Meet the Dentists
Tarpon Coast Dental
Dr. C. Romesh Weerasooriya, DMD
Dr. C. Romesh Weerasooriya (Dr. Mesh) is a native of Englewood. Having grown up in Englewood from the age of 7, he graduated from Lemon Bay High School in 1986. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Florida in 1990 and his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Florida, College of Dentistry in 1994, he returned to his hometown where he practices dentistry alongside his brother, Dr. Shanaka L. Weerasooriya and Dr. R. Scott Thompson.
Dr. Mesh has completed over 1,000 hours of continuing education through the years since graduating from dental school. This commitment to excellence in his field helps him better serve his patients’ needs. His concentration is on comprehensively treating a patient's entire oral system. This includes not only the teeth and gums, but a patient’s bite, the associated jaw joint (TMJ), and the muscles of the head and neck. A large part of this post-graduate education was completed at the prestigious Seattle Institute for Advanced Dental Education, where Dr. Mesh achieved Mastery Level status and studied under Dr. Frank Spear, one of the top dental educators in the country. He has also studied extensively with Dr. Pete Dawson, another top educator in advanced dentistry, at the Dawson Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida. Dr. Mesh is a graduate of the Schuster Center for Professional Development, having completed a rigorous 2-year program in leadership and practice management. He has also studied with Dr. Sam Low at the University of Florida in the use of dental lasers for the treatment of periodontal disease. With this dedication to learning, and by utilizing advanced technology in his practice, Dr. Mesh can deliver cutting-edge dentistry to his patients.
Dr. Mesh holds memberships in the American Dental Association (ADA), Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), South Carolina Dental Association (SCDA), Florida Dental Association (FDA), Florida Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (FACD), Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD), and the Dental Oral Conscious Sedation Association (DOCS).
Science is continually finding links between disease processes in the mouth, like periodontal disease and long-term health consequences to the entire body. Dr. Mesh takes a "holistic" approach to dentistry by keeping the importance of a patient’s overall, long-term health at the forefront of his care. He believes very strongly in developing long-term relationships with his patients and delivering personalized care that meets the individual needs of each person. This attention to individualized treatments means raising the bar in regards to the details of dental care. His goal is to create dentistry that is as functional as it is beautiful. He works very closely with his talented ceramist, Dave Matrisciano, to create truly customized restorations in harmony with each patient's goals and desires. Dr. Mesh also works in close collaboration with the area’s top dental specialists to meet the needs of patients who require more complex treatment. He is a founding member of the Gulf Coast Interdisciplinary Network, which was started by his brother, Dr. Shanaka. This organization is a group of dentists that meet and discuss their cases and the latest aspects of treatment planning. Specialists from the fields of Periodontics, Endodontics, Orthodontics, Dental Laboratory Prosthetics, and Restorative Dentistry are represented in the Network.
Dr. Mesh is proud to be a part of the Englewood Community and continue a legacy in delivering health care that was started by his father, Dr. "Lucky" Weerasooriya, a longtime physician in the area. He is a member of the Lemon Bay Sunrise Rotary Club, which has been a leading service organization in this community for a long time. His wonderful wife, Jeneen, is a pharmacist at Englewood Community Hospital. The couple has one lovely daughter, Maya. In his time away from the office, Dr. Mesh enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, skiing, and is particularly passionate about traveling.
Shanaka L. Weerasooriya, DMD
Dr. Shanaka Weerasooriya is proud to be partnered with Dr. R. Scott Thompson and Dr. C. Romesh Weerasooriya in their group private practice, Tarpon Coast Dental. Dr. Shanaka has committed his practice to creating long-term relationships with patients by designing individualized treatment goals that meet each of their needs, values, and desires. He believes that the health of the oral system, which includes the teeth, gums, supporting bone, jaw joint, and muscles of the head and neck, plays an integral part in the overall systemic health of a patient. He enjoys partnering with patients who are motivated to improve the health of their oral system. Dr. Shanaka has combined his artistic talents with ceramist David Matriciano, along with state-of-the-art digital photography, to create "natural" smiles for his mature patients or "bright" smiles that are in style today for the esthetically-conscious patient.
Dr. Shanaka is committed to excellence in his field by a life of learning with the profession’s top educators. He has completed hundreds of hours of continuing education and training. Dr. Shanaka has received extensive postgraduate training in restorative and cosmetic dentistry from Dr. Frank Spear at the Seattle Institute for Advanced Dental Education, and has achieved a Mastery Level status. He is a graduate of the Schuster Center for Professional Development, a leadership and practice management program. He is a graduate of Implant Dentistry continuums at Arun K. Garg Implant Seminars and Misch Implant Institute to receive training in surgically placing dental implants. Due to his continued focus on education, training, and maintaining state-of-the-art technology in the practice, Dr. Shanaka is able to deliver advanced techniques to his patients.
