April 17, 2017

Meet Matthew Caligiuri of Environdental in Downtown Los Angeles

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Caligiuri.

Matthew, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I founded Environdental to address the excessive waste that is so common in the practice of dentistry, and to provide an option for patients looking to minimize their impact on the environment. Before Environdental, I worked in a traditional dental office that had been around for over 3 decades. The people I worked with and patients I treated were wonderful; they validated my love for the profession. But I was discouraged by the old systems that were in place which placed little concern on the sustainability of what we were doing. I knew there was a better way, and I made it my mission to bring eco-conscious dentistry to Los Angeles. We started building our office 3 years ago–during the resurgence of development in Downtown LA–and have since cultivated a strong following of patients who value not only our green efforts, but also today’s most significant technological advancements in dentistry. Environdental is truly my passion project, and it’s not finished; we are constantly growing, looking for new ways to be a friend of the environment and deliver the best possible, high quality, care to our community.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I am certainly not the first to have said “if it’s worth doing, it won’t be easy.” Anyone who has built a business from the ground up knows there are many challenges along the way, and that the process of serving our customers, learning from them, and adapting our practices to meet their needs is a continual part of how we strive to do better each and every day. I think the key to getting to where we are today has been to face the struggles head-on and use them as opportunities to do something unique, different and meaningful. Our core philosophy of sustainability is manifest in the space we chose to restore for Environdental, and old building in the historic core. One of our biggest challenges was designing a modern, efficient dental office around the structure’s existing massive support columns. We worked tirelessly with our architect to maintain the charm of the old exposed beams and, to everyone’s surprise, ended up with a more functional space than we could have imagined; simply because we had to work a little harder at it. Challenges usually pay off in big, if unexpected, ways–we’re constantly getting complements on our bright, clean space that gives a nod to LA’s glamorous past.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Environdental – what should we know?
Although our name tells you that we are all about the environment, we also strive to be a first-class dental office. We offer a full range of dental treatments; everything from preventative care to veneers, inlays, onlays, crowns, cosmetic procedures and even orthodontics, for people of all ages. We are conservative in our treatment, which means we aim to maintain as much natural tooth structure as possible through minimally invasive procedures. We offer an environment that is stress free and calming. We value our patient’s time and never double book. Your time with us should be for you alone, and we want your visit to the dentist to be unlike any you’ve had before. Whether it’s fresh coffee and tea in the reception or the hot towel and lip balm at the end of a visit, your time with us is focused on comfort and care. We take great pride in providing an unmatched level of service in our community, all while being eco-friendly.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My family and friends have always been my biggest cheerleaders. I’m blessed with a wife who supported me through the process of building my dream practice, and who has contributed endless ideas for the growth and improvement of our business. Along with her, I’ve learned much from my parents (both in the dental field) and colleagues about being an honest, caring provider, and have been fortunate to belong to a network of passionate, cutting edge dental professionals.

Perhaps most of all, I have to acknowledge our patients. Their support of, and enthusiasm for, what Environdental provides has been overwhelming and rewarding beyond measure. We set out to educate our patients about oral health and ways to lessen our impact on the Earth, and we invariably learn much in return.

Pricing: