Many children are afraid of the dentist. I feel it is my responsibility to do everything I can to help children not be scared and actually look forward to caring for their oral health. I go home happy if I have had a positive impact on a young patient: whether that was a worry-free first visit, improving a little boy or girls self-esteem with a restored smile or a fixed broken tooth, or relieving a throbbing toothache. Each day allows me to change childrens lives and their perceptions of dental care.

I dont know of many jobs where I can literally act like a kid all day long. I can make animal noises, sing made-up songs, give frequent high-fives, and talk with each youngster on his or her level, using superhero or princess analogies to connect and explain.

I grew up here in Lakeland. Dr. Harry Bopp was my pediatric dentist and mentor. He had the biggest impact on my decision to become a pediatric dentist and I am honored to follow in his footsteps. He founded our practice in 1976 and I strive every day to show my patients the same expertise and compassion that Dr. Bopp exemplified over his 43 years of practice.

I attended Davidson College for my bachelors, and the University of Florida College of Dentistry for my Doctorate of Dental Medicine. I remained at UF College of Dentistry/Shands Hospital for my pediatric dental residency, and have practiced since 2007.

I feel it is important to stay uptodate with current research and treatment modalities, from an academic and clinical perspective. It is crucial that treatment is successful and long-lasting, in order to reduce the number of future procedures.

I was born and grew up in Lakeland; I am blessed to have an awesome family with my wife Shea, our son Ward, and our two Goldendoodles, Kona and Dotty. I love spending time with my family and friends. I enjoy the water, aviation, listening to U2 (my favorite band), and all things Gators.

Working with children is one of the most rewarding things you can ask for. There is no better feeling than helping a child transform themselves from having tears at the thought of going to the dentist to jumping up and high-fiving you once the procedure is over!

In the years I have been practicing, I have found myself increasingly drawn to working with children with special needs. Nationally, and in Lakeland especially, there is a severe lack of access to dental care for children who need a little more attention.

By seeking out and learning from experts in pediatric special needs dentistry, I have adapted a program for our practice. We break down what, for some, can seem like a long and overwhelming dental visit into small and more manageable goals. In this way, we help these children to become desensitized to the aspects of dentistry that, for them, can be a sensory overload.

Following dental school, I pursued an additional year of advanced dental training as an officer in the United States Air Force and then served in Germany. It was the experience of caring for the children of active-duty service members that led me to discover my passion: working with children and helping each achieve good oral health and happy smiles!

Like all areas of healthcare, pediatric dentistry is a constantly advancing field. Staying current on the latest developments in techniques, materials, and technology ensure I am providing each child with the highest quality of treatment, with predictable and stable results.

Many of the continuing education courses I take do not simply focus on dentistry but also address other areas of medicine that are applicable to pediatric dentistry. In this way, I can better understand the human being attached to the teeth, and provide a more comprehensive exam, evaluation, and treatment plan for my young patients.

I live in St. Petersburg with my wife, Dr. Amy Luce. She is also a pediatric dentist and practices here! We have a Miniature Dachshund, Sadie, and the three of us love exploring all the new brunch spots that come around.

I love that dentistry is both a science and an art: we use our science and medical education to diagnose disease and facilitate care, while also working hands-on to treat problems and relieve pain. Being able to combine these two aspects of healthcare, all with a focus on growing smiles, is especially rewarding.

One of the best parts of being a pediatric dentist is seeing hesitant, nervous young kids grow and become more comfortable coming to the office and wanting to take responsibility for their dental care. As I work with them through the years, it is exciting to see each mature. The sooner kids start coming in and having good experiences, the better care they will take of their teeth throughout their lives!

I have had the pleasure of practicing dentistry for about 15 years. Growing up, I was inspired by my uncle, who was a general dentist, and who was able to present me with my diploma when I graduated from dental school!

Following dental school, I completed an advanced education in general dentistry residency at Langley AFB in Virginia. Later, I returned to school, this time at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, for my pediatric dentistry residency.

I am constantly learning about new advances in pediatric dentistry, and the research behind them, so I can bring the best current practices to my patients. As an educated professional, if you are not constantly improving in your trade, you are not offering the best quality of care!

I grew up in Miami and have lived in Tampa for several years. I was in the military for 12 years before that and have lived all over the world. I am happy to have finally set down roots in Central Florida!

I am an avid DIYer and always have a home improvement project going. I enjoy cooking but not baking, swim nearly every day, travel a lot, read way too much (especially mysteries), and have a crazy enthusiasm for escape rooms. One of my great passions is animals and I spend a lot of time outdoors with them.

I am also a Cub Scout committee chair and volunteer with several animal rescue and adoption programs, too. I believe everyone has an important role in the community and it is crucial we all do our part.

One of the most important things in life is doing something that makes you feel like you are making a difference. Dentistry, especially pediatric dentistry, is that thing for me. I get to work with the best coworkers and each day I get to meet and spend time with the best patients.

With every interaction I get to change childrens lives sometimes in a small way, sometimes in a large way. Being part of advancing the health of another is an exceptional privilege, and I feel lucky to be part of that for my patients.

Dr. Luce is passionate about dentistry! She derives great professional satisfaction from relating to and helping children who have experienced dental trauma, similar to the one she had at a young age. Her experience influenced her in such a positive manner that she decided that dentistry was what she wanted to do!

Dr. Luce loves the variety of children and personalities she gets to work with. Every day, she has an opportunity to make a difference, whether its being able to calm a small childs fear of the dentist or educating a teenager on better hygiene practices.

She also enjoys working with the amazing Lakeland Pediatric team! She loves being a part of their themed Fridays during the summer: dressing up and celebrating holidays with balloons and fun outfits. Dr. Luce feels lucky to be a part of an office that loves to have fun in everything they do!

Dr. Luce has been a dentist since 2009 and a pediatric dentist for at least half a dozen years. She began her formal education at Stetson University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry.

While attending dental school at the University of Florida College of Dentistry, Dr. Luce went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic that really ignited her passion for treating children. After dental school, she worked at the Pinellas County Health Department for more than three years, treating mainly children.

During this time, she decided that she wanted to work with children exclusively, and that she would need to pursue the formal training of a pediatric dental residency in order to become an expert in treating childrens dental needs. She returned to the University of Florida College of Dentistry for her certificate in pediatric dentistry, where she served as chief resident.

Dr. Luce is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, and earned the Richard C. Pugh Award for outstanding performance (top 3%) on her written board exam. She enjoys staying up to date on current research in the field and finds it essential to her practice. She also attends several continuing education classes every year. In fact, when she was a resident, she won the Ralph E. McDonald Research Award for the most outstanding research project at the annual conference!

Dr. Luce values the opportunity to be a part of organized dentistry, and is an active member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, Southeastern Society of Pediatric Dentistry, Florida Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Florida PedoGators, Florida Dental Association, West Coast Dental Association, and Pinellas County Dental Association.

Dr. Luce is married to Aaron (aka Dr. Scheps), and they love being able to spend time together at work, too! They have a Miniature Dachshund, Sadie, who was rescued as a puppy in Gainesville! They love to explore new places, as well as just enjoy the beauty of what Florida has to offer. On the weekends, they like to try new restaurants, visit the beach, and spend time with family and friends. Dr. Luce and Dr. Scheps are also Tampa Bay sports enthusiasts and love Florida Gator football Go Gators!

Along with the rest of our practice, Dr. Luce supports many community programs, including school, church, and athletic activities. She participates in the Give Kids a Smile volunteer program, and particularly enjoys holiday shopping for Toys for Tots and other community-based Christmas toy drives.