Alfred Tennant, DDS is the only fellowship trained, Board Certified Orofacial Pain Specialist in the Tampa Bay area. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Orofacial Pain. Dr. Tennant is one of a small handful with this advanced training in the entire state of Florida.
Originally from Puerto Rico, his training began in New Orleans by completing undergraduate training at Loyola University, and then his doctorate at LSU School of Dentistry. He went on to complete a 2-year fellowship at the prestigious Parker Mahan Craniofacial Pain Center at the University of Florida. He served in the US Navy, had his own private dental practice, and was assistant clinical professor at LSU School of Medicine, Shreveport, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, before joining the Florida Craniofacial Institute.
Dr. Tennant’s calm and meticulous nature, blended with his in-depth knowledge base, has allowed him to excel in the management of this very challenging subset of patients. He now limits his practice to helping patients with orofacial pain and sleep disorders. Common conditions he treats include TMJ/ TMD, the many types of headaches, bite problems, nerve pain, joint problems, burning mouth, dystonia, and the aftereffects of head, neck, or face trauma. Although some conditions clearly benefit from surgical intervention, most are best managed non-surgically and conservatively. He believes in holistic care with the avoidance of narcotics. He has many tools in his armamentarium, and works with many specialists to provide individualized care, including Botox, physical therapy, oral appliances, behavioral therapy, localized injections, acupuncture, as well as a wide range of medications.
Many patients, some who have no pain, present with sleep disorders such as snoring or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Dr. Tennant is an expert in the management of oral appliances to help manage these conditions, occasionally in collaboration with our surgeons.
Dr. Tennant enjoys reading, golfing, and bike riding. He speaks Spanish fluently. His goal is to turn his patients into independent, former patients – safely.
