Can you please briefly tell us about your background?
I graduated from college in Austin, Texas. and dental school with honors in 1994 from the University of Colorado Health Science Center in Denver, Colorado. I was accepted into general practice residency in Chicago, Illinois, at the Illinois Masonic Medical Center and was invited to stay for a second year to serve as chief resident. I practiced dentistry in Colorado for seven years before moving to St. Johns County with my husband and our three children. My interests in implant surgery and restorative dentistry include neuromuscular diagnosis, treatments and procedures, sedation specializations, aesthetics, cosmetic dentistry and more, all to create a beautiful and healthy smile.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I love being able to change people’s lives through the work that I do by giving the gift of health, beauty and confidence, especially when my patients have been told improvements were not possible.
What are some of the challenges that your industry/company is facing?
All industries and professions have been affected by the pandemic events of last year and currently. As a sole provider and independent contractor practitioner, I recognize the large corporate dental practice entities are trying to flood the market. Being in health care, Palencia Dental is highly concentrated and well-equipped to handle any dental disease prevention. Our practice is a safe place to be with CDC and specific professional guidelines. We are instrumental in preventing other diseases as the mouth has a significant effect on the body.
What are your primary roles/responsibilities?
I continue my advanced training and research in all facets of dentistry and patient safety to serve the community and educate patients on the importance of dental and oral health and address the concerns of COVID 19 in the medical and health environment.
The practice team ensures the health and safety of all patients and staff with a medical team that cleans and disinfects the dental operatories between interactions with patients. Palencia Dental maintains the highest level of sanitation practices for employees and patients.
I am a American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) Qualified Dentist and a Fellow with The International Association of Physiologic Aesthetics (IAPA), and serve as a member and Fellow with IAPA’s founding organization, the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI). The innovative coursework that I’ve completed includes components of patient cases with neuromuscular dentistry, TMJ and TMD, evaluations and records, comprehensive head and neck radiographic assessments, and obstructive sleep apnea with the TMD relationship. I constantly study and practice advanced problem solving and difficult cases. TMD and TMJ are medical terms that cover pain and or dysfunction of the muscles, and joints that move and or connect the lower and upper jaw to the skull including the malady as temporomandibular joint disorder. Our St. Augustine and Northwest St. Johns County dentistry practice is dedicated to restoring and enhancing the natural beauty of one’s smile combining conservative and state-of-the-art procedures along with advanced dental medicine and aesthetics.
What do you enjoy most about living in the North Florida area? What do you like to do in your free time?
North Florida has much to offer the active individual and families. I love the rich history of the area. The weather brings so many people to St. Johns County with the semblance of four seasons I enjoy playing tennis, golf, along with skiing for my winter enjoyment. It’s been amazing to watch our area grow with the influx of entrepreneurs, restaurateurs and a myriad of businesses.
