Dr. Enrico DiVito

Laser-focused on progressive technology

Dr. Enrico DiVito prepping his patient for the GentleWave® procedure
Dr. Enrico DiVito

What can you tell us about your background?

I am a native — “made in Italy” and born in Scottsdale, Arizona, a first-generation Italian/American! I attended Arizona State University, receiving my BS in biology with a minor in chemistry. Then I attended University of the Pacific (U of P) Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco, California. I returned to Scottsdale and started a private practice in 1980. Twelve years ago, I became involved in using both hard and soft tissue lasers and changed the name of the practice to the Arizona Center for Laser Dentistry (AZCLD). At AZCLD, we use the latest in dental technology such as microscopes, digital radiography, 2D and 3D cone beam, CAD/CAM, and laser technology to deliver the highest quality dentistry available today.

Is your practice limited solely to endodontics, or do you practice other types of dentistry?

Although I do a significant amount of endodontics in my practice, I am a general dentist with advanced training in both hard and soft tissue lasers, cranial mandibular dis-orders (TMJ) using therapeutic dental/alveolar orthopedics, and implant CAD/CAM restoration. As a result of graduating from U of P dental school that had a strong endodontic program, I have had a passion for endo-dontics. That passion still is thriving today.

Arizona Center for Laser Dentistry (AZCLD) team
Celebrating Dr. Rob DiVito’s first day at Arizona Center for Laser Dentistry

Why did you decide to focus on endodontics?

Ever since attending dental school, I have always been interested in and drawn to both the beauty and complexity that nature has given us in pulpal anatomy. I feel like I am performing micro neurovascular surgery on every tooth I treat endodontically.

Do your patients come through referrals?

Yes, the majority of my patients have come through other patient referrals. However in the past 5 years of my 37-year run, more and more patients have started to seek out my services via the Internet as a result of my innovation in laser PIPS® technology and more recently with the GentleWave® System.

How long have you been practicing endodontics, and what systems do you use?

I have been enjoying treating teeth endodontically now for almost 40 years. I started with hand files, then an assortment of different rotaries, then progressed to laser-activated irrigation, and now with Multisonic Ultracleaning™ technology and flowable sealer methodology.

What training you have undertaken?

Over the past 37 years, I have taken close to 1,000 hours of continuing education, including a mini residency, preceptorships, and advanced training modules.
Dr. Enrico DiVito reviewing treatment plan with a patient
Dr. Rob DiVito seeing patients of all ages
Drs. Enrico and Rob DiVito teaching at the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health (ASDOH)

Who has inspired you?

I would have to say I feel most fortunate to have attended and graduated from U of P, an excellent dental school that had a very strong endodontic program. It was there that my passion for treating root canal systems started under the tutelage of Drs. Joshua Bernstein, Stephen Cohen, Michael J. Scianamblo, and others. As time went on, I followed great clinicians and educators such as Drs. Ben Johnson, Steve Buchanan, and Cliff Ruddle. Recently, I have been fortunate to work closely both professionally and clinically with Dr. Tom McClammy. He has raised the level of my endodontics and awareness to an all-time high.

What is the most satisfying aspect of your practice?

The gratification I receive from my patients appreciating and telling me that my office is the most progressive in technology and treatment therapies they have ever attended. As a result, they refer their friends and family to our practice. It warms my heart to know that the years of practice and significant investments I have made in time and money are both recognized and paying off.

Professionally, what are you most proud of?

I am most proud of my contributions to the field of endodontics: first, as the inventor of Photon Induced Photoacoustic Streaming (PIPS), which I sold to Sonendo® earlier this year and, most recently, as a GentleWave provider. As the developer of PIPS, I enjoyed the unique opportunity to author seven of 30-plus articles and to co-author the first book – Lasers in Endodontics – to be published about using lasers and PIPS. Now I am looking forward to being a part of the creative disruption Sonendo’s technology offers the profession of endodontics in the form of improved clinical efficacy and treatment efficiency for patients who want to save their teeth but don’t want standard root canal treatment.

What do you think is unique about your practice?

My practice is unique because of the high level of technology and progressive methodologies with which we deliver dentistry to our patients. In a time-starved and technology-crazed world, the Arizona Center for Laser Dentistry is the office of choice in Scottsdale. I also am both proud and humbled to have my son, Dr. Rob DiVito, practicing side-by-side with me. He also is a graduate of the University of Pacific and an excellent clinician who also loves doing endodontics. I feel fortunate to have him practicing with me.
Dr. Rob DiVito promoting laser dentistry at the Boys & Girls Club
Dr. Rob DiVito teaching
AZCLD uses the latest in 3D cone beam technology
Dr. Rob DiVito teaching doctors hard and soft tissue laser dentistry

What has been your biggest challenge?

Keeping up with the changing technology while also running a full-time practice. There is only so much time in a day or a week to practice or to continually learn and educate myself with what’s new. These times in dentistry are some of the most exciting but also the most challenging from a time management perspective. My love and passion for dentistry keeps me pushing on!

What would you have been if you had not become a dentist?

Prior to going to dental school, I worked with my father. He was an immigrant from Rome, Italy, and came to the United States in search of opportunity and a new life. He started from scratch and became an electrical contractor. He told me to learn a trade so that I could always have a way to make a living and support myself, so I did. I worked with him and his crew after school and during the summers. I eventually became a journeyman electrician, and had he not suggested I apply to medical or dental school, I would have taken over Tony’s Electric Wiring. I must say, that learning experience opportunity gave me the confidence and self-worth to tackle anything coming my way. As it turns out, dentistry was what I settled on.

What is the future of endodontics and dentistry?

An evolution in the delivery and quality of dental care is occurring. In endodontics, the years of evolution are now becoming a revolution of change. I foresee a new wave of endodontics with fewer failures and shapes that are more minimally prepared and more tooth sparing with less instrumentation than ever before. I also foresee the use of flowable sealers and regenerative modalities taking a more active role in saving and restoring our patients’ teeth.

What are your top tips for maintaining a successful specialty practice?

Do not become complacent or think that what you are doing is already good enough. Create the time to continually educate, train, and implement new technologies such that you can deliver the best possible treatment available today. Make yourself the patient. Put the patients’ needs before yours, and the rest will fall into place.

What advice would you give to budding endodontists?

Set yourself apart from your colleagues by offering new technologies that are available and proven to raise the level of excellence that both the patient and you deserve. Remember that having new technologies will give you the competitive edge that you need to stay ahead and be successful in growing your practice. Be open to what’s out there. As Mark Twain once said: “Don’t let your schooling interfere with your education!”

What are your hobbies and what do you do in your spare time?

I enjoy golfing, playing the guitar, and spending time outdoors and with my family — especially my new grandson, Oliver!

Top 10 favorites

• Ultradent: EndoREZ® sealer, Navi-Tips®, PermaFlo®, OpalDam®, rubber dam
• EdgeEndo: EdgeEndo Gutta Percha Points™, NiTi rotary files
• 2D/3D CBCT scanner
• Digital radiographic sensors
• Zeiss: OPMI PROErgo microscope
• Sonendo®: GentleWave® System
• Stropko™ Irrigator syringe
• GC America Inc.: G-ænial™ Flo composite resin
• NOMAD™ portable X-ray unit
• Isolite® dental isolation system