A Lasting Influence: smiLee Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
By Jenn Terrell,
Family Image By Making Memories Portraits
Office Images By Doug Thompson Photography
smiLee Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics does much more than dental work. Dr. Jenny Cavanaugh not only creates beautiful smiles but she leaves a lasting influence on all of her patients by educating the children and inspiring enthusiasm in them about the importance of their dental health.
“At smiLee, we create beautiful smiles that allow a child to face the world with the confidence to fulfill their limitless potential,” Dr. Jenny said. “Our goal is to educate children and inspire enthusiasm about the importance of dental health to create a solid foundation for a lifetime of healthy and beautiful smiles. The smiLee team strives to create a fun and caring dental home for all children from birth, through the toddler years, childhood, and into their teenage years.”
Dr. Jenny prides herself on respecting each child as an individual and is dedicated to treating each child as her own.
“Often a parent will have to drag their child into the dentist’s office,” Dr. Jenny said. “At smiLee, our goal is that you also have to drag them out. Our inspiration is seeing an anxious child enter smiLee and leave with a smile on their face. smiLee is committed to positively impacting the life of every child. We focus on developing healthy habits that establish a foundation for a lifetime of oral health and overall well- being.”
Dr. Jenny opened smiLee to families in the Fall of 2021.
Well before that when Dr. Jenny was in college, she knew she wanted to help others and naturally gravitated towards healthcare.
“I volunteered at the Children’s Hospital and in the pediatric dental clinic,” Dr. Jenny said. “I assumed it would be just like dentistry but on a miniature scale. But I found that working with children and individuals with special needs was accompanied by such a unique optimism that it really captivated me. I really enjoy educating my patients. I appreciate the preventative aspect inherent to Pediatric Dentistry. I love working with patients at an age in which I can have a lasting influence in their life. Children are impressionable, I can educate them on oral health, hygiene, and diet and positively impact their lives for the better. Orthodontics, whether through braces or Invisalign, establishes a functional and esthetic smile and really transforms and causes a blossoming of a patient’s personality. This is such an honor to witness firsthand.”
smiLee patients also get an added bonus at the end of their appointment.
“We especially enjoy taking a post-appointment photograph in front of our floor-to-ceiling smiLee photo wall after a visit to the prize wall,”
Dr. Jenny said. “Sharing these beautiful smiles through social media allows us to share this joy with our community.”
Dr. Jenny is a dual-board certified pediatric dentist and orthodontist. She is one of only a handful in the country. After dental school, she completed two additional years of training specializing in pediatric dentistry and then three additional years of training specializing in orthodontics.
She has been practicing dentistry & orthodontics in private practice since 2013.
With her extensive training and experience, the team at smiLee provides the highest level of specialty care for all of the dental and orthodontic needs for your child until they are fully grown.
Dr. Jenny completed dental school at the University of Pittsburgh. She completed her pediatric dental residency at the University of Florida, and her orthodontic residency at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center. Dr. Jenny was born and raised in Pittsburgh and moved to Southwest Florida in 2011. She lives in Fort Myers with her husband, Jim, and her children: Jack (born June 2020) and Lacey (born January 2022). Dr. Jenny and her family enjoy gardening, the beach, nature hikes, and spending time together. They are avid foodies.
“We are honored to be part of the Gateway community and have found it a wonderful place to call home,” Dr. Jenny said.
smiLee travels to many local pre-school and elementary schools to discuss good oral hygiene habits and their importance in a healthy smile. smiLee Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics has graciously adopted the two miles of the highway of Griffin Dr., spanning from Gateway Blvd to SR 82.
“We are proud of our beautiful area and take pride in maintaining Southwest Florida as one of the best places to live!” Dr. Jenny said. “At smiLee, we believe that all children should have the opportunity to participate in activities outside school through sports, band, church groups, and clubs. We believe this promotes teamwork, a sense of belonging, and strengthens the community.”
smiLee has been active in supporting our community. On top of their seminars at local schools and highway adoptions, they have sponsored PTOs, schools, and numerous sports teams since opening.
We are thrilled to have Dr. Jenny, her family, and the important work that she does right here in Fort Myers!
For more information on smiLee Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, visit drsmilee.com or call (239) 329- 6006.
