Our Doctor
GENERAL DENTIST
Dr. Nicholas Letteri
Dr. Letteri, became interested in dentistry after going on a mission trip in 8th grade to the Dominican Republic. The most memorable part of his trip was the manner in which the patients who went to the dentist were transformed by the experience. Each day, a long line would form outside the clinic with people waiting to see the dentist. It was clear by their faces that many were nervous, with their heads down, too embarrassed to smile. Many of these patients had never owned a toothbrush, let alone seen a dentist before. Yet, when these same individuals received dental treatment it was as if they had been given a completely new personality. Embarrassment and nervousness were replaced with happiness as the people confidently left the clinic with their heads held high, eager to show off their new smiles. Seeing this transformation and the confidence the dentist was able to inspire with a mere cleaning or tooth extraction, sparked my desire to one day do the same.
Dr. Letteri, is a native of Tampa, Florida and a graduate of Jesuit High School. He received his degree in Biology with a minor in Political Science from Florida Atlantic University and later pursued his dental degree at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton, Florida. During his final year of clinicals, he had the opportunity to study at the college's campus in Erie, Pennsylvania. After graduation, he spent 5 years practicing in the Tampa Bay Area before moving to Jacksonville.
Dr. Letteri is an active member of several dental associations, including the American Dental Association, the Florida Dental Association and the Northeast District Dental Association. He continues to give back to his community by volunteering monthly at the Community Outreach Center, participating in Mission of Mercy Free Dentistry events and Remote Access Medical free dental day events throughout the state.
At our dental office, Dr. Letteri's primary focus is on making our patients comfortable and at ease during their visits. He places a strong emphasis on listening to his patients and providing them with the highest quality of personalized care, treating the whole person and not just their teeth. He specializes in perfecting natural smiles through treatments such as extractions and dentures, crowns and bridges, veneers, and fillings/bonding. Dr. Letteri is also certified for Invisalign and clear aligners for straightening your teeth.
When he's not at the office, Dr. Letteri enjoys spending time with his three dogs, a Beagle, a Maltese Shih-Tzu and a Cockapoo, as well as participating in activities such as trips to the beach and biking along the river. He looks forward to the opportunity to earn your trust and becoming your dentist for a lifetime.
My Journey to Dentistry
As a baby, before my first tooth even emerged, my journey into dentistry had unknowingly begun. My well-intentioned mother followed advice to apply fluoride drops to my gums and gave me fluoride oral supplements, practices believed to fortify enamel. Unbeknownst to us, this, combined with excess fluoride in our water, would would etch a story onto my permanent teeth as white lesions—a permanent reminder of well-intentioned actions leading to unintended outcomes.
As a child, these white spots on my teeth became a source of curiosity and, at times, ridicule among my peers, embedding a sense of self-consciousness deep within me. It wasn't just about the spots; it felt like a mark of immaturity, a visible sign I was somehow different.
Fast forward to eighth grade, when a planned class cruise to the Bahamas was suddenly swapped by my mom for a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. Reluctant at first, this experience was about to change the course of my life. Among doctors, dentists, and my mother, a nurse, I found my role. From preparing meals to assisting in a dental clinic, I saw the profound impact of dental care on those who had never before held a toothbrush, let alone seen a dentist. The transformation was miraculous, not just in their smiles but in their entire demeanor—nervousness and embarrassment replaced by confidence and joy. It was an awakening.
This mission planted a seed, but it was further nurtured back home when my aunt, a dentist in Chicago, attempted to bleach my teeth with hopes of bending the white lesions seamlessly. The spots remained, yet the overall improvement in my smile boosted my confidence immensely. This was more than cosmetic; it was a lesson in the power of dentistry to transform lives.
My college years deepened this passion. Shadowing dentists, especially Dr. Gerard Cuomo, whose practice under a dental microscope represented a mere 1% of the field, opened my eyes to the precision and potential for innovation in dentistry. This experience, coupled with my own treatment journey to reduce the visibility of my fluoride spots, solidified my resolve. Dentistry was not just a profession; it was my calling.
These experiences, each a chapter in my story, led me to where I stand today. I've seen firsthand the impact of accessible dental care in the Dominican Republic and the transformative power of treatment on self-esteem, including my own. It's these lessons that have fueled my passion for dentistry and guided me towards a specific goal: onsite mobile dentistry.
My aim is to bring dental care to those who might otherwise go without—directly to their homes, daycares, businesses, and nursing homes. It's about more than just treating teeth; it's about breaking down barriers, educating, and empowering individuals to take control of their dental health. Through my journey, marked by both challenges and revelations, I've come to see that my mission is not just to change smiles but to change lives, one tooth at a time. This is my story, a path from patient to practitioner, driven by a desire to serve, to educate, and to empower.
