“I get to watch families grow on a daily basis. I get invited to their kid’s weddings, go to their parents’ funerals, and hear all about their accomplishments in between. A lot of talking goes on in the chair; I hear all the good things and the not so good things. I enjoy treating patients and being a part of their lives. The personal aspect of dentistry is what drew me to the field and is what will continue my practice into the future.”
For Dr. Salerno, the best part about dentistry is meeting and taking care of all kinds of people, whether members of the military, nursing home patients, children, or adults. He is a general practice dentist, proficient in all aspects of general dentistry who employs an experienced staff of eight people. You will find they operate by three very basic rules of house to make you feel comfortable and cared for:
1. Treat others as if they were your family.
2. Respect others’ time as if it were your own.
3. Do what you say you are going to do when you say you are going to do it.
“If we follow those three rules, the rest falls into place,” he states.
Dr. Salerno graduated from Painesville Riverside High School in 1994 and went on to study biology at John Carroll University, graduating in 1998 with a B.S. degree. He was regularly on the Deans List and president and founder of the Pre Dental Society. “Here is where my interest in dentistry began,” he shares. “My father is a dentist, and growing up around a dentist was a definitive factor and sparked my interest in the field.” He continued on to Case School of Dental Medicine and graduated with a DDS degree in 2002 at which time he opened his own practice. His postgraduate training was at the Cleveland Veterans’ Administration Hospital where, for 12 months, he rotated through otolaryngology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, general practice dentistry, emergency medicine, and anesthesia. He also attended the Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland for surgical training courses. “My residency at the VA Hospital was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It was an integral part of my dental training. It helped me cement together the skills and concepts I learned in dental school. But the most rewarding aspect was that I was treating members of our nation’s military on a daily basis. I was taking care of the individuals who take care of us. To me, there is no higher honor, and I was blessed with the opportunity.”
My father is a dentist, and growing up around a dentist was a definitive factor and sparked my interest in the field.”
As an extension of his concern for people, Dr. Salerno offers dental work for the local area nursing homes and extended care facilities in Geauga and Lake counties. He trains nursing home staff and patients on the importance of good home care, and provides the tools to do so. He is also a member of the Chardon Rotary and the NEOPAT charity. NEOPAT is a charity that provides financial assistance to families in Northeast Ohio whose spouses are over seas in the military. A NEOPAT video presentation which includes an interview can be found HERE.
For Dr. Salerno, out of school – done with school does NOT apply! “I have taken over 400 hours of continued education in the areas of oral surgery, periodontal surgery, implant dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, pediatric dentistry, root canal therapy, dentures and partial dentures, facial cosmetics, radiology, and health and wellness therapies. I keep current on all new dental procedures, as well as trending medical theory. I believe in the total body wellness programs,” he says.
His area of expertise is in treating the teeth and oral cavity, and he considers himself as just one part of the total body program. “I always bring together trending medical concepts and current dental therapies. I routinely discuss current medical findings and tie them into total body health programs. My patients always leave my office with a little health education as well as cleaner teeth.”
Do you worry about X-rays and too much radiation? Dr. Salerno stays current with dental technologies. They are 100% DIGITAL! This means patients are exposed to 90% LESS RADIATION as they maximize the diagnostic capabilities of the x- ray. “I invest in the best restorative dental materials available. My patients always leave my office with only the best and most clinically proven restorations. I use only American laboratories, most of which are found locally in the Cleveland area,” he notes.
Dr. Salerno not only says he believes in whole body wellness, but also practices it himself. “I work out six days a week; I run, core train, and strength train regularly. I also golf on occasion.” His free time is spent coaching his daughter’s track team and his son’s tee-ball team. “I am also a partner in a software design company that will soon be bringing to market a new program that will greatly benefit my patients’ ability to access my care,” the busy doctor shares.
“My future plans are to continue practicing dentistry until I am unable to physically or mentally do so.” Dedication, quality care, respect, and state-of-the-art technology is what you will find when you visit Dr. Salerno for your next dental checkup!
Office hours:
Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
401 South St. Bldg. 4a
Chardon, OH 44024
Phone is (440) 286-9011
Fridays 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Johnnycake Ridge Rd 9f
Concord, OH 44060
Phone is (440) 357-5555
Also available one Saturday a month from September to May in the Chardon office.
