Meet Dr. Rene

Posted on January 12, 2015

What is the favorite part about your job?
As a young child I remember being afraid of the dentist. I guess it was all the sounds, smells and instruments that were not familiar to me. When I reached the age 10 I remember switching to a pediatric dentist by the name of Dr. Hernandez. He was extremely nice, patient and took time to explain all the different tools and procedures. Once he was able to help me relate and familiarize myself with those things that were alien to me, it made me more comfortable. It was with Dr. Hernandez that I was no longer afraid of dental visits. It also made me realize how his demeanor made a scared boy into someone that actually enjoyed going to the dentist. It was this experience that made me realize I can provide the same sense of security and comfort to the next generation of kids. I loved the thought that with my comforting personality, patience and quirky sense of humor I could do the same for a scared child as I once had done for me.
What was the last movie you watched?
The last movie I watched Frozen. I had heard all the hype and finally rented it with my wife and daughter and it was every bit as good as advertised. It was especially moving for me due to the fact I have a young daughter. I saw her face light up when watching the movie and all of the colorful characters and made me enjoy the movie even more.
Where did you go on your favorite vacation and what did you do?
My favorite vacation was my trip to Bora Bora. This trip had a sentimental component as well since it was my honeymoon. The crystal clear island waters and lush green landscape made it the most gorgeous landscape I had ever seen. It is a small island, but a paradise nonetheless. One of the more exciting and unforgettable things I did on this trip was to swim with reef sharks. Imagine swimming in the ocean with nearly 15 sharks swimming all around you. The sharks will swim to an arms length of you and then veer away. It was especially impressive to get a close up look at this fierce predator in their habitat, but I would be lying if I said I couldn’t wait to get out of the water.
Do you have any pets and what are their names?
I love dogs and for that reason have two. Lilly is a white maltese and Yoshi is a white Shiba Inu. Lilly just turned 7 years old, and has a spunky personality. She will bark at you to get your attention and to pet her.   Yoshi will be turning 4 and is the definition of hyper. All Yoshi wants to do is chase a ball or have you chase him throughout the house. They are both very friendly dogs and especially caring with my daughter.
What is the one thing you want people to know about their smile?
The one thing I would want people to understand about their smile is that like the rest of our body we need to take care of it. As a pediatric dentist I see kids of all ages, shapes and sizes but the one thing that remains constant are the kids that take care of their teeth have a much lower probability of having dental problems. What does taking care of your teeth mean? It is not just about brushing your teeth. There are multiple facets that play a role in dental decay and therefore we need a multifactorial approach. Diet, hygiene, genetics, teeth alignment, and health history are all contributing factors that need to be considered in developing a strategy for a healthy oral cavity. That’s where the role of the dentist is so important, in assessing all contributing factors in each individual, creating an optimal environment for healthy teeth and then keeping them healthy.
What do you love about Jacaranda Smiles?
When I was attending dental school, I first starting to envision what my practice would be like. I asked myself, “how did I want myself to be viewed by my patients?” “What did I want my patients to say once leaving that office?” Very early in my professional career I decided that the things that should be most important is patient interaction. We live in an era where we are very detached from human interaction but in dentistry its this human interaction that is so very important. Going to the dentist is not always a fun experience especially for the young ones. We all need a dentist who will take time to explain, comfort, and nurture those young patients to ease the fears, discomfort and anxiety of THE dental visit. What I most love about jacaranda smiles is that vision I once created about what I wanted my office to be in the future is achieved. I love involving families in what WE need to do to create healthy smiles. I love interacting with kids to ensure positive dental experiences. I am proud that we at Jacaranda smiles have created a family style atmosphere that places impetus on relationships. 
What is your favorite local restaurant and why?
My favorite local restaurant is Smokey Bones. I grew up in Miami and didn’t have a wide variety of barbecue restaurants in our area. I recently moved to Broward and it was one of the first restaurants I tried and have been hooked ever since. I eat there once a month and always order the same thing.
Are you afraid of anything?
The one thing I am afraid of is bugs.  I’m not afraid of any other type of animal such as snakes or sharks.   All I know is that if it is an insect I want it as far away from me as possible.   When I was younger I was bit by a spider on my arm on a hiking trip.  Shortly after, I was in terrible pain and arm ballooned to a larger size.  Couple this experience with multiple eyes and legs and you have my largest fear.
If you could be any animal what and why?
Growing up I was always fascinated by swinging and hanging on things. My mother would always yell at me for hanging on door frames and on the garage railings. While most people fascinate over flying over all and prefer to be an animal that has flight, I am more fascinated with those animals that have perfected the art of swinging. There is one animal that is unique in this respect and has evolved to become a perfect swinger. If I could be any animal it would be a Gibbon. A Gibbon is about a 30 pound monkey that lives in trees. It swings through trees like fish swim in the sea, effortlessly. They have a tail that can be used as an extra arm and are quite fast. Imagine Tarzan on steroids and you have a Gibbon.
What is your favorite joke?
What does the dentist of the year get? A little plaque.