental implants and Invisalign, and will welcome any patient, no matter the situation.

“We are a guilt-free office,” Dr. Byrnes says. “No dentist should ever make you feel bad about your mouth or for being away from the dentist. I don’t care if it’s been six months or 16 years since your last dental visit. We will not make you feel bad for coming back and we promise to make it as easy as a walk in the park.

“If anyone is fearful, I would encourage them to look up Park Smiles Dentistry online and read our reviews. We have had lots of fearful patients who had a great experience at our office.”

Park Smiles Dentistry
1566 W. Fairbanks Ave. Winter Park
407-645-4645 | DentistWinterPark.com

This article originally appeared in Orlando Family Magazine’s August 2019 issue.