In treating today's complex, comprehensive dental cases, it is necessary to incorporate different specialties in dentistry to achieve optimal results. With this in mind, Dr. Shanaka created and continues to manage the Gulf Coast Interdisciplinary Network, a group of dentists from Sarasota to Fort Myers, who meet and discuss their cases and the latest aspects of treatment planning. Specialists from the fields of Periodontics, Endodontics, Orthodontics, Oral Surgery, Dental Laboratory Prosthetics, and Restorative Dentistry are represented in the Network. He also holds memberships in the American Dental Association(ADA), Florida Dental Association (FDA), Sarasota County Dental Association (SCDA), and is a Fellow in the International College of Oral Implantologists.
On a personal note, Dr. Shanaka, son of long-time Englewood physician Dr. "Lucky" and Ruvini Weerasooriya, was raised in the town from the age of three. A former Lemon Bay High School basketball standout, Dr. Shanaka played collegiate basketball at Florida Southern College. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Florida in 2000. Later, he joined his brother, Dr. Mesh, in practice and founded Art in Dentistry. He is pleased to be back in the community with his beautiful wife, Rana, and daughters, Gianna and Lena. While he no longer plays basketball, Dr. Shanaka still plays tennis weekly and enjoys fishing.
R. Scott Thompson, DDS
Dr. Thompson has always been interested in comprehensive restorative dental care. He decided at the beginning of his professional career to focus on delivering complete, thorough, appropriate, and ethical dental health care for his patients who choose to be active participants in maintaining ideal oral health. Dr. Thompson believes many patients really want to be as healthy as they can be and are willing to be responsible for achieving that state. He strives to create an environment where that choice is realized.
Dr. Thompson feels that the single most important part of that practice approach is to take the time to really find out what the patient wants for themselves, determine the real presenting condition of their existing oral health, and determine appropriate long-term goals before any treatment is provided. By spending the time to complete a thorough examination at the beginning of our relationship, Dr. Thompson and his colleagues are able to find out what we can really offer our patients to help them meet their goals. He finds that most patients have never even been asked “What are your own personal oral health goals?” Dr. Thompson insists that you think about it! Most everyone will say, “I want to keep my teeth,” but he wants to know “What does that mean to you?” Dr. Thompson would also like to know the answer to, “How healthy do you want to be?”
He has been a Florida resident since the age of 4, growing up in both St. Petersburg and Ft. Myers. He graduated high school as Valedictorian and a 5-letter athlete, and then attended the University of South Florida on a Presidential scholarship. He earned a degree in Chemistry in 1983. Dr. Thompson then attended Emory University School of Dentistry on a Robert Woodruff Graduate Fellowship, and graduated as a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon dental honor society in 1988. He first established a private practice in Venice in 1990. After graduation, Dr. Thompson has continued his education in the areas of restorative care and practice management, and now holds Fellowship status with both the International College of Oral Implantologists and the International College of Dentists. Dr. Thompson has served for many years as the Ethics Co-Chair for the local affiliate of the American Dental Association. He’s also proud to be a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University Of Florida College Of Dentistry.
The most exciting aspects of Dr. Thompson’s practice revolve around the use of new techniques and equipment that were unheard of to him when he was a student. Dr. Thompson has been restoring dental implants with confidence since 1990. As an early adopter of computers in the dental operatory, he brought the first ultra low-dose digital x-ray system to Venice in 1996. Dr. Thompson began using laser therapy in his practice in 2003 and introduced the CEREC single-visit crown system in 2004. This digital system allows the team at Tarpon Coast Dental to greatly simplify the restorative process and eliminate the need for the messy impressions that previously were necessary for crowns to be made. As technology continues to evolve, Dr. Thompson has committed to be at the forefront of the wave and find new techniques and materials to simplify and improve our results for our patients.
Even with all that is new and exciting, Dr. Thompson and his partners have committed to maintain and further develop traditional high-service dental care. Relationship building, a caring touch, and respecting each individual’s needs and goals will always be the core of their mission. Dr. Thompson and his colleagues employ team members who uphold the practice values. Tarpon Coast Dental only collaborates with materials, laboratories, and specialists whom they hold in the highest regard. Dr. Thompson and his team will give you as much of our time as you need to help you reach your goals. How healthy do you really want your smile to be?"