The Pacific Aesthetic Continuum and The Dawson Seminars in St. Petersburg, Florida are renowned post-graduate programs that provided Dr. Michael A. Petrillo with specialized hands-on training in cosmetic dentistry. While incorporating smile design cosmetic procedures and Full Mouth Aesthetic Reconstruction into his practice, he has accrued over 250 hours of continuing education. Due to his training in California with the same dental professionals shown on ABC’s Extreme Makeover, he is qualified to provide Smile Makeovers. At the renowned Las Vegas Institute for Exceptional Dentistry in Las Vegas, he and his dental team have completed advanced training in Aesthetic Full Mouth Reconstruction. Only 650 dentists worldwide have received the Las Vegas Institute’s certification; Dr. Petrillo is one of them.
He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and served in the US Air Force where he was chosen for a six month rotation post-grad program receiving advanced training for surgery and periodontics. He is a member of the American Dental Association, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Academy of General Dentistry, Pennsylvania Dental Association, and The Lehigh Valley Dental Society.
Some may wonder how does all this training benefit the patient who wants a Smile Design and Makeover? It enables the Dentist:
Dr. Petrillo believes that improving his patient’s smiles through conservative, cosmetic dental techniques has a positive impact on the overall appearance and self-confidence of his patients. A healthy smile impacts all aspects of one’s life — social, professional and romantic.
Dr. Petrillo created and still serves as the CEO of Lehigh Valley Smile Designs, which is based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. His vision and leadership continue to have an impact on the way the group delivers dental care. The core principles of providing exceptional patient care, thorough and kind dentistry, and assisting patients in developing beautiful, healthy smiles are shared by every member of the team. This makes sure that patients are content with their treatment. Dr. Patrick Petrillo, the treating dentist, enjoys helping us achieve our objective.
Dr. Patrick A. Petrillo brought a wealth of knowledge from his own practice to Lehigh Valley Smile Designs when he joined in 2012. He specialized in complete mouth reconstruction and smile makeovers. He was able to devote more time to his genuine passion—creating stunning smiles that resulted in content and healthy patients—by joining Lehigh Valley Smile Designs than to running a practice.
“I have a real passion for developing relationships with my patients,” he explains. “You have to get to know them as more than a mouthful of teeth, but as an entire person.”
Dr. Patrick Petrillo decided he wanted to become a dentist because of years of dental work he had to endure growing up in Wilkes-Barre, PA. “I had bad teeth that needed constant work, and I said to myself at some point, ‘I think I can do better than the guy working on me.'”
Eventually he took that desire to Temple University’s Dental School, and it’s been fueling his approach to dentistry even since. “I am still fascinated by my craft,” he says with a smile. “There have been so many changes in technology over the years I have been in practice, and those changes have allowed me to be even better as a dentist for my patients.” Dr. Petrillo notes that new technology and dental materials provide him with the ability to provide his patients “with an even more natural smile.”
Dr. Petrillo was attracted to Lehigh Valley Dental Smiles because of the practice’s philosophy of emphasizing not just dental health, but overall health, as the key to a good smile. He truly enjoys working with the staff because of the “high skill level” and “commitment to excellence in patient care.”
A hallmark of Dr. Petrillo’s dental career has been his focus on continually enhancing his skills and knowledge as a dentist. He has regularly taken advanced dentistry courses at a national level, including the Peter Dawson Academy, The Frank Schuster Center for Professional Development, The Frank Spear Continuum, and Implant Courses through Nobel, Zimmer and 3i. He is also a member of the Suburban Study Club in Philadelphia.
Dr. Petrillo has three children, Jeffrey, Kimberly and Gregory. In his spare time, he likes to exercise (“keeps me young”), go to car shows, and “spend time with my wife Linda.” He also has a ShihTzu named Wicket who “thinks he is a prince” and keeps Dr. Petrillo and his wife constantly entertained.
Service to others is a driving principle for Dr. Bernhard E. Kabitzke of Lehigh Valley Smile Designs. Since becoming a dentist in 1992, he has been focused on helping his patients feel good about their smile and how they look. “So many of them tell me that because of my dental treatment, they feel so much better physically and emotionally about their overall oral health and in particular their smile.”
Dr. Kabitzke has taken his “service to others” philosophy even further than most dentists – he joined the Army Reserves several years ago so he could “serve my country and give something back.” Based in Fort Dix, N.J., he provides dental care to members of the military all over the Northeast on weekends. “They all sacrifice so much to protect us and serve our nation – it’s the least I can do,” he notes.
Dr. Kabitzke grew up in New Rochelle, N.Y., and received his undergraduate degree from Farleigh Dickinson University and his dental degree from Tufts University. He decided to become a dentist because he wanted a profession where he could actively work with his hands and help people at the same time.
“I believe you have to get to know your patients to be able to truly take care of their dental needs. Once you understand their fears and concerns – and their hopes – you can do a better job of taking care of teeth.”
Our team at Lehigh Valley Smile Designs receives high marks from Dr. Kabitzke. “They are a really wonderful group of professionals who contribute equally to helping put beautiful smiles on all of our patients.”
Dr. Kabitzke has continued to enhance his dental skills over the past several years by completing advanced training in Implant Restoration and Zirconia Restorative Materials at Nobel Biocare; Occlusion from Pete Dawson’s program; and has been certified as an Invisalign Orthodontics dentist. He has also completed extensive coursework in Direct and Indirect Composite Bonding, Dental Pharmacology, and Dental Office Emergency Procedures.
When he isn’t at Lehigh Valley Dental Smiles, Dr. Kabitzke likes to spend time with his two sons, Eric and Kevin. He also enjoys traveling and reading (Tom Clancy novels are a favorite) when he has spare time.
Dr. Petrillo and his staff are wonderful! They made me feel comfortable from the moment I walked in. My new smile has given me so much confidence, I can’t stop smiling!
I’ve never had such a painless dental experience. The team took the time to explain every step and answer all my questions. Highly recommend them for anyone who’s nervous about the dentist.
Invisalign at Lehigh Valley Smile Designs was a game-changer for me. The iTero scanner was quick and easy, and I loved seeing my treatment plan in 3D before starting!