Latina Dentist Builds Confidence, One Smile at a Time
By Christina Fernández-Morrow, Hola Iowa
“I want to help people smile,” says Dr. Zuleima Santiago-Del Toro D.D.S. Dr. Santiago- Del Toro was inspired to go into dentistry when she got a dentist Barbie as a child growing up in Añasco, Puerto Rico. Later, when she got braces, she saw how having a bright smile built her confidence and knew for sure she wanted to do that for others. She focused on the sciences, earning bachelor’s degrees in biology and microbiology from the University of Puerto Rico in Mayagüez. “I want to keep learning; this is what I love” she remembers thinking as she considered options for her career. She enrolled in dentistry school in the Dominican Republic, where she graduated at the top of her class. “When you do something that you are passionate about, that you love, it’s not a big effort, it comes naturally. I was really proud of what I accomplished.”
Degree in hand, she had some decisions to make. “I could stay in the Dominican Republic, work in Mexico, or any Latin country,” she recalls. “But I wanted to go back to Puerto Rico and work there.” She enrolled at the medical campus in San Juan, where she completed an advanced degree alongside dentists from Panama, El Salvador, and other parts of Latin America while working in dentistry. At the end of the program, she was bombarded with offers from national dental companies. “That’s when Aspen Dental reached out to me with a position in Iowa. I thought I would be the only Latina there, the only person who could speak Spanish. I saw there were a lot of Latino communities in the area. I thought it was awesome because I could bring something to the table as a Latina and because I’m bilingual.”
She began getting patients right away. “I didn’t just translate, I could relate to them, help them feel at home.” Dr. Santiago-Del Toro was astounded at how many Latinos had not been to a dentist in years because they could not find one who spoke Spanish. She was happy to help those patients learn the health benefits of regular dental care. “If people knew that the mouth is the beginning of everything, they would get more care. Like diabetes, which can be detected in the mouth. I have patients who tell me their teeth are loose. I’ll ask if they’re diabetic and how their HA1C is doing. They’ll say it’s a seven and I’ll know that’s why. When they don’t control their diabetes, their teeth and gums are affected. Same with hypertension. For females, it’s hormones. Pregnancy and periods can affect your teeth. Everything is related.”
Educating patients in the language they prefer is important to Dr. Santiago-Del Toro. That was why when her contract was up, she wanted to get away from corporate dentistry and try a family practice. That’s when she reached out to Dr. Deb Nanda, another Puerto Rican dentist in the Des Moines area. It was perfect timing, as Dr. Nanda’s husband had retired from dentistry, and she was looking for another dentist to join her business.
Dr. Santiago- Del Toro had heard of Dr. Nanda, who was the only other Latina dentist in Central Iowa, through mutual friends who knew Dr. Nanda from her time as a volunteer for the Latina Leadership Initiative. “She’s awesome. I wanted to be a part of the community since I moved here so when we met, we got along right away. I admire her so much because she is a boss lady. She’s the type of role model I want to be.”
Not only is Dr. Santiago-Del Toro excited to work at a dental practice where she can take time to get to know her patients, she looks forward to creating deeper roots in Iowa. What started as something she saw as a short-term opportunity, turned out to be where she found home. She married Augie Mendez, creator of RumCoqui, a dairy-infused rum reminiscent of his Puerto Rican roots. Together they have purchased a house and spend time exploring the state with their miniature golden doodle, Camilo. “The people [of Iowa] were so welcoming since I first got here, they were so friendly and generous with me. That was one of the things that made me want to stay.” She feels it was a wonderful twist of fate that put her at Franklin Plaza Family Dentistry. “I get more time with my patients,” she says of working for a smaller office. “Some patients had a dentist come in for a second to say they had no cavities and then they were gone. Dentistry is about experience. It’s really personal. If you have a pleasant experience with a dentist, you’re going to keep going back. I think that’s one of the biggest differences. I get that time with them, which I love.”
While she just started this new position in mid-July, Dr. Santiago-Del Toro already has big plans to let the community know she’s ready to help them smile. She’s planning to spend time at a booth at the Latino Heritage Festival on September 21 and 22 in Des Moines, where she and Dr. Nanda will hand out toothbrushes and information about their practice. In the winter she’ll support the holiday events in her office, like the annual pet supply drive where patients drop off blankets, towels, treats and food for the Animal Rescue League. She would also like to spread the word about the importance of dental care to other communities, like Marshalltown.
For now, Dr. Santiago-Del Toro is enjoying meeting new patients and getting to know them. “Dr. Nanda will tell me how she’s had a patient since he was a baby and now, he’s grown and still comes in. Those are the stories I want to build. I want to stay in a place where I can make those stories happen because that’s what really matters.”
Patients can schedule an appointment with Dr. Santiago-Del Toro at Franklin Plaza Family Dental in Des Moines. The number is 515-277-0222.
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