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The Connection Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Oral Health – South Gables Dental
Victoria “Vicky” Cainzos was born and raised in Miami, Florida. She graduated from Our Lady of Lourdes Academy and is currently studying Biological Sciences at Florida International University. She plans to attend dental school after graduating and hopes to become a dentist.
She recently joined our team as a Hygiene Coordinator and is excited to gain experience in the dental field while working toward her future career in dentistry.
Outside of work and school, Victoria loves to travel, spend time with family and friends, and explore new places.
Sandra has been a clinical dental hygienist for over 35 years and is a GBT Trainer and Success Coach specializing in the clinical implementation of Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT). She is passionate about prevention, biofilm management, and minimally invasive care, providing patients with a holistic, evidence-based approach to oral and overall health.
Sandra is accredited in Biological Dental Hygiene and believes in the strong connection between oral health and whole-body wellness. Throughout her career, she has worked in public health, assisted with state dental screenings, traveled internationally on dental missions providing preventive care, and dedicated herself to educating both dental professionals and patients on achieving optimal oral health.
Her passion for healthy living also led her to study herbalism, deepening her appreciation for the healing power of plants and the body’s natural ability to thrive.
One of Sandra’s greatest superpowers is making friends. She genuinely loves connecting with people, learning from others, sharing knowledge, and building relationships wherever life and her career take her. She believes some of the most meaningful opportunities come from the people we meet along the way.
Sandra loves Miami life, where she enjoys the sunshine, golfing, spending time at the ocean, taking long walks, traveling, hiking, and making memories with her two daughters ,family, friends, and her dog.
Tara Auclair, MBA, is the Director of Marketing for South Gables Dental. A seasoned marketing, public relations and communications professional, she loves to create a sense of community and to make her companies and their incredible people more famous.
In her most recent role as Senior Marketing Communications Manager at Modernizing Medicine, she was responsible for increasing brand equity by overseeing and participating in multiple aspects of marketing and communications including public relations, media and community relations, crisis communications, corporate social responsibility, social media, blog, website, customer reference program and more. Tara has a passion for the healthcare industry as evidenced by her over 20 years of experience in various roles held at the Palm Beach County Medical Society, Boca Raton Regional Hospital, the Maine Health Management Coalition (now the Healthcare Purchaser Alliance of Maine) and others.
Tara earned her BA from Tulane University and her MBA from Boston University. Dedicated to the community, she donates her time to the Alzheimer’s Association of Southeast Florida, currently serving as the organization’s Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, Advocacy Chair for the 2019 Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Miami and Chair of The Longest Day. Tara recently joined the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce and serves on the Business & Government Affairs Committee. She’s a long-time member of the Junior League where she has held numerous leadership roles and received the Outstanding Service Award in 2019, and she’s active in the Tulane Alumni Association. Before relocating to Coral Gables, Tara served on the boards of the Peter Blum Family YMCA of Boca Raton and the Boca Chamber’s Golden Bell Education Foundation, where she received the Chair’s Award from the Boca Chamber in 2018.
Yesenia “Yesie” Rodríguez was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and raised in Miami, Florida, where she graduated from Braddock High School with honors. As a dental assistant for 29 years in South Florida, she takes great pride in serving patients by providing quality care.
She enjoys Mexican food, kayaking, and listening to music. Yessie has three daughters and enjoys spending quality time with them.
Osiris Irizarry has been part of the South Gables Dental team since 2006 and serves as the practice’s Accounts Manager. She was born in Barranquilla, Colombia, and came to the United States in 1993. She received her dental assisting certification from Robert Morgan Educational Center & Technical College in 2000.
In her personal time, you can find Osiris traveling with her husband. Together, they have traveled to over 20 countries. While not traveling or working, she enjoys spending time with her two grown children.
Joan Thomas was born in Managua, Nicaragua. She attended both Miami Killian Senior High and Miami Sunset Senior High School. She acquired her associate of Science degree in 1995 from Miami-Dade College. Joan became a member of the South Gables Dental team in 2014. She provides periodontal maintenance therapy, scaling and root planing procedures, and implant care. Joan has a combined 26 years of experience as a hygienist and has worked in both general dentistry and periodontal offices. She makes certain each patient is treated with care and ensures that their needs are addressed to help them maintain a healthy smile that will last a lifetime.
Joan is fluent in English, Spanish, and is certified in the administration of local anesthesia and nitrous oxide sedation. Joan continues to further her knowledge through yearly CE courses to provide her patients with the highest quality of care. When she is not in the office, she enjoys spending time with her husband of 31 years and her two sons Jacob and Matthew.
Deya Alegria was born and raised in Miami, Florida. Her family is originally from Masaya, Nicaragua. She graduated from Miami Senior High School in 2008 and from Miami Dade College in 2012 with an Associates in Arts in Elementary Education. While pursuing her career in early childhood education, she initiated her Dental career at Dr. John Raffel’s office as a Dental assistant/receptionist where she remained for three years. She joined Dr. Lesperance’s Dental office as a hygiene coordinator, where she is able to expand her previously acquired knowledge and skills. Deya schedules most of the cleaning appointments for our patients. She is fluent in English and Spanish.