MEET JOEL BAEZ, DMD, DICOI
Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry
Dr. Joel Baez is a third-generation dentist on his mother's side. Throughout his childhood, he told everyone that he would be a dentist when he grew up—even before he knew what it meant to be a dentist. Following dental school, he was accepted to the #1 Program in Advanced General Dentistry in San Antonio, Texas. While there, his passion and drive for dentistry encouraged him to focus on advanced surgical and cosmetic training.
With over 1,000 combined hours of continuing education globally, Dr. Baez continues to stay up to date with proven modern techniques and technology. He is a Key Opinion Leader amongst his peers and faculty for several recognized international Institutes such as OraPharma Inc., Best Dental Implant Training Seminars, and the most recognized implant company globally, Straumann Implants.
By using all of this experience, Dr. Baez always presents the ideal treatment plan to his patients so they can make the best, most informed decisions about their oral health.
The combination of cutting-edge science and genuine human connection continues to inspire Dr. Baez to provide his patients with the exceptional care they can expect at Signature Dental Group.
Outside of his practice and home, you will find Dr. Baez searching for the best hiking spots across the U.S. and the world. Dr. Baez's family brings structure to his life, which inspires his strong work ethic. His wife, Dr. Valentina Baez, is a board-certified periodontist in addition to being a wonderful life partner and mother to their daughter, Gianna.
MEET VALENTINA BAEZ, DMD
Board Certified in Periodontics and Implant Dentistry
Dr. Valentina Baez grew up in Caracas, Venezuela, and moved to the United States in 2000 to finish high school. After completing her Bachelor's degree at Florida Atlantic University, she attended Nova Southeastern University (NSU) to obtain her DMD degree.
Following graduation, she completed a General Practice Residency at Lutheran Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, to become proficient in all areas of dentistry. She discovered her passion for surgery and decided to specialize in periodontics and implant dentistry at NSU for three additional years.
During her surgical education, Dr. Baez focused on regenerative procedures that help the body create new bone, ligaments, and cementum to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Her training also focused on treating peri-implantitis (bone loss around implants) and bone growth for future implant placement. Additionally, she is trained to treat root recession coverage using donor tissue to avoid a second surgical site and use the patient's blood to improve soft tissue healing.
Besides receiving clinical training in periodontics and implant placement, she focused her research on bone cell growth around different implant surfaces. She took special courses, including completing oral and plastic surgery on soft tissue grafting for teeth and implants. Even with all her training, the most gratifying part of Dr. Baez's job is when patients tell her that she has improved their quality of life.
Even with all her training, the most gratifying part of Dr. Baez's job is when patients tell her that she has improved their quality of life.
When she isn't working, she enjoys spending quality time with her family and going to the beach. She's also an animal lover. One of her long-term dreams is to open a foundation with her husband and provide free dental care to the underserved population worldwide.
MEET JOHN G. SALATINO, DDS
Dr. John Salatino has practiced General Dentistry in Delray Beach for 41 years. Originally from Rochester, New York, he received a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s in human physiology from The State University of New York at Geneseo. After serving in the Army Medical Corps he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Buffalo. When he is not practicing dentistry he enjoys boating, cycling and is an avid fisherman.
He and his wife Valerie, who grew up in South Florida, have been married for 39 years. Together, they have two daughters, Kristen, a nurse practitioner in West Palm Beach, and Kelly, a nurse at Delray Community Hospital. Dr. Salatino and Valerie have recently become grandparents for the first time. He feels that the best part of practicing dentistry, besides helping his patients achieve oral health, is the relationships he has enjoyed with his patients, "they have become my extended family."
MEET DAYRON BAEZ, DMD
Dr. Dayron Baez is the next piece of the puzzle in the Signature Family. Coming from a household full of dentists, it was very easy for him to follow in the family's tradition. In college, Dr. Dayron began to make his dream a reality excelling in his undergraduate classes. Dr. Baez graduated Cum-Lade, receiving his Bachelor's in Biology from Florida International University. Scoring in the 90th percentile in his dental school entrance exam, he then decided to follow his brother's footsteps and make Nova Southeastern University the home where he would pursue his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. At NSU, Dr. Dayron Baez focused on his didactic and clinical skills where he excelled and was placed in the advanced prosthodontics and endodontics curriculum. But the growth did not end there; after graduation, Dr. Dayron Baez continues his dedication to his education and remains up-to-date on the latest advancements in his field with over 700 combined hours of continuing education courses. At Signature Dental, Dr. Dayron Baez and the Signature team always look at the mouth and teeth as an entire apparatus to comprehensively understand the issue. As a result of their comprehensive approach, they can help patients with the entirety of the issue, not just the ongoing symptoms, but to ensure long-term oral health. Each patient receives the care and respect that they deserve. The Signature Family relishes the time spent getting to know patients and sharing their combined wisdom to provide the complete care possible. When Dr. Dayron Baez is not in the office, you can find him near a large body of water while his fiancé, Dr. Yesenia Fernandez-Riera, soaks up all the sun with their fur baby, Annie!
MEET YESENIA FERNANDEZ BAEZ, DMD
Dr. Yesenia Fernandez-Baez is first generation born in the United States. Her family migrated from Cuba back in the 1967 in hopes for a better tomorrow. She was born in South Miami and raised as a true ‘Miamian’ in Hialeah, Florida. Dr. Fernandez was inspired to become a dentist due to the influence of her grandfather who always wanted to pursue the career but was never able to due to certain family circumstances. Dr. Fernandez began her journey by pursuing her undergraduate studies in the heart of Miami at Florida International University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Upon graduation from her Psychology degree, she decided to change up the scenery and move to Gainesville to attend the University of Florida to attain her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree where she met her husband Dr. Dayron Baez. During her time in Gainesville, Dr. Fernandez excelled in many aspects of dentistry including cosmetics, endodontics, prosthetics, and implant dentistry and graduated top of her class. To continue her education further after earning her doctorate degree, Dr. Fernandez moved to St. Petersburg where she attended a one-year Advanced Education program to fine tune her skills in complex full mouth rehabilitation involving implant dentistry, advanced endodontics, and prosthetic procedures. One of her biggest achievements during her one-year residency was that she was able to become a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. Although she enjoyed all parts of dentistry, Dr. Fernandez knew that her heart was in the field of Endodontics. After she finished her Advanced Education residency, she continued to a two-year Endodontics specialty program in sunny Fort Lauderdale, Florida at Nova Southeastern University where she was able to spend all of her days doing what she loved most, ROOT CANALS and return back home to her family and friends. When Dr. Fernandez is not in the office, you can find her catering to her Havanese fur baby, Annie, or on a boat soaking up all the sun with family and friends while her husband, Dr. Dayron Baez, is busy doing all the adventurous water sports there is to offer. Fun fact about Dr. Fernandez is that she shares a passion for dentistry with her husband, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, all which are dentists and specialists here at Signature Dental Group.
