Even though 2020 has seemed like there were new challenges we must face every day, week, or month, theres always going to be light at the end of the tunnel. Its with great excitement and confidence that we prepare to open our doors to our Lakeland dental office to our family of patients once again.

During these uncertain times and closure, weve missed seeing each and every one of you. Dr. Blanca Fernandez and team have always taken sterilization and disinfection extremely seriously at Highland Dental Clinic. Now, were adding even more precautions are being taken around the office because we always want you to be and feel safe and protected.

This means you might be asked additional health-related questions, have your temperature checked before your treatment, and be asked to wash your hands and use hand sanitizer. We do all of this to protect every patient, staff member, and doctors from any infectious diseases that we are potentially exposed to on a daily basis. For your peace of mind, these precautions are taken EVERY time you sit in one of our patient chairs.

Another difference you might notice at our dental office in Lakeland is that our team might be wearing new personal protective equipment or PPE. This is simply an added security measure to protect ourselves and you during your next visit with us. Well be wearing PPE such as:

We appreciate your patience through all of this as we all work together to create the new normal for you and our office staff. Please know that everything we do is to help you and your family stay safe and healthy as things seem to change daily and weekly. If you have any questions or feel concerned about coming to the office, we hope that youll reach out to us online to give us a call at 863-647-1954.

Dr. Fernandez is highly trained and skilled in many of the general, restorative, and cosmetic dental services people need. She and her outstanding dental team care for patients from many nearby communities in Polk County, Florida, including Crystal Lake and Medulla.

Perhaps you just moved and need to find a dentist near your new home. Our new-patient exams include comprehensive digital X-rays (no radiation!) as well as panoramic (full-mouth) images, plus examination with an intra-oral camera. You can watch this yourself on a chairside monitor! We do visual and manual oral cancer screening and offer fluoride treatments for you or children if theyre needed. And speaking of children, Dr. Fernandez can treat everyone in your family aged 7 or older!

If youve got a toothache, we hope youll call us right away. At Highland Dental Clinic, we use only healthy and attractive white fillings, no metal, to fill cavities. If the decay involves a larger area of your tooth, Dr. Fernandez may recommend porcelain inlays and onlays. Either way, no one will know your tooth has a filling!

Should you need a treatment like a root canal, Dr. Fernandez can perform this for you in her office. You dont need to go to a different practitioner, you can have the procedure done right here, and then return to have your crown placed. Isnt it comforting to have nearly all of your dental care available in one convenient location with caregivers you know and trust? If you need a tooth extracted, we use atraumatic techniques to minimize bone loss and maintain jaw strength.

More? Dr. Fernandez is also extensively trained in two important dental services: dental implants and cosmetic dentistry. She can place the titanium implantsan oral surgeryand fit the porcelain crowns that are fixed to the implants. Its all part of our philosophy that when youre comfortable with us, you wont hesitate to call us for any dental care you need.

Dr. Fernandez is also highly trained in the newest cosmetic dentistry techniques. Maybe you have a high school reunion or special family event coming up. How about a teeth-whitening treatment? Youll look and feel terrific! If you want more, Dr. Fernandez will map out a treatment plan for you that can include gum recontouring, composite bonding, or porcelain veneers.

You can ask Dr. Fernandez about other issues you may have with your teeth, gums, or jaws. We offer periodontal treatments, can fit you with nighttime or sports mouthpieces, or treat your TMJ (temporomandibular joint, or jaw joint) with gentle therapies to relieve your pain or discomfort.

Blanca Fernandez, DMD, is a highly skilled dentist trained in most of the important dental services people ask for. Of course she provides outstanding general and preventive care, using gentle techniques like intraoral cameras, no bigger than pens, to look at each and every tooth in detail. She uses metal-free dental restorations because of their strength, health benefits, and superior appearance. If its necessary to extract a tooth, she uses new techniques to preserve the bone in your jaw as much as possible. This is called atraumatic extraction, and can incorporate methods such as bone grafting to prevent deterioration in the strength of your jaw. If that happens, the skin and muscles of your face can begin to sag, so she plans your treatment to avoid muscle and bone weakening.

Dr. Fernandez studied general dentistry at the Colombian Dental College and prosthodontics (dentures, implants, crowns, and bridges) at the Dentistry Foundation of San Martin, in Bogota, Colombia, where she received a Master of Science degree. She then studied at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where she earned her Doctorate in Dental Medicine (DMD).

Continuing education is a mandate for all healthcare professionals, but Dr. Fernandez goes above and beyond what is required and has extended her expertise with specialized training in dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, and oral surgery for procedures such as wisdom tooth extractions.

Dr. Fernandez is also a mother as well as a consummate professional. She knows the importance of a gentle hand and touch and understands that dental health and oral care is best served in a warm and kind environment. She backs up her philosophy with outstanding technique, continual training, and up-to-date technology.

Our patients include adults and children 7 and up and come from a wide range of communities in and near Lakeland, such as Highland City, Winston, Crystal Lake, Medulla, Kathleen, Fussels Corner, Winter Haven, Auburndale, Lake Wales, Plant City, Bartow, Mulberry, Bradley Junction, Lake Alfred, and Haines City.

Dr. Fernandez is an active participant in her industry, both nationally and locally. She is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral implantologists (ICOI) and a member of the following organizations:

When you come in for a visit with Dr. Fernandez, you might also be working with Nulfi, or Alex. As a dental assistant, hes responsible for making sure the operatories are ready for patient procedures and assisting with treatment alongside the doctor. Alex is honest, reliable, kind, patient, and outgoing which is why patients love to have him by their side when theyre visiting the office to have dental work done. Alex loves interacting with patients, helping them feel more comfortable, and strives to provide the gentle, comprehensive dental care that Highland Dental Clinic is known for across Lakeland, FL. Outside of the office, you can find Alex volunteering at church, working out at the gym, going to the movies, and enjoying quality time with his wife and son.

I have been assisting for 5 years and love making patients feel welcomed and at ease while going through treatment. When Im off I enjoy being with my fiance Cole and going out to eat. I also enjoy shopping, going to the gym and being with my family and close friends.

I have 30 plus years in the dental field. I love helping people get the smile they want. When Im not at work I enjoy time with my husband Kirk, 2 daughters Jenna and Lindsay and being a grandmother to my one grandson Elliott. I love being outside and taking care of my plants and small garden. I also enjoy watching movies, reading and going for walks.

Kimberly is our young and self-motivated dental hygienist. She is enthusiastic about dental hygiene and cares about her patients oral and general health. She graduated with honors from New York University College of Dentistry and recently moved to Florida to be closer to her family. She is passionate about helping others and even attended a NYUCD Global Outreach Program in Cuenca, Ecuador, where she performed dental screenings for children with barriers to oral health. In her free time, she enjoys reading, practicing yoga, and hanging out with her pet cat, Frank.

Rounding out the stellar front desk crew is Zulma. She has over three decades of experience doing all things dentistry and truly loves getting to know every patient. Zulma will tell you that one of the best parts of her job is helping people and watching how they change as their smile grows healthier. Much like her counterpart Nicole, Zulma is often busy answering phones, verifying insurance billing information, collecting payments, helping patients get checked in and out, and more. Zulma loves being with her daughters Karina, Mirella, and Gabriella. Shell tell you that spoiling her sweet grandbabies Sophia, Ivan, Norberto, and Emilio is also high on her to-do list when shes not in the office