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With very few exceptions, most dentists that move their
practice from South America to the U.S. only take the bare minimum
course load, two years worth, to gain their certification here.
Raul C. Gonzalez, DMD
Raul Gonzalez, DMD, is one of those exceptions.
Granted, Gonzalez didn't fully complete his degree
program in his native Colombia, but this exceptional professional
unquestionably went the extra mile when it came to his education here.
After getting his AA at Miami-Dade, he went on to get
his biology degree with honors from Rutgers University and then
completed his education at the prestigious New Jersey Dental School,
where he also graduated with honors.
"In fact, I completed all the four-year
requirements at New Jersey in three years," he said, "while I
at the same time I was very involved at the school, working and
representing the school nationally as the only representative from our
American Student Dental Association (ASDA) chapter."
By finishing in three years instead of four, Gonzalez
was able to spend his final year at New Jersey in specialty clinics
interning and learning different aspects of dentistry.
"Only 20 students were placed into the advanced
program," he explained, "a form of advanced educational
standing that allowed us to see more patients and receive more training
than a regular student."
This exceptional training has allowed Gonzalez to do
nearly everything in-house at his flourishing four-year-old practice,
including periodontics, bone graftings, plastic periodontal surgery, and
dental implants.
Not only that, but Gonzalez typically takes over 250
hours a year of continuing education courses to make sure that his
practice stays on the cutting-edge of current dental technology. Many
dentists, Gonzalez said, don't want to invest that kind of time and
money, but he feels it integral to ensuring the highest quality of care.
He said, "We use the most advanced technology and
highest-quality products available on the market. It allows us to build
a value-based relationship with our patients, one where they can rest
assured that they will receive the best treatment for their special
needs."
Doing almost everything in-house allows Gonzalez to do
two things which many of his peers cannot--he can keep costs down by
avoiding referrals to often-pricey specialists, and he can employ a
"buck-stops-here" philosophy. In other words, Gonzalez doesn't
have to worry about the quality of care his patient might receive
elsewhere since he has taken accountability for that aspect of their
care.
"We want to make people happy," he said,
"we want to have them as our patients for 30 years. We want them to
be so happy with their quality of care that they send us referrals. I'm
not here to get rich quick--I want to build a strong relationship with
my patients over a period of time."
To this end, Gonzalez says his office emphasizes two
important goals: make sure that each patient's health is well above
standard, and emphasize the long-term prognosis instead of quick-fixes.
"We won't compromise the quality of our
treatment," he said, "even if the form we choose takes a
little longer. And after the procedure is complete, we educate our
patients so that they can maintain their level of treatment."
His methods have not surprisingly received a great deal
of positive attention--he treats some of South Florida's foremost
celebrities and models.
Gonzalez's "comprehensive" dental practice, as
he likes to call it, emphasizes microdentistry, the science of diagnosis
and treatment of dental problems at the earliest possible time.
To accomplish that Gonzalez uses some of the most
innovative technology available in the industry. For instance, they
utilize dental lasers for the treatment of periodontal diseases,
computer dental x-rays to ensure the best information possible, and
kinetic caries removal to address cavity problems.
He said, "I've been using technologies for years
that many dentists are only starting to implement now."
Gonzalez also uses CEREC, a machine that does
computer-assisted ceramic reconstruction of teeth right on-site.
"I'm the only doctor in Miami that uses CEREC,"
he said. "In just one appointment we can create ceramic crown--the
computer takes an optical image of the tooth that needs repair, and then
it uses those images to carve the new tooth. You don't have to wait for
a lab to construct it for you."
But Gonzalez isn't only accomplished in
reconstruction--he is also skilled in aesthetic dentistry. He can use
the periodontal laser to help with gum line design, and can then
subsequently complete the project with whitening and crowns or veneer.
He explained, "Even if you're not born with a
beautiful smile, we can create one for you. And it's not what society
says is beautiful--I want to get to the point where the patient feels
like they look great."
And if your problem isn't what your smile looks like but what it smells
like, Gonzalez can fix that too--he has a special microscope that can
examine the mouth and see what bacterial growths you have so that they
can receive appropriate treatment.
Gonzalez also emphasized that his is a family oriented
practice--his wife Carol, with whom he has two children, Raul Andres and
Christhian Alecsander, is the business manager for his office.
"All of our staff are family-oriented
individuals," he said. "It's important to building that strong
patient relationship which is our foundation. We are a patient-oriented,
computer-based dental practice."
To contact Gonzalez, you can reach him at 305 551 4344,
or stop by their office at 8500 West Flagler, suite B-209.
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