His Calling to Care
Dentistry runs in Dr. A. Louis Burgess’ family. Growing up in Memphis, he was surrounded by the profession through his grandfather and father, which inspired him to follow in their footsteps. After attending John Brown University for his undergraduate studies, he returned home to attend the University of Tennessee Dental School in Memphis. That family influence helped shape a career built around caring for people, a philosophy that continues to guide his work today.
Inside the Practice
Dr. Burgess’s dental practice, BurgessDental PC, offers a wide range of services, including restorative and cosmetic dentistry and dental implants. Whether helping patients restore their smiles or address their cosmetic goals, Dr. Burgess approaches his work with an emphasis on overall well-being.
Dr. Burgess emphasizes the importance of the relationships he builds with his patients over the years. Helping them navigate their dental needs and maintaining those connections over time brings joy to him and his staff. “I always say, ‘I don’t treat teeth, I treat people!’”
He believes health, fitness, and lifestyle choices are evident across every area of medicine, including dentistry. His goal is to help his patients, himself, and his family continually improve their physical, emotional, and spiritual health, a perspective that has shaped his practice throughout his career.
His Fitness Prescription
Dr. Burgess has been active for most of his life. He focused on basketball throughout high school and his years at John Brown University, then continued exercising through basketball, running, and general fitness during dental school and early in his career. Eventually, he took his athletic pursuits further by training for and competing in sprint and Olympic-distance triathlons across the country.
Over the past seven to eight years, he has focused on group fitness, specifically Orangetheory Fitness in Lakeland, Tennessee. He and his wife, Melanie, love the combination of treadmill work, rowing, and floor-based strength training.
Their enthusiasm for the workout led them to purchase the Lakeland Orangetheory location this year. For the couple, fitness is both a personal commitment and an opportunity to help others pursue similar goals.
Dr. Burgess emphasizes discipline in making time for exercise, whether that means an early-morning class or a later workout after work. Although getting up isn’t always easy, he says they never regret finishing a session.
Beyond the White Coat
Family and faith are at the center of Dr. Burgess’ life. His Christian faith is his top priority, and he and Melanie are blessed with seven children and two grandchildren. Staying fit helps them keep up with their busy family and continue making memories together.
The couple also enjoys golf, date nights, and traveling. Their recent vacations included a safari in Kenya and Tanzania, reinforcing their desire to stay healthy so they can keep exploring the world and have the best time they can. “Our motto is Work Hard/Play Harder!”
Learn more about Dr. Burgess’s practice and offerings at Burgess-dental.com.
By Zoe Harrison
Photo by Tindall Stephens
