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I am happy to present to you our 42nd local business spotlighted in the Pay it Forward feature – Glowing Smiles Dental Hygiene Practice.
Our recent Lake County business featured was Macias Drywall and the owner, Mario Macias chose to Pay it Forward to Glowing Smiles Dental Hygiene Practice.
The catch is that I will not choose the next business to interview, but the current spotlighted business will choose who I will interview next. Local businesses will Pay it Forward.
Glowing Smiles Dental Hygiene Practice is owned by Adriana Marquez, who offers a wide range of unique dental services.
Adriana is a Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative practice with 26+ years of experience. Her dental office offers amenities that will help ease your anxiety and make it an enjoyable, relaxing experience. Glowing Smiles accepts Delta Dental in network provider, Guardian, United Healthcare, Cigna, and many more.
Experience gentle care at Glowing Smiles Dental Hygiene Practice; where they redefine your dental cleaning experience with a spa-like touch. No more of the typical drill sounds. You can enjoy a relaxing atmosphere with unique amenities designed to ease anxiety and enhance your comfort level.
Whether you are seeking routine dental care or need a dentist referral, Glowing Smiles provides a pleasant and stress-free visit.
- Why did you decide to start your own business?
I have actively worked in the dental field for 28 years now in Lake and Mendocino counties. I am a Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice (RDHAP), and we are comparable to a nurse practitioner in the dental field. During the peak of the Covid pandemic dental was classified as nonessential resulting in the closures of dental offices. I understood the need for preventative care and the direct link it has to overall well-being which impacts heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and many more diseases. Most patients were hesitant to be in crowded offices so I was determined to find a solution. I wanted to provide personalized care for those with dental anxiety. Utilizing my savings I
opened my first location in Kelseyville and now I am in Lakeport.
- How do you deal with fear and doubt?
With prayers. I laugh when I say it but I truly believe in it. I have been fortunate to have a good rapport with the local dental community and from other counties. I receive referrals from other dental providers as well. I think it is only human to have doubts and fears, not only in your business but in life in general. It requires a lot of faith and daily words of affirmation. It sounds a little trite but the power of positive thinking really does help.
- How does your business look different now vs. when you first started?
Oh it has changed or I should say evolved. When I first opened my practice, I was working out of a modest 200-square-foot office equipped with one operating chair and a small desk. I would have to wait to sterilize my instruments at the end of the day because I could not have any aerosols in the treatment area. Within 6 months of practicing, the dental community supported my initiative and thanks to the referrals; the demand for a larger facility grew, so I relocated my practice to a larger facility in Lakeport. I now have 2 operating chairs and a sterilization room. I also hired an assistant and receptionist whom I have cross-trained. I have a nice welcoming waiting room and a reception area with a larger desk.
- How do you set your business apart from others in your industry?
I am the only dedicated hygiene practice in the area that treats special needs children and adults. I also take most major insurance in which most practices are no longer in-network or do not accept them anymore. My hours are flexible by appointment, and sometimes open up my practice on a Saturday for those patients who come from out of the area. I do have some patients who work out of town and need a 5:00 pm appointment; I have the flexibility of staying late.
I also have a spa-like approach to teeth cleanings. In my office, I see a patient per hour and oftentimes when they are leaving, the next patient has not arrived. I provide warm neck rolls (or cold ones for the hot days) and lip balms. During new patient intake, we ask if there is anything we should know to make the experience a good one. It could be from providing blankets to providing gels to help with sensitive teeth. We also ask if music helps to ease your anxiety, if so, we will play that music while you are in our office.
- What is the hardest part of being an entrepreneur?
The hardest part of being an entrepreneur is the unknown of the daily revenue. Most people still do not understand what a Hygienist in Alternative practice is so most people are hesitant to see me. I have undergone specialized training and gruesome board exams to be able to practice on my own. We are allowed to own our own brick-and-mortar in underserved areas such as Lake County but most people still question if I am a dentist. Although I have over 800 patients continually of 3, 4, and 6 months, I still struggle to fill the month. I am open 2-3 days per week but I would like to fill the other 2 days. I still work for other offices in the neighboring counties to pay my bills.
- What is your favorite part of being an entrepreneur?
My favorite part of being an entrepreneur is the flexibility and the personalized care I can give my patients. I have the flexibility of coming in early or staying as late as I need to. Like I stated before, if needed, I can open up a Saturday to provide that personalized care.
- If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
Oh, that’s easy for me to answer. I was 16 years old when I decided to travel to Italy. I wanted to eat at all the small mom-and-pop restaurants. I am planning a trip for my 50th birthday in 2 years. Although I am not Italian, I get asked if I am all the time. My name became very popular during the show The Sopranos; in which one of the main characters’ names was Adriana.
I am interested in all of the architecture and the history that it provides. I have started taking language lessons to communicate with the locals and order food!
There are other places that I would love to travel to but I will start with Italy first. I will have to work hard all year to travel to a different country every year.
Glowing Smiles Dental Hygiene Practice
Owner: Adriana Marquez RDHAP
908 S Main Street
Lakeport, CA 95453
707.530.1704
Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
9am – 5pm
www.Glowing-Smiles.com
Glowing Smiles Dental Hygiene Practice would like to Pay it Forward to Village Auto Detailing.
Stay tuned for Village Auto Detailing!
