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 Dr. Gerilyn M. Alfe majored in English at Tufts University, where she graduated cum laude in 1989. She then graduated 5th in her class from Tufts School of Dental Medicine in 1993. She attained magna cum laude status and was inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society (awarded to only 10% of the graduating class.) She was also awarded the AAWD Certificate of Recognition and the Jack Frommer Prize in the Morphological Sciences.
Dr. Alfe has always been, and continues to be, involved with continuing education. Her experiences in this area include:
Dr. Alfe has always been, and continues to be,
involved with continuing education. Her experiences
in this area include:
- Clinical Instructor, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine 1993-1995
- Clinical Instructor with PAC~live (1999-2002), an interactive, hands-on program teaching dentists worldwide how to perform smile designs (extreme makeovers), full mouth rehabilitations (restoration of severely worn teeth), and occlusal (bite) treatment
- Clinical Instructor, The HornbrookGroup (2002 to 2008) Another interactive, hands-on program that specialized in teaching other dentists how to perform smile designs (extreme makeovers), full mouth rehabilitations (restoration of severely worn teeth), and occlusal (bite) treatment
- Clinical Instructor with Clinical Mastery http://www.clinicalmastery.com/programschedule.php (2009-present)
- Dr. Alfe completed advanced training in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea, an extremely serious condition that affects 17% of American adults, some 50-70 MILLION, to some degree Read more about this condition here. Dr. Alfe is also an active member of The American Academy of Sleep Dental Medicine http://www.aadsm.org
- Dr. Alfe completed advanced training in anxiolytic dentistry (anxiety reduction) through the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (DOCS) program http://www.docseducation.com/docs/home.asp
- Dr. Alfe completed advanced training in Ozone Therapy to treat small cavities WITHOUT drilling and to treat tooth sensitivity, gum disease, cold sores and more
- Dr. Alfe completed 2 ½ year advanced training program in permanent and removable orthodontics through USDI and permanent/removable orthodontics
- Dr. Alfe received certification in using a Category 2 Dental Laser through the Institute for Advanced Dental Technologies
- Dr. Alfe has had extensive training and experience in treating patients who suffer from bulimia and other eating disorders
- Dr. Alfe completed advanced training in and is certified to provide Lumineers
- Dr. Alfe completed advanced training in and is certified to provide DURAthin veneers http://www.durathinveneers.com/durathinveneers/default.html
- Dr. Alfe has been certified to provide Invisalign since 2002 and was one of the first general dentists to become certified in Invisalign treatment http://www.invisalign.com/WhatIs/Pages/WhatIs.aspx
- Dr. Alfe received specialized training in Deep Bleaching using the AcquaBrite system, a unique none-to-minimal sensitivity whitening treatment. This system makes it possible for patients who had been previously told they cannot whiten to achieve a brighter smile. It also was developed to whiten even severely stained (like tetracycline stained) teeth with minimal to no sensitivity.
- Dr. Alfe also lectures nationally on many subjects including cosmetic dentistry, bite relationships, treatment planning, bonding (tooth-colored fillings), and TekScan analysis.
- Dr. Alfe has published numerous articles for many professional dental publications
Dr. Alfe’s professional affiliations include:
Dr. Alfe is licensed to practice general dentistry
in the state of Illinois.
Ok, so Dr. Alfe is really smart…but is she
nice?
Yes! By the second grade, Dr. Alfe knew she wanted to be a dentist. She had a wonderful family dentist and all of her dental experiences were pleasant…yes, pleasant! So, Dr. Alfe vowed to become a dentist that makes people smile, in more ways than one.
How in the world does she make her patients actually
enjoy going to the dentist?
First, Dr. Alfe just listens. And while she’s listening to you, she puts you at ease immediately (really, she just has that certain quality!) And then she begins to inspire an enormous amount of trust because, behind her compassion and warmth, you get glimpses of this incredible body of knowledge and experience. Dr. Alfe won’t overwhelm you with too many of the technical details (unless you happen to enjoy the science behind dentistry.) What she will do is provide you with honest and uncompromising solutions, designed to meet your unique needs.
