Born and raised right here in Alice, TX, Dr. Valadez says that one of the big advantages of practicing in a smaller town is that he not only gets to know his dental patients but also builds a strong relationship with the community as a whole. This just isn’t possible in big metropolitan areas, so he cherishes these connections. He is also thrilled that he gets to work with such a stellar dental team and “stand on the shoulders of giants” every day. He’s eager to offer you and your loved ones world-class care right here in his hometown, and below, you can learn a little more about him.
Why Did You Decide to Become a Dentist?
After receiving his undergraduate degree, Dr. Valadez found himself in an enviable position: he had to make a choice between three different doctoral programs (MD, PhD, and DDS). Thanks to his different experiences in medicine, research, advising, and teaching, he ultimately decided that dentistry was the way to go. Why? He saw that it would allow him to use his abilities in medicine, spend plenty of time with his patients, use his hands daily, perform surgery, and set his own hours. Also, he could continue to do research or teach if he wanted as well, so it was the perfect fit for him in every way.
Where Did You Study Dentistry?
Dr. Valadez has a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Baylor University as well as a Master of Science in Biology from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. He went on to earn his dental degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
His goal from the outset of his dental career was to bring leading-edge care to Alice, so he completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at UT Health San Antonio. Since then, he has obtained additional certifications in pain control and conscious sedation (he’s one of just two general dentists in the Coastal Bend area who is licensed to provide IV sedation), medical sedation, and pediatric sedation. He is also trained to offer advanced procedures like wisdom tooth extractions, dental implant placement and restoration, bone grafts, and full-mouth rehabilitation.
To keep up-to-date with the latest findings in dentistry, Dr. Valadez is a member of the:
Outside of the Dental Office, What Do You Like to Do?
Dr. Valadez’s father was the City Manager of Alice for over 25 years, and his mother was the owner/operator of the Golden Rule Day Care Center (many of the kids she helped raise are now Dr. Valadez’s patients!). Today, Dr. Valadez is married, and he and his wife, Irma, have two children (a son and daughter) as well as a Labrador Retriever. If he isn’t at the dental office or spending time with family, you’ll almost always find Dr. Valadez in the woods hunting, primarily whitetail deer. He also really enjoys taking care of his lawn and says that the act of mowing allows him to clear his head and relax.
