Dr Oscar Sanchez and Dr Vince Avallone Of Apa Aesthetic Miami: 5 Things You Need To Create A Successful Career As A Dentist
An Interview With Jake Frankel
Don’t do it for the money. Do your best — for your patients and your team — and the rest will follow.
As part of our series about healthcare leaders, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Oscar Sanchez, and Dr. Vince Avallone, Apa Aesthetic Miami.
Dr. Oscar Sanchez: Dr. Oscar Sanchez graduated from the prestigious Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) School of Dental Medine. He further honed his skills at the renowned Kois Center, an evidence-based teaching facility with the latest advances in esthetics, implants and restorative dentistry, and at Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, where he completed the rigorous AAID MaxiCourse. In New York, he participated in the Full Mouth Rehabilitation CE course led by Dr. Dean Vafiadis. With a passion for excellence and commitment to ongoing education, Dr. Oscar strives to deliver the highest level of dental care to his patients.
Dr. Vince Avallone: Dr. Vince Avallone obtained his doctorate degree from NYU College of Dentistry and, while there, completed a one-year advanced clinical program in aesthetics. At Newark Beth Israel, he further developed his skills with a one-year clinical residency, specializing in comprehensive and cosmetic dentistry. Committed to continual professional growth and learning, Dr. Vince participated in Aesthetic Advantage, the hands-on training course led by Apa Aesthetic’s, Dr. Larry Rosenthal and the Spear Education Dental CE course. Beyond his dental pursuits, Dr. Vince finds joy in fitness, travel and quality time spent with friends and family.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! What is your “backstory”?
Dr. Oscar: I was born in Cuba in 1990. It was the beginning of a decade with little to no food, and my parents made ~$10/month. I lived in Cuba for 12 years before my mother and I migrated to Italy, where I had to start over and learn a new language. A year after that, I left my mom behind and joined my dad in Texas for a better and brighter future. I finished high school and joined the military.
At 20, I moved to Miami, Florida. I continued to serve in the Army National Guard and work as a server, all while being a full-time student at FIU.
After shadowing my cousin, I decided to become a dentist. The first time I took my entrance exam, I did not score high enough. My mom flew me to Italy, where I could dedicate uninterrupted time to studying. After 4 months, I flew back to Miami, retook the exam and did well enough to secure multiple interviews and acceptances. In dental school, I fell even more in love with the field. Every day reaffirmed the decisions I made to get there. Now, a practicing dentist at Apa Aesthetic Miami, I can honestly say I am living the dream.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
Dr. Oscar: I have followed and admired Dr. Apa since my early dental school days. I was drawn to much more than his beautiful before & after images. Dr. Apa puts his passion for dentistry above all else and is determined to elevate the field as a whole, (not just his own practice). I spend a lot of my earnings on continuing education courses, always trying to raise the bar and be a better dentist.
In 2023, when I got the call from Dr. Apa, it was the most incredible moment in my life — the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Dr. Vince: The biggest mistake I made early on in my career was thinking that my neck and lower back “would never get sore like the older doctors.” Now a few years into my career, I am finding that is certainly not the case. What I did gain from this though, is an increased respect for how important taking care of your physical health is to be able to provide the best possible care for a successful career.
Are you working on any new or exciting projects now?
Dr. Oscar: Outside of the office, I am most excited by my commitment to education. I want to educate dental professionals and potential patients alike. I created a podcast, DentalTalk360, and pursue lecture opportunities.
None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
Dr. Vince: Although there are countless people who have helped me to reach this level of professional success, the one who has been there the longest is my father. He is a physician and always told me “no matter what, do what is best for the patient and everything else will take care of itself.” Now a few years into my career, I see how true that is. Following my dad’s words, I am doing my best work and have peace of mind knowing that I am truly helping people along the way.
Is there a particular book that made an impact on you? Can you share a story?
Dr. Vince: Atomic Habits — One of its main lessons is “how you do one thing, is how you do everything.” When I am locked in on my daily habits, like cleaning my space, getting good rest, eating well, and exercising, other things in my life tend to trend in a positive direction. Small wins and momentum are super helpful for consistently delivering high quality work and maintaining focus.
How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
Dr. Oscar: I lecture to the cosmetic club at NOVA and am developing a 1-year program for the students that includes both lectures and hands-on training to better prepare them for life after graduation. I also support dental clinics in Cuba, sending them materials they wouldn’t otherwise have access to.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share a story about how that was relevant to you in your own life?
Dr. Vince: “Luck is when hard work meets opportunity” — In my life, whether it be sports, education, or dentistry, I have been pretty “lucky” but I would argue that that luck is earned and that’s why this quote stays with me. The same way that bad things happen when you veer off course, I believe that good things happen when you work hard.
Can you share your top three “oral hygiene tweaks” that will help people look and feel great?
Dr. Oscar: Switch from a manual to an electric toothbrush. The Apa Sonic Brush is the gold standard. People call it the Rolls Royce of toothbrushes.
Never go to bed with unbrushed teeth. At night, when you’re asleep, bacteria have an undisturbed environment to wreak havoc on your mouth!
Floss daily, especially in areas prone to bleeding; it’s a sign that that area needs a deeper clean.
Based on your experience, what are your “5 Things You Need To Create A Successful Career As A Dentist” and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)
Dr. Oscar: Love what you do and always thirst to learn more. Dentistry is a field that requires a lot of passion; it’s what keeps you going during tough days or moments.
In your first 3–5 years after graduation, invest in continuing education courses to become a more well-rounded dentist and be able to do more complex cases.
Find someone whose work you admire and see if they can become your mentor. Learn from their mistakes so that you don’t have to make them.
Find a way to give back. Offering inspiration and motivation to the next generation will push you to be an even better version of yourself.
Don’t do it for the money. Do your best — for your patients and your team — and the rest will follow.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?
Dr. Vince: I would encourage everyone to eat a clean, whole foods diet — and restaurants to only serve clean foods made from the highest quality ingredients. I truly believe that everything health-related starts with diet — from your physical health to your mental health, and even dental health.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them 🙂
Dr. Vince: Tiger Woods — I need him to help me fix my slice.
Thank you so much for these wonderful insights, and for the time you spent on this interview. We wish you continued success and good health!
Dr Oscar Sanchez and Dr Vince Avallone Of Apa Aesthetic Miami: 5 Things You Need To Create A… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.