So, whether you’re coming in for a hygiene visit, teeth whitening, migraine or sleep apnea treatment or smile makeover, we absolutely guarantee that you will have a very pleasant stay here at Chicago Smile Spa!
In her spare time, Dr. Alfe burns off some extra energy by strength training, Spinning and practicing Bikram Yoga and Pilates. Before she opened Chicago Smile Spa, she was a certified instructor for both Spinning and YogaFit, in addition to practicing dentistry, of course! During good (and not-so-good) weather, she can be seen running along the lake. In June 2007, she participated in Avon’s Two-Day Walk for Breast Cancer. She loves working and living in Lincoln Park and enjoys all that this wonderful neighborhood has to offer. One of the bonuses is that she has a short walk to Wrigley Field where she can be seen rooting for her second favorite baseball team, the Cubs (she grew up in Boston, so the Red Sox will always have first place in her heart…even before they won the World Series!) She enjoys attending the theater, whether to see a play, the ballet or hear the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. When she wants to spend some quiet time, she delves into a good book, usually a mystery or biography.
About Dr. Alfe’s Team
We look for smart people to work here at the Spa but brains just aren’t enough! Our team players are highly-trained, knowledgeable, compassionate, and happy (yes, we only hire happy people!). The folks here at the Spa are happy for many reasons but perhaps the most important one is….we love what we do!
Rima - Dr. Alfe's Hygienist
Rima has been with Chicago Smile Spa since June of 2008 and brings 18 years of dental experience with her. For the first 14 years she was a chairside dental assistant. Rima achieved her license in dental hygiene in 2004. Her wealth of experience and her philosophy regarding oral healthcare make her a perfect match with our team. As a bonus, all of that comes with an amazing personality and a caring, warm chairside manner! Rima’s previous experience includes working with The HornbrookGroup, which is the same group that Dr. Alfe teaches with.
Rima is certified in local anesthesia and laser treatment for soft tissue management. She also administers the PerioPath and HPV oral saliva tests to patients who are at risk. She has had advanced training in Invisalign and AcquaBrite impressions, delivering NTI mouthguards, sleep apnea nightguards, and Invisalign aligners, administration of AcquaBrite in office whitening as well as Perio Protect mouthguards and medication. Whenever Rima is not performing hygiene, she may be handling administrative duties as well as occasionally assisting Dr. Alfe chairside.
So where did Rima get all her training and experience? She attended Northern Illinois University for her bachelor’s degree where she studied French language and literature. She spent eight months studying in Avignon, France. She was fortunate enough to travel all over Europe and North Africa during her semester abroad. Her plan was to teach French, but the dental world had a hold on her. She later went back to school to study dental hygiene. Rima attended Harper College, where she maintained a 4.0 within the hygiene program. She received an academic excellence award and was admitted into Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society. Soon after being licensed to practice hygiene, Rima wanted to do volunteer work. Rima went to Haiti on a dental mission in 2006. Rima and four other dental volunteers spent a week in Cap Haitian, Haiti. They set up a clinic at a local church. They had sporadic electricity from a generator and bare minimum supplies. Initially, the experience was frustrating because of limitations, but the smiling faces of the 150 patients whom she helped made it a life changing experience.
During her free time, Rima likes to take advantage of everything the city has to offer. Rima loves to ride her bike or walk along the lakefront. She also likes to go to the different neighborhood festivals in the area. She recently received certification for scuba diving and has her sights set on sky diving.
Holly - Dr. Alfe's Chairside Assistant
Holly studied biological sciences at University of Illinois at Chicago. She enjoys getting to know our patients as clients and friends. She provides essential chairside assistance and keeps patients comfortable during procedures. Holly looks forward to educating patients so they can achieve a healthy beautiful smile. In college, Holly was a division-one scholarship gymnast. She competed in gymnastics for 20 years and assisted in her team's winning three NCAA tournament appearances. Originally from Oak Creek, WI, Holly enjoys all sports, as well as working out, visiting the beach, and camping.
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