Dr. Lorena Alvarez, DDS

Winter Haven patients looking for a dentist who brings both world-class training and genuine, patient-centered care will find exactly that in Dr. Alvarez. She joined the Smiles of Winter Haven team in 2026, bringing a clinical background that is as broad as it is deep. Dr. Alvarez earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) in the Dominican Republic and went on to complete a highly competitive two-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency at UConn Health, one of the most respected programs in the country, graduating Magna Cum Laude from dental school and later being selected by her peers and faculty as Chief Resident. She has also practiced dentistry internationally and has firsthand experience working as both a Dental Assistant and Dental Hygienist, giving her a complete, ground-level understanding of the patient experience that few dentists can claim.

Dr. Alvarez’s training goes well beyond routine care. During her residency at UConn Health, she served as a liaison to the hospital’s Cancer, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Center, coordinating dental care for patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation, and she completed operating-room rotations providing dental treatment under general anesthesia for patients with special needs. She is skilled in a full range of surgical procedures, including tooth extractions, bone grafting, and dental implant placement, and has cared for medically complex patients in hospital, academic, and community settings alike. She also served as a Resident Instructor, mentoring dental students in clinical technique and patient care, and conducted original research on the use of artificial intelligence in endodontics, which she presented at the Greater New York Dental Meeting. For Winter Haven patients, that means a dentist equipped to confidently handle even the most complex or anxiety-inducing cases, not just routine cleanings and fillings.

At Smiles of Winter Haven, Dr. Alvarez offers comprehensive general and cosmetic dental care with a philosophy rooted in listening first. She takes the time to truly understand what each patient wants, whether that’s relief from pain, restored function, or a smile transformation they’ve been thinking about for years. As a cosmetic dentist serving the Winter Haven community, she is equally at home closing a gap, brightening a smile, or crafting a full-mouth restoration as she is providing a gentle, thorough exam. Whatever brings a patient through the door, Dr. Alvarez meets them with kindness, clarity, and the kind of unhurried attention that makes people feel like more than just an appointment on a schedule.

Originally from Amazonas, Venezuela, Dr. Alvarez has called Florida home since 2014. Outside the office, she loves spending time with her family, unwinding with a good movie, and logging miles as a runner, a pursuit she took up just two years ago. She is already preparing to take her running to the next level with her first 10K. That same generosity carries over into her professional life, too. Dr. Alvarez has volunteered on multiple dental outreach missions providing free care to underserved communities, a reflection of the same compassion she brings to every patient at Smiles of Winter Haven. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Dr. Alvarez is proud to serve the diverse Winter Haven community and looks forward to building a lasting relationship with every patient.