Hollister welcomes its first woman-owned dental hygienist practice
Vanessa Salinas has opened Hollister’s first dental hygiene practice, Vibrant Smiles, providing affordable, personalized dental care to the community.Salinas, who was born and raised in Hollister, celebrated the grand opening of Vibrant Smiles a few weeks ago. With 17 years of experience in dentistry, she is passionate about seeing more women in the dental field. “I feel like I’m opening barriers. The community needs the support. They need the help. We need the oral health care here,” Salinas said.Her practice offers an affordable alternative to traditional dental offices, charging $100 for regular teeth cleanings compared to $200 and up at dental offices. Salinas focuses on preventative care, while dentists typically handle restorative care such as fillings, cavities and crowns. She provides teeth cleanings, screenings and whitening services, and refers patients to dentists for further dental work if needed.”The core of the health of your mouth is it starts at the gum tissue, so when your gum tissue is not healthy, it creates a ripple effect,” she said.Vibrant Smiles also offers mobile services, bringing a suitcase-like mobile unit to nursing homes, schools, and fire academies, primarily serving people with disabilities.”I’ve seen patients in their home where they’re lying in bed. They can’t move, whatever the reason is, and I will go around them, find a way, I get in there, but I clean their teeth,” Salinas said.Salinas is committed to giving back to her hometown, an area she believes is in need of dental care. “I do an oral cancer screening on everybody, so in Hollister, I’ve seen that a lot more than when I worked in other cities,” she said.
Vanessa Salinas has opened Hollister’s first dental hygiene practice, Vibrant Smiles, providing affordable, personalized dental care to the community.
Salinas, who was born and raised in Hollister, celebrated the grand opening of Vibrant Smiles a few weeks ago.
With 17 years of experience in dentistry, she is passionate about seeing more women in the dental field.
“I feel like I’m opening barriers. The community needs the support. They need the help. We need the oral health care here,” Salinas said.
Her practice offers an affordable alternative to traditional dental offices, charging $100 for regular teeth cleanings compared to $200 and up at dental offices.
Salinas focuses on preventative care, while dentists typically handle restorative care such as fillings, cavities and crowns.
She provides teeth cleanings, screenings and whitening services, and refers patients to dentists for further dental work if needed.
“The core of the health of your mouth is it starts at the gum tissue, so when your gum tissue is not healthy, it creates a ripple effect,” she said.
Vibrant Smiles also offers mobile services, bringing a suitcase-like mobile unit to nursing homes, schools, and fire academies, primarily serving people with disabilities.
“I’ve seen patients in their home where they’re lying in bed. They can’t move, whatever the reason is, and I will go around them, find a way, I get in there, but I clean their teeth,” Salinas said.
Salinas is committed to giving back to her hometown, an area she believes is in need of dental care.
“I do an oral cancer screening on everybody, so in Hollister, I’ve seen that a lot more than when I worked in other cities,” she said.
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