Welcome to Gentle Dentistry, the dental practice of Dr. Angela Rasmussen. Centrally located in Tampa, we combine the latest techniques in cosmetic and restorative dentistry to create healthy, beautiful smiles. At our practice, patients are treated to a comfortable and relaxing environment that helps to alleviate much of the anxiety often associated with going to the dentist. Our state-of-the-art technology also helps us ensure that we provide the nest quality care available.
We are pleased to offer a wide range of preventative, restorative, and cosmetic dental services. Treatment options such as porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, and dental implants have enabled us to renew hundreds of smiles and help our patients look their best. We have been providing Tampa Bay and surrounding areas with exceptional cosmetic and restorative dentistry.
Dr. Rasmussen earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry, summa cum laude, from Niagara University in Niagara Falls, New York, and her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, cum laude, from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She continued her training with a General Practice Residency, in which she was chosen to be Chief Resident at University Hospital in Birmingham Alabama. Dr. Rasmussen then went on to receive her prestigious Fellowship at the Academy of General Dentistry in Chicago, Illinois.
Active within numerous professional organizations, Dr. Rasmussen holds membership and has served in leadership positions for the American Dental Association, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Academy of General Dentistry, Academy of Osseointegration, Florida Dental Association, West Coast Dental Association and Hillsborough County Dental Association, among others. She is also dedicated to continually expanding her knowledge in all of the latest developments in her field.
Dr. Rasmussen is the recipient of many honors throughout her career, including the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Award and the Hillsborough Education Foundation Business Partnership Award. On a more personal level, she is a former Mrs. Florida, USA, and has been volunteering for Project I Can since 1992.
Dr. Lepore is recently retired from the clinical aspect of dentistry due to some preexisting injuries and is now the owner/CEO of Gentle Dentistry. His goal is to simply assist in allowing Dr. A to do more of what she loves to do most; practice dentistry and care for people. His role involves managing the operations and behind-the-scenes work so that Dr. A can focus solely on providing you with the quality of care youve come to know and expect. He has known Dr. A and her family for years and feels quite honored that Dr. A has selected him to help continue her amazing tradition of quality care and exceptional patient service.
Dr. Lepore was born in Pittsburgh, PA but grew up in the Tampa Bay Area. He is a graduate of the University of Florida, both for undergraduate and dental school. He married his college sweetheart, Jamila in 2012 and has two children: Luca (born in 2017) and Melina (born in 2019). In his free time, youll find him watching the Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Florida Gators and enjoying precious time with his family.
A Florida native born and raised in the sunshine state. Kira has been proudly serving smiles as a business assistant in dentistry for over 8 years, taking pride in ensuring her patients the most efficient and enjoyable experience possible. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, being a cat/ dog mom, meditating, being outside in nature as well as spending time with her wife, Kate, and her family.
Originally from Ohio, Joey along with her parents and siblings moved to Sarasota in 1984. She completed her middle and high school years and went to college, originally on a music scholarship in pursuit of a degree in elementary music education. Towards the end of her first year in college, the music specialty programs became a little scarcer and thats when Joey became interested in her current passion, dentistry. She has been in the dental industry since the mid-1990s. Having been in the dental field now for 25+ years, she is able to combine her years of knowledge and experience for the benefit of her patients and she still occasionally sings along the way! Joey has two sons, Cole and Austin, of whom she is very proud: Her favorite thing in life is being a mom! Joey and her family reside in the Carrollwood area where they live on a large lake. She enjoys feeding wildlife, fishing, and watching the beautiful sunsets.
Sydney is a true native of Tampa. She is a Certified Registered Dental Hygienist with an advanced certification to administer local anesthesia. She obtained her bachelors degree in Health Sciences from the University of South Florida. Her goal is to provide a comfortable and positive experience for all her patients and to ensure they leave with a smile. Outside of the office, you can find Sydney rooting for her favorite sports team, Tampa Bay Lightning! She also enjoys spending time with her family, meeting new people, and being outdoors, especially on the water.
Natalie was born in Tampa, grew up in Gainesville, and has lived in the Tampa Bay Area since 2000. She has been a part of our Gentle Dentistry family since 2016. Natalie enjoys the leadership aspect of her role and has been a lead dental assistant since 2011. She loves the artistic nature of dentistry and takes great pride in creating beautiful temporary veneers, crowns, and bridges. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband Steven and doing any and all kinds of activities on the water.
Sonya has been in the dental industry since 2011, when she began her career at Gentle Dentistry. She is compassionate and caring. Her experience, talent, and her attention to detail make her such a valuable member of our team. Outside of the office Sonya enjoys spending quality time with her family and 3 children. Some of her favorite hobbies include painting, photography, and anything outdoors.
A dental implant is a root replacement that replicates the root portion of a natural tooth. Because of the compatibility of the implant with the bone, a process called osseointegration, the dental implant fuses with the bone and becomes the foundation for placing a replacement tooth. Dental implants are also used for replacing a single tooth or multiple missing teeth.
Dental implants are far and away the best replacement for a missing tooth. Because the implant anchors into the jawbone, just as your natural teeth do, an implant will function and feel just like a natural tooth. Plus, an implant will usually last the remainder of the patients life.
If you miss more than a couple of teeth, implants dramatically improve bridges and partial dentures by providing an unparalleled anchor. A traditional bridge uses crowns on the adjacent healthy teeth on each side of the missing teeth to anchor the bridge. But to place those crowns, the healthy teeth need to be shaved down to make room for the crowns. If implants are used as anchors instead, the bridge or partial denture snaps down onto the implant. It is a much more robust way to support the prosthetic.
Dental implants are the longest-lasting dental prosthetics. In many cases, they will last the remainder of the patients life. As long as you dont allow gum disease to occur, your jawbone will remain healthy, and the implant base will be firmly anchored for decades. The artificial tooth attached to the implant base may crack or become damaged over time, but it is simple to have a new porcelain tooth made and attached to the existing implant base and post.
Not everyone can have a dental implant, at least not immediately. If a person has been missing a tooth or teeth for some time, the jawbone below the gap may have resorbed to the point that there isnt enough bone mass to hold the implant safely. In that case, Dr. Rasmussen will need to build up the jawbone with bone grafts before placing an implant. If not, just about any adult of any age can have an implant.
With over fifty years of clinical experience and over a million patients treated, statistics have confirmed a success rate of 95% for individual dental implants and even higher for the bridges they support. Implants provide an effective long-term solution to the problem of tooth loss. If you take care of your teeth and maintain good oral health, then there is no reason your implants shouldnt last a lifetime. That makes dental implants a wise decision and an efficient long-term solution.
Dental implants are titanium roots, that are replaced with in the jawbone to resemble a tooth or group of teeth. A screw is inserted through the gums and into the jawbone. A porcelain crown is then attached to the screw to become the new tooth or teeth. They can be used to support dental prosthesis including crowns, dentures, and bridges. Todays treatments are so natural looking, no one will know you had surgery. Theres approximately a 95% success rate for all implants. With modern advances in dentistry, some implants can be restored immediately with life like all porcelain crowns. For more details ask your dentist.