Siesta Key residents, neighbors and visitors have something to smile about. As of September 1, a new professional dental office is opening at 5136 Ocean Boulevard, in Davidson Drugs Plaza, in the heart of Siesta Key Village. Dr. My-Huong Ta, DDS, who relocated to Sarasota from New York City where she had a successful mid-town Manhattan dental practice near the United Nations, will provide full service family dentistry.

A practicing dentist for the past 25 years, Dr. Ta is a graduate of the University of Rochester, in Rochester, N.Y. After completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology, she went on to earn her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook’s School of Dental Medicine. She completed her residency at the University of California at San Francisco in Advanced Education in General Dentistry. While practicing dentistry in New York City, Dr. Ta earned certificates in Advanced Continuing Education, Full-Mouth Reconstruction, Implantology — Surgical and Prosthetic Treatment and Advanced Aesthetics at New York University.  A strong supporter of the under-served dental needs population, Dr. Ta has been an active volunteer with the non-profit medical service organizations, Operation Smile, and Tampa, Florida based Cardio Start International.

After selling her New York City dental practice in 2016, Dr. Ta and her family relocated to Sarasota, from Long Island, New York. Florida is her husband’s home state, she told the Siesta Sand, and after visiting, they both knew that the Sarasota/Siesta Key area offered the lifestyle that they were looking for. After accepting a position as a Professor of Dental Medicine at the LECOM (Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine) School of Dentistry, in Lakewood Ranch, Dr. Ta taught doctoral dental students working toward doctorates in dental education (DDM) for two years. As she was teaching, she also studied for her Florida dental license which made it possible for her to return to private practice. After considering many dental office locations around the Sarasota area, Dr. Ta said that when she discovered that the office in Siesta Key Village was available, she knew that this was the right place to begin her new professional practice.

Her work in New York City, Dr. Ta said, brought her into contact with patients “from all walks of life.” Many of her patients included television network employees who were based in New York City. “My practice grew by word of mouth,” she said. “I believe in compassionate care and I want to provide the best dentistry possible to my patients. Continuing professional education is also extremely important to me. I have a high standard of excellence.”

That high standard of excellence is visible in the dental technology that Dr. Ta is bringing to her new practice. On a tour of the new offices, Dr. Ta said that “this is a family dentistry practice. I want my patients to know that they are receiving the highest care and I want them to be comfortable here.” All three examination room chairs have a massage function, large screen TVs, and look out on a tropical garden. For necessary dental X-Rays, Dr. Ta uses the Cone Beam CT-Dental Imaging that produces three dimensional (3-D) images of a patient’s teeth, soft tissues, nerve pathways and bone in a single scan. For dental cleanings, Dr. Ta has installed a Sirona Cavatron Ultrasonic Scaling System equipment that she or a dental hygienist will use, instead of the traditional hand scaling to remove plaque. To treat gum disease and to promote periodontal health Dr. Ta explained that she has acquired a Picasso Light Laser. Used after dental cleanings, the laser “shortens healing and destroys bacterial. It is also helpful,” she noted, “in treating canker sores and areas of the gum with deep pockets. This is important because bacteria can be transmitted to the heart. Dental health can have a great effect on a person’s overall health and well-being.”

As Dr. Ta opens her doors she advised that her fee structure will be competitive with area dentists. She will also offer patients a free second opinion consultation for a specific dental issue. Patients will be able to arrange third party financing (up to 12 months) with no interest. Financing, Dr. Ta explained, can be beneficial for patients requiring implants, crowns, extractions and other costly dental procedures. The office will accept all dental insurance programs toward payment. “In this age of Covid-19,” she said, “infection control is very much a priority.”

In her new Siesta Key practice, Dr. Ta will also provide emergency dental care for patients visiting the area on vacation or for those who spend the season here.

Source: https://siestasand.us/smile-siesta-key-village-welcomes-a-new-dental-practice/

By: Jane Bartnett