Being a dentist goes beyond just working on teeth. It is a profession that encompasses not only being a doctor, but also an engineer and artist of the head, neck and oral cavity. I love being able to wear different types of hats with my patients to educate and empower them about their health, and make dentistry a little less intimidating than what it used to be. It is an honor and a privilege to be entrusted with our patients’ and community’s care.
Being able to take a patient out of pain, or treat issues before they can disrupt someone’s quality of life is empowering. Patients can expect me to listen to their needs, address their chief concerns, and educate them thoroughly on their oral health status and work toward actionable goals that can improve their lives both present and future. Daily I strive to connect with patients, teach them something new during their visits, help them work towards health, and make their time at the office an enjoyable experience.
Education & Certifications
- Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Florida
- Doctorate of Dental Surgery, University of California Los Angeles School of Dentistry
- Certificate in Advanced Education in General Dentistry, Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center Long Beach
Having pursued further education following graduation, I am always pursuing self-education and the belief that when we know better, we can do better for our patients. With almost three hundred hours of continuing education to date, I continue to push myself to expand my scope of knowledge and skill set and constantly improve my craft in the process in order to provide high quality care to those who entrust their oral health to me.
Professional Affiliations
- Academy of General Dentistry
- American Dental Association
- California Dental Association
- Texas Dental Association
Outside the Office
I grew up in Miami, Florida as a child of Cuban immigrants, with a very lively and loving upbringing. Seeing how hard my family worked to build a life from scratch in America greatly inspired my pursuit of higher education and giving back to the community. Thanks to them, I became fluent in Spanish at a young age and later became interested in learning other romance languages like Portuguese and Italian.
Aside from helping people with their oral health and learning languages, some of my passions include traveling and exploring new cultures and cuisines, capturing photos and memories, watching foreign television and film, exercising, hiking and visiting national parks, salsa dancing, being near or in the ocean, and spending time outdoors.