Nestled between a row of modern buildings and storefronts on Biscayne Boulevard is a unique dental practice that not only treats teeth, but also skin problems, and other health issues. Imagined by owner and resident dentist, Dr. Juilo Hernandez, his practice, Biscayne Dental & Facial Aesthetics can treat many of life’s ailments all in one visit.
Founded on the principal of treating patients like people and not paychecks, you feel at ease from the moment you walk in. Unnecessary upsells and costly treatments with no options just aren’t in the vocabulary here. The dentist might not be your favorite place to spend an afternoon, but a beautiful space and good people make those leather chairs look a lot less intimidating.
We spoke with the acclaimed Miami dentist below about his life, practice, and mission to provide the community with good health and the tools to stay healthy.
How long have you lived in Miami?
I was born and raised in Miami, then went away to college and dental school at the University of Florida. I moved back in 1995 to take over my father’s dental practice. I worked there for 10 years and sold the practice shortly after my father passed away.
In 1999, I decided to open a 2nd location on Biscayne Blvd. I kept that office open for 10 years and then moved 2 blocks over to a beautiful new location in 2010 where I expanded our services to include dental, skin care and wellness services
What made you decide to go in the dentistry field?
As the youngest of 5 children, I was the last one left to take over my father’s dental practice, since my older brother, who is also a dentist, opened his own practice. My father had been practicing in the US for over 30 years by the time I graduated, so I was eager to finish dental school quickly to help take over the family business. My father was an immigrant from Cuba but had a large following of patients that loved him dearly from his time in Cuba.
When I come to Biscayne Wellness, what kinds of services could I get in one sitting?
Most patients come in looking for a particular service like a dental cleaning, facial or an esthetic consultation to help reduce wrinkles. We offer comprehensive dental care as well as facial esthetic services. If patients wanted to do multiple procedures in the same day, it is not uncommon for them to schedule a facial or skin tightening treatment, followed by a dental cleaning, and finishing off with Botox and facial filler injections all in the same day.
What is the best advice you could give someone who wants to be healthier?
If you want to be healthier, you have to start by creating healthy habits. Create routines like brushing twice a day, working out 3 times per week, and eating healthy 80 percent of the time. Substituting healthy habits for unhealthy ones is the key. Being healthy is a lifestyle and as such has to be worked into your daily routine. To help you accomplish this, we have a health coach on staff that can help guide you in integrating these healthy habits into your everyday life.
How do teeth and gums factor in to your overall health?
People often make the mistake of separating out parts of the body from other parts; in reality, all our body parts are heavily interconnected. The bacteria found in our mouth can be easily spread to other parts of our body by swallowing or in our bloodstream. This is why it is imperative to keep our teeth and gums healthy. There is plenty of research that proves that bacteria found in the mouth are the same bacteria found in people that suffer from strokes, heart disease and diabetes. Furthermore, dental disease is contagious and that bacteria can be spread to family members, partners and spouses through contact with salivary fluids.
What steps do you take to protect your skin from the Miami elements?
Miami has heat and humidity, but like every other big city, we also have pollution. To protect our skin from the elements, I recommend a daily sunscreen especially if you are out door a lot throughout the day. Fortunately, the humidity is good and keeps our skin moist. Antioxidants are also extremely important to keeping healthy and looking young.
I use a Vitamin C serum everyday (since I’m mostly indoors) and an antioxidant serum (Resveratrol B E by SkinCeuticals) at night. Additionally, I use a facial cleanser for my skin type in the shower daily and a mild facial exfoliator to remove dead skin a few times a week.
I also treat my skin from the inside out and take supplements like fish oil which are high in Omega 3 fatty acids daily. Lastly, I do a two to three week detox cleanse a couple times a year to flush all the toxins out of my body. This does wonders for my skin and my overall health.
You can visit the Biscayne Dental & Facial Aesthetics at 350 NE 24th St #105, Miami, FL 33137, to make an appointment call (305) 224-1138 or visit their